Meet Red Cedar's investment team
Through specialized and experienced investment professionals that are highly adaptive to today’s markets, Red Cedar Investment Management maintains a primary focus on client success.
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John Cassady III, CFA Managing Partner, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chief Investment Officer
John L. Cassady III is Managing Partner, Chief Executive Officer, and Co-Chief Investment Officer for Red Cedar Investment Management. He started in the industry in 1987 and joined Red Cedar in 2018. Prior to that, he was an investment professional for ClearArc Capital where he served in varying roles from 2001-2018, including Director of Fixed Income and Senior Portfolio Manager. While at ClearArc Capital, Mr. Cassady managed Core Fixed Income, Core Plus Fixed Income, Asset Allocation, and a multi-sector low correlation strategy. Before joining ClearArc Capital, he held a similar position at Lyon Street Asset Management, a subsidiary of Old Kent Bank, which was acquired by Fifth Third Bank (an affiliated company of ClearArc Capital). Previously, he was a fixed income Portfolio Manager at Atlantic Portfolio Analytics & Management (APAM) which has since been acquired by Semper Capital Management. He is a CFA® charterholder and member of the CFA Society West Michigan. Mr. Cassady graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Industrial Management.
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David Withrow, CFA Managing Partner, Senior Market Strategist
David L. Withrow is a Managing Partner and Senior Market Strategist for Red Cedar Investment Management. He started in the industry in 1988 and joined Red Cedar in 2018. Previously, Mr. Withrow served as the President, Deputy Chief Investment Officer and Director of Taxable Fixed Income for ClearArc Capital. Prior to joining ClearArc Capital, he served in a Portfolio Management role beginning in 1999 for Fifth Third Bank Investment Advisors (an affiliated company of ClearArc Capital). Before joining Fifth Third Bank Investment Advisors, he was a Portfolio Manager and Structured Product Analyst for Prime Capital Management in Indianapolis. He is a member of the Cincinnati Society of Financial Analysts and serves on the Finance Committee for the Cooperative for Education in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. Withrow graduated from Anderson University with a B.A. in Economics and is a CFA® charterholder.
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Michael Feldhaus Managing Partner, Director of Sales and Marketing
Michael D. Feldhaus is Managing Partner, Director of Sales and Marketing for Red Cedar Investment Management. He started in the industry in 2000 and joined Red Cedar in 2018. As a member of the investment team, he oversees business development, consultant relations and marketing efforts on behalf of the firm. Prior to that, he served in a similar position as Senior Investment Specialist for ClearArc Capital. Mr. Feldhaus began his career with Fifth Third Investment Advisors (an affiliated company of ClearArc Capital) in 2000 working within the Institutional Services division. He held various investment-related positions at ClearArc Capital from 2001-2018 including Director of Intermediary Sales from 2004-2010 and as Institutional Sales Director from 2010-2016. Mr. Feldhaus graduated from Furman University with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and holds an MBA with a Finance concentration from Xavier University.
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Jason Schwartz, CFA Partner, Director of Portfolio Management
Jason M. Schwartz is a Partner and Director of Portfolio Management for Red Cedar Investment Management. He started in the industry in 2004 and joined Red Cedar in 2018. Prior to joining Red Cedar, he served in various roles at ClearArc Capital including Senior Portfolio Manager. His responsibilities comprised several investment strategies over time including multi-sector, Core Plus Fixed Income, Core Fixed Income and Intermediate Government Credit Fixed Income. In addition, Mr. Schwartz was head of securitized products research and trading responsible for oversight of the firm’s entire Asset-Backed Securities (ABS), Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS) and Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (CMBS) portfolio. He also supported the risk management function by providing the firm with derivatives and hedging analysis. He is a member of the Cincinnati Society of Financial Analysts. Mr. Schwartz graduated summa cum laude from the University of Kentucky with a B.B.A. in Finance and is a CFA® charterholder.
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Patricia Younker Partner, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Portfolio Manager
Patricia Younker is a Partner, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Portfolio Manager for Red Cedar Investment Management. She started in the industry in 1987 and joined Red Cedar in 2018. She is responsible for the management of Tax-Exempt and Taxable Fixed Income accounts. Prior to joining Red Cedar Investment Management, she held a similar position at ClearArc Capital from 2001-2018. Previously, she served as a Portfolio Manager at Lyon Street Asset Management, a subsidiary of Old Kent Bank, which was acquired by Fifth Third Bank (an affiliated company of ClearArc Capital). Her previous experience includes working as a Tax-Exempt Money Market Trader and as a Fixed Income Trader. Mrs. Younker graduated from Davenport University with a Bachelor of Applied Science.
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Brandon Bajema, CFA, CPA Partner, Co-Chief Investment Officer
Brandon F. Bajema is a Partner and Co-Chief Investment Officer at Red Cedar Investment Management. He started in the industry in 2003 and joined Red Cedar in 2021. Previously, Mr. Bajema was a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income & Treasury Department with the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) where he managed a multi-currency global credit portfolio from the United Arab Emirates. Before joining (ADIA), Brandon was a Director at Fitch Ratings in the Financial Institutions Group where he covered banks, asset managers and finance companies. Prior to that, he was an Audit Manager at BDO, USA where he focused on banks and insurance companies. Mr. Bajema is a CPA and a CFA® charterholder. He has a B.S. in Economics and a Master of Science in Accounting from Grand Valley State University.
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Julia Batchenko, CFA Partner, Senior Portfolio Manager
Julia Batchenko is a Partner, Senior Portfolio Manager for Red Cedar Investment Management. She started in the industry in 2011. Prior to joining Red Cedar, she served as Portfolio Analyst at Bahl & Gaynor Investment Counsel working on small and medium cap income growth equity strategies. Previously, Mrs. Batchenko worked at ClearArc Capital (a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank) as an Investment Research Analyst covering large cap income growth equity strategies. Prior to joining ClearArc Capital, she worked as an Associate Wealth Management Advisor at Fifth Third Bank. Her prior experience also includes serving as a Plan Administrator at Great American Financial Resources and an Account Specialist at Union Center Insurance and Investment Company. Mrs. Batchenko is a CFA® charterholder and received a B.S. in Finance and Economics from Kursk State University, an M.A. in Translation from Kent State University, as well as an MBA with a concentration in Finance from Xavier University.
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Mitchell Stapley, CFA Director of Macro Strategy
Mitchell L. Stapley is the Director of Macro Strategy for Red Cedar Investment Management. He started in the industry in 1982 and joined Red Cedar in 2020. Prior to joining Red Cedar, he served as Chief Investment Officer at ClearArc Capital (a subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank). Previously, Mr. Stapley was the Chief Fixed Income Officer at Lyon Street Asset Management, a subsidiary of Old Kent Bank, which was acquired by Fifth Third Bank. Prior to that, he was Manager of Short Term Investments/Foreign Exchange Exposure at Navistar International Corporation in Chicago. While at Navistar, he was responsible for both investment strategy and implementation, and foreign exchange hedging and trading. Prior to that, he served as a Portfolio Manager for William Wrigley Jr. Company in Chicago. He is on the investment committee for the Western Michigan University Endowment Fund and has served as the President of the CFA Society West Michigan. Mr. Stapley graduated with a B.A. from Albion College and is a CFA® charterholder.
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Brad Filips Credit Strategist
Brad Filips is a Credit Strategist at Red Cedar Investment Management. He started in the industry in 2008 and joined Red Cedar in 2024. He is responsible for the management, implementation, and continual enhancement of the credit research process and providing macro-level analysis on the corporate bond sector. Previously, Mr. Filips was a Senior Analyst and Head of Credit Research at INCORE Capital Management (an investment franchise of Victory Capital) where he focused on security selection, covering the basics, capital goods, consumer, energy, and utility sectors within both investment grade and high yield securities. He was also responsible for the management/maintenance of INCORE's quantitative credit screening models, as well as performing credit analysis on corporate bond sectors from a macro standpoint. Mr. Filips started his career as an Investment Research Analyst at Plante Moran Financial Advisors, performing due diligence on investment managers, asset allocation, and analyzing investment strategies across asset classes. He has a B.S. in Finance from Northern Michigan University.
