2021 Award Winners

Class of 2021

Matt Bushard

As a Certified Financial Planner® at Bell Bank in Fargo, N.D., Matt Bushard, VP/wealth management advisor, works closely with individuals and families to define goals and develop a strategy for accomplishing them. A significant part of his work involves creating comprehensive financial plans tailored to those goals and guiding clients through their financial journey. Matt joined Bell in 2011 and has been part of Bell Bank Wealth Management since 2013. He has a vast understanding of banking, having worked in various bank roles. Matt earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and economics from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. He also serves on Bell’s investment and mutual fund committees and is a member of the Red River Estate Planning Council, Leadership Fargo Moorhead West Fargo planning committee and Financial Planning Association. Matt enjoys community volunteering, watching sports and spending time at the lake. He lives in Fargo with his wife, Brianne.

Douglas Cooper

Douglas Cooper has over 18 years of experience in the financial services industry. He holds several securities and insurance designations, including Series 6, 7, and 66. As a registered Hancock Whitney investment advisor representative in the Texas market, Douglas focuses on wealth management, financial planning, and insurance related products. Since 2017, Douglas has brought seasoned expertise to the Houston Private Wealth team. Douglas graduated from University of Houston in 2018 with an M.B.A. in Finance.

Adam Cox

After being born and raised in South Dakota, Adam ventured through the Midwest to earn an extensive education, including his undergraduate degree from the University of South Dakota, J.D. from the University of St. Thomas School of Law, and M.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame. As the capstone to a career dedicated to the trust and investment fields, he joined First National Wealth Management in 2016 as the Chief Wealth Management Officer, and has since led the 43-person Wealth Management division to achieve impressive growth, administering more than $5.3 billion in assets. In addition to providing strategic oversight, he shares his knowledge and passion for finance as the host of Common Cents on the Prairie, First National’s financial education podcast, to provide timely, relevant financial advice. Outside of his work, he serves on the boards for Volunteers of America - Dakotas and the University of South Dakota’s Farber Fund.

Dustin Cunningham

Dustin is responsible for client retention and growth as well as building relationships with strategic partners. He engages in proactive outreach to create awareness of Trust Point’s comprehensive financial services. His goal is to provide financial peace of mind to individuals, families, small business owners, and couples who are seeking financial planning. Whether it is to maintain a certain lifestyle or leave a family legacy, Dustin helps clients create customized plans relieving the burden and concerns that can cause anxiety for clients so they can rest easy and enjoy retirement. Dustin is also asked to present at financial education seminars for clients, prospects and community organizations. Dustin finds time to be engaged in his community and is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Gundersen Medical Foundation. However, Dustin’s priority is spending time outdoors with his wife and two young children. 

Andrew Davis

Andrew N. Davis, CFA® is a Director of Research on West Capital Management’s Research Team and also serves on West Capital Management’s Investment Committee. Andrew is responsible for investment due diligence on managers and strategies, portfolio construction and portfolio implementation. Andrew earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics from Michigan State University, and his master’s degree in Applied Economics from Johns Hopkins University. Andrew has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) designation.

Lauren Drury

Lauren serves as Chief Wealth Management Fiduciary Officer, overseeing the trust and estates administration department of Washington Trust Wealth Management.  Lauren reviews trust and estate documents; provides legal analysis for internal fiduciary operations; drafts fiduciary policies, procedures, and best practices for trust and estate administration; meets with families, attorneys, and advisors who are considering a corporate fiduciary; oversees the Wealth Management Trust Officers; and leads all aspects of fiduciary administration services.

Previously, Lauren worked as an attorney specializing in estate planning and probate law.  She also served as financial advisor with Morgan Stanley and as counsel specializing in commercial finance.

Lauren holds a Bachelor of Arts from Muhlenberg College and a Juris Doctorate from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law.  Lauren is a licensed attorney in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and the United States District Courts. 

Lauren is the treasurer of the Greenwich Club in East Greenwich, Rhode Island.

