About Us
OUR PHILOSOPHY
- KDI is committed to reducing the risk associated with equity investing. To achieve this objective and to differentiate KDI as the manager of choice, the firm has been guided by an investment philosophy and has utilized an investment process characterized by:
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- Commitment to long-term thinking
- Focus on quality and durability of earnings
- Invest only when we believe return will far outweigh the potential risks facing the underlying business
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One of the key philosophies of KDI is a belief that the principals should invest side by side with the clients.
OUR HISTORY
The history of KDI dates to 1991 when Managing Partner John Day formed a partnership with Investors Management Corporation (IMC), the parent company of Golden Corral Corporation, to invest in publicly traded companies. Over time, the partnership achieved impressive returns and attracted interest from outside investors.
In 1996, Maynard Capital Partners, LLC (MCP) was formed to invest in public equities for investors outside of the IMC organization. The MCP name reflected the founding involvement of James Maynard, then Chairman and CEO of IMC and Golden Corral.
As MCP continued to enjoy attractive investment results, the firm grew in terms of its client base, assets under management and market coverage. In 2004, Sheldon Fox joined the firm and became a partner in 2007. Also, in 2007, MCP changed its name to KDI Capital Partners, LLC to highlight the firm’s core operating principles: Knowledge, Discipline and Integrity. Colin Kelly joined the firm in 2012 and became a partner in 2020.
Today, John Day, Sheldon Fox and Colin Kelly are the majority owners of KDI with IMC retaining a minority share.
Meet Our Team
KDI is a registered investment advisor based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The firm’s history dates back to 1991 and is predominately employee-owned. Learn more about our team below.
INVESTMENT TEAM
John M. Day, CFA
Managing Partner
John has over 30 years of professional investment experience. He joined Investors Management Corporation (IMC) in 1990. Since 1990, he has had overall responsibility for IMC’s partnership investments in publicly traded securities, along with the formation and development of KDI. John graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1976 and began his professional career in 1976 as a CPA with KPMG, LLP. In 1980, he received an MBA from the University of North Carolina and then joined Carolina Securities Corporation in Raleigh, where he worked for 10 years. In 1984, John earned the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst. John co-manages the Core Equities Strategy.
Colin M. Kelly
Partner
Colin has been with KDI since 2012. Prior to KDI, Colin managed a proprietary trading account for Opus Trading Fund, the proprietary trading arm of Schonfeld Strategic Advisors and was an Associate with Square 1 Bank’s Structured Finance Group. Colin is a graduate of the University of North Carolina and holds an MBA from Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School Of Management where he was a Roy H. Park Fellow. Colin is a CFA charter holder. Colin manages the Highly Concentrated Strategy and co-manages the Core Equities Strategy.
Cindy Pittman
Sr. Research Analyst
Cindy brings 30 years’ corporate and venture capital experience from roles in Executive Management with companies in the Healthcare IT space and as Co-Founder and Fund Manager of a successful HCIT focused fund. She has worked with KDI Capital Partners since 2011 and concentrates her efforts on the healthcare space.She holds a BS in Accounting from Meredith College and an MBA from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business.
ADMIN TEAM
Shannon Brown
Client Services and Trading Coordinator
Shannon joined KDI Capital Partners in 2001 and has performed several administrative and financial positions within the firm. Shannon currently serves as client services and trading coordinator for the firm and completes all trading activity for all KDI client accounts. Shannon graduated magna cum laude from East Carolina University and also holds an MBA from East Carolina University’s College of Business.
Beth Dalton
Chief Compliance Officer
Prior to joining KDI Capital Partners in 2004, Beth worked with HBO and Company as the Director of Investor Relations and in various finance positions for six years. Beth graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1989 and earned an MBA from Georgia State University in 1993.
Sheldon M. Fox
Partner
Sheldon joined KDI Capital Partners in 2004, after serving almost five years as chief financial officer of two bank holding companies, CCB Financial Corporation and its’ successor by merger National Commerce Financial. Sheldon is a CPA and spent the first 16 years of his professional career with KPMG, LLP in Raleigh. He specialized in serving companies in the financial services industry and was admitted to the firm’s partnership as a tax partner in 1993. Sheldon earned an undergraduate degree from Duke University in 1981.