ABOUT US

Michael Sansoterra is chief investment officer, managing director, and senior portfolio manager at Silvant Capital Management, an investment management affiliate of Virtus Investment Partners.

Mr. Sansoterra joined Silvant in 2007 through its predecessor firm, Trusco Capital Management. Previously, he was at Principal Global Investors, where he held several positions during his tenure there, including portfolio manager of large cap diversified growth, director of research for large/mid-cap domestic equities, and senior equity analyst. Earlier in his career, he worked as a senior equity analyst for USAA Investment Management and as an equity analyst and portfolio manager at The Northern Trust Company. He has worked in investment management since 1996.

Mr. Sansoterra earned a B.S. in economics from The University of Michigan.

Sandeep Bhatia is a managing director and senior portfolio manager at Silvant Capital Management, an investment management affiliate of Virtus Investment Partners.

Mr. Bhatia joined Silvant in 2007 through its predecessor firm, Trusco Capital Management. Previously, Mr. Bhatia served as a senior research analyst for Eagle Asset Management, focusing on the healthcare sector from 2005-2007. Previously, he worked as a sell-side senior equity research analyst in the healthcare sector at Piper Jaffray and as an equity research analyst at Dain Rauscher Wessels. Mr. Bhatia has worked in investment management since 2000 and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA^®) charterholder.

Mr. Bhatia earned an M.B.A. with High Honors from the University of Chicago with a concentration in finance, a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Iowa State University, and a bachelor of technology degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology.

Brandi Allen is a managing director and portfolio manager at Silvant Capital Management, an investment management affiliate of Virtus Investment Partners. Her responsibilities include managing the Silvant Focused Large Cap Growth strategy and covering the healthcare and consumer staples sectors.

Prior to joining what is now Silvant in 2006, Ms. Allen worked at Oak Associates as co-portfolio manager of a healthcare biotech fund and a small-cap growth fund. Ms. Allen has been working in the investment industry since 1997, focusing on healthcare and portfolio management.

Ms. Allen earned a B.B.A. with honors in Finance from Ohio University and an M.B.A. from Case Western Reserve University.

Sowmdeb Sen is a managing director and portfolio manager at Silvant Capital Management, an investment management affiliate of Virtus Investment Partners. His responsibilities include managing the Silvant Mid-Cap Growth strategy and covering the consumer discretionary, communication services, and financials sectors.

Prior to joining Silvant in 2010, Mr. Sen served as a research analyst for Certium Asset Management for two years, where he covered the European financial and healthcare sectors, as well as Southeast Asian markets. Prior to joining Certium, he worked for Eagle Asset Management for eight years covering financials. He has worked in the investment industry since 1999.

Mr. Sen earned an M.S. in mathematical finance from the University of Southern California, an M.S. in economics from SUNY Buffalo, and an M.S. in mathematics from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, India.

Stephen Coker is a sector portfolio manager and has responsibility for the industrial, energy, and materials sectors. He has worked in the investment industry since 1997.

Prior to joining Silvant in 2015, Mr. Coker was an equity analyst and portfolio manager of the growth equity strategy at Frost Investment Advisors. Previously, he worked as an equity analyst for Principal Financial Group and SunTrust Bank.

Mr. Coker is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charterholder, and also holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst designation. He earned a B.S. in management from Georgia Institute of Technology and an M.B.A. from Indiana University.

Outside Interests: Leading his son’s Boy Scouts of America (BSA) troop, being a soccer/track/Taekwondo dad, and DIY home improvements.

Greg Frasca serves as a sector portfolio manager and is responsible for covering the information technology sector. 

Prior to joining Silvant in 2019, Mr. Frasca owned a real estate and consumer finance company. From 2013 to 2015, he was an analyst covering the healthcare and consumer sectors, working at Fortress Investment Group (Logan Circle Partners) with his former Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) partners. From 2010 to 2013, he worked at GSAM as an analyst covering the technology, healthcare, and consumer sectors. Before that, Mr. Frasca served as an analyst for Wellington Management covering technology and energy.

Mr. Frasca earned a B.S. from Binghamton University and his Masters of Business Administration from Emory University. Greg has worked in investment management since 2005. 

Outside Interests: Hiking, music, gardening, and spending time with family.

Marc Schneidau is a managing director, chief operating officer, and client portfolio manager at Silvant Capital Management, an investment management affiliate of Virtus Investment Partners. Mr. Schneidau serves as a liaison between the portfolio management team and all firm clients. His responsibilities include directing client investment meetings and explaining investment strategy, process, philosophy, performance, and outlook.

Mr. Schneidau joined what is now Silvant in 1997 and has served as portfolio manager of the firm’s Large Cap Core Growth and other growth equity strategies. Previously, he was a management consultant with Georgia Pacific Corporation. He began his career at the Securities Industry Association (SIA) in Washington, D.C. (then called the Public Securities Association).

Mr. Schneidau earned a B.S. in marketing from Louisiana State University and an M.B.A. with a concentration in finance and a graduate certificate in information systems & telecommunications from The George Washington University. He has worked in the financial services industry since 1989.

As Silvant’s portfolio specialist, Jennifer Stewart is responsible for the firm’s client service, marketing, sales, and business operations.

Ms. Stewart joined Silvant in 2001, serving as a marketing and portfolio assistant on multiple portfolios. Prior to joining Silvant, she worked for SunTrust Banks.

Ms. Stewart earned a B.S. in business management from Berry College. She has worked in the financial services industry since 1999.

Outside Interests: Gardening, group fitness classes, and family game nights.