Jala Eaton

Jala Eaton Esq. is licensed to practice law in California and her law firm, The Law Office of J. Eaton, specializes in Estate Planning. Fueled by her passion to aid in closing the racial wealth gap, Jala earned her Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor designation and founded On My Own Financial, LLC.  A business created to educate and empower women to build their wealth and protect their assets through estate planning and financial literacy. Jala speaks to people of all ages about the importance of understanding money and investing. She is a published author and prior to founding her businesses, her experience included working as a Wealth Management Trust Officer at a Fortune 500 company. 

Lynne Ford

Lynne M.J. Ford is a Vice President and Wealth Manager at Charter Trust Company with 17 years of industry experience. After graduating from Rivier College in 2003 with a Bachelor’s degree in Law and Government with a concentration is Legal Studies, she joined Charter Trust Company as a Wealth Administrator. In July of 2005 she was promoted to Senior Wealth Administrator. She was promoted to Wealth Manager in 2012 and was granted the title of Vice President in March of 2016.

Ms. Ford successfully completed the courses of study for the American Bankers Association Trust Administration Level I, II & III with emphasis in Taxation and Estate Planning, Trust Administration and Investment Management.

Ms. Ford currently lives in Canaan NH with her husband, three daughters, two cats, and a rabbit. She spends most of her free time volunteering for her children’s various activities and helping on her parent’s cattle farm.

Henry Gordon

Henry Gordon is Vice President and Trust Real Estate Manager for First Horizon Bank.  In this role he manages commercial, multi-family, agricultural, and residential property held in trust.  Henry graduated from Mississippi State University with an undergraduate degree in Wildlife Science and a Master’s degree in Forestry.  He received his Juris Doctorate from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University with Certificate in Environmental Law.  He holds the Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor designation from the American Bankers Association and is recognized as a Registered Forester in the State of Mississippi.  He is currently fulfilling the requirements for the Accredited Farm Manager designation with the ASFMRA.  He is a graduate of Leadership Desoto and NEXUS Memphis.  Henry volunteers with Junior Achievement and the Mississippi Banker in Every Classroom program.  He enjoys spending free time with his wife and daughter in Southaven, Mississippi or any manner of outdoor activity.

Will Gray

Will Gray was born and raised in rural eastern North Carolina. He attended East Carolina University, where he obtained a B.S. in Political Science, with a Minor in Business Administration. He then attended Campbell University, where he obtained a joint Juris Doctorate and Master’s Degree in Trust and Wealth Management. He is currently enrolled at The University of Alabama School of Law, where he is pursuing a Master of Laws in Taxation.

Will is a Trust Officer at Truist Wealth, where he is an Estate Specialist with the Estate Services Group in Atlanta, Georgia. He is also a North Carolina licensed attorney. In his free time, Will enjoys hunting, reading, and attending musical theatre. He is an Eagle Scout, a Freemason, and an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Kris Horn

Kristopher Horn is a Vice President and Financial Consultant with RT Investment Services. Kris has been with the company since 2014 and is responsible for evaluating client needs and goals to develop customized, long-term solutions to help build and protect their wealth.

Kris has worked in the financial services industry since 2011. Prior to joining RT Investment Services, Kris was a Trust Administrative Officer with US Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management. Kris received a BS in Accountancy from Providence College and is enrolled in the Boston University College of Financial Planning working toward his Certified Financial Planner certification. He holds the designation of Certified Trust Financial Advisor and FINRA Series 6 and 63 licenses.

Kris is very involved with the Nativity Prep school in Jamaica Plain. Kris’ involvement includes Peer Mentoring, Tutoring, fundraising, and growing the image of the school. He resides in Quincy, MA.

Ben Johnson

Ben Johnson, Senior Portfolio Manager & Client Service Manager:  Ben has been with Seaside Wealth Management since September 2010. In his current role, he works with all of UCBI/Seaside’s Client Advisors to create customized Wealth Management solutions for our clients and prospects. Each investment proposal involves an in-depth analysis of the client’s financial needs and risk tolerance.  Ben is involved with financial planning, which is a critical component of the Seaside Wealth Management strategy. Ben is a member of the bank’s Fiduciary & Non-Deposit Investment Products Committee. Before starting his career at Seaside, Ben completed the MBA program at the University of Central Florida and received his Bachelor and Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Ben became a CFA Charterholder in 2014 and has been involved with the CFA Society of Orlando.

