Private Equity
Private equity of all types is a mainstay of our portfolio. Currently, we are invested in over 100 private equity funds, in addition to maintaining a portfolio of individual company investments. We seek top decile managers with which we can build a diversified portfolio of funds, while earning a liquidity premium. We co-invest extensively with our private equity partners. In real estate, we prefer regional and sector-focused managers with whom we can build long-term partnerships for co-mingled and direct investments.
Raji Khabbaz, MBA, Senior Advisor
Raji Khabbaz joined the Cooper Family Office with 28 years of investment experience across a broad spectrum of disciplines, including leveraged buyouts, venture capital, long/short equity strategies, concentrated long-only equity strategies, and dedicated short selling products. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics with honors from the University of California, Berkeley and a M.B.A. from Harvard.
Raji began his professional career as an analyst in the mergers and acquisitions group at Morgan Stanley in 1990. In 1991, he joined Gleacher & Co where he worked on several large corporate restructurings and worked directly for the head of the leveraged buyout group. In 1993, he joined Harris & Harris Group, a publicly traded closed-end investment company, which specialized in early-stage technology and biotechnology venture capital investing. Harris & Harris Group worked closely with Gleacher & Co. on co-investment opportunities. Upon graduating from business school in 1995, Mr. Khabbaz co-founded Highline Capital Management, LLC, a long/short equity hedge fund specializing in special situations and corporate restructurings and reorganizations. In 2002, he co-founded Pierce Street Capital, LLC, a long/short equity hedge fund which focused on low net exposure portfolio strategies. In 2006, he joined Ivory Investment Management, LLC, a long/short equity hedge fund company based in Los Angeles. After Ivory, he co-founded Silver Arrow Investment Management, LLC. in 2011 where he served as senior portfolio manager from 2012 to 2019.
Michelle Dansky, Investment Analyst - Equities
Michelle Dansky joined the Cooper Family Office as an analyst in the alternative markets, specifically hedge and private equity funds. She received her B.A. in Education from Florida Atlantic University. Michelle is a participant in the Stanford University Graduate School of Business Global Investor’s Forum and a member of the Johns Hopkins University Discovery Council. With her background as an educator, Michelle is actively involved in the family’s philanthropic endeavors, supporting music and art education among underprivileged students in Florida.
Heather Williamson, MBA, CFA
Heather Williamson joined the Cooper Family Office with significant experience in large and complex investment programs. She has held leadership roles overseeing investment functions such as policy development, governance structures, risk management, portfolio construction, manager due diligence, operations management, and corporate social responsibilities efforts across all global asset categories. Heather has worked as an institutional consultant and managed global investment programs for pensions, private foundations, and large multi-generational family offices. Most recently, she was the Chief Investment Officer for Waycrosse (the Cargill and MacMillan families) and Central Financial Services (the Morrison Family). Ms. Williamson earned her Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and a Master’s degree from the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Business. She also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.
Anderson Pusey, Analyst
Anderson Pusey joined the Cooper Family Office as an investment analyst. He earned his B.A. in Communications from Liberty University with a focus on media, film and television. Anderson has written, directed, produced and/or funded fourteen different film projects, and taught filmmaking at one of the country’s largest after-school theater arts programs.
Anderson reviews alternative investments, globally, in public and private equities for the family office, in addition to working with founders of individual company investments in the portfolio. Mr Pusey is a member of the Stanford University Family Office Forum and the NYU Stern Family Office Council.
Anderson’s hobbies include all things related to filmmaking, reading voraciously, lifting weights, and spending time with his wife Makenzie and their two boys.