Our people

Ron Heath, Managing Director
Ron is Managing Director of Principal Morley with overall responsibility for leading the stable value team. He is a member of Principal Morley’s Investment Committee and Stable Value Construction Team. Previously, Ron was a senior member of Morley’s Management Team with overall responsibility for all sales, relationship management, client service and marketing functions. He has 33 years of financial service experience, including 30 years in stable value. Before joining the firm in 2010, Ron was a Senior Vice President at Dwight Asset Management, where he worked with stable value and fixed income clients in the public and private sectors. Ron received an MBA and bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Oregon.

Ron Heath
Managing Director

Perpetua Phillips, Portfolio Manager
Perpetua is a portfolio manager at Principal Morley and is the head of Principal Morley’s securitized products team. She is a member of Principal Morley’s Investment Committee and Stable Value Construction Team. Prior to joining the firm in 1999, Perpetua was a portfolio manager of core fixed income portfolios for a New York asset management firm. Perpetua received an MBA in finance from New York University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Columbia University.

Perpetua Phillips
Portfolio Manager

Shane Johnston, Portfolio Manager
Shane is a portfolio manager at Principal Morley. He is head of the Stable Value Construction Team that focuses on stable value strategy, portfolio design and management, and oversight of all wrap issuer and external manager relationships. He is a lead portfolio manager for Principal Morley’s stable value portfolios, head of the Risk Group, and a member of the Investment Committee. Shane has 24 years of financial service experience, including 23 years in stable value. Prior to joining the firm in 2009, he held an investor relations position at Portland General Electric. Shane received an MBA in finance/accounting from Northern Arizona University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Oregon.

Shane Johnston
Portfolio Manager

Gene Lackershire, Portfolio Manager
Gene is a portfolio manager at Principal Morley and is the lead manager on various stable value portfolios. He is a member of the Stable Value Construction Team and the Investment Committee. He also leads external manager oversight for Principal Morley. Gene has 28 years of financial service experience, including 18 years in stable value. Prior to joining the firm in 2011, he held the position of Director of Investments at Portland General Electric. Gene has received an MBA in finance from Drake University and a bachelor’s degree in business/finance from Briar Cliff University.

Gene Lackershire
Portfolio Manager

Dan Kang, CFA^®, Portfolio Manager
Dan is a portfolio manager at Principal Fixed Income and a member of the investment grade credit team for Principal Morley. He is also the head of Principal Morley’s Macro and Strategy Team, and a member of the Investment Committee. Dan has 25 years of financial service experience, including 13 years in stable value. Prior to joining the firm in 2011, Dan was a Senior Credit Research Analyst for investment grade and high yield assets at River Capital Advisors. Dan received an MBA in finance and Accounting from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in economics with a minor in mathematics from University of Pennsylvania, with honors. He has earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA^* Institute.

Dan Kang, CFA^®
Portfolio Manager

Jordan Reynolds, FSA, CFA^®, Sr. Quantitative Analyst
Jordan is a senior quantitative analyst at Principal Fixed Income focusing on financial modeling, risk management and analysis. He is a member of Principal Morley’s Stable Value Construction Team and supports Principal Morley’s external manager oversight. Jordan joined the firm in 2014. He received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and physics from the University of Oregon. Jordan is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and has earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA^* Institute.

Jordan Reynolds,
FSA, CFA^®
Sr. Quantitative Analyst

Travis Allen, Portfolio Management Assistant
Travis is a Portfolio Management Assistant at Principal Morley responsible for providing financial and operational support to the portfolio management, research, and trading teams. Prior to joining the firm in 2021, he was an equity research analyst and portfolio manager at the Oregon State Investment Group. Travis received a bachelor's degree in finance and a minor in economics from Oregon State University and has passed Level III of the CFA^* Program.

Travis Allen
Portfolio Management
Assistant

Brett Okamoto, Relationship Manager
Brett is a relationship manager responsible for building and retaining relationships with prospective and existing clients directly and through consultants, platforms, TPAs and advisors. Brett has 22 years of financial service experience, including 19 years in stable value. Prior to joining the firm in 2005, he was a personal banker with US Bank. Brett received a bachelor’s degree from Willamette University.

Brett Okamoto
Relationship
Manager

Jim Pondel, Senior Relationship Manager
Jim is a senior relationship manager responsible for building and retaining relationships with prospective and existing clients directly and through consultants, platforms, TPAs and advisors. Jim has 25 years of financial service experience, including 17 years in stable value. Prior to joining the firm in 2015, he was a Senior Investment Consultant for Aon Hewitt. Jim received an MBA in finance from Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at DePaul University and a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Illinois.

Jim Pondel
Senior Relationship
Manager

Yolanda Reyes White, QPA, QKA, Relationship Manager
Yolanda is a relationship manager responsible for building and retaining relationships with prospective and existing clients directly and through consultants, platforms, TPAs and advisors. Yolanda has 18 years of financial service experience, including 13 years in stable value. Prior to joining the firm in 2010, she was a Senior Account Manager for Standard Insurance Company. She is a board member of the Western Pension & Benefits Council and a member of the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries. Yolanda received a master’s degree from University of Oregon and a bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University.

Yolanda Reyes White
QPA, QKA
Relationship Manager