Josh Linton

Josh Linton is a Wealth Planner and Vice President for the Augusta and Rural markets of Queensborough National Bank & Trust. He has 15 years of experience in holistic and complex planning, risk management, wealth transition, retirement strategies, and utilizing an array of financial services and partners. Specializing in creating and completing financial plans that are carefully crafted for each person, Josh knows that trust isn’t given but earned. He enjoys earning that trust and helping his clients live the life they want, and in special cases live the life they thought they couldn’t have.  Having recently earned the CPFA® designation Josh continues to grow by now working with employer sponsored plans. Josh is a longtime resident of Augusta, Georgia, where he resides with his wife Suzanne and is active in his community, as he is the chairman of the Bert Yancey Mental Health Foundation, as well as other civic groups.

Alexander Lyden-Horn

Alex serves as Senior Vice President, Trust Counsel and Director of Personal Trust for WSFS Bank and as President of Christiana Trust Company of Delaware, a subsidiary of WSFS Financial Corporation. Prior to joining Christiana Trust, Alex served as Trust Counsel for an independent Delaware trust company and as an associate at two suburban Philadelphia law firms, where his practice focused on estate and tax planning and estate and trust administration. Alex received his J.D. and LL.M. in Taxation from the Temple University Beasley School of Law and his undergraduate degree from Yale University. Alex is a member of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey bars and a member of the Delaware bar under Rule 55.1.

Rachael Lynch

Rachael A. Lynch is a Senior Trust Officer with U.S. Bank Private Wealth Management and has worked in the banking and financial services industry since 2014.  Prior to joining U.S. Bank, Rachael worked as a Trust Officer for Edward Jones Trust Company focusing on estate settlement.  Rachael is a member of the State Bars of Missouri and California and focused on Elder Law prior to joining the financial services industry.  Rachael obtained an L.L.M. in Taxation from Washington University in St. Louis and a J.D. from the University of Akron Law School.  Additionally, Rachael holds the Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA) designation, is an active member of the Estate Planning Council of St. Louis and serves on the Young Professionals Board of the Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition. 

Kelly Mack

Kelly Mack is the Planning and Governance Director for Truist.  In this role, she is responsible for strategy, implementation, and execution in fiduciary administration, practice discipline and oversight functions.  Additionally, she manages the development, training, and education of our trust and fiduciary practice solutions for Truist Wealth. 

Prior to her current role, Kelly served as a Trust Advisor in various client segments across Wealth, including Sports & Entertainment, High Net Worth and GenSpring Family Offices. Before joining SunTrust, she was a Trust Officer at U.S. Trust for three years.  

Kelly is a 2008 graduate of Campbell University’s Lundy-Fetterman School of Business.  She holds both a BBA in Trust & Investment Management, as well as an MBA with a double major in Finance and Management.  She was a recipient of the Presidential Academic Scholarship and Varsity Softball Athletic Scholarship, and is a current member of the Atlanta Estate Planning Council.  

Alexander Magid

As Vice President and Trust Officer, Alex represents Univest Bank and Trust Co. in its fiduciary capacity for revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, special needs trusts, guardianships, and agency under a power of attorney, as well as serving as executor/administrator on estates. Alex received his bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University and his Juris Doctorate degree from Widener University School of Law. As a licensed Pennsylvania attorney, Alex has specific experience and knowledge of estate planning practices, methods, and the surrounding laws. Prior to joining Univest, Alex personally drafted wills, power of attorney, special needs trusts, living trusts, and continues to attend continuing legal education courses on related legal topics, specifically focused on special needs trusts. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing, playing guitar and watching the Eagles, Flyers, and Penn State football games. Alex resides in Bucks County with his wife and two children.

Keith Manning

Keith Manning is a Vice President and Senior Trust Officer with Bank of America Private Bank in Dallas, Texas. He began his career as a Trust Administrative Officer II with U.S. Trust, Bank of America in Dallas. Over his ten year career with the Private Bank, he’s advanced to Senior Trust Officer.

Mr. Manning Co-Lead’s the Employee Engagement Pillar for the 901 Main building in Dallas. Throughout the year, he plans, coordinates and leads associate events for: career building, financial education, and networking events for the building’s 1,400 associates. He also Co-Leads the building’s American Red Cross Blood Drive and volunteers in many Bank sponsored events during the year.

