Valerie Newell '75

Valerie Newell is a founder and Chairman of RiverPoint Capital Management and Director of the Private Client and High Net Worth Group. RiverPoint is an independent, Cincinnati based registered investment advisor specializing in the management of the investment portfolios for high net worth individuals, families, endowments and foundations. The firm manages $1.5 billion in investment assets. As a Senior Portfolio Manager, Valerie specializes in investment management, financial planning and retirement planning. She has a particular expertise in managing the assets of business executives and divorcees.

Valerie has achieved success in a male-dominated industry. She began as a CPA in the public accounting firm of Arthur Andersen, specializing in mergers and acquisitions in the Banking and Finance Industry. She was the first professional woman promoted to Manager and to have a baby and continue working. Prior to founding RiverPoint in 2002, Valerie was a Managing Director of Scudder, Stevens & Clark, an independent investment advisor with national and international operations and Director of the Cincinnati office. Valerie spent 12 years at Scudder, where she specialized in the management of investment assets for wealthy individuals and their families and was a member of the National Management Team. Valerie was the first woman at Scudder, on a national basis, to be named a Director of a Scudder office and the first woman to be promoted to Managing Director in the Cincinnati office.

Valerie has given thousands of hours of public service to community organizations. BGSU has benefited greatly from her extensive civic involvement including her service as Past Chairman and Emeritus Trustee of the Board of Trustees, She is one of only two people who have served on all three University boards –the Alumni Board, the Foundation Board and the Board of Trustees. She is also a member of the President’s Club in recognition of her generous philanthropy.

In addition to her commitment to BGSU, she has been gracious with her time in her hometown of Cincinnati where she is involved with the Cincinnati Art Museum (first woman Chairman in the Museum’s 124 year history); Past Chair and Emeritus Trustee of the Museum Center at Union Terminal (first woman Chairman in the history of the Museum); Trustee of the Cincinnati Parks Foundation; Trustee of the Summit Country Day Foundation; Trustee of the Beech Acres Foundation; and Co-Chairman of the Investment Committee and Trustee of the University of Cincinnati Foundation.

Valerie has received numerous awards including the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce “We Lead” award in Entrepreneurship, 2008; National Women’s CEO Advisory Board; YWCA 1990 Career Woman of Achievement award; Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Business and Professional Woman of the Year, 1985; and Leadership Cincinnati Class X.

Valerie received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Bowling Green State University in 1975 and graduated Magna Cum Laude. She was chosen as BGSU’s Outstanding Woman Graduate of 1975 and was a member of the Mortar Board Honor Society. The Schmidthorst College of Business awarded her with the Accomplished Graduate Award in 2006. In addition to her academic accomplishments, she was also a two-time, all-American swimmer at BGSU and was honored in 2003 from the BG Varsity Club with the Women’s Silver Letter Award.

Published: 2014