Presenters
Elliott Wakefield Wislar – CEO, Clearbrook
Elliott is a visionary who saw a need to provide clients with unbiased, agnostic customized institutional investment solutions while operating in full transparency. He founded Clearbrook in 2005 on these principles, which continue to distinguish Clearbrook in the market.
Previous positions:
- UBS – responsible for managing two of the PRIME Consulting Offices serving Endowments, Foundations, Corporations, and Family Offices.
- FleetBoston – responsible for growing the Institutional Asset Management businesses, managed the sales, marketing, and business development areas focused on endowment, foundations and retirement plan assets. Assisted in the integration of the Columbia and Liberty Asset Management acquisitions, as well as a host of smaller bank acquisitions.
Education:
- BA in Political Science from the University of Arizona
- MBA in International Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management
- Has completed Advanced Management studies at the Kellogg School of Management
John T. Preston – Chief Innovation Officer, Clearbrook Innovation Fund
Mr. Preston is a strategic advisor to Clearbrook and its business as it continues to innovate in the ever-changing financial industry. Having served on numerous boards in the past and now, his knowledge of governance and the workings of committees ranging from investments, budgets and governance is a skill that can be applied to our clients needs.
Prior to Clearbrook John was the Founder of TEM Capital, an investment firm focused on transformative energy and materials. He also helped create Braidy Industries, a company leading the effort to develop lightweight metals for the automotive and aerospace industries.
Prior to his work with Clearbrook, he spent 30 years at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was responsible for the commercialization of all intellectual property developed at the university. In that role, he oversaw activities that led to the creation of hundreds of new technology-based companies as well as the negotiation of thousands of licenses with existing companies. Mr. Preston also oversaw complex negotiations during this time, including the creation of the U.S. standard for high definition television.
He is the recipient of the Thomas Jefferson Award, given to the leading American in technology transfer, and the Renaissance Engineering and Science award from Stevens Institute of Technology. He chaired President George H.W. Bush’s conference announcing the President’s technology initiative, and co-chaired The Prince of Wales Technology Awards Conference for HRH Prince Charles. He advised the Clinton White House in preparation for the Kyoto Summit on climate change, and spoke at President Reagan’s White House Conference on Superconductivity. He has testified before Congress seven times as an expert on technology innovation and has been on advisory boards for the US DOD, NASA and the US DOC. Mr. Preston received a B.S. in Physics from the University of Wisconsin, an MBA from Northwestern University and is an Honorary Alumnus of MIT.