Heartland Funds' shareholders have elected a group of six Board Directors to represent them.
More than 80% of our Funds' Board Directors are independent, and each brings substantial business experience and mutual fund expertise.
Additional information about our Board Directors and their investments in the Heartland Funds may be found in our Statement of Additional Information (SAI).
From left, William J. Nasgovitz, Dale J. Kent, Ward D. Armstrong,
Robert A. Rudell, Michael D. Dunham and Kenneth A. Kavacejz
William J. Nasgovitz
Bill is the President and CEO of Heartland Advisors, Inc. He brings more than 40 years of value investing experience to the clients of Heartland Advisors. He serves on the Board of Junior Achievement of Wisconsin and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he received a bachelor's degree in business.
Dale J. Kent
Board Member Since: August 2003
Dale is Chair of the Heartland Funds Audit Committee. Heartland believes he possesses a strong knowledge of accounting, compliance and risk assessment in the mutual fund industry.
Current Employment: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at West Bend Mutual Insurance Company, a position he has held since July 2002. His responsibilities include managing a $1.1 billion portfolio and supervising the chief risk officer.
Previous Experience:
- Arthur Anderson LLP, 1974-2002
- Partner at Arthur Anderson LLP, 1986-2002
- Supervised audits of mutual funds and hedge funds
- Provided audit and related services to asset managers and securities firms
Ward D. Armstrong
Board Member Since: February 2008
In addition to his many years of experience in the asset management industry, Ward has extensive experience in developing, evaluating and monitoring asset management portfolios. Heartland believes he possesses a strong background and knowledge base in selling, marketing and distributing mutual fund shares.
Current Employment: Managing Director of Northrock Partners, a Private Wealth Advisory Practice of Ameriprise Financial.
Previous Experience:
- Chairman, Ameriprise Trust Company, 1996-2007
- Senior Vice President, Ameriprise Financial, Inc., 1984-2007
- President, American Express Asset Management Group, 2002-2004
- Director on the boards of two other asset management firms
Robert A. Rudell
Board Member Since: February 2005
Robert has been Chairman of the Board since January 2006. Besides his many years of experience in the asset management industry, Heartland believes he brings a strong knowledge of operations, compliance and risk assessment in the mutual fund industry.
Current Employment: Boards and audit committees of another mutual fund family, a public company and a private company.
Previous Experience:
- Chief Operating Officer, Zurich Scudder Investments, 1998-2002, responsible for the systems, operations and financial reporting of the firm’s U.S. investment business
- President, Scudder Retirement Services, 1996-1998
- President of Institutional Retirement Services and other roles, IDS/American Express, 1973-1996
Michael D. Dunham
Board Member Since: January 2004
Michael is Chair of the Heartland Funds Nominating Committee. He has experience engaging in business in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Heartland believes his skills as an entrepreneur, as well as his public company and global business experience bring a wealth of knowledge and a diverse perspective to the Board and its committees.
Current Employment: President of DGA Real Estate, LLC and President and Owner of Dunham Global Associates, Ltd.
Previous Experience:
- Chairman of the Board, Merge Healthcare, Inc. (formerly Merge Technologies, Inc.), 2006-2008
- Senior Vice President, IFS AB, 2000-2006
- Co-Founder and CEO, Effective Management Systems, Inc., 1978-1999
- Boards and audit committees of other public companies
Kenneth A. Kavajecz
Board Member Since: February 2008
Heartland believes Kenneth helps to balance the experience of the Board and its committee by lending his academic and governmental experience. He also has in-depth knowledge of economics and financial matters.
Current Employment: Professor of Finance-Wisconsin Alumni Professor of Investments at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Previous Experience:
- Associate Dean of the Undergraduate Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2008-2011
- Associate Dean of the Full-Time MBA Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2006-2011
- Various teaching roles, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2003-2006
- Various teaching roles, The Wharton School, 1997-2003
- Assistant Economist, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Division of Monetary Affairs, 1988-1992
- Member of the Economic Advisory Board, Nasdaq, 2002-2004, including Chairman in 2004
Bill Nasgovitz is a Registered Representative of ALPS Distributors, Inc.