Leah Delich

Marketing & Events Manager

Years at Punch:

4

Years in the Industry:

13

Leah joined Punch & Associates in the fall of 2021 as our first Marketing Coordinator. She is a results-driven professional with over a decade of experience in marketing, communications, and brand management within the financial services industry. Leah believes success is built on hard work and integrity and brings these values to every aspect of her role. Committed to excellence, she approaches each project with purpose and heart. She leverages her skills to manage marketing initiatives and events, develop client communications, and design newsletters and firm materials that strengthen the firm’s brand and engagement.

Leah graduated with a B.A. in Communications/Public Relations and a minor in Spanish from Northwestern University – St. Paul. In her free time, she enjoys pastimes that encourage balance and reflection. She finds restoration through yoga, inspiration through reading, and simple joy in sipping a cup of tea or savoring a fine glass of wine.

Cory Kiner, CPA

Senior Advisor & Chief Financial Officer

Years at Punch:

3

Years of Professional Experience:

22

Firm Activities:
  • Operating Committee
  • Charitable Committee
  • Compensation Committee

Cory is an expert in taxation with a particular interest in developing multi-year tax planning strategies for individuals, families, businesses, and trusts. Having joined the Punch team in November 2022, Cory has collaborated with Punch and many of its clients for more than 15 years from his prior CPA firm. Recognizing that tax is only one component of wealth planning, Cory takes great pride in knowing his clients and working with them to create tax plans that enhance their overall financial and family goals.

Born and raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Cory earned BA degrees in Government/International Affairs and Spanish from Augustana College. He also holds an MBA from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. Cory passed the CPA exam in May 2003 as a candidate of high distinction. Prior to joining Punch, Cory was a partner at a Minneapolis CPA firm specializing in tax planning and preparation for high-net-worth individuals, businesses, and trusts.

Cory and his family reside in Bloomington, Minnesota. In his free time, he enjoys tennis, reading, photography, and traveling to discover new places.

Paul Dwyer, CFA

Managing Partner & Director of Research

Years at Punch:

9

Years in the Industry:

19

Firm Activities:
  • Board of Directors, Secretary
  • Investment Committee

Paul has been investing in and working for public companies for over 15 years. Prior to joining Punch & Associates, Paul worked as a research analyst with another buy-side investment firm in town. He also experienced first-hand the trials and tribulations inherent with small-cap companies while working in corporate development and strategy for a publicly traded renewable fuels and chemicals company.

Paul graduated from Creighton University with a BSBA in Finance and Accounting and is a CFA® charterholder. Paul lives in Mendota Heights with his wife, Jenna, and their three young children. He enjoys reading, skiing, and anything that gets him outdoors.

 

 

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

Gavin Hutchins

Associate Research Analyst

Years at Punch:

<1

Years in the Industry:

<1

Gavin joined Punch & Associates in February 2026 as an Associate Research Analyst on the Investment team after completing two internships during the summers of 2024 and 2025. He focuses on analyzing small, publicly listed companies with the goal of understanding the firms’ history, economics, and management teams.

Gavin graduated Magna Cum Laude with high distinction from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management with a B.S. in Finance and a minor in Accounting. At the University, he participated in the Value Investing Club and David S. Kidwell Funds Enterprise. In his free time, Gavin enjoys playing and watching sports, spending time with family, and reading.

Sam Sheldon, CFA

Senior Research Analyst

Years at Punch:

9

Years in the Industry:

9

Firm Activities:
  • Compliance Committee

Sam Sheldon joined Punch & Associates in 2016 and serves as an investment research analyst. He focuses on discovering and analyzing small and microcap companies, with a passion for understanding the story behind the business. In addition to his research responsibilities, Sam oversees the firm’s internship program.

Sam earned his BA in Financial Management from the University of St. Thomas, where he served as President of the Investment Club, and he is a CFA® charterholder.

Outside of work, Sam enjoys spending time on White Bear Lake, restoring his 1958 boat, cheering on the Green Bay Packers, and getting out for the occasional round of golf. He lives in Lake Elmo with his wife, Taylor.

 

 

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

Matthew Peterson

SalesForce & Client Experience Analyst

Years at Punch:

2

Years in Data and Project Management:

2

 

Matthew joined our team in May 2023 as a Systems Reconciliation Analyst. In this role, he diligently monitored our data across several platforms to ensure effective data management and integrity. In 2025, he transitioned to a new role as a SalesForce and Client Experience Analyst. He now oversees our SalesForce and Black Diamond platforms and focuses on streamlining processes, enhancing data accuracy, and driving performance improvements.

