Founded in 1995, THE LUGANO GROUP INCORPORATED offers securities brokerage, advisory and investment promotion services as well as economic and financial studies.

      Our activities in the world's newly emerging markets have furnished The Lugano Group's institutional client base with diversified investment opportunities while attracting pivotal international capital to these areas.

   The Lugano Group's professionals have varied backgrounds from economics, investment banking, multilateral finance, securities brokerage, and real estate development.  

    We maintain a presence in New Orleans, home to one of the world's leading ports and a city with ingrained commercial and cultural links to countries in Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and Latin America; in New York City, the world's preeminent financial capital; and in Houston, a dominant hub of the energy and technology sectors.

Harold E. Doley, III

    Harold E. Doley, III, Principal, is responsible for client relationships and administration at The Lugano Group. As President of the family-owned investment banking firm of Doley Securities, Inc. in New Orleans, Mr. Doley's responsibilities included overseeing equity underwriting activities, calling on major institutional accounts, and coordinating its relationships with central banks in Africa and the Caribbean and other international financial institutions. Mr. Doley was involved integrally in the underwriting activities of equity funds devoted to investments in Africa by Doley Securities, Inc. He also participated in the establishment of the Lusaka Stock Exchange (LuSE). Mr. Doley has worked at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. (1989-1991) and as a Congressional Staffer on Capitol Hill (1983/1984).

    Mr. Doley served from 2003 until 2005 on the Board of Directors at the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York. The bank serves 300 community lenders headquartered in New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

    Mr. Doley has been an aide to New York Governor George E. Pataki and New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. During Mayor Bloomberg's transition, Mr. Doley worked with the Economic Development Subcommittee and as his liaison to The United States Conference of Mayors.

    Mr. Doley holds a bachelor's degree from Columbia University (1990) and is a graduate of The American School in Switzerland (1986). Additionally, he has studied at New College, Oxford University, and Universidad de Salamanca. Among his securities licenses, Mr. Doley is both a General Securities Representative (Series 7) and Principal (Series 24). 

    He has been a member of the World Trade Center of New Orleans (WTC) Board of Directors; a commission appointed by the Governor of the State of Louisiana; the international advisory council of a regional bank; as well as the boards of an educational foundation and a PBS affiliate. Mr. Doley has been a featured speaker at professional conferences and universities. He speaks both French and Spanish.

    On February 28, 2007, Mr. Doley had the honor of addressing fellow Columbia University alumni in New York City. The link to an excerpt from his presentation is COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY ALUMNI TALK EXCERPT.

Amir Mireskandari

    Amir Mireskandari, Principal, is responsible for analysis and compliance at The Lugano Group. He has worked as an Investment Analyst in the Investment Department of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Washington, D.C. In this position, Mr. Mireskandari performed project feasibility studies and investment analysis, and he wrote annual supervision reports based on missions to company sites. Mr. Mireskandari authored monthly reports on the division's portfolio, analyzing trends and studying the bearing of changes in exchange rates, interest rates, social and political factors, country status, and other exogenous factors. He was charged with recommending provision and loan loss reserves percentages and outlining courses of action on arrears. Mr. Mireskandari also was an advisor on privatization to the Ministry of Mines and Heavy Industry of the Kingdom of Morocco to conduct a competitive study of the private sector. He has been a speaker on emerging markets at professional and academic seminars, and he has been quoted in international publications.

    From 1990 until 1992, Mr. Mireskandari was a Programming Assistant for Data Administration and Records at The World Bank in Washington, D.C. Mr. Mireskandari holds both a B.B.A. in International Business (1991) and an M.B.A. with a concentration in International Banking (1993) from George Washington University. He is a graduate of The American School in Switzerland (1987). Mr. Mireskandari is a General Securities Representative (Series 7) and Principal (Series 24), and he serves as The Lugano Group's Financial and Operations Principal. 

    Mr. Mireskandari speaks Farsi, French, and Italian.

Tara C. Hernandez

    Tara C. Hernandez, Vice President, works with major accounts at The Lugano Group. Mrs. Hernandez is recognized as a real estate expert in adaptive reuse and HOPE VI development projects throughout the U.S. She led the successful $45 million conversion of a turn of the century industrial facility in New Orleans into multi-family residences and retail.

    Mrs. Hernandez was Owner and President of Carter Realty and Development, a real estate development, brokerage, and consulting company located in New Orleans. In this capacity, she acted as broker for commercial and residential listings. Mrs. Hernandez also advised businesses and non-profit organizations on real estate acquisition strategies, disposition, investment, and development. She was a consultant to various entities overseeing the restoration of inner-city properties toward the City of New Orleans' goal to provide first-time homeownership opportunities in underserved neighborhoods.

    Mrs. Hernandez was a Program Trust Officer at the Louisiana Department of the Treasury. In this capacity, she managed securities and collateral held in trust or on deposit with the State Treasurer for banks, bond firms, state agencies, academic institutions, individuals, and private companies.

    Mrs. Hernandez holds a Master of Science Degree in Real Estate Development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1992). She is a graduate of Loyola University in New Orleans with a degree in Finance (1987). Mrs. Hernandez is a General Securities Representative (Series 7). She serves on the Urban Land Institute's Board of Trustees and as its Louisiana Chair. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana's Governor named Mrs. Hernandez to the state's Recovery Authority Housing Subcommittee. Mrs. Hernandez also is a member of the Advisory Council of the internationally renowned New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Foundation.