Mr. Manning earned both his Bachelor of Business Administration in Trust and Wealth Management and a Master of Business Administration from Campbell University in North Carolina. He is also a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) certificant and holds the designation of Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA). 

Laina Mills

Laina Mills leads Legacy Trust’s investment platform, including the firm’s investment philosophy, asset management strategies, allocation guidelines, tactical positioning, and portfolio construction.

Laina also manages key client portfolios directly, delivering investment solutions that are customized to meet client needs. She acts as the company’s spokesperson on investment matters and contributes frequently to local media on market and economic topics.  Laina serves as a member of the firm’s executive team and is active in strategic planning and ongoing management of the business.

Laina is Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) certificant, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Rollins College.

Laina volunteers her time as a Trustee of the Grand Rapids Symphony Foundation and serves on the Board of Directors for Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Opera Grand Rapids, Downtown Market Grand Rapids, and Catholic Charities West Michigan.  
Laina resides in Lowell Township with her husband and son. 

Alain Monkam

Alain manages individual and institutional fixed income portfolios for Arvest Bank’s Trust Division and Arvest Investment Management Group. He is the main manager for the ABG Government Bond Fund, and co-manager for Arvest Bank’s investment portfolio. He is a member of Arvest Bank syndicated loans committee and contributes into the bank assets-liabilities sub-committee. 

He has over 12 years of investment experience including, fixed income portfolio management, assets-liabilities management, merger and acquisition, and buy side equity.

 A native of Cameroon, he holds an MBA with finance concentration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and a Master’s in Economics from University of Yaounde II. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and the president of the board of directors of the CFA Society of Arkansas. 

He is passionate about financial literacy, mentorship and has been a volunteer with Junior Achievement. 

Justin Moore

Justin joined Merrill in 2011 after spending two years as an auditor and consultant in the financial services and insurance industries. Justin’s key areas of focus include tax minimization strategies, generational wealth transfer planning and alternative investment portfolio construction. Justin received his Masters of Accountancy from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He also received his Bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from North Carolina A&T State University. When Justin is not working, he enjoys traveling to discover new and exciting experiences with family and outdoor cycling. Justin also enjoys spending time giving back to his community. He is a board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Piedmont Central and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Justin and his wife, Hona, have three children Sawyer, Jade and Sora and reside in Greensboro, NC.

Ryan Nevin

Ryan is a Trust Advisor with Regions Private Wealth Management, where he provides financial, estate, and business succession planning services. He joined Regions in 2015 after practicing law in Nashville, Tennessee, focusing on Estate Planning and Probate. Ryan remains an active member in the Nashville legal community by serving as the Chair of the TBA’s Law & Technology executive committee. He is also a CTFA through the ABA, and he serves as a Board Member of the non-profit Barefoot Republic, Inc.

Ryan earned his JD (magna cum laude) from Loyola University New Orleans, graduating in the top six percent of his class. At Loyola, Ryan was an Editor, Board Member, and published author of the Loyola Law Review. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree (cum laude) in Business from Tulane University.

Ryan is married with two young boys and is an avid runner, reader, and member of his church Covenant Presbyterian.

Melineh Ounanian

Melineh Ounanian joined Brown Brothers Harriman Trust Company, N.A., in New York in 2009.  Currently serving as Chief Fiduciary Officer, she is responsible for fiduciary operations for the Trust Companies, as well as the oversight of the fiduciary income tax and IRA team, and personal trust administration teams of the Charlotte, Chicago and New York offices. 

Ms. Ounanian graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in English and history from New York University and received her J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law with a concentration in taxation.

Sylvia Panek

Sylvia Panek has worked in socially responsible investing for fifteen years, starting at Green America and continuing at US SF – The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment. After more than a decade advancing and educating financial professionals on sustainable and responsible investment practices, she joined the financial advisory firm Natural Investments, LLC. 

