front office

Skye Barry

Director of Public Markets

Skye Barry, CFA, CFP^®, is the firm's Director of Public Markets and is responsible for delivering clarity to Advisors and their clients on global markets as well as providing them with a consumable investment platform for managing wealth. Skye possesses an extensive background in portfolio management and investment research, most recently with Johnson Investment Counsel, where she served as a family office wealth advisor and portfolio manager for high-net-worth clients. Skye was also a member of the investment team, assisting with the development of the firm’s investment strategy and asset allocation. Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, Skye studied at the University of Cape Town where she earned her Bachelor of Business Science degree, majoring in Finance, graduating with Honors. Skye is a CFA Charterholder and holds the CFP® designation.

Skye is a graduate of the 2018 Board Orientation + Leadership Development (BOLD) program, which develops leaders to serve as nonprofit board members. She participated in the 2021 class of C-Change, a leadership development program through the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Cincinnati.

One of the best memories of her life was being able to witness her home country, South Africa, win the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa. It was a pivotal moment for the country. Now that she lives in the U.S. she is trying to learn exactly how football works and Football for Dummies is currently sitting in her Amazon cart. Also, fun fact, she made a very last-minute decision to study finance and not continue her training in professional ballet.

Jamie Bierman

Human Resources Manager

Jamie is passionate about partnering as an advisor to the firm's team members with the goal of providing tools and strategies needed to effectively create a culture where employees and the business thrive. Jamie is a human resources leader with nearly 20 years of strategic human resource experience.

Jamie has experience in retail, manufacturing, and commercial spaces. Through these experiences, she understands the value of an HR partnership within the organization. She became a trusted advisor to various leaders and was heavily involved in the strategic direction and organizational plans for the businesses.

Jamie graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management and Finance from Miami University in Oxford, OH. She lives in Liberty Township, OH with her husband, three kids, and two dogs. She enjoys playing golf, platform tennis, volunteering within her community, and spending time with family and friends.

Joe Bodnar

Portfolio Manager

As a Portfolio Manager, Joe works closely with our advisors by assisting with trading and data management. Prior to joining our firm in early 2020, he worked in a variety of client service roles at both Vanguard and Fidelity. Joe graduated from the University of Dayton with a degree in finance.

Joe’s proudest sports moment took place during his senior year while playing football at the University of Dayton. The team won the conference and was the first in school history to go to the Division 1 FCS playoffs.

Garrett Desch

Private Capital Operations Manager

Garrett serves as the Private Capital Operations Manager, focusing on building new and refining existing processes at Quadrant Private Capital Solutions to ensure that client private capital portfolios are being managed by the firm as efficiently as possible.

Prior to joining the firm, Garrett’s career in aircraft management gave him experience in building relationships with high net-worth individuals and C-suite executives. He brings seven years of executive customer service and internal process improvement to the firm.

Originally from Northern New Jersey, Garrett lives in Anderson with his wife Alison. He enjoys cooking, traveling, and always welcomes a new challenge.

Garrett graduated from Ohio University with a degree in Aviation Management

Garrett’s proudest sports accomplishment took place at the age of 31. He got his first par in golf with a total score of 134.

Patrick Hayes

Chief Compliance officer

Patrick is a business partner who serves as Chief Compliance Officer to Constellation. He helps manage and support all legal and compliance efforts and regulatory filings for the firm. As a partner at Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP, Patrick serves as Senior Counsel and leads the Investment Management practice. He brings over a decade of legal, compliance, and financial services industry experience across a broad array of subject matters related to registered investment advisers.

Patrick earned his J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law. He received his BA magna cum laude from the University of Notre Dame. Patrick carries both the Series 7 and Series 24 securities licenses and is licensed to practice law in the State of Ohio, Commonwealth of Kentucky, and in the United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio. Patrick also serves on the board of directors for the National Society of Compliance Professionals.

Maggie Hamad

client service Associate

As a member of Constellation’s Operations team Maggie utilizes her strong analytical and customer service skills to give each client an exceptional experience.  Prior to Constellation, Maggie held client support positions at both Medpace and Homestead Title Agency where she coordinated real estate closings.                                                               

Maggie graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics. 

Maggie is a Cincinnati native and likes spending time with her family.  In her free time, you will find her cooking, trying new restaurants, enjoying the outdoors, and staying active. 

Patrick Lafley

Managing Partner

Patrick Lafley is a Managing Partner and a founding member of the firm. With a broad, multidisciplinary background gained from work experience both here and abroad, he brings a global perspective to client-aligned approach to wealth management. Following the completion of a history degree at Tulane University, he earned his MBA at the Thunderbird School for International Business. Corporate finance, telecom and media positions in Shanghai, New York, Sydney, San Francisco, and Cincinnati prepared Patrick for his role as architect of family wealth planning strategies as well as business management. Due to his prior finance and corporate lending experience, he also assists the investment team with private investment due diligence.

