Robert B. Mersky, CFA
President
Portfolio Manager

Bob is a portfolio manager responsible for stock selection, portfolio construction, and client service for the Small Cap Growth Equity style. As president of Peregrine, Bob heads the firm’s Management Policy Group and is a liaison between Peregrine and its parent, Wells Fargo & Company. Also a founding member of Peregrine, he has been with the firm since its inception in 1984.

Prior to Peregrine, Bob was Head of Investments for the Trust Department of Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A. (now Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A.). He started with Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A. after graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1968. He began his career as an analyst and soon added portfolio management responsibilities for personal trust accounts. Bob became Director of Research, and was a founder of the Small Cap Growth Equity style in 1974.

Bob is a member of the CFA Institute.

Back to top

Paul E. von Kuster, CFA
Senior Vice President
Portfolio Manager

Paul is a portfolio manager responsible for stock selection, portfolio construction, and client service for the Small Cap Growth Equity style. In addition, he is an officer of the firm and a member of Peregrine’s Management Policy Group. Also a founding member of Peregrine, he has been with the firm since its inception in 1984.

Prior to Peregrine, Paul managed small cap funds for the Trust Department at Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A. (now Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A.). He started with Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A. in 1972 after graduating from Princeton the year before. He began his investment career as an analyst in 1974, soon becoming involved in Small Cap Growth Equity portfolio management.

Paul is a member of the CFA Institute.

Back to top

Daniel J. Hagen, CFA
Senior Vice President
Portfolio Manager

Dan joined Peregrine’s Small Cap Growth Equity team in 1996 and is one of three portfolio managers responsible for stock selection, portfolio construction, and client service.

Prior to Peregrine, Dan was a Managing Director and Assistant Manager for the Equity Strategy Group at Piper Jaffray. He joined Piper Jaffray as a Statistical Analyst in 1983, upon graduating from the University of Minnesota.

Dan is a member of the CFA Institute and a past board member of the Piper Jaffray Foundation. He regularly shares his financial expertise with a number of nonprofit organizations.

Back to top

William A. Grierson, CFA
Senior Vice President
Portfolio Manager

Bill is a Portfolio Manager for the Small Cap Growth Equity style and shares the responsibility of stock research and selection with his team. Bill joined Peregrine’s Small Cap Growth Equity team in 2000 as a securities analyst.

Prior to Peregrine, he was a Senior Research Analyst and Portfolio Manager with Kopp Investment Advisors for more than six years. He joined Northern Trust as a Reporting Analyst in 1992, upon graduation from Lawrence University.

Bill is a member of the CFA Institute.

Back to top

James P. Ross, CFA
Senior Vice President
Portfolio Manager

Jim is a Portfolio Manager for the Small Cap Growth Equity style and shares the responsibility of stock research and selection with his team. Jim joined Peregrine’s Small Cap Growth Equity team in 1996 as a Senior Portfolio Advisor. He is also responsible for portfolio performance attribution and special projects, and shares responsibility for client service and communication.

Before coming to Peregrine, Jim spent six years at Norwest Investment Management (now Wells Capital Management), where he held various positions. His most recent responsibilities included Chief Investment Officer and Product Manager for the Norwest Advantage Funds, and investment analysis and oversight for the corporation’s benefit plans. Prior to that, he worked as a Treasury Analyst at Ecolab, Inc.

Jim holds a BBA and an MBA from the University of Iowa, and he is a member of the Twin Cities Society of Security Analysts and the CFA Institute.

Back to top