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Best Citizen
Dawn Blankenship, COO, Socorro Asset Management
For being “a real connector,” as one judge phrased it. With more than 18 years of institutional operational and business development experience before co-founding Socorro in 2019, she has built programs at several places. For all that, a managing director of a multi-billion-dollar institution said, “she’s a real straight shooter — you don’t have to sugarcoat it with her.”
Liza Scott, Managing Director, CornerStone Partners
For being “the most networked person I’ve ever met,” as one senior investment leader at a multi-billion-dollar institution observed. “I have always admired her willingness to help anybody,” the same person added of the former Dominion Energy CIO. In a single word from our judges: “Terrific.”
Carlos Rangel, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
For generally being “wonderful,” as our judges said, including on diversity initiatives. With Kellogg since 2010 and on the board of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation since 2023, he’s “super well connected” and “always willing to help,” the judges observed. When Rangel got the CIO job, one notes, the other internal candidates stayed on: “That never happens and it shows how he moves through the world.”
Best Partner
Neuberger Berman
For consistently meeting the moment as an investment service provider. “As far as our providers, they are far and away the best,” one senior investment manager at a multi-billion-dollar institution said. “I really view them as an extension of my team.” From our judges: “Neuberger has always been a great partner to me.”
Grey Rock Investment Partners
For a proven track record of building investment portfolios for allocators such as endowments. The Dallas-based private equity firm’s assets under management may be only a fraction of what the other finalists’ are, but our judges valued Grey Rock’s considered approach to energy investing. Indeed, the team is “so thoughtful about everything.”
NISA Investment Advisors
For being dauntless and broad-thinking as a strategic partner to asset owners, particularly to corporate pension plans. NISA is a “fabulous partner” that will do just about anything for a client, regardless of the revenue benefit to itself, one judge said. Another observed that beyond serving its clients well, NISA is also “really focused on serving the community.”