People

          Unparalleled professionalism...

Debra Fiakas, CFA 

Managing Member   

Ms. Fiakas is a seasoned, credentialed investment professional with a diversified and successful track record as a research analyst and as an investment banker.  Her career includes experience in all aspects of the equity capital markets with particular emphasis on emerging growth companies operating in the technology sectors.

Ms. Fiakas graduated Cum Laude from the University of South Dakota with a BA degree in Economics and Political Science and received an MBA degree from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. She earned the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst and is a member the Chartered Financial Analysts Institute (CFAI) and the New York Society of Security Analysts (NYSSA). She is involved in promoting the integrity and vitality of her profession through membership in the CFAI committee on Standards Setting and Curriculum Development and the NYSSA committee on Corporate Reporting.

Ms. Fiakas is Managing Member of Crystal Equity Research.

David J. Phillips

Contributing Analyst

Mr. Phillips is an independent equity analyst and consultant to both buy-side and sell-side clients, specializing in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. His deep knowledge of financial analysis has given him solid experience in a variety of sectors. Phillips is the publisher of the 10Q Detective Blog, which focuses on financial statement “softspots,” and the e-Growth Profit Letter, which is dedicated to uncovering companies with innovative technologies. He has also been widely quoted in such respected on-line and print newsletters as The Street.com, Advisors Digest, Dick Davis Digest and the Bull & Bear Financial Report. Phillips is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Vermont and has an MBA from Boston College.

Stephen Percoco, CFA 

Contributing Analyst

Stephen Percoco, CFA is founder and principal of Lark Research, an independent securities research firm.  Lark Research publishes two investment newsletters:  Income Builder covers the equity and fixed income markets for individual investors and Net Realizable Value follows the residential real-estate industry for institutional investors.  Prior to founding Lark Research, Steve worked as a credit analyst at Salomon Brothers (1987-1990) and Bank of Boston (1983-1987).  He has for many years been an active member of the New York Society of Security Analysts, where he has produced many programs and conferences, chaired the Society's Committee for Improved Corporate Reporting from 1994-2002 and served on its Board of Directors.  He holds the designation Chartered Financial Analyst and is a graduate of Bowdoin College and Harvard Business School. 

Christopher M. Wright

Contributing Analyst

Washington, D.C.-based Christopher M. Wright turns today's dramatic stories into investment returns for his clients and readers - mega trends, turnarounds, international crises. He finds and assesses investment ideas in such domains as emerging technology, developing country markets, and public companies unfairly beaten up and left for dead. As a regular contributor to CFA Magazine published by the Chartered Financial Analysts Institute and Portfolio published by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT), he interviews CEOs, authors, and analysts from major Wall Street firms. Interviews also appear in Wright's investment newsletter, The Sine Wave Investor™. In 2000, he successfully completed the academic portion of the CFA program. Wright worked as an attorney for twenty years before turning to consulting on business and investment topics for national and international clients in 2001.