Valerie Houts

Valerie Houts, Managing Director of the Private Equity and Venture Services Group at Merrill Lynch, manages one of the largest advisory practices focused on venture-capital and private equity investors. She also oversees the domestic and foreign equity distributions, 10b5-1 plan development and implementation and regulatory matters. Prior to joining Merrill in 2002, Valerie was a Vice President of The Venture Services Group at Robertson Stephens, and a Private Client Advisor at Montgomery Securities where she handled restricted stock transactions, diversification and hedging strategies, and comprehensive asset management. In addition to her financial career, Valerie also serves on the Board of Trustees of Project Glimmer, a non-profit supporting disadvantaged young women & girls, and is active in leadership at St. Ignatius Church in San Francisco.