R. PAUL HERMAN, CEO + Founder
Chief Investment Officer, Chief Compliance Officer,
Series 65 Investment Adviser
Paul invented “HIP = (Human Impact + Profit)” in 2004 to connect for-profit investments that delivered high human impact with investors seeking the same.  Since then, Paul and the HIP team have launched the HIP 100 Index (TM), consulted to high-net-worth investors, and advised corporate clients like Wal-Mart and NIKE. In addition, the HIP Scorecard (TM) has been published since 2007 in Fast Company.
Paul’s financial expertise began with his Wharton School finance degree and work at McKinsey & Co. developing incentive regulation for energy companies and regulators, as well as strategic improvements for Fortune 500 corporate clients and government. At eBay founder Pierre Omidyar’s Network, Paul designed investment strategy that also enabled high human impact, including venture-backed growth companies. Paul’s first pioneering venture reached 30,000 customers by creating a permission-based online debit card and financial system for families, teens and kids, a $200 billion market including shopping, saving, investing and donating.
Paul’s own HIP investing includes companies in microfinance, organic food, renewable energy, affordable health care, and B2B systems.  Paul is an Investment Committee member of the Patient Capital fund, a member of Investors Circle, and an advisor to Net Impact.
For information on scheduling Paul for a speaking engagement, CLICK HERE.
JOAN VARRONE, Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President
Joan is an experienced finance professional with over 20 years in Senior Management roles at both large public companies and venture backed technology startups. For the past twelve year Joan has held the position of CFO at several firms which included leading an IPO, raising over $100M of private equity and debt and leading successful exits. Most recently she was CFO at SenSage, Inc, an enterprise software company providing solutions in the Event Data Warehouse market. Joan’s other CFO positions were at the Omidyar Network and firms in the nano technology, e commerce, software and telecommunications industries. Joan has also managed financial planning and global treasury operations at multinational Raychem Corporation (now part of Tyco) and was Corporate Treasurer at Watkins-Johnson Company.  Joan received her MBA in Finance from New York University and an MS in Operation Research from Purdue University . She currently serves on the Board of the San Francisco Chapter of Financial Executive International and the Bay Area Financial Executives Networking Group and is the co founder of the Treasury Executives Network.
JESSICA M. SKYLAR, Executive Vice President, Series 65 Investment Adviser
Jessica leads HIP’s business development, operations and marketing. Prior to HIP,  Jessica consulted to top international non-profits at the Center for Development Communication, advanced the USA Fellowship and Development teams at Ashoka: Innovators for the Public, and led marketing and fundraising at Ashoka Fellow Springboard Forward (a Social Capitalist Awardee of Fast Company). Jessica also created youth programs and a human-rights task force in her hometown of Los Angeles. Jessica has a B.A. in International Development and an M.A. in International Peace and Conflict Resolution.
ERIC STEINHOFER, Senior Vice President, Client Development (Candidate for Series 65)
Eric Steinhofer is an experienced financial services professional and impact investing expert. Prior to HIP Investor, Eric led Financial Fitness and Stakeholder Strategy at Charles Schwab and Company where he was responsible for managing the team that developed a Financial Fitness Institute, Financial Fitness Index and corporate sustainability business case. Eric introduced the poverty alleviation business case and worked on the team that launched the Schwab Charitable Microfinance Guarantee. Eric honed his impact investing expertise working as a research analyst for Paul Hawken’s socially responsible investment initiative, Highwater Capital. Eric also consulted for Tendris and worked in a role evaluating the ability to launch the world’s first carbon neutral loyalty program for a credit card, Visa Greencard, in the U.S. Eric has volunteered time helping the California Clean Tech Open, Calvert Foundation and as a board member for the University of San Francisco MBA Alumni Society. Eric resides in Mill Valley, California with his wife, Tanya, and two children where he feels fortunate to be able to enjoy family time hiking and cycling on Mt. Tamalpais. Eric received his BA in Economics from UCLA and his MBA from the University of San Francisco.
LISA GIARRETTO, Senior Vice President, Client Development (Candidate for Series 65)
International financial consultant for over 20 years, a broker for Smith Barney, and corporate foreign exchange advisor with Bank of America Capital Markets. Vice President and Manager of National Business Development for Wells Fargo Bank’s Foreign Exchange Corporate Advisory Group. Social Equity Group and Women’s Equity Mutual Fund. BA in World Business, MA in International Policy Studies from the Monterey Institute of International Studies, and Advanced International Economics with the Rotary Scholar in Bruges, Belgium.
SYLVIA VENTURA, Senior Vice President, Â Marketing, Media and Community
Sylvia, a native Parisian, has focused her career on developing and executing marketing launch and branding strategies for life sciences and environmental enterprises. Her career includes marketing executive roles at Omnicom, Euro RSCG, Interpublic and Foote Cone & Belding, where she launched dozens of top tier pharmaceutical product launches. In 2003 she launched Aperio Life, a marketing and brand strategy firm to work with early stage budget-tight ventures. In 2007 Sylvia decided to change gears and put her energies and training in areas she believes have a true positive impact on life. She became an environmental advocate, and sustainable business practices became the focus of her work. Early in 2007 she launched Solar4SF.org, a consumer advocacy group to promote the use of renewable solar energy in San Francisco. Soon after she founded 1 Block Off the Grid (1BOG.org) the nation’s largest community based purchasing group for residential solar power. 1BOG was acquired by Virgance, Inc. in 2008.
AVARY KENT, Corporate Advisory Analyst
Avary manages the private venture evaluations for HIP clients. She started her career as a genetic engineer for George Washington University Labs, honing her analytical skills, Avary has also founded a profitable enterprise dealing in antiquities in Virgina. Her human impact experience includes teaching animal care at an inner city education non-profit, and managing endangered species ecology for the National Parks System. In 2009 Avary obtained her MBA in Sustainable Enterprise from Dominican University of California where she has worked with clients ranging from Webcor Builders Inc, Gigantic-Idea Studio, and the Association of Bay Area Governments. Her expertise includes social media, social marketing, business analysis, and client development.
JESSICA MARGOLIN, Senior Portfolio Analyst
Ms Margolin is a Portfolio Senior Analyst at HIP Investor. She is a Social Capitalist who has over 15 years experience helping communities and organizations align with their long-term sustainability and developmental goals. Her professional experience includes roles in marketing strategy, organizational design, financial analysis, and business development, and she has also been involved in educational philanthropy and operating non-profits since 2000. Formerly a research affiliate at the Institute for the Future, where she published Intangible Finance, a Perspective within the 2007 Ten-Year Forecast, Ms. Margolin monitors the evolution of corporate sustainability and community performance indicators. She occasionally blogs on social capital and educational topics on her blog, Solvation. Jessica holds an MBA in Strategic Management and Organization and an MS in Materials Science in the area of nanotechnology, both from the University of Minnesota; and a BA from UC Berkeley.
DANA ROYTENBERG, HIP Associate
Dana manages operations for HIP, ensuring smooth service to clients and partners. Dana graduated from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, was a brand management coordinator in New York City for clients like Ford Motor and Andy Warhol. During school, Dana conducted research at Georgetown’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs, and had a stint at the State Department at the American Embassy in Kiev, Ukraine.