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Guests & Co-Hosts

John Neal

John Neal directs PTI Securities’ Glendale, Arizona office serving the firm’s clients in the Phoenix metro area and across the Western U.S. He oversees day-to-day operations, including client services, investor education, staff management and marketing. John has more than 12 years of management experience in the securities and financial services industry. He joined PTI Securities in 2003 in this role. Prior to that time, he was a branch manager with Phoenix area firms, Granite Capital Management and, most recently, Independent Financial Management. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, John earned a bachelor’s degree in international management from Arizona State University in Tempe. Away from work, John enjoys reading, live music and outdoor activities. He also volunteers with the St. Vincent De Paul Society and the Lupus Foundation of America. Married with two children, John and his family live in Peoria, Arizona.

Chris Manns

Christopher Manns manages PTI Securities & Futures’ global commodities area and is a research analyst. He devotes much of his time to monitoring and analyzing the latest international commodities reports and financial research. This allows him to keep the firm’s management well informed so that they can, in turn, apprise their clients on pertinent information. Christopher has more than 18 years of securities and financial services experience. Prior to joining PTI Securities, he was a floor broker for AE Staley at the Chicago Board of Trade, and worked for the grain division of Rodman & Renshaw. He has authored many commodities articles and training materials, and speaks English, Spanish and Portuguese. Christopher earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Christopher lives with his wife in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood. Read more.

Darren Hudson

PROFESSOR

• Director, Cotton Economics Research Institute
• Larry Combest Chair for Agricultural Competitiveness
• Ph.D., Agricultural and Applied Economics, Texas Tech University

Dr. Hudson’s research focuses on issues of technology adoption, consumer issues, risk, policy and globalization/international trade. As holder of the Combest Chair, he coordinates research and outreach activities related to agricultural competitiveness.

Dr. Hudson also serves as a Farm Foundation Fellow for Globalization and Trade where he has coordinated two international conferences on international trade policy and directed a large scale research project examining the future of animal agriculture in North America.

Linda Weaver

Linda Weaver is an experienced insurance coverage attorney who has practiced with big firms in Chicago representing major insurers, serving as Senior Litigation Attorney for a major insurer, while also counseling and advising a multi-state environmental and geo-technical engineering company on various corporate issues, particularly with respect to insurance and contracts.

Specialties: Coverage for large commercial losses, primarily under commercial general liability policies (primary, excess, umbrella), but also under auto, personal lines, workers compensation and employer’s liability policies, and other miscellaneous policies and endorsements (both ISO and manuscript).

Contract review and analysis – all forms of contracts including but not limited to policies, construction contracts, buy-sell agreements, franchise agreements, licenses, leases, and other risk transfer mechanisms.

Loves Networking and has founded several networks, including the Armadillo Club, One Ultimate Network and was the Chair of Networking for Notre Dame In Chicago from 2003 – 2011.