Denise Spillane

About

Denise has spent more than 25 years in the financial industry where she has created a niche sales and marketing platform connecting alternative and traditional investment firms with ERISA plans. With more than 25 years of experience and extensive relationships in the public and Taft-Hartley investment world, Denise founded Kearney Capital and applies her deep knowledge of the investment needs of local and international unions to benefit both union members and top-tier investment management firms. Denise's investment expertise ranges from traditional asset management, such as equities and fixed income, to alternative investments such as hedge funds, infrastructure, credit opportunity funds, real estate, and private equity funds.

EXPERIENCE & AFFILIATIONS

Just prior to founding KC, Denise served as head of business development for McMorgan & Company where she developed a new integrated sales and marketing strategy and managed a five-member team to expand New York Life investment boutique strategies into the Taft-Hartley investment community.

While Managing Director for Mackay Shields, 1996-2012, she was responsible for business development and client services and achieved asset growth primarily through Taft-Hartley-based initiatives. She grew Taft-Hartley assets to over $10 billion under management, expanded high yield, large-cap growth, value, and international equity products by $8 billion, and launched the NYL Taft-Hartley Defined Contribution program, initially raising annuity plan assets in excess of $2 billion.

Additionally, in 2002, while at Mackay Shields,  Denise raised over $1 billion in multi-strategy fund of hedge fund assets by introducing Mariner Capital into the Taft-Hartley investment community. She created comprehensive investment educational programs and presentations for consultants, labor and management trustees, chief investment officers, plan administrators, attorneys, and administrators.

Denise is a Co-founder of New York Friends of Ireland, and a former board member of Emerald Isle Immigration Center.   She is also a fundraising partner of the Mikva Foundation,  a youth development, and civic education organization focused on preparing young people living in Chicago, DC, New York City, and L.A. to be informed, empowered, active citizens and community leaders. Denise is proud to have served four years as a board member of the Guttmacher Institute.  For over 20 years Denise is honored to have served as a Democratic district leader in Hell’s Kitchen, (75th assembly district) in New York City.

Education

Denise holds a BA in Economics from Manhattan College.