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Samantha Rusler, CFA Portfolio Manager
Samantha R. Rusler is a Portfolio Manager for Red Cedar Investment Management. Ms. Rusler started in the industry and joined Red Cedar in 2019 after graduating from Xavier University with a B.S. in Finance and a B.A. in Spanish. She is also a CFA® charterholder. While at Xavier, she served as a Healthcare Analyst and as Chief Investment Officer of the student-managed D’Artagnan Capital Fund. As a Portfolio Manager, Ms. Rusler performs research and helps manage Red Cedar Fixed Income strategies with a focus on structured products.
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Chris Hagan Operations Manager
Christopher R. Hagan is the Operations Manager for Red Cedar Investment Management. He started in the industry in 2017 and joined Red Cedar in 2018. After two summer internships at Delta Dental of Michigan working in their Investment Department, he was hired on as a full-time analyst in January 2017 before making the successful transition over to Red Cedar Investment Management in April 2018. As Operations Manager, Mr. Hagan performs analytical assignments including daily cash reconciliation, investment reports for both internal and external use, preparing presentations for the various committees Red Cedar Investment Management is involved with, and assists with researching potential new securities and funds for the managed portfolios. Mr. Hagan graduated from the University of Dayton with a B.S. in Applied Mathematical Economics and a minor in Finance.
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Charlette Golder Investment Analyst
Charlette Golder is an Investment Analyst for Red Cedar Investment Management. She started in the industry and joined Red Cedar in 2020. Mrs. Golder graduated from Grand Valley State University with a B.S. in Statistics with an Actuarial Science Emphasis. As an Investment Analyst, Mrs. Golder develops analytical reports and tools to assist in investment decisions while also conducting research for ESG-related strategy.
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Conor Davis Investment Analyst
Conor Davis is an Investment Analyst for Red Cedar Investment Management. He started in the industry when he joined Red Cedar in 2020 as an intern and began working full time as an Investment Analyst-Capital Structure, Equity in 2021. Mr. Davis graduated Xavier University with a BSBA in Finance and in Business Analytics. While attending Xavier, he served as Financial Sector Analyst and Chief Executive Officer of the student managed D’Artagnan Capital Fund. As an Investment Analyst, Mr. Davis performs research for Red Cedar Equity strategies.
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Benjamin Tillson Director of Business Developement
Benjamin Tillson is a Director of Business Development for Red Cedar Investment Management. He started in the industry in 2010 and joined Red Cedar in 2023. Prior to joining Red Cedar, he was Vice President, Institutional Business Development at Easterly Asset Management, focused on developing new business across the institutional investor spectrum. Before joining Easterly, he held multiple roles at The Boston Company and Mellon Investments, predominantly centered on servicing institutional client and investment consultant relationships. Mr. Tillson graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies.
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Grace VerHage Sales and Marketing Associate
Grace M. VerHage is a Sales and Marketing Associate for Red Cedar Investment Management. She started in the industry in 2021 as an intern for Red Cedar, and then later joined the firm in 2023 after earning her B.S. in Finance from Ferris State University, along with two minors in French and International Business. As a Sales and Marketing Associate, Ms. VerHage assists in positioning Red Cedar Investment Management strategically within the institutional and retail markets, while also contributing to the preparation of data and presentations for RCIM clientele.
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Christian Lerum Operations Analyst
Christian Lerum is an Operations Analyst at Red Cedar Investment Management, having joined the firm in 2024. Mr. Lerum graduated from Western Michigan University with a B.S. in Business Analytics. As an Operations Analyst, Mr. Lerum is responsible for developing tools, generating reports, and conducting diagnostics to support informed investment decisions.