ALAN REID ’87 Invests in His Relationship with Menlo College
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lan Reid ’87 has recently sold Forward Management, an asset management firm he founded with Gordon Getty.
Reid’s first call came from his longtime friend Alexander Panagopulos ’89. The two had kept in touch since leaving Menlo. Panagopulos appointed Reid director of the Arista Group, an international business and family office that focuses on maritime transportation, hospitality, food and beverage and senior care. Arista Group was founded by Mr. Panagopulos after he sold his ferry business, Arista Shipping. Arista/Panagopulos was featured in the Wall Street Journal as the first ferry operator to be granted a license by the US to offer service to Cuba. Before his position at the Arista Group, Reid spent 14 years in investment management as President and CEO at Forward Management. From his time at Forward he learned, “We need to tirelessly focus on how we can be better as an industry, and as people. As an asset management executive I believe in challenging the industry from within.” Reid credits his critical thinking learned at Menlo (giving special credit to Dr. Craig Medlen) for his industry successes. Alan was the first to call out the industry on mutual fund market timing, engaging with the SEC and later with Elliott Spitzer to support his own shareholders. A regular on CNBC, Alan points to a business communications class, where the application of academics first jelled. Reid was honored when Sungard Expert Solutions formalized his advisory role, by bringing Nobel Prize winner Harry Markowitz in to debate modern portfolio theory applications. Among other boards, Reid served on The Investment Company Institute Board of Governors, allowing him access to regular congressional discussions and a seat on an industry working group at The Federal Reserve in 2009. He is an enthusiastic Menlo College alumnus who has actively supported the College as the past President of the Menlo College Alumni Association. Reid has found Menlo alums central to his life. Whether being chided by friends Geir Ramleth, Fran Mann-Craig, John Rohrer, Glenn Nielsen and Mike Tomars to attend Menlo events, or welcomed to Dean Witter by Tyler Whitten. Menlo friends have always been there. On September 11, 2001, he bumped into Trisha Roney and Penny Miller (Penelope Ann Miller) in his NY hotel lobby. While an eerie day, they took solace in their reunion, and enjoyed a solemn stroll through Central Park. Trisha had dated Alan’s roommate Robin Russell, and the two were among the few Menlo students that Penny had entrusted with her plan to leave school and wait tables in NY, while she tried out for Broadway plays. Over the years Reid’s business brought him in touch with many alumni including Amit Khatwani, Dave Stickney, Saed Amidi and Lawry Manna.
Alan Reid ’87 at the 2015 OAKtoberFest birthday celebration for Dorothy Skala
Reid’s Menlo story begins in 1981, when he transferred from Ohio Wesleyan after his freshman year at the suggestion of his boss and Menlo alumnus Bill Squires. Originally from New York, he came to California and was working as a lifeguard at the Circus Club to rehabilitate from a swimming accident. While Reid took an extended college route, enjoying a year at art school, he notes that Menlo was there for him when he was ready, warmly remembering many late afternoon debates with faculty members Brokes, McDonough and Medlen. Reid’s colorful college career paid off when he graduated. He was awarded the Faculty Award for leadership, character, and service at Menlo - possibly a shock to Deans Munster and Steiner, but an accolade to their and Dorothy Skala’s commitment to students. He remembers his dear friend Rudi Lang, who would let him sleep on the floor after late night study sessions. He fondly recalls his experience rooming with Lord Robin Russell, and their wonderful January semester experimenting with conversational French, the lovely Professor Claudie Hester and Elena Lopez. Russell and Reid still stay in touch weekly, and find frequent opportunities to meet in person. Reid and fellow classmates were saddened by the early passing of his friend Adi Dassler (son of the Adidas founder), but have arranged reunions in London, Geneva, and Menlo Park. Reid is hoping alumni can join him in the UAE with Menlo’s “Poetress of Light”, Bahareh Amidi. http://www.bahareh.com/ On his radar is Thom Dunaway ’87 (class president), founder of Wheretostay.com who is a renowned expert on the Caribbean, promising potential events for Menlo offsite reunions. Reid says he has always reached out to his Menlo friends, faculty and students, which has given him a network his east coast prep school friends were always jealous of. Today, he stays in touch with Menloites thru email, Facebook, LinkedIn and even Words-w-Friends, but encourages everyone to follow him on twitter @JAlanReid MENLO COLLEGE
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