Sylvia serves on the board of 350 Chicago, a climate change advocacy group demanding divestment from fossil fuel companies by institutions and individuals. She also participates on the board for Envest Microfinance, a domestic fund extending microfinance credit in developing countries overseas. Sylvia attended Illinois State University, graduating with honors to achieve a dual bachelor’s degree in International Business and Marketing in 2004. She completed a Sustainability MBA at Marylhurst University in 2014.

Paul Raccuglia

Paul Raccuglia is a Senior Vice President for Tower Wealth Managers, the wholly-owned investment subsidiary of Country Club Trust Company.  Paul works with a number of clients at Country Club Trust Company providing investment management for both individual and institutional portfolios. Paul also serves on the Mutual Fund and Asset Allocation Committees.

Paul has over 15 years of investment industry experience, joining Tower Wealth Managers in 2011.  Paul’s professional experience includes having served as a Financial Analyst and Senior Institutional Strategies Analyst at American Century Investments.  He also worked with institutional investment portfolios for State Street Bank and served as a Project Accountant at Cerner Corporation.

He holds his Bachelor of Science undergraduate degree in Business, Finance and Banking from the University of Missouri – Columbia.  Paul earned his MBA degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship.  He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder and serves on the board of directors of the Kansas City CFA Society.

In addition to Paul’s professional work, he has volunteered for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and has served on Executive Board of Directors and is Past-President for Camps for Kids.

Nader Razavi

Nader Razavi is a Director and Senior Private Wealth Advisor at The Private Bank at Union Bank. He works with a team of specialists in wealth planning, investments, risk management, fiduciary services, and banking in Beverly Hills to help high net worth clients build, sustain, and transfer wealth based on their distinct priorities. Nader has over 17 years of financial services experience and has held positions at Wachovia, Wells Fargo, and Merrill Lynch. He received his BA in Economics with a minor in Management from the University of California, Irvine. Nader also completed the Personal Financial Planning (PFP) Program from University of California, Irvine. He is a Certified Financial Planner TM practitioner. Additionally, he holds Series 7 and 66 securities licenses as well as his California Life Insurance license. Nader is also an active member of the Orange County Financial Planning Association.

Stephen Russell

Stephen is the Regional Trust Executive at First Horizon Bank for Middle Tennessee. He leads a team that handles all fiduciary accounts in Nashville and the surrounding counties. Stephen joined First Horizon in 2015 but has been in the wealth management industry since 2010, serving as an estate planning advisor, financial planner and attorney. He received his JD and MBA from the University of Memphis and graduated from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 2018 with an Executive Leadership Certificate and a Stonier Graduate School of Banking Certificate. Stephen is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), Certified Trust and Financial Advisor(CTFA), Certified Retirement Counselor (CRC®) and has his Series 7, 63 and 65 Securities Licenses. He also has his Life, Health & Accident and Variable Contracts Insurance Licenses. 

Brian Schumacher

As director of wealth management, Brian Schumacher leads Alerus’ investment and fiduciary services and securities departments. Together, these departments form the company’s wealth management division, which focuses on clarifying and achieving the wealth needs of individual and institutional clients. As a member of Alerus’ senior management team, Brian plays a key role in shaping the company’s future by collaboratively addressing risk/return decisions, strategic issues, and organizational management.

Brian joined Alerus in 2011 and has nearly 15 years of experience in financial services, specializing in retirement services and wealth management. He is a long-time volunteer for Junior Achievement and past investment chair for North Dakota Dollars for Scholars. Brian holds bachelor’s degrees in business and economics from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. He is a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor and Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist.

He lives in Thompson, North Dakota, with his wife and their three children.

Greg Seppanen

Gregory J. Seppanen is Vice President-Senior Trust Officer at Superior National Bank & Trust.  He has 15 years of experience in the financial services industry and has held various positions including Financial Advisor, Trust Officer and Portfolio Manager. He holds several industry designations such as Certified Financial Planner™, Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor and Accredited Investment Fiduciary. He also maintains the Series 7 and Series 66 securities industry licenses and the Michigan Life & Health insurance license.  He earned a bachelor’s degree in Financial Planning from Franklin University.  He is a member of the Trust Executive Committee and Trust Retirement Committee of the Michigan Bankers Association. Additionally, he serves the community as President of the Adams Township School District Foundation. He also volunteers his time by coaching youth baseball and hockey.

