Investment Staff

Christopher D. Towle
President, CEO & Portfolio Manager

Christopher D Towle Chris joined Towle & Co. in 1994 and has been instrumental in all aspects of the firm’s growth and development. As an integral member of the investment team, he shares responsibility for the investment management process including portfolio management, trading, and research. Prior to 1994, he served as a General Manager of H. H. Brown Shoe Co., Inc., an operating subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, with full line responsibility for a division of the company. He started his professional career as a Senior Credit Analyst at Manufacturers Hanover Trust in New York City. Chris graduated from Williams College in Williamstown, MA with a BA in history and received an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis.

Peter J. Lewis, CFA
Portfolio Manager

Peter J Lewis Peter joined Towle & Co. in 2001 and is a key member of the investment team. Previously, he was President of Principle Research, Inc. From 1991 to 1998, Peter was a partner and department leader at Edward Jones & Co., where he developed a seven-person research team responsible for determining the suitability of all products sold by the company. Before 1991, he worked as a Senior Credit Analyst for three years at the Bank of New York. More recently, he served as a visiting professor of Economics at Principia College in Elsah, Illinois and professor of Finance at Webster University, in St. Louis, Missouri. Peter graduated from Principia College with a BA in chemistry and business administration and received an MBA with concentrations in accounting and finance from Washington University in St. Louis. Peter holds the distinction of Chartered Financial Analyst.

James M. Shields, CFA
Head of Private Funds & Portfolio Manager

Wesley Tibbetts James joined Towle & Co. full-time in the summer of 2013. Having served the firm in a consulting role while finishing his MBA, he came onboard fully engaged with the research and investment process. Previously, James was a Manager at Deloitte Financial Advisory Services and an Analyst at Marshall & Stevens in the Business and Intangible Asset Valuation groups. While at these organizations, he managed a team of analysts, valued privately held companies, and valued intangible assets for multinational transactions. James graduated with a BBA in finance & banking / real estate from the University of Missouri and received an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. James holds the distinction of Chartered Financial Analyst.

Wesley R. Tibbetts, CFA
Portfolio Manager

Wesley Tibbetts Wes joined Towle & Co. in 2010 as a valued member of the investment team with broad duties across the portfolio management and research process. Previously, Wes was an analyst at Lehman Brothers under the Private Equity division and at Neuberger Berman within the NB Alternatives group. While at these organizations, he analyzed buyout, venture capital and distressed debt funds as a part of his group’s private equity fund of funds platform. In addition, Wes shared duties in the analysis, management and reporting of a listed private equity fund. Wes graduated summa cum laude with a BBA in finance from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University. Wes holds the distinction of Chartered Financial Analyst.

G. Lukas Barthelmess, CFA
Portfolio Manager

Wesley Tibbetts Luke joined Towle & Co. in June 2018 after serving the firm in a consulting role while completing his MBA. Prior to business school, Luke was an analyst at Kinderhook Partners, an employee-owned investment manager that invests globally in public and private companies. While at Kinderhook, he analyzed search funds, micro-cap and small-cap stocks, and leveraged control investments. Prior to joining Kinderhook, he played quarterback for the Stuttgart Scorpions in the German Football League. Luke graduated cum laude with BA degrees in mathematics & economics from Lawrence University and received an MBA from Columbia Business School. Luke holds the distinction of Chartered Financial Analyst.

Support Staff

Jack M. Gillis
Head of Client Relations

Jack M. Gillis Jack joined Towle & Co. in 2022 and is responsible for overseeing new and existing client relationships. As Head of Client Relations, he directs all aspects of investor servicing and new business efforts. Prior to joining Towle, Jack spent 33 years in relationship management roles advising individual and institutional clients. Most recently, Jack spent close to 13 years in the J.P. Morgan Private Bank managing relationships with numerous families, family offices and institutions in the Midwest. Previously, Jack spent over 20 years in investment banking and corporate finance primarily in New York and St. Louis with National City, A.G. Edwards and Lehman Brothers advising business owners, executives and board members on mergers & acquisitions and capital raising assignments. Jack graduated from Williams College with a BA in economics and from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University with highest honors with an MBA in finance, accounting and management & strategy.

Jessica A. Kardos
Head of Investment Operations

Jodi Layman Jessica joined Towle & Co. in June 2021. Her responsibilities include oversight, execution and process improvement of the investment operations domain. She has over 25 years of trading and operations experience, including tenures at Oak Associates, ltd., Denver Investments, and most recently at Knowledge Leaders Capital where she served as Trader/Operations Manager. Jessica graduated from the University of Phoenix with a BS in business and received an MBA from the Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Management.

Brooke C. McMahon
Head of Business Operations

Jodi Layman Brooke joined Towle & Co. in December 2021. She is responsible for supporting the firm's day-to-day business operations, organizational development and process improvement - including vendor management, investment support and client services. Previously, Brooke held multiple roles in sales and operations at both Waste Management and Pepsi Beverage Company. She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a BSBA in finance and marketing.

Lewis R. Willmuth III
Operations Associate

Lewis Willmuth Lewis joined Towle & Co. in September 2022. He also shares the responsibility of administering our back office operations and provides client service support. Previously, Lewis worked as a Workplace Planning Consultant and Equity Trader at Fidelity Investments. He graduated with a BS in business administration and marketing from the University of Vermont.


CFA® is a designation issued by the CFA Institute. To earn the designation, candidates must pass three course exams, each requiring approximately 250 hours of self-study, and have completed four years of qualifying work experience. Chartered Financial Analyst® and CFA® are registered trademarks owned by the CFA Institute.