Biographies
Our team has more than 30 year's experience identifying anomalies and recognizing patterns of change. By design, we retain a team with diverse backgrounds and talents to ensure we include a variety of perspectives in our process.
IntroIntro
Charles HessManaging Partner
Kenneth R. HeyManaging Partner and Writer
Fran InsingaChief Operating Officer
Gregg GroechelSenior Director
Eric ZavolinskyDirector
Risa S. HessDirector
Michael J. HinesDirector
Greggory EliasSenior Associate
Melissa CipollaExecutive Assistant to Charles Hess
Lauren WonicaAdministrative Director & Executive Assistant to Ken Hey
Gene BrojanProduction Manager
Theresa RauertAdministrative Assistant
Mila BrojanBookkeeper
Gerarda PizzarelloResident Artist
Charles Hess developed the technique of inference reading while earning his B.A. in Political Science at the University of Rochester. By reading outside his field of study, he found he was able to create connections and piece together a more realistic perspective of world economic, political and social events. Recognizing the implications of inference reading for business, Mr. Hess helped develop its steady growth and development. In 1980, as a leader in the field, he helped found Inferential Focus.
Kenneth Hey, managing partner and writer, holds an M.A. in Renaissance Humanities and a Ph.D. in American Studies. Mr. Hey received a Fulbright Lectureship to the University of Rome, Italy, for 1976-1977. He also participated in a National Endowment for the Humanities grant. In 1985, he received a Silver Award at the Houston International Film Festival for his feature-length documentary,Southern Voices, American Dreams, an overview of the American South in the 1970’s. After fourteen years as a professor at Brooklyn College, where he served as Chairman of the Film Department, he became a partner at Inferential Focus. Also formerly a film critic for USA Today magazine, Mr. Hey’s continuing achievements in diverse fields contribute a unique dimension to research and published reports at Inferential Focus. His writing has appeared in the popular, professional and scholarly press.
Fran Insinga has served as Chief Operating Officer since the earliest days of Inferential Focus. She, along with managing partner Charles Hess, has been with the company from it’s inception. Fran has had a long career at Inferential Focus working with investment firms where she acted as a registered broker and general principal. Her current duties include management of office operations, the administrative staff as well as being directly involved in financial aspects of the firm.
Gregg's experience as a client of Inferential Focus for more than 20 years inspired his decision to join the team in January of 2013. Prior to joining Inferential Focus, Gregg was a Senior Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager of Black River Asset Management (a subsidiary of Cargill), responsible for the firms Long/Short Equity platform activities (2005-2012). Gregg graduated from the University of Minnesota, with a Bachelor's degree in Finance and Marketing and with a Master's degree in Business Administration. He is a CFA charter holder.
Eric Zavolinsky is a director, writer and member of the intelligence, client service and investment teams. Eric also leads Inferential Focus' digital initiatives. He holds a B.A. in Journalism from Washington and Lee University. Prior to joining Inferential Focus in 2002, Mr. Zavolinsky worked in the entertainment and technology industries at CDNOW, an online music retailer, and at Island Def Jam Records. Mr. Zavolinsky began his career as a freelance television producer including a job as a highlight producer at the 1998 U.S. Open for USA Network.
Risa Hess, director and member of the intelligence, client service and investment teams, holds a B.S. from the University of Rhode Island in Fashion and Textiles with a minor in Fine Arts including a senior honors colloquium thesis in Photography. Ms. Hess spent 20 years in the fashion industry starting as a buyer for a major national department store. Her stint as product development coordinator for several major national department stores took her on extensive travels throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Michael J. Hines, director, writer and member of the intelligence, client service and investment teams, holds an A.B. from Harvard University in Social Studies with a thesis in Economic Sociology. He continues to study equity analysis at New York University. An avid world traveler, he holds language citations in Spanish and French and studies Italian and Portuguese. Prior to working at Inferential Focus, Mr. Hines worked for WIEGO, an international NGO that organizes women in the informal economy of emerging markets. Mr. Hines is the principal author of eFocus/inFocus.
Greggory Elias is a Senior Associate, writer and contributor to the intelligence, investment and digital strategy teams. He holds a B.A. in Economics and Philosophy from Vanderbilt University. Greggory has been with Inferential Focus for 5 years and has enjoyed exploring the complexity of financial markets. He is an avid learner and is currently focused on studying for the second level of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
Melissa Cipolla started her administrative career in New York City 17 years ago. Prior to joining the team at Inferential Focus, she held positions at Nathan & Lewis Securities and Calvin Klein Inc., where she served in the capacity of executive administrative support to management. Since joining Inferential Focus in 2002, Melissa has held the position of Senior Executive Administrative Assistant to Charles Hess. Melissa also serves as our chief travel coordinator for the Managing Partners and Directors.
Lauren Wonica graduated magna cum laude from St. John’s University with a B.A. in Psychology and a pre-professional Business Minor. She started her administrative career with Inferential Focus right out of school and has remained an integral part of our company ever since, where she has been the key force behind coordinating our Executive Forums. Across time, Lauren’s responsibilities have grown to the degree that she now executes dual roles as Administrative Director of front office operations, as well as Executive Assistant to Ken Hey.
Gene Brojan has been with Inferential Focus for 15 years. He is a native New Yorker, world traveler, and a fan of music. Prior to joining the company, he studied music and the arts, as well as working in the entertainment industry. Gene enjoys traveling, spending time with his family and being active in the community.
Theresa is a 2011 graduate from SUNY Oneonta where she majored in Communications and minored in Computer Art. She joined the team at Inferential Focus in 2011 and has assumed many responsibilities within our front office operations. In addition to assisting the Directors in day-to-day operations, she serves a key role in the production and distribution of reports and other client communications. In the past year, Theresa has also assumed the role of our in-house Events Coordinator.
Mila Brojan joined Inferential Focus in 1984. She came to us with over 14 years of banking experience in payment and investigations. In addition to her myriad of bookkeeping and banking duties, Mila plays an active role in account maintenance, the distribution of periodicals, office supplies and inventory, as well as article preparation for packet creation.
Gerarda Pizzarello graduated from Rutgers University, Douglass College with two B.A. degrees, one in English and one Sociology. Her academic achievements are complemented by artistic and project management skills, having spent over a decade leading projects for plays and feature films in the NY and NJ areas. She is an alumni of the Julliard School in NY. She served on the faculty of The Studio School of Stage Design. Gerarda later went on to become Charge Scenic Artist at the McCarter Theater in Princeton, NJ. Her film career began by working with Director John Sayles as Scenic Foreman on his 1996 film Lone Star. Since joining United Scenic Artists, her professional career spans across Broadway, opera at both the Metropolitan Opera and the Wolf Trap Opera, network television and feature films. Television and film work includes: Saturday Night Live, Sex and the City, Law and Order: Criminal, A Beautiful Mind, City by the Sea, Mona Lisa Smile, the Manchurian Candidate, Spiderman 2 and Definitely Maybe. After more than a decade in show business, she has turned her attention back to work in the private sector where she currently holds a position as staff artist for Inferential Focus.
