Mario has been a resident of Lafayette since 2008. Born and raised in Albany, CA, he attended San Francisco University High School and Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in Washington D.C. He passed the State Department’s written and oral examinations for the Foreign Service but ultimately decided that a career in investment management in the Bay Area was the right choice for him. He spent 26 years at one of the largest privately owned investment managers in the United States, Dodge & Cox. He was the youngest member of an investment committee in the firm’s history and helped launch the International and Emerging Market Stock Funds. His research focused mostly on financial institutions, Building Materials and companies based outside of the United States. He was a shareholder of the firm and served on its charitable giving committee for more than 15 years. Mario was elected to the Albany City Council in 2000 and was a speech writer for a California Senatorial Campaign before joining D&C. He has been actively involved in volunteering for his alma mater, political causes dear to him, his children’s schools and their activities. He is a Commissioner on the Advisory Board for the Contra Costa Fire and Protection District and a Board Member of Trinity Center in Walnut Creek, CA.