In his free time, Greg enjoys taking advantage of all the outdoor activities that northern Michigan has to offer with his wife, Jennifer, and their children.

Trista Shigley

Trista Shigley is the Fiduciary Division Director for Truist. In her current role, she manages a team of regional advisors throughout North Carolina and South Carolina.  She is responsible for enhancing the growth and profitability of the fiduciary business segment while mitigating risk and adhering to all applicable compliance regulations. Prior to her current role, Trista served as a personal trust specialist.

Prior to joining the bank, Trista worked at a boutique estate and tax firm. Additionally, she worked as a project manager for a nationally ranked branding firm.

Trista graduated magna cum laude from the Honors College and Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina and earned her Juris Doctor from Charleston School of Law.  

Grant Smith

Grant grew up in small town East Arkansas where everybody knows everybody.  After graduating from Wynne High school, he moved to Fayetteville to study Finance at the University of Arkansas.  While in school, he was very involved with his fraternity and a student ministry on campus through which he did multiple projects and overseas trips. These experiences really shaped him and led him to pursue a career as a financial planner. Grant loves to engage other people because he loves connecting with individuals and learning about their background and who they are.  He has a desire to have a positive impact on the lives of others and that is why he is in this business. His faith is the biggest part of who he is and truly believes that it is a God thing that he ended up with this firm.  He knows that he is teamed up with the best in the business and can confidently say that with the team approach that we have at Lighthouse Financial, we are going to be able to provide you with the best financial plan possible. 

Tim Sopalski

Tim Sopalski joined the Trust and Estate industry in the spring of 2013 and enjoys working with clients to help establish and accomplish their financial objectives.  As Trust Department Manager, Tim leads his team with a relationship-focused culture. In 2018, he earned his Certified Trust & Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA) certification and most recently was presented with the Idaho Falls Distinguished Under 40 award in 2019.

Most importantly, Tim is a husband to Roni and father to three wonderful and energetic little boys. He strives to be an example for his family as he serves our community as a team lead for the Idaho Falls Soup Kitchen, as an Assistant Ward Clerk for his church, and other service opportunities. He currently serves as the Secretary of the Eastern Idaho Estate Planning Council, Vice President for the Bonneville County Community Board of Guardians, and as a Trustee for The Ririe District School Board. 

Fernando Soto

Fernando Soto is a Vice President in Brown Brothers Harriman’s (BBH) Private Banking division in the New York office. In his role, he advises private business owners, ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and endowments and foundations on complex matters related to investing, wealth planning, philanthropy, family business governance and corporate advisory. He currently overseas some of Private Banking’s largest global family relationships, helping clients achieve their definition of success for their family, wealth, and business over generations. Fernando sits on BBH’s Private Banking Sustainability Committee as well as the Diversity & Inclusion Council.   

Outside of BBH, Fernando serves as a board member of Help Peru, a New York-based charity that supports charitable organizations that help underprivileged Peruvians, and American Friends of Waterford, a foundation that supports educational initiatives in Southern Africa. He received his B.A. from Syracuse University and an MBA from Duke University, Fuqua School of Business.

Melissa Stout

Melissa Stout is a Senior Trust Officer at Bank of America, Private Bank in Dallas, Texas where she has been employed for two years. She started as a Trust Officer II at Wells Fargo Bank where she was quickly promoted to a Senior Trust Officer. 

A 2006 graduate of Coastal Carolina University with a BS in Biology and a minor in Marine Science, Melissa furthered her education at Florida Coastal School of Law. She graduated with a Juris Doctor in 2011, and became licensed to practice law in Florida in 2012. 

Melissa Stout is a Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA) certificant awarded by the American Bankers Association. Melissa is also a Claritas Investment certificant awarded by the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute.  

In her free time, Melissa enjoys CrossFit, hiking and spending time with her family. 