Prior to starting at Punch, Matthew worked for a local golf company in sales and support, and he also worked as an assistant golf professional. He graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato with a B.S. in Finance.

Matthew is currently working on a SalesForce Admin Certificate and loves living an active and healthy lifestyle. He frequents the gym and plays soccer multiple times a week. If you can’t find him at the gym or soccer field, chances are he is playing pickleball or golf.

Kevin Robertson, CFA

Director of Institutional Relationships

Years at Punch:

1

Years in the Industry:

18

As the Director of Institutional Relationships, Kevin is responsible for broadening our presence in the institutional market. He prides himself on taking a collaborative approach with clients, serving as an informational resource on behalf of our investment team. Kevin joined Punch in June 2024, and he brings almost 20 years of investment experience to the firm. He regularly travels throughout the country to ensure our clients always have the communication and resources they need.

Kevin is a CFA® charterholder and graduated from Trinity College with a B.A. in Political Science, where he was a member of their NESCAC championship football team. He lives in Hingham, Massachusetts with his wife, Amanda, and their three young children. In his spare time, Kevin enjoys golfing, skiing, and coaching his kids’ various sports teams.

 

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

Todd Spicer, JD, IACCP®, CAMS, CFE

Chief Compliance Officer

Years at Punch:

2

Years in the Industry:

15

Firm Activities:
  • Compliance Committee
  • Operating Committee

Todd joined the Punch team in June 2023 after several years serving as the Chief Compliance Officer for other large local firms. Todd has an extensive legal and regulatory compliance background in the financial services industry. He is a skilled compliance professional with a focus on developing, implementing, and maintaining robust compliance programs. Above all, Todd enjoys collaboratively working with his colleagues to ensure processes and procedures are pragmatic and effectively implemented.

Todd received his BS in Business Management and Administration and a minor in Economics from Bradley University and his JD from Hamline University School of Law. Todd maintains several compliance certifications, including the Investment Adviser Certified Compliance Professional designation, the Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist designation, and the Certified Fraud Examiner designation. Todd is an avid sports fan, and when not cheering on his local professional teams, he can likely be found on a field in Mendota Heights coaching or cheering on his four children with his wife or playing at home with his two dogs and two cats.

Chris Verbracken

Director of Technology 

Years at Punch:

2

Years in the Industry:

14

Chris Verbracken joins our team as Director of Technology. Chris has spent the last decade helping customers transform their business processes through the use of technology. Over the years, Chris has led dozens of successful implementations with customers big and small, and he holds over 20 professional certifications. He looks forward to leveraging his experience to help take the firm to the next level in our use of technology, with the aim of improving both employee and client experiences. Chris will also serve as the firm’s Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), ensuring our systems and data are secure. He will also work with our Chief Compliance Officer to ensure we are compliant with accountabilities set forth by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Chris has a B.A. and M.A. in Theological Studies. He resides in Ramsey with his wife and three daughters, and in his free time he enjoys watching football (Go Packers!) and playing board games.

Howard Punch

Chief Investment Officer

Years at Punch:

24

Years in the Industry:

42

Firm Activities:
  • Board of Directors, Chair
  • Charitable Giving Committee
  • Investment Committee, Chair
  • Portfolio Manager

Howard directs all research and investment initiatives at Punch & Associates. Howard honed his investment management skills the old fashioned way: by making a lot of mistakes. Starting his career in the early '80s at Merrill Lynch in New York City and then in Minneapolis, it was normal practice to call clients with one stock at a time, state the case for owning it, and hope for the best. Win, lose or draw, each pick would have to be revisited with each client (talk about transparency!). The end result was a deep respect for risk, a large dose of humility, and a risk-averse investment approach that anticipates what could go wrong before fantasizing about what could go right. After spending nearly 19 years at Merrill Lynch, Howard started Punch & Associates in 2002.

A hopeless research addict and devout student of behavioral finance, Howard actively researches market anomalies and inefficiencies. Howard resides in Eagan, Minnesota with his wife, Julie. He is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Carleton College, enjoys hockey, golf, and believes the Vikings will have the opportunity to lose their fifth Superbowl before he dies.

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