About MSAIA

Since 2008 the MidSouth Alternative Investment Association ("MSAIA") has been an educational and networking nonprofit organization. 

The organization began during the initial rumblings of the Global Financial Crisis as the MidSouth Hedge Fund Association (MSHFA). Five lunch partners at Bricktops Restaurant in December 2007 agreed to come together every quarter and bring a few friends.

At our first event in March 2008, a Nashville mixer, a surprising number (i.e. forty) of alternative investment professionals attended, with experience ranging across private equity, real estate, hedge funds and managed futures. The name of our association changed very quickly to the MidSouth Alternative Investment Association (MSAIA) to reflect the breadth of the alternative investment industry practitioners who had expressed interest in meeting others in the region.

Primary Objectives

1. Knowledge-based networking organization connecting alternative investment principals through informal gatherings.

2. Advocacy of high ethical behavior and best practices.

3. Fund raising for worthwhile local charities through events with formal knowledge brokering (i.e. panel discussions, presentations, etc.)

Timeline

• In December 2007, a quarterly hedge fund cocktail hour was proposed among five lunch partners at Bricktops on Nashville's West End.

• On March 3, 2008, over 40 people attended the inaugural mixer at Tin Angel, thirteen days before Bear Stearns was forced, by regulators, to sell itself to JP Morgan for $2 per share.

• In 2008 the MidSouth Hedge Fund Association (MSHFA) met four times and grew to 180 members during a global financial crisis.

• In 2009 MSHFA broadened its name to The MidSouth Alternative Investment Association (MSAIA) and introduced short content-rich presentations at networking events. Membership expanded to approximately 300 members.

• In 2010, MSAIA formalized its non-profit status, launched version 1.0 of MSAIA.org and expanded membership to over 400.

• In 2011, MSAIA expanded geographically with an event in Memphis.

• In 2012, MSAIA membership expanded to over 600 and initiated the annual hedge fund portfolio manager perspectives series.

• In 2013, MSAIA membership expanded to over 700 and introduced idea dinners for investors.

• In 2014, MSAIA continued the annual health care private equity investment perspectives series.

• In 2015, MSAIA initiated the annual allocators' perspectives series and co-promoted the first FinTech Accelerator luncheon.

• In 2016, MSAIA launched version 2.0 of the MSAIA.org website.

• In 2019, MSAIA convened its first real estate manager panel discussion.

• In 2022, MSAIA, along with seven other regional associations, began collaborating more formally under the MFA Partner Program. Topics expanded to include music royalties with a primer from The Mechanical Licensing Cooperative.

• In 2023, MSAIA convened its music royalties trademark education event.

• In 2025, MSAIA convened its first credit specialist panel discussion and launched 3.0 of the MSAIA.org website.

Board of Directors

Chairman and Sponsorship:      Greg Dyra

Membership:                              Greg Dyra

Treasurer and Finance :             Scott Hodgson

Event Planning:                        Greg Dyra

Secretary and Best Practices:   David Pruitt

Staff/ Volunteers

Greg Dyra - Membership Committee and Membership Liaison

Matthew Dyra - Assistant Manager of Events and Technology

Laura Dyra - Event Planner

TBA - Member Services Coordinator

Protocol at Meetings

MSAIA members and guests are strongly encouraged to behave in a manner which is supportive to the goals of networking and knowledge sharing.

Money managers and service providers should offer their business card only when an investor first offers their own business card.