Michael is currently a Managing Director, Private Equity at Americana Partners. Prior to Americana, he served as a Managing Director in a similar role at HighTower Texas (formerly Salient Private Client), where since November 2013 he advised families in connection with portfolio allocation and management, specifically with respect to alternative investment strategies. Michael also founded and managed a private equity advisory firm Teton Strategic Investments, Inc. and he currently serves as President of Wasatch Strategic Investments, L.L.C., which he founded in 2018. He served as Outside Chairman of the Advisory Board of Houston Global Investors, LLC until March 2013. Michael is also Vice President of the Mithoff Family Foundation. He serves on the Board of Directors of The Houston Museum of Natural Science (including former roles with the Finance & Investment Committees), Men of Distinction (which provides grants supporting pediatric medical research within the Texas Medical Center), The University of Texas Development Board, The University of Virginia Houston Regional Board, Harris County Hospital District Foundation, and Episcopal High School Endowment Fund. He has spent the past 15 years in a variety of leadership roles with The Children’s Museum of Houston, including his ongoing role on the Board and former roles with the Executive Committee and as Chair of the landmark $35 million “Take Another Giant Step” Capital Campaign. He also served as an advisor on the Steering Committee of Legacy Community Health Services’ $15 million Capital Campaign. Michael was a co-recipient, along with his family, of the 2007 Family of the Year Award, presented by Family Services of Greater, recognized as a 2011 “Community Champion” by Texas Children’s Hospital and co-recipient of the 2012 Community Service Award by Legacy Community Health Services. Michael and his family are also ardent supporters of Family Legacy, a Christian missionary organization which supports the orphaned and vulnerable children in Zambia, Africa.
Michael received a B.A. in History
from the University of Virginia in 1994 and a J.D./ M.B.A. from The University
of Texas School of Law and Graduate School of Business, respectively, in 2000.
Michael resides in Houston, Texas with his wife Melissa and three
children.
Robert is currently a Managing Director / Private Wealth Advisor
with Americana Partners. Robert was Director of Business Development for
Energy Opportunities Capital Management since 2017. Prior to that he
spent 20 years with Simmons & Company International in institutional equity
research, sales and trading. Robert founded and was the Managing Director
for Simmons’ European Institutional Securities business in London from 2000 to
2016. He earned a B.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from the McCombs
School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin.
Shereata is an Associate / Private Wealth Services for Americana Partners. Prior to joining Americana, she was a Senior Associate and Portfolio Administrator on the Trading team at Avalon Advisors. Shereata has held positions such as Partner and CCO at Houston Global Investors, as well as senior roles in investment operations with Breen Investors, DLR Advisors, Daniel Breen & Co., and Fayez Sarofim & Co.
Lynne is an Associate, Private Wealth Services with Americana Partners. Prior to joining Americana she was a Senior Relationship Manager/Operations Manager with McMurrey Investment Advisors. Lynne has over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining McMurrey Investment Advisors, she was a Senior Client Associate with Merrill Lynch Private Banking & Investment Group and worked with Marvin McMurrey at U.S. Trust for 7 years as a Vice President & Trust Officer in the Personal Trust Department for U.S. Trust Company. Lynne holds her B.A. in Business Administration from California State University in Fullerton and graduated in 1990 with honors as a member of Beta Gamma Sigma. She also holds Series 63 and 66 licenses.
Joe Savery is a Vice President / Private Wealth Advisor at Americana Partners. Prior to joining Americana, Joe was an Associate Client Advisor at Avalon Investment & Advisory. Joe was a major League Baseball Pitcher for the Oakland Athletics from 2013 to 2014 and the Philadelphia Phillies from 2011 to 2013. He was a Major League Baseball first-round draft pick in 2007.
Joe has a Bachelors of Administration in Sport Management from Rice University, where he is currently Chairman of the Rice University Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Board and a board member of the Rice Baseball Insiders (RBI). Joe has his FINRA Series 7 and 66.
Johnathan Schnitzer is currently a Managing Director / Private Wealth Advisor with Americana Partners. Prior to joining Americana, Johnathan was a financial advisor associate at Morgan Stanley’s Private Wealth Management division for 2 years. He played professional golf for 4 years on the Latin American PGA Tour and won a national championship with the University of Texas before entering the financial industry. He earned a B.S. in corporate communications from the University of Texas at Austin.
Bobby Stillwell is a Private Wealth Advisor at Americana Partners. Prior to joining Americana, Bobby spent over 20 years in the energy industry in various corporate finance roles, including serving as the Chief Financial Officer for Cadre Energy, Amplify Energy and Memorial Production Partners. He also worked in Investment Banking for Citigroup, UBS and Scotia Capital.
Bobby earned a B.B.A. in Finance from the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin and an M.B.A. from the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Small Steps Nurturing Center and on the Advisory Board for the Children’s Museum Houston. Bobby resides in Houston with his wife and three children.
Urte Zakarauskaite, originally from the Chicagoland area, is currently an investment analyst for Americana Partners in the Houston office. Prior to relocating and joining Americana Partners, Urte completed an internship at Keebeck Wealth Management in Chicago. Urte graduated as a James Scholar from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in May of 2023 and received a B.S. in Accountancy and Finance.
Lauren is currently an Associate / Finance for Americana Partners and has a strong financial and accounting background with over 10 years of experience. Prior to joining the firm, she most recently worked as a Senior Accountant at GoldenTree Asset Management. Lauren is originally from New York and received a B.A. in Economics from Boston University.
