Client Service Team

Our team is in the client service business. If our team members aren't directly doing things for and communicating with you, they are supporting the people who are. Our team is interdependent and while we each have specific skills and experience we bring to our work with clients, no job is too small for one team member to help another. 

Our teammates' average tenure at our firm is five years. North Berkeley provides comprehensive benefits that include: 100% of health insurance premiums for team members and everyone in their immediate family, bonuses, pre-tax profit-sharing, paid time off to do volunteer work in the community, and free comprehensive service as clients of the firm, so we all know what it is like to be clients of the firm.

Debra Ellisen

Debra serves as a Client Associate, coordinating all aspects of service for a group of North Berkeley clients. She joined the team in 2002, and prior to her current role, Debra was the primary liaison for clients and was responsible for office management. She was also accountable for ensuring the smooth implementation of client transactions and operations.

For twelve years before joining North Berkeley Investment Partners, Debra was a technical recruiter for several consulting companies in the San Francisco Bay area. She also worked as a sales representative for a wholesale pharmaceutical company.

Debra attended the State University of New York at Binghamton (now Binghamton University) and received a B.A. in Biology. She lives in the Crocker Highlands area of Oakland with her husband Eric and young son.

Clare Gallagher

Clare serves as a Client Associate for a group of North Berkeley clients and coordinates all aspects of service for these clients. Clare is also our Operations Specialist and oversees the daily account operations for all North Berkeley clients. She is in charge of tracking documents, transactions, and trades to ensure timely implementation and follow through on changes and updates. She has been on the team since 2004.

Clare graduated from the State University of New York College at Oneonta with a B.A. in Speech Communication and completed a two-year intensive course in Japanese language at Sophia University in Tokyo. While in Japan, Clare participated in the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program teaching English in junior high and high school. She also has experience working in the field of import/export and Internet technologies.

Lori Howells

Lori is our Office Administrator and oversees calendar management, reception and other administrative duties within the firm. She joined the firm in 2010.

Lori graduated from Humboldt State University with a B.A. in Music, emphasizing in Vocal Performance. Lori has performed in musicals, choirs and operas including the lead role in The Crucible. Her favorite performance to date was as a first soprano in Carl Orff's Carmina Burana with the UC Alumni Chorus. She also completed a certificate program at UC Berkeley Extension for Training and Human Resource Development.

Prior to joining our firm, Lori worked in the IT field, then in administrative and customer service management for several years. She is a long time North Berkeley resident and enjoys mystery novels, hiking, knitting and crossword puzzles.

Brian Kozel

Brian serves as a Client Associate. He is responsible for coordinating all aspects of service for a group of North Berkeley clients.

Prior to joining the firm in 2011, Brian worked as a Mutual Fund Accountant at State Street Corporation, performing daily reconciliation on trading and cash management for a team that focused on strategic transitions and alternative investments. In addition to his work at the firm, Brian is pursuing the CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) designation, and has also passed the first of three required examinations towards a CFA® (Certified Financial Analyst) certification.

Brian attended Santa Clara University and graduated with a B.S. in Finance and International Business. After living in Sacramento, he has returned to his hometown of Lafayette in order to be closer to friends and family. In his free time, he enjoys backpacking, traveling, spending time with his large extended family, and community service.

Steve Martinucci

Steve, our Trader & Performance Reporting Specialist, is responsible for securities execution, performance reporting, cost basis issues, and quarterly billing. He also supports the team as a liaison to external service providers for technology and office site maintenance. He joined the firm in 2006.

For six years prior to joining the firm, Steve was a Registered Associate at Smith Barney. While at Smith Barney, Steve supported several financial consultants with daily operations and administrative duties which included processing financial transactions, compiling reports for client presentations, obtaining investment and product information and responding to client needs. Steve is a registered representative with Protected Investors of America, Member FINRA.

Steve attended the University of California, Davis and received a B.S. in Psychology. He grew up in El Cerrito and now lives in Richmond with his wife Angela and their young son and daughter. Steve enjoys golfing, hiking and spending time with his family.

David Rimer

David has been a Research Associate at the firm since 2007. He supports the principals and Investment Committee in investment research, investment manager due diligence, and portfolio analytics. David received his MBA in Finance from Saint Mary’s College and BS in Management and Economics from San Francisco State University. Prior to becoming a college student in the U. S., David worked at an Israeli software start-up and served in the Israeli Defense Forces. He lives in Walnut Creek with his wife Anna and enjoys reading, hiking and travel. David is multilingual and fluent in English, Russian and Hebrew.