Our People
As trusted financial advisors in Calgary, Hemisphere takes pride in our team of talented and passionate individuals who share our commitment to excellence. Our team members bring unique skills, experience, and expertise that differentiate us from other investment management firms. Our registered portfolio managers, Jim and Skyelar, hold the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) or Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designation, demonstrating their industry expertise and commitment to fiduciary standards.
At Hemisphere, we specialize in investment management services and work closely with our clients to provide personalized asset management solutions that are tailored to their unique needs. Our ultimate goal is to help our clients achieve financial success with confidence and peace of mind. Learn more about our team members below.
Jim Aronitz, MBA, CFA, P.Eng.
Jim has thirty years of investment management and financial analysis experience. He has been the President of Hemisphere Capital Management since founding the company in 1993. He is a former equity portfolio manager with the Investment Corporation of Saskatchewan and a former mutual fund manager with Metropolitan Trust. Jim earned a BSc (Electrical Engineering) and an MBA from the University of Alberta. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. Jim is a current member of the CFA Institute, a former director of the Canadian Council of Financial Analysts, and a past President of CFA Society Saskatchewan. Jim is a former director of a large venture capital fund and several publicly listed companies. He is also a past President of the Rotary Club of Calgary North.
Skyelar Siwak, CIM
Skyelar became a Partner with Hemisphere Capital Management in 2019. She previously spent several years in management and project consultancy. She holds a BA (Commerce, Organizations and Entrepreneurship) from Brown University where she played on the NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey team. She also holds the Chartered Investment Manager designation. Skyelar plays an integral role in the performance analysis and reporting procedures at Hemisphere. She led the firm’s GIPS verification process in which historical composite returns were verified for the past 25 years. She has also taken on an active role in portfolio management, trading and compliance. Skyelar is a member of the Steering Committee for the Calgary chapter of Women in Capital Markets. This organization empowers women in finance through networking, mentoring, and education.
Dylan Assen, CFA
Prior to joining Hemisphere, Dylan spent time working in wealth management as an Investment Representative for a Canadian financial services firm. Dylan earned a BBA (Financial Analysis & Economics) from Mount Royal University. Dylan holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a current member of the CFA Institute. Dylan works alongside Hemisphere’s Portfolio Managers where he assists with performance reporting, trading, and research. He is also a member of the Investment Committee. In 2018, Dylan advanced to the Canadian CFA Ethics Challenge Finals after taking home first prize with his team at the Prairie Regional portion of the competition.
Stephan Aronitz, CFA, P.Eng.
Stephan works alongside Hemisphere’s Portfolio Managers to identify investing opportunities and provide a high-level of personalized service to Hemisphere’s clients. Stephan holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a current member of the CFA Institute. Prior to joining Hemisphere, Stephan graduated with a BSc (Mechanical Engineering) from Queen’s University and spent several years working with an international engineering firm en route to becoming a Professional Engineer (P. Eng). During this time, he worked on several domestic and international engineering projects focused on both the metals and mining industry and large-scale transportation and infrastructure.
Joanne Kotulski
Joanne spent several years working with one of Canada’s big banks as a Senior Administrative Assistant in the areas of trust and audit services prior to joining Hemisphere Capital Management. With over 20 years of administrative experience, Joanne is the main contact responsible for addressing all client requests, along with assisting the staff in the day-to-day operations. Joanne graduated from SAIT (Calgary, AB) with a diploma in Marketing, and also holds the IFC certificate (Investment Funds In Canada), along with completing a certificate in Project Management. Away from the office Joanne has a special interest in gardening and is an avid animal lover.