Operations Team

Lori Hoch

Chief Operating Officer

Lori has served in various roles in the investment business since 1993 including legal and compliance, product development and operations. A Principal of Cortina Asset Management, Lori is currently responsible for the day to day operations of the firm and also serves as the Chief Compliance Officer.

Lori joined the firm from M&I Investment Management Corporation where she served as Chief Legal Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for the investment adviser and the Marshall Funds. While at M&I Lori also managed the IRA Rollover Product Division where she was responsible for all operations, marketing and customer service components of the department. Prior to joining M&I, Lori worked as a securities attorney for two of the largest law firms in the country.

Lori received her J.D. from the University of Southern California and her B.S. in Finance and B.A. in Political Science from the University of Arizona. In 2000 she was named to The Milwaukee Business Journal “40 under Forty”, to the 2003 Business Journal Book of Most Influential People in Milwaukee and to the 2004 Business Journal Women of Influence.

Mark Merlet

Director – Institutional Sales

Mark joined Cortina Asset Management in 2004 to lead the institutional sales team. Mark’s primary focus is on national consultant relations and servicing Cortina’s institutional client base which includes a wide range of tax-exempt and taxable clients including institutional pension plans, Taft-Hartley plans, endowments, foundations, families and individuals.

Prior to joining the Cortina Asset Management, Mark served as vice president and sales manager for Chicago based ABN Amro Asset Management. Before that, he was the manager of the institutional sales efforts for PPM America in Chicago. He has over 10 years of experience in the asset management business. Mark holds a BBA in Finance from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.