The foundation of any business is the unique perspective and value that it brings to its clients. MCA’s principals honed their financial skills working for Wall Street investment banks, covering large, sophisticated institutional investors and issuers. This “insider’s perspective” is what prompted them to seek out an alternative investment approach for their own family wealth – one that is quite different from what is traditionally marketed to high net worth clients by Wall Street.
The MCA edge, what distinguishes our advisory practice, begins with the blend of real-world trading floor experience and state-of-the-art academic research used in constructing and managing investment portfolios. This investment process is combined with a client service philosophy that integrates each client’s investments with their overall estate, tax and other financial and life planning needs.
Mike Damas
President
Mike Damas has over 25 years of economic research, trading, and risk management experience. He formed Maryland Capital Advisors in 1997. Until 2001, his firm executed a bond trading strategy as a sub-manager of a large New York-based hedge fund. In 2002, he launched MCA’s own private investment fund implementing a disciplined, market-neutral fixed-income trading strategy. In September 2005, MCA became a registered investment advisor providing portfolio design and management for high net worth families, private organizations, and other select clients.
Prior to forming MCA, he was Managing Director of the Asset-Backed Securities (ABS) trading desks for Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Securities and Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) Securities in New York. At UBS, where he ran ABS trading from 1991 until 1996, he was directly responsible for a $3-4 billion position. He developed a top-tier trading operation that ranked among the top-3 bond dealers in ABS, according to Greenwich Associates and Orion surveys. Prior to UBS, Mike traded corporate bonds and ABS at Chase Securities. Mike began his Wall Street career in economic research working with Allen Sinai, chief economist for Lehman Brothers. He holds an MBA-Finance from New York University’s Stern School of Business, a B.A.-International Relations from James Madison College at Michigan State University, and has held a number of FINRA licenses.
Mike lives on the shore of the Chesapeake Bay with his wife, son, and dogs. He is a past trustee of The Key School in Annapolis and served on several committees, including Finance and Long-Range Planning. Mike has enjoyed college guest-lecturing on Economics and Finance and has frequently mentored undergraduate students. His interests are varied, but he has a passion for music and running and enjoys photography, boating, golf, tennis, and doing anything with his teenage son.
Paul Cucchissi
Managing Director
Paul Cucchissi brings over 20 years of experience in capital markets to Maryland Capital Advisors. Prior to establishing MCA’s Greenwich, Connecticut office, Paul was an Executive Director at UBS Securities where he was responsible for the structuring and marketing of fixed income, credit, and currency derivatives. He was also responsible for global debt capital markets transactions for U.S. Financial Institutions and Asset-Backed issuers. Paul’s client list included global and highly-sophisticated financial institutions such as Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan Chase, and The World Bank.
Paul holds a B.S. in Economics from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, an MBA in Finance from the University of California at Berkeley and has completed graduate work in international finance at The London Business School. He has held a number of FINRA licenses and is a former Certified Public Accountant.
Paul was raised on Long Island and currently resides in Greenwich, Connecticut with his wife and two sons. After playing soccer in college he had a strong desire to coach youth sports, which he did for 10 years in the town’s soccer and baseball leagues. He also served four years on the Board at Burning Tree Country Club. He now focuses on keeping up with his teenage sons in a variety of sports including skiing, bodyboarding, mountain biking and golf. During his down time, Paul also enjoys a wide range of music and is an avid audiophile.
Shelley Quade
Vice President, Client Service
Shelley Quade has worked in our Maryland office for over 6 years. She is primarily responsible for daily portfolio accounting, reconciliation, and trade support. She also works closely with our custodial firms to handle client service requests. Working in a boutique investment advisory firm means her expertise is broad-based and responsibilities varied – a challenging environment she has relished. Prior to joining Maryland Capital Advisors, Shelley worked in the Life Sciences/Healthcare industry for a global Fortune 500 company and holds a B.S. in Biology from Towson State University.
Shelley lives with her husband and three children on Maryland’s Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. She spends most of her free time with her active children, but manages to find time to pursue her own healthy lifestyle. Shelley is an avid runner and regularly competes in local events.