Joe Fuqua, Founder/Managing Partner
Mr. Fuqua co-founded Granite Capital Management, LLC in 2000. As a Managing Partner he is responsible for managing all aspects of Granite’s business and providing comprehensive wealth management and investment advice to clients. With more than 20 years experience in the capital markets, his expertise includes all aspects of the fixed income, equity, futures, options and other derivative markets.
Joe began his career in 1990 as a financial analyst at Security Pacific Bank’s interest rate & currency risk management unit and later moved to the derivatives trading desk. After Security Pacific merged with Bank of America, he held several market making and head trading positions on the derivatives desk. In managing both swap and option books, he was responsible for several multi-billion dollar portfolios. From 1997-2000 he was a member of a strategic trading unit that took proprietary risk in the fixed income markets on behalf of the bank’s securities subsidiary.
In 2000 he co-founded Granite Capital as a private investment partnership. In 2007 the firm began offering limited investment advice. As of 2010, Granite has dedicated its sole focus to the investment advisory business.
In early 2009, Joe co-founded Granite Investors, LLC, a leveraged fixed income investment partnership that participated in the Federal Reserve’s Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF).
Joe holds a Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame with an emphasis in Finance.
He and his wife Julia were married in 1992 and live in Walnut Creek, California along with their two daughters. Joe volunteers his time coaching youth sports, currently soccer and basketball. He and his wife spend much of their spare time rooting for their daughters in their various pursuits which include: swimming, soccer, basketball, drama and piano. He also enjoys hiking, running, playing golf and watching college football.
John Spees, Founder/Managing Partner
Mr. Spees is a cofounder and Managing Partner of Granite Capital. He has extensive experience in all facets of the capital markets, including fixed income securities, equities, futures, options and other derivatives. He is involved in all aspects of managing the firm as well as providing wealth management and investment advice to clients.
Mr. Spees started his career as a consultant for Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) in 1980, working in the financial services industry. He began his capital markets career trading fixed income securities and related derivatives in 1985 at Bank of America. Over 16 years he held a number of market making and head trading responsibilities in the government securities and derivative units at both Bank of America and Security Pacific. His final 5 years he was a member of a trading unit that took proprietary risk on behalf of the bank’s securities subsidiary.
In 2000 he co-founded Granite Capital Management LLC as a private investment partnership. In 2007 the firm began offering limited investment advice. As of 2010, Granite has dedicated its sole focus to the investment advisory business.
In 2009 John co-founded Granite Investors LLC, a leveraged fixed income investment partnership that participated in the Federal Reserve’s Term Asset Backed Loan Facility (TALF).
Mr. Spees has an MBA and BS from the Haas School of Business Administration, University of California Berkeley, with an emphasis in Finance.
Mr. Spees has been married to his wife Kate since 1986 and they have two teenage children. He enjoys fitness training and cheering maniacally at his kid’s cross country and track and field events. In addition, he also spends his spare time hiking and skiing in the Sierras with friends and family and abalone diving on the North Coast.