Lauren McMillan

Client Service Associate

Lauren is a Client Service Associate and a member of the operations team. She uses her experience in interacting with high profile individuals to give each client a great experience. 

Before joining Constellation, Lauren spent 12 years working at the Cincinnati Art Museum, where she held various roles, most recently as the Development Database and Stewardship Manager. 

Lauren graduated from Ohio State University. 

When Lauren is not working, she enjoys Cincinnati’s vibrant arts community, and traveling to different art and history museums.

Emily Rose

Director of Portfolio Operations

Emily is a wealth advisor and director of Portfolio Operations. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Miami University, holds a certificate in financial planning from Xavier Leadership Center, and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™ professional.

Emily enjoys running with friends and family. A memorable sports event was finishing the Air Force half marathon alongside her father a few years ago.

David Snopkowski

Head of Private Capital

David is a member of the investment team and Managing Director of Quadrant Private Capital Solutions, where he leads the firm's sourcing, due diligence, and execution of all private capital investments. Over his career, he has reviewed thousands of opportunities across the broad spectrum of private opportunities, which include private equity, credit, real asset, venture capital, and hedge funds. In addition, David specializes in assisting clients and advisors in formulating private capital budgets to facilitate a customized private portfolio for each client’s needs.

David is active in the Cincinnati community, serving on the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden’s Ambassador Council and on the investment committee of the University of Cincinnati’s Johnson Investment Counsel Student-Managed Fund.

Prior to his time at the firm, David spent four years in a similar role investing on behalf of the University of Cincinnati’s endowment. Prior to the University of Cincinnati, David spent several years in various roles at hedge funds including Graticule Asset Management Asia, Fortress Investment Group, and Tudor Investment Corporation.

David graduated from the University of Connecticut’s School of Business with a degree in financial management.

Elise Strickland

Private Capital Investment Analyst

Elise comes to us with a background in private equity. Most recently she has interned at the University of Cincinnati Investment Office, where she spent eight months being mentored and learning how the University manages its endowment through public and private investments.

Throughout her experience, analyzing existing and potential investments in the private sector has been a passion that she’s eager to use and continue to learn about in her new role on our team.

Elise was born and raised in Cincinnati and graduated in the spring of 2021 with Honors from the University of Cincinnati College of Business. She recently acquired her first apartment in Hyde Park and is excited to explore this community. Outside of work Elise enjoys spending time with family and friends, visiting new restaurants and cafes, and being outdoors. Elise’s proudest sports accomplishment was earning the title of Captain on her JV High School soccer team, teaching her many leadership skills.

James W. Taylor

Chief Financial Officer

James is Chief Financial Officer and leads the firm’s finance and administrative operations. He brings over a decade of financial leadership experience focused on the design and implementation of strategic plans and support of client-serving business partners. After starting his career at KPMG, he spent seven years as a controller at businesses in the middle market and at a Fortune 500 corporation in the financial services industry.

James is a proud graduate of Murray State and Wake Forest. He lives in Cincinnati with his wife and two daughters.

James’s proudest sports moment took place during his sophomore year of high school. At 160 pounds soaking wet, he was not someone who hit for power, but he managed to hit one home run. This home run was hit in a big game against a cross-town rival, and the opposing pitcher was a friend with whom he played little league for many years. While not quite the World Series-winning moment kids dream of, it is one he will always remember.

Alicia Upperman

Office Manager

As Office Manager, Alicia is responsible for managing the firm's administrative operations as well as ensuring that our clients and team members enjoy an excellent experience. Alicia comes to us with a background in hospitality, most recently as the event manager for Via Management Restaurant Group, where she has spent the last six years creating memorable dining experiences for her clients. Throughout her career, creating long-lasting relationships with her clients has become Alicia's passion.

Alicia attended the University of Cincinnati. She resides in Green Township with her husband Simon. In her free time, she enjoys watching baseball, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

Alicia’s proudest sports accomplishment took place when she was in seventh grade and her dance team placed second at Nationals.

John Williams

Managing Partner

John is a Managing Partner and a founding member of the firm. A deep thinker, John adds tremendous value to our client relationships by way of investment strategy and complex planning strategy. Building on a foundation he developed in the asset management, trust, and banking sectors, he encourages a prudent approach while simultaneously ensuring clarity and simplicity for our clients. John graduated cum laude from Vanderbilt University and subsequently acquired deep expertise from portfolio management and advisory positions held previously at Sanford Bernstein, PNC Bank, and Fifth Third Bank.

John’s proudest sports accomplishment took place during his junior year on the Vanderbilt tennis team. John crushed players from Florida and LSU who had both soundly beaten him the previous year. He was sure they took the court thinking they were going to record yet another routine win, but they didn’t know he had worked his tail off to improve all aspects of his game. John can still remember the astonished looks on their faces when they shook hands at the end of the matches.