Providing independent
investment counsel
for more than 20 years
Our Team
Richard Bean - Vice President and Portfolio Manager
Richard is a Vice President of CornerCap Investment Counsel. He is the senior equity analyst for Industrial and Consumer Staple sectors and a member of the investment committee. He comanages the CornerCap Small Cap Value Fund. Prior to joining the firm in 1996 he worked for an employee benefits and actuarial firm. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Atlanta. He is also a certified public accountant (CPA) and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Richard has a BS in Finance from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Charles E. Bettinger - Director of Trading
Charlie is responsible for the trading at CornerCap Investment Counsel. He oversees all equity and fixed income trading as well as assisting in research on new investment products. Prior to joining CornerCap in 2008, Charlie was an equity trader on the New York Stock Exchange for 10 years with Goldman Sachs.
J. Cannon Carr, Jr. - Chief Investment Officer
Cannon is our Chief Investment Officer. He leads our weekly investment committee and is lead analyst for Consumer Discretionary, Technology and Telecom sectors. He joined CornerCap in June 2007, after being a client for over seven years. Prior to joining CornerCap, Cannon was a senior equity analyst at CIBC World Markets (formerly Oppenheimer), covering IT business services (2006-07), wireless services (2001-05), and emerging telecom (1998-05). Cannon has provided commentary on CNBC, CNN, Lou Dobbs MoneyLine, and Bloomberg News. He has also been quoted in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and Fortune, among other publications. He was rated a five-star analyst by Zachs Research in 2006. Cannon has an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BA from Princeton University in Political Economy. Cannon is a member of Rotary International and serves on the Outreach Board of Teach for America Atlanta.
Larry M. Christ - Vice President and Portfolio Manager
Larry is the Vice President and Portfolio Manager of the Charlotte office. He brings a combined 20 years of institutional, high net worth individual investment management and securities valuation experience to CornerCap. Prior to joining the firm, Larry served as a Financial Advisor at GenSpring Family Offices and, most recently, Bank of America Merrill Lynch where he managed portfolios for high and ultra-high net worth families. At the institutional level, Larry began as a corporate finance and securities analyst with Bank of America before spending several years as the Senior Portfolio Advisor to the bank’s $7 billion pension plan and Director of Portfolio Construction for foundation and endowments. Larry also served nearly five years as the lead privately held securities analyst within Wachovia’s (First Union) trust group. Larry has spoken to several organizations on investment strategy including TIGER 21, the nation’s premier peer-to-peer learning network for high net worth investors in New York City, and Grant Thornton, a global audit, tax and advisory organization. Larry is a Chartered Financial Analyst Charterholder, and a member of the CFA Institute and North Carolina Society of Financial Analysts. Larry received a B.A. in Finance from the University of Northern Iowa.
J.C. Blucher Ehringhaus, III - Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director
Blucher is a Senior Vice President and is the Regional Managing Director for CornerCap Investment Counsel’s Charlotte office. He joined the firm in 2010 after six years with SunTrust Bank, its subsidiary GenSpring Family Offices, as well as SunTrust Private Wealth Management. Prior to his work at SunTrust, Blucher served in various capacities within the Trust and Investment Groups of Nations Bank. Blucher brings broad experience in trust, investments, finance, charitable, and estate planning as well as a strong commitment to customer service and relationship management. Blucher has a BA from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Management Development Program. He has been involved with lobbying and legislative advocacy efforts on behalf of arts organizations and other nonprofits in North Carolina through his work with The NC Center For Nonprofits, ARTS North Carolina, and the NC Museum of Art. He recently completed his third term as President of The NC State Art Society, one of the governing boards of the NC Museum of Art, and continues to serve on the Capital Campaign Steering Committee and the Development Committee of the Museum.
John A. Hackney, III - Chief Compliance Officer and Operations Manager
John is Chief Compliance Officer and Operations Manager of CornerCap Investment Counsel. John and his staff's broad responsibilities include administering CornerCap's compliance with federal and state regulatory authorities, and maintaining and reporting accurate client account data. Prior to joining the firm in 1995, John worked in risk management at an Atlanta broker/dealer. John has a BA from the University of Virginia and an MAR from Yale Divinity School.
