Top Directors Awards Finalists
Top Investment Services Directors in Financial Institutions 2025 Finalists
Congratulations to the 2025 Top Directors finalists! Each finalist was considered for an award in one or more category according to our transparent, data-driven evaluation methodology. For more information on the evaluation methodology used to determine the 2025 Top Directors Awards, please click here.
Please note: Finalists with no director name chose to be recognized as a firm.
View all the nominees for this year’s awards here.
The Top Directors Awards season will culminate in a live, in-person ceremony on November 6-7 in Chapel Hill, NC where the winners will be announced. The finalists are listed below by category.
For questions about the Top Directors Awards, please contact awards@kehrergroup.com.
2025 Top Directors Finalists in Mega Firms
Category Sponsor:
BMO Investment Services
at BMO Bank
Director: Wallace Harris, Jr.
Citi Personal Wealth
at Citigroup
Director: Frank Consalo
Citizens Securities Inc.
at Citizens Bank
Director: Michael Cherny
Fifth Third Securities
at Fifth Third
Director: Robert Corsarie
First Citizens Investor Services, Inc.
at First Citizens Bank
Director: David Biliter
First Horizon Advisors, Inc.
at First Horizons Bank
Director: Martin de Laureal
Fulton Financial Advisors
at Fulton Bank
Director: Michael George
Huntington Financial Advisors
at Huntington Bank
Director: Michael Miroballi
Key Investment Services
at Key Bank
Director: Solomon Schmidt
Pinnacle Asset Management
at Pinnacle National Bank
Director: Gary Collier
Regions Investment Services
at Regions Bank
Director: Brandon G. Greve
Synovus Securities, Inc.
at Synovus Financial
Director: Robert Varner
2025 Top Directors Finalists in Large Firms
Category Sponsor:
Addison Avenue Investment Services
at First Tech Federal Credit Union
Director: Stephen Poole
Associated Investment Services
at Associated Bank
Director: David Kuipers
Atlantic Union Financial Consultants
at Atlantic Union Bank
Director: David Heffelfinger
Commerce Financial Advisors
at Commerce Bank
ESL Investment Services, LLC
at ESL Federal Credit Union
F.N.B. Investment Services
at First National Bank of PA
Directors: John Harshman
First Hawaiian Advisors
at First Hawaiian Bank
Director: Michael A. Tottori
FirstBank Investment Partners
at FirstBank
Director: Dick W. “Tripp” Thompson III
Hancock Whitney Financial Consultants
at Handcock Whitney
Director: Keith LeBlanc
Mountain America Investment Services
at Mountain America Credit Union
SouthState Investment Services Group
at SouthState Bank
Director: Tim Sease
United Brokerage Services, Inc.
at United Bank
2025 Top Directors Finalists in Mid-Size Firms
Category Sponsor:
American Savings Investment Services
at American Savings Bank
Director: Phil Pomella
Cathay Wealth Management
at Cathay Bank
Director: Phil Hurst
CCU Wealth Strategies
at Corning Credit Union
Director: Laura Sumner
CTBC Wealth Management
at CTBC Bank
Director: Michael Lai
East West Wealth Management
at East West Bank
Director: William Tung
Elements Wealth Management
at Elements Financial FCU
Directors: Matthew Snively
Fidelity Bank Investment and Brokerage Services
at The Fidelity Bank
First Commonwealth Advisors
at First Commonwealth Bank
Frandsen Investment Services
at Frandsen Bank
Director: Mark Brakel
Johnson Financial Group Financial Advisors
at Johnson Financial Group
Director: Jess Dohner
Kinecta Wealth Management
at Kinecta Federal Credit Union
Director: Frank Rehhaut
Northwest Financial Advisors LLC
at Northwest Federal Credit Union
Director: Karen Benedict
Towne Wealth Management
at TowneBank
Director: Ken Wren, Jr.
Wilson Bank & Trust Investment Services
at Wilson Bank & Trust
Director: Damon Bates
2025 Top Directors Finalists in Small Firms
Category Sponsor:
CS Investment Services
at CS Bank
Director: Joe McClung
First PREMIER Investment Services
at First PREMIER Bank
Director: Gary Harmelink
FNB Financial
at Fairfield National Bank
Director: Luke Harl
Great Plains Investment Services
at Great Plains National Bank
Director: Zachary Archer
Independence Financial Services
at Independence Bank of Kentucky
Director: Josh Searcy
Investment Strategists at Better Banks
at Better Banks
Kirtland Financial Services
at Kirtland Credit Union
Director: Todd Trevino
Meriwest Wealth Advisors
at Meriwest Credit Union
Director: Ian Foo
NCU Wealth Management
at Navