Our People
Longevity, experience, and stability are among the core attributes of Willis Investment Counsel and its team of investment professionals. Founded in 1979, the firm has managed investment portfolios for more than 31 years. Its investment professionals average more than 27 years in portfolio management, with operations and administrative staff members averaging more than ten years in the industry.The Willis Investment Counsel investment professionals include:
Wendell M. Starke, CFAChairman, Investment Committee
Mr. Starke is a principal and chairman of the Willis Investment Counsel investment committee. He was a founding partner of INVESCO, Inc., an independent investment management firm founded in 1979 in Atlanta. While at INVESCO, Mr. Starke was responsible for the development of stock and bond management methodologies that made INVESCO a leading global investment management firm. He was INVESCO's president and chief investment officer from 1979 through 1992. From 1992 through 1999, Mr. Starke served as Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of INVESCO, Inc., the parent company of INVESCO Capital Management and other North American money management subsidiaries. Mr. Starke also served Chairman of the Investment Committee of AMVESCAP, PLC, the London-based parent company of the worldwide INVESCO organization. After a distinguished career at INVESCO, Mr. Starke withdrew in 1999 to pursue various business interests. He holds an undergraduate business degree (summa cum laude) from Auburn University and is a member of the first MBA graduating class at Auburn. Mr. Starke is a member of the Girls and Boys Town National Board of Trustees, as well as a former president of the Atlanta Society of Financial Analysts and a former chairman of the State YMCA of Georgia.
Robert T. Willis, Jr., CPA, CFAManaging Director and Chief Investment Officer
Mr. Willis is the founding principal, managing director, and chief investment officer of Willis Investment Counsel. In addition, he serves on the firm's investment committee.
Prior to founding WIC in 1979, Mr. Willis was a tax accountant in the Atlanta office of Arthur Andersen & Company. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). Mr. Willis holds a bachelor of business administration degree, with high distinction, from Emory University's Goizueta Business School.
He is a member of the AICPA, the Georgia Society of CPA's, the CFA Institute, and the Atlanta Society of Financial Analysts. He is also a former trustee and investment committee member of the State of Georgia Employee Pension Fund.
James J. KilroyManaging Director and Portfolio Manager
Mr. Kilroy is a principal, managing director, and portfolio manager of Willis Investment Counsel, having responsibility for security analysis and portfolio management. He also serves on the firm's investment committee. Prior to joining WIC, Mr. Kilroy was an analyst with Abingdon Capital Management, a long/short hedge fund, where he was a member of the firm’s investment committee. Mr. Kilroy's seven-year tenure at Abingdon Capital was preceded by two years as an equity research analyst at Bear, Stearns & Co. covering the multi-industrials sector, and four years as an investment banker with SunTrust Equitable Securities. Mr. Kilroy holds a bachelor of science degree in Business Administration from the Kenan-Flagler School of Business at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Robert G. PenningtonManaging Director and Chief Compliance Officer
Mr. Pennington is a principal and managing director of Willis Investment Counsel, having responsibility for business development, client relations, and corporate strategy. Mr. Pennington is also the firm's chief compliance officer. Prior to joining WIC in 2004, Mr. Pennington was a vice president of Emory University and a partner with the Atlanta-based law firm of King & Spalding where his practice of 20 years involved nationally and internationally based experience in commercial real estate and finance (including public and private debt and equity financing), corporate law, and related practice areas. Mr. Pennington is a four-time graduate of Emory University, holding a law degree from Emory University School of Law, an MBA (concentration in finance) from Goizueta Business School, a bachelor of arts degree with honors from Emory College, and an associate in arts degree from Oxford College of Emory University. In addition to serving a number of civic organizations, he is a member of the CFA Institute, the Atlanta Society of Financial Analysts, the Investment Management Consultants Association, the Professional Association for Investment Communications Resources, and the Association of Investment Management Sales Executives.
Peter D. MillerInvestment Strategist and Portfolio Manager
Mr. Miller is investment strategist and portfolio manager at Willis Investment Counsel, having responsibility for equity security analysis and portfolio management. Prior to joining WIC, he was Regional Chief Executive Officer of Regions Financial Corporation. With more than three decades of experience in banking and finance, Mr. Miller is a proven leader in financial business circles and is widely known and respected for his successes with Regions Bank. Prior to becoming President and Chief Administrative Officer of First National Bancorp, which was acquired by Regions Financial Corporation in 1996, Mr. Miller served in a variety of positions at the bank including, among others, security analyst, portfolio manager, and trust department head.
Mr. Miller's commitment to community service includes currently chairing the Brenau University Board of Trustees (having served Brenau as an instructor and chair of the Brenau Annual Fund Drive) and serving as a trustee of Georgia State University Foundation, Inc., where he chairs the foundation's investment committee. He has chaired the Northeast Georgia Council Boy Scouts Capital Campaign and served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Miller is a recipient of the Bronze Star from his service in the U.S. Army, and he holds a business degree in finance from Georgia State University.
Sara R. MooreResearch Analyst
Ms. Moore is a research analyst at Willis Investment Counsel. Her primary responsibilities include supporting the WIC portfolio managers of the WIC Income Fund in portfolio monitoring, composition, and analytics. She also serves as secondary support for other firm portfolio managers in connection with other investment funds and portfolios managed by the firm.
Ms. Moore holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from North Georgia College and State University (concentration in finance).
Kelli M. WrightHead Trader and Senior Portfolio Administrator
Ms. Wright is the head trader and senior portfolio administrator at Willis Investment Counsel. She oversees securities trading, the portfolio accounting and client reporting systems, and portfolio monitoring for client specific investment policy compliance. Prior to joining WIC, Ms Wright served as a financial advisor for the private banking group of Wachovia Bank of Georgia (now Wells Fargo).
Ms. Wright holds a Bachelor of Science degree and an MBA degree (concentration in finance) from Auburn University.
Meredith McEverAssistant Trader and Portfolio Administrator
Ms. McEver is an assistant trader and portfolio administrator at Willis Investment Counsel. She has responsibilities for securities trading and client portfolio accounting and administration. Prior to joining WIC, Ms McEver served as a senior regional operations manager for Regions Financial Corporation.
Ms. McEver holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from North Georgia College and State University (concentration in accounting) and an MBA degree from Brenau University. She is an active member of the Gainesville Hall County Junior League, Northeast Georgia Health System Auxiliary, and United Way Young Leaders Society, as well as a graduate of Leadership Hall County.