Reliable Professionals

Steven Check
President and Chief Investment Officer

Mr. Check founded Check Capital Management (CCM) in 1987.  As CCM's Chief Investment Officer, he is responsible for overall investment policy and portfolio management.  While formally educated as an engineer (plus coursework in accounting), Mr. Check found his passion in investing and helping others with financial issues.  He thoroughly studied great investors—Benjamin Graham, Warren Buffett, Charlie Munger, etc.— learning not only their techniques but the underlying mindset that ensured their success.  Mr. Check holds a BS degree in Electrical Engineering from Iowa State and a Masters in Engineering from the University of California, Irvine.  A member of CFA Institute, he is past President of the CFA Society of Orange County.

Zachary Herbert, CFA
Vice President, Senior Investment Officer

Mr. Herbert performs fundamental research for Check Capital's investment programs.  In addition, he initiates and maintains client relationships.  Before joining Check Capital, Mr. Herbert was Portfolio Manager (as well as a Principal) at Trimsail Capital Management.  Prior to that&$151;from 2006 through 2010—he served on both the retail and institutional sides of a leading brokerage firm.  Mr. Herbert earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from The Master's College, Santa Clarita, California, and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Christopher Ballard, CFP®
Vice President, Senior Investment Officer

Mr. Ballard is responsible for business development and general client service.  A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, he provides individualized guidance, such as goal-setting and retirement planning.  Mr. Ballard's 12 years of experience before CCM included Vice President / Financial Consultant with a national stockbrokerage, Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley and Chief Investment Officer of Green Thumb Financial, an investment advisory firm.  Mr. Ballard received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Jock Meeks, CRPC
Client Services Director

Mr. Meeks oversees service to Check Capital's clients.  His 29 years of experience in financial services includes seven years with an investment banker, followed by twelve years with a national brokerage firm.  He held an NYSE Branch Manager Principals license and acted as Branch Manager for more than two years.  Mr. Meeks earned his Bachelor of Arts at the University of Wyoming.  He received the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation from the College for Financial Planning in 2008.

Patrick Kinney
Vice President, Senior Investment Officer

Mr. Kinney initiates client relationships and provides ongoing client service.  His investor-services career began on the floors of the Chicago Board of Trade and Chicago Mercantile Exchange.  Thereafter—during the 11 years prior to joining CCM—Mr. Kinney developed expertise in estate planning, retirement planning and wealth management at two nationwide brokerage firms.  He received his Bachelor of Science in Economics at Illinois State University, followed by a Master of Business Administration from the University of Illinois in Chicago.

John Deardorff, CFP®
Vice President, Senior Investment Officer

A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Mr. Deardorff establishes client relationships and provides customized strategies for retirement..  He has over ten years' experience in comprehensive wealth management and, before coming to Check Capital Management, was Regional Vice President for Mercer Advisors in Newport Beach..  After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Mr. Deardorff attained his Masters in Business Administration from California State University at San Bernardino.

Susan Niedwick, CFP®
Investment Officer

Ms. Niedwick provides individualized service oriented toward helping clients to achieve personal objectives.  Her 18 years of financial-industry experience include institutional fixed-income sales with Zions Bank, investment counsel at a national brokerage house, and, at two firms, consultation addressing the retirement, cashflow, education and social-security needs of high-net-worth Orange County families.  Ms. Niedwick, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner, earned dual bachelors degrees in Finance and French at the University of Utah.

Jim Waite, CRPC
flexFOLIO Portfolio Manager

Mr. Waite manages the flexFOLIO program, concentrating on highly personalized portfolios to meet specific client objectives.  His 30 years of securities-industry experience include a decade as a Financial Consultant and Operations Manager with a national stockbrokerage, following five years as Investment Services Manager at Griffin Financial.  Mr. Waite holds a BA in Business Administration (emphasis in finance) from California State University, Fullerton.  He earned the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation from the College for Financial Planning in 2008.

Ryan Kinney
Research Analyst

Mr. Kinney advances Check Capitalís portfolio management process by means of a value-oriented, bottom-up approach to equity research and analysis.  He also authors ìCompany Close-Upsî for CCM's nationally recognized newsletter, The Blue Chip Investor.  Mr. Kinney previously worked in the commercial finance division of California First National Bank.  He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (emphasis in finance) from San Diego State University.

Robert Hill
Chief Compliance Officer / Trading Manager

Mr. Hill oversees both regulatory compliance and trading for the firm.  Mr. Hill executes equity and fixed-income trades for individual client portfolios as well as the Blue Chip Investor Fund.  Mr. Hill also supervises the firm's account reconciliations and technical operations.  Prior to joining Check Capital, he was Business Analyst for a nationally recognized printed-circuit-board distributor, where he researched companies to identify suitable, prospectively profitable business partners.  Mr. Hill holds a BS in Business Administration (emphasis in finance) from California State University, Long Beach.

Nancy Kernan
Senior Administrator

Ms. Kernan provides account support to clients, performs internal administrative services and acts as office manager.  She has 24 years of experience in the securities industry, serving as Sales Assistant with Shearson Lehman Brothers and Portfolio Administrator with both Loomis Sayles & Co. and Palley-Needelman Asset Management.  Ms. Kernan attended Interstate Business College.

Ginny Williams
Associate Administrator

Ms. Williams provides account support to clients, as well as performing internal administrative services.  Her 23 years of securities-industry experience include Sales Assistant, Acting Branch Operations Manager, New Accounts Administrator and Wire Operator at Shearson Lehman Hutton, Prudential Securities and Bateman Eichler, Hill Richards.  Ms. Williams was Portfolio Administrator at Palley-Needelman Asset Management and Neuberger Berman.  She attended Golden West College.

Rosa DeLuna
Associate Administrator

Ms. DeLuna provides both ongoing support to clients and key administrative assistance to the CCM staff.  During her nearly two decades in the securities industry, she has served as Senior Client Associate at Wells Fargo Advisors, Client Associate with Merrill Lynch, and Sales Assistant at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney.  Ms. DeLuna attended Rio Hondo College.