Gene A. Hoots - Chairman Emeritus
Gene is Chairman Emeritus and co-founder of CornerCap Investment Counsel, which was incorporated in 1989. His previous positions included Vice President of Reich & Tang, a large New York City investment advisory firm, and President of RJR Investment Management Inc., the investment advisory subsidiary of RJR Nabisco. Gene also worked in mergers and acquisitions for R. J. Reynolds. Gene is involved with the firm's investment policies and strategies, and he also works with client development. Gene is frequently asked to lecture on topics related to investments and the financial markets. He has an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University.
Jeffrey P. Moeller - Research Analyst and Portfolio Manager
Jeff is a Portfolio Manager of CornerCap Investment Counsel and is the senior equity analyst for Financial and Healthcare sectors. He is a member of the investment committee and manages our day-to-day execution of Fundametrics©. He comanages the CornerCap Balance Fund and the Large/Mid Cap Value Fund (formerly the Contrarrian Fund). Jeff joined CornerCap in 2000 and served as the firm’s trader for three years. He returned in 2004 in his present capacity. Jeff is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Atlanta. He has a BS in Finance from Oklahoma State University.
C. Paige Mitts - Director of Private Client Services
Paige Mitts is the Director of Private Client Services for the Atlanta office, serving as the primary coordinator for the firm’s client relationships, ultimately ensuring that the firm delivers the appropriate wealth management solutions to each client based on their goals and objectives. Joining CornerCap in June 2011, Paige brings over 20 years of experience in delivering client solutions in private banking and wealth management, including seven years at SunTrust and thirteen at Wachovia where she helped build and manage the client service practices for affluent families and professional associations. Most recently, she was a Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, building a practice to serve wealthy families, professionals, and entrepreneurs. Paige spends considerable time in the community, including serving on the Corporate Leadership Council of Fernbank Museum and working with the Atlanta Women’s Network and Women in Financial Services. She holds a B.S. in Finance from Louisiana State University, and is currently enrolled in the Certified Financial Planner program at the Terry College of Business-University of Georgia.
Thomas E. Quinn - Chief Executive Officer
Tom is CEO of CornerCap Investment Counsel and is a member of the investment committee. He and Gene Hoots co-founded the firm, which was incorporated in 1989. Tom is also President and Treasurer of the CornerCap Group of Funds. His previous positions included being Chief Investment Officer of RJR Investment Management, Inc., the investment advisory subsidiary of RJR Nabisco, and a consultant for Arthur Andersen & Co. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Atlanta. He is a certified public accountant (CPA) and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He has an MS in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Ohio University and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Merriweather K. Raidle - Client Service Manager
Merriweather is a Client Service Manager of CornerCap Investment Counsel, serving clients throughout the Carolinas from the Charlotte Office. Prior to joining CornerCap in 2011, Merriweather served as an Investment Analyst for Kiawah Capital, LLC, the family investment office for the owners and developers of Kiawah Island, SC. While at Kiawah, the firm partnered with GenSpring Family Offices and she served as the Family Services Coordinator of the Charleston office. Merriweather has a BS in Business Administration from the College of Charleston and is a Level II CFA candidate.
Jennifer Record Schmidt - Client Service Manager
Jennifer is a Client Service Manager of CornerCap Investment Counsel. Prior to joining CornerCap in 2009, Jennifer served as a relationship specialist with Charles Schwab, assisting investment advisory firms in the Atlanta region. She previously worked in wealth management for a firm based out of Chicago with a 100-plus year history. Jennifer holds several FINRA licenses including Series 66, 7 and 9/10. She has a BA in Business Administration from The University of Florida.
Patrice A. Smith - Administrative Manager
Patrice is an Administrative Manager with CornerCap Investment Counsel and a member of IAAP, International Association of Administrative Professionals. Prior to joining CornerCap Investment Counsel in 2000, she worked in customer service with General Electric.
Mark H. Tucker - Portfolio Manager
Mark is a Portfolio Manager of CornerCap Investment Counsel and is a member of the investment committee. Prior to joining CornerCap in 2009, Mark served as a portfolio manager and securities analyst at a local Atlanta investment advisory firm. He previously worked in the equity research department of SunTrust Robinson Humphrey. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Atlanta. He has a BA in Economics from The University of the South–Sewanee.