Principals
Bill Woodruff
Bill Woodruff is a thematic investor, with stock-picking experience over many different market cycles. Mr. Woodruff has consistently demonstrated an ability to identify stocks, usually within an emerging theme, very early in their life cycles.
Mr. Woodruff’s career has encompassed sell-side research, sales, trading, investment banking, and, most recently, buy-side equity research and portfolio management.
Mr. Woodruff received a B.B.A. degree in Finance and Economics from Texas Christian University, and began his career in institutional sales and equity research for Lehman Brothers and later moved to convertible arbitrage at Salomon Brothers where he reported to Michael Bloomberg and led the Dallas office from a #10 ranking among Solomon’s offices to #2 (behind Boston).
Subsequent to those experiences, he founded his own broker-dealer boutique (William K. Woodruff & Co, Inc.) where he developed a reputation as a powerful source of ideas,
initially at a regional level, and eventually at the national level. Some of these ideas included seed capital for Ciena Corporation, being an early investor in Digital Switch Corporation (which earned his firm a cover story for Equitymagazine), and co-managing an underwriting of Intervoice.
In 2003, Mr. Woodruff transitioned to providing equity research services to institutional buy-side firms, such as John McStay Investment Counsel (later renamed Brazos Capital Management, LP), a subsidiary of AIG Investments, Inc. During this period Mr. Woodruff established a repeatable process for pinpointing the emergence of new stock market opportunities. In 2009, Mr. Woodruff and Mr. Bell established WKW Partners, LLC (f/k/a William K. Woodruff & Co, LLC), an investment advisor providing an alternative investment opportunity for high net worth family and friends.
To reach Bill via email, click here.
Paul Essi
Paul Essi is a seasoned analyst, money manager and stock picker with a focus on telecom, and over forty years of investment experience.
Mr. Essi received a B.S. in Business Administration from Miami University of Ohio and an M.B.A from Babson College, Boston.
Research analyst and portfolio manager for Shaw Management in Portland, Oregon, where he was
responsible for managing two hedge funds and researching equity and venture capital investments.
Partner and Director of Research at William K. Woodruff and Company an institutional investment
banking firm in Dallas, Texas, where he established a research department and marketed research to
institutional clients.
VP of Investments at Arnhold and S. Bleichroder in New York, NY, where he researched and marketed
domestic and international equities to institutional clients.
Managing partner at First Fiduciary an investment advisory firm in Cleveland, Ohio, where he was
responsible for managed the marketing, research, trading, and personnel. While at First Fiduciary assets
under management grew from under $50 million to over $500 million.
To reach Paul via email, click here.
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