About Us

Orleans Capital Management is one of Louisiana's largest independent investment advisors primarily providing domestic core fixed income, investment grade core and intermediate fixed income and domestic equity asset management.

We serve a wide range of clients, consisting primarily of public pension plans, foundations and endowments. We currently manage approximately $1.7 billion (as of 9/30/17) and are proud of the fact that a substantial amount of the assets we manage consist of additional allocations from existing clients.

The firm was formed in 1991 by a group of principals who formerly comprised the senior investment management group at a major regional bank. The firm is organized as a "C" corporation. Orleans Capital does have an affiliate, Energy Opportunities Capital Management, of which Orleans is a 50% owner.

Orleans Capital is a registered investment advisor. The Securities Exchange Commission granted Orleans Capital's registration on August 21, 1991. Investment management is the firm's sole business.

Institutional investment management services were initiated in 1991 at the firm's inception. As of August 2017 Orleans Capital Management became a minority (woman) owned firm.

Emily C. Becker

President and Chief Investment Officer - Principal and Owner of firm

Emily serves as the senior portfolio manager and member of the fixed income investment committee with primary responsibility for public and corporate pension funds as well as for foundations.

Prior to joining Orleans Capital, Emily was an institutional investment officer at a Louisiana bank where she provided investment portfolio strategy and execution services. Emily began her career with the trust department at a major regional bank in Houston with principal responsibility in investment administration.

Emily holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Baylor University and has over 25 years experience in the investment management field.

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Rodney J. Abele, CFA

Senior Portfolio Manager and Member of Investment Committee - Principal and Owner of firm

Rod is a senior portfolio manager with primary responsibility for high net worth individuals as well as foundations and endowments.

Formerly, Rod was an executive vice president of a major regional bank and manager of the Trust and Capital Markets Division.

A Chartered Financial Analyst, Rod received a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Notre Dame and a Master's of Business Administration from Tulane University. He is a past president of a religious foundation and currently serves on its Board of Directors. Rod has 40 years experience in investment management.

Gary L. Welchel

Executive Vice President of Business Development

Gary is responsible for business development and client retention in all the firm's markets with primary focus on Louisiana. Gary brings to Orleans Capital over 40 years of experience in fixed income sales and trading.

Formerly, he was the national sales manager at Spear Leeds and Kellogg (a Goldman Sachs company) and a regional sales manager for a primary dealer in fixed income securities. Gary began his career working for a regional bank in South Carolina.

Gary obtained his Bachelor's degree from Newberry College in Newberry, South Carolina and is involved in numerous wildlife organizations.

Phyllis M. Kyle

Trader, Portfolio Manager - Member of Investment Committee

Phyllis is the primary securities trader and assists in managing the fixed income portfolios. Prior to joining Orleans Capital, Phyllis was a vice president with a regional bank, responsible for fixed income securities trading and portfolio strategy implementation. Prior to that, she was a vice president and securities trader with another bank. She has been providing trading for institutional and individual accounts for the past 20 years.

Phyllis holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance from Louisiana State University and has successfully completed the CFA Level I examination.

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Catherine (Cappy) M. Johnson

Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager- Member of Investment Committee

Cappy has more than 15 years of experience in investment management for foundation, endowment, and personal portfolios. Cappy started her career as a financial advisor in New York with a major Wall Street brokerage firm. She received a Bachelor's degree and an M.B.A. in Finance from Tulane University.

Cappy is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Louisiana where she is also a Past President. In addition, Cappy is a member of the Allstate Sugar Bowl committee and currently serves on the Board of Trustees for St. George's Episcopal School.

John M. Crain

Research Analyst

John has over 7 years of energy research and equity trading experience. He has spent a considerable portion of his time dedicated to the study and analysis of alternative, renewable, and disruptive energy technologies. John is a native of Houston, Texas and graduated from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio with a degree in Economics.

Joseph T. Casper, IV

Trading and Accounting

J.T. assists portfolio managers with trading and portfolio accounting. He has a degree in business management from Louisiana Tech University and previously worked in employee benefit administration at a life insurance company. He has 21 years experience in the investment management business.

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Sandra L. Lai

Chief Compliance Officer

Sandra serves as the firm’s chief compliance officer, overseeing all risk analysis and regulatory reporting at Orleans Capital. Sandra has over 5 years investment experience beginning with our affiliate Energy Opportunities Capital Management. At EOCM she was responsible for all office operations and served as the firm’s compliance manager under the CCO. Before joining the affiliated firms, Sandra worked for a local home building and land development company where she was responsible for overseeing the administrative department and office operations including industry compliance. Sandra holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas State University.

Amy A. LeBoeuf

Office Manager

Formerly, Amy was an associate administrator in trust investments at major regional bank. She assisted in all areas of investment management and marketing support. Prior to this, she was with the trust department of another bank. Amy holds a bachelor's degree from University of New Orleans and has 30 years experience in the trust and investment management field.

Janet P. Tassin

Client Reporting - Administrative Support

Janet is responsible for client reporting and assists portfolio managers with fixed income portfolio analytics. Prior to joining Orleans Capital, she was a vice president for a regional bank and provided financial and cash management services to public and institutional clients.

Eugenie G. Fromherz

Associate

Eugenie joined Orleans Capital in September 2022 as an associate after starting her career at Merrill Lynch as a Registered Private Wealth Client Associate servicing high net worth individual clients. Prior to Merrill, Eugenie owned and operated her own sewing business for over 10 years specializing in custom window treatments, ball gowns and heirloom baby clothes.

Eugenie received a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Sewanee: The University of the South. Eugenie also serves on the Academy of the Sacred Heart Alumnae Board.