Our team has decades of experience in alternative investments, offering extensive insight and expertise in evaluating and marketing attractive investment opportunities.
Our backgrounds are specialized and enable us to build an informed and educated dialogue for each client; one unified team working seamlessly to ensure success.
KARA EDGAR, Founding Partner
Kara Edgar is the Founding Partner of ESCS. Ms. Edgar’s Wall Street career began at The Clinton Group trading convertible bonds and arbitrage products before she made the transition to in-house hedge fund marketer and brand ambassador in 2005.
Prior to founding ESCS her previous advisory work included experience as Director of Strategic Relationships at a +$5 billion alternative asset manager. She advised the management team on business development decisions involving the partial sale of the GP, geographic dispersion and expansion, critical asset growth and investor relations.
Ms. Edgar was previously a Director at Garrison Investment Group marketing hedge fund and hybrid securities including corporate and consumer lending, distressed corporate, distressed financial assets and distressed commercial real estate.
From 2005-2008 Ms. Edgar was a Vice President at Plainfield Asset Management where she was part of a two person marketing team that raised $1 billion for the flagship fund in the first seven months and $4.2 billion over three years.
She graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College and was a member of the Varsity Swim Team. Outside of the office you can find Kara running. She fancies a good long run with her husband and is frequently found running after their three children and the family dog often on the soccer field.
LIZ HOGAN, Capital Markets Expert
Liz Hogan currently advises financial services companies on Strategy, Business Development and Client Relationship Management. Liz has extensive background in the Capital Markets as both Treasurer and Head of Fixed Income Currencies and Commodities for Societe Generale in the Americas. Her deep network allows her to make unique connections to clients, technologies and to new areas of business in the ever changing financial services and fintech landscape. She is also uniquely qualified to leverage her knowledge of business, technology and clients to connect across firms to create efficiencies through replication and quick decision making.
Liz is focused on finding ways to help banks, broker dealers, asset managers and Fintechs grow their business. Liz is also passionate about Women’s Entrepreneurship. She strives to encourage entrepreneurs and female founders by mentoring and investing in startups. As part of the Advisory Board for the Feliciano Center for Entrepreneurship at Montclair State University and as a member of several angel networks; she connects and collaborates with students and founders to give them access to funding and resources to help their journey.
AMARA KAIYALETHE, Communications Strategist
Amara Kaiyalethe, founder and principal of ASK Communications, is a seasoned communications professional with over a decade of experience in asset management, financial, professional services, high tech, corporate and political communications.
Prior to launching ASK, Amara served for seven years as communications director for Whitebox Advisors, a $6 billion, leading global hedge fund firm. In this role, she oversaw all public relations strategy and execution, including media relations, conferences/industry positioning, executive communications, presentation training, internal communications, and reputation, crisis and issues management.
Before joining Whitebox, Amara held senior positions at two distinguished public relations firms in New York City, Dukas (now Dukas Linden) Public Relations and HL group where she advised well-known clients from M&A firms, hedge funds and trade organizations, to popular shoe brands and e-commerce sites. Earlier, Amara also served in the communications offices of a member of the United States House of Representatives on Capitol Hill in DC and on a 2008 presidential campaign.
Amara holds a Master’s Degree in Public Communication from the American University in Washington, DC, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Florida.
RON IDRA, Marketing Communications & Digital Media
Ron is a digital producer, project manager, and strategist, with a multi-faceted career combining media, writing, and law. His focus is on the marketing communication, branding, and digital needs of financial firms, who he services through a combination of brand development, design, web production, video, and strategic content.
Recent clients include several emerging hedge funds, alternative asset marketers, and a startup in capital markets training / equity research – for whom he developed brands, online presences, pitchbooks, and other marketing materials, as well as a concept of an interactive educational tool. Past clients included several boutique Manhattan law firms, a 30 attorney insurance firm, and a 100 employee manufacturer in Pennsylvania.
Ron’s production skills have been further honed by his past work in theater, where he co-produced Off-Off Broadway as well as Off-Broadway shows. He continues to leverage relationships in media, finance, and cutting-edge technologies to help build new opportunities for clients.
As a former intellectual property attorney, he was an associate at two prestigious New York law firms, including Dewey Ballantine, LLP, and consulted for companies such as MetLife Insurance Co. and JP Morgan & Co. He also wrote a published book on an intellectual property & licensing, geared to the layperson. He holds a J.D. from New York University School of Law, where he was an editor on the N.Y.U. Law Review.
KUKUA CONSULTING, ESG Experts
Kukua brings a diverse set of skills and a knowledge base centered on the philosophy of Responsible Investing and Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) Investing. The firm’s advisory services accelerate the solution of complex challenges in the field, allowing clients to expand their reach towards sustainability. Through regular engagement and intake, they help clients’ internal resourcing and operations. They are also thought influencers in the field.