Perry Sutton

Perry M. Sutton, AIF®, CRC® is a Vice President and financial advisor in the WSFS Wealth Investments Group at WSFS Bank. It is his passion to support his clients in their critical financial decisions, thereby enabling them to create a fulfilling life, and legacy, with minimal financial concern. Ten years after receiving his bachelor’s degree in Finance and Accounting from Seton Hall University he continues to recognize the importance of lifelong learning. Perry is currently an Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®), a Certified Retirement Counselor (CRC®) and is currently pursuing the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®) credential. Mentoring those with whom he works as well as staying engaged in his community helps Perry have a meaningful impact on the lives of those around him. When he’s not working or spending his time volunteering, he enjoys playing drums, honing his culinary skills, riding his motorcycle and studying Zen.

Cecilia Thibault

Cecilia began her career at INTRUST Bank in 2011 as a Customer Solutions Center (CSC) Banker. She held additional positions as a Team Manager and a NestEgg U retirement educator before assuming her role as Client Experience Strategist. In her role, she leads the work to identify and implement strategies to provide high-quality client experiences and strengthen existing client relationships. Cecilia holds her bachelor's degree in Spanish from Wichita State University.

Her community involvement includes President of Young Latino Professionals of Wichita and Board Member of the Wichita Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Cecilia has been a loaned executive through United Way and will serve as the Young Leaders United Steering Committee Chair in 2021. In her spare time, she enjoys cycling and spending time with her husband, Matt, and their two dogs.

Ashlee Vieregger

Ashlee Vieregger, JD, CFP®, CTFA is Vice President, Managing Wealth Advisor at Bankers Trust Company in Des Moines, Iowa. She provides financial planning, investment management, and fiduciary services to high net worth families and is a top producer in new business development. Ashlee is passionate about engaging with clients and creating “raving fans.” She supervises a team of two wealth advisors and is active on several workplace committees.

In recognition of her professional accomplishments, community involvement, and volunteerism Ashlee was named to the Des Moines Business Record’s Forty Under 40 list of honorees in 2020. She serves on the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa and the Des Moines Symphony Foundation. Ashlee has been a volunteer income tax preparer with United Way’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) since 2016.

Outside of the office, Ashlee enjoys hiking, swimming, reading, and traveling with her husband Carl.

Kenny Wasson

A native of central Arkansas, Kenny has worked for Arvest since 2003. He attended Ouachita Baptist University where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance. Kenny helps his clients to build, maintain, and transition wealth. He does this by managing relationships through comprehensive financial planning, asset management, estate planning, and income strategies for both personal and business clients. Kenny is an advocate for special needs children and has collaborated with North Little Rock Parks & Recreation for One Heart Playground, the first inclusive park in NLR. The park is named for the heart condition of his daughter. Kenny and his wife recently collaborated with the University of Arkansas Little Rock and Children’s Hospital and championed an app for families to communicate with doctors while their child is in surgery. Kenny is an active member in the Financial Planning Association® and is an active volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Marguerite Weese

Marguerite is the National Director-Family Legacy Strategies in Wilmington Trust’s Emerald Advisory Services Group.  She provides personal wealth planning to high net worth individuals and their families through the design and implementation of their estate, business succession, and family legacy plans. Prior to joining Wilmington Trust, Marguerite was an associate in Pricewaterhouse-Coopers’ personal financial services group.  She holds a JD and LL.M. in Taxation from Villanova University’s School of Law, and earned her Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland.  Marguerite has taught at Philadelphia-area law schools and is currently an adjunct professor at Drexel University’s School of Law. She is a member of the American Bankers Association’s trust tax committee.  She is a past member of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Probate and Trust Section’s Executive Committee and co-chaired the Section’s tax committee. Marguerite served as vice chair of the WOMEN’S WAY board of directors.  

Rita Yeung

Rita Yeung is a Vice President and Manager of Tax Services of Rockland Trust’s Investment Management Group since 2017. Her specialty includes tax services related to high net worth individuals, fiduciary, estate, and gifts. Rita has worked in the tax compliance and consulting services since 2007. Prior to joining Rockland Trust, she worked as a Tax Manager at a local CPA firm. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Accounting and Finance from Boston University. Rita is a Certified Public Accountant and is affiliated with the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants (MSCPA) and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

Rita currently serves as the Finance Director on the Board for ASPIRE, Asian Sisters Participating in Reaching Excellence, a non-profit group that aims to empower leadership and identity for Asian American women. She currently resides in Stoughton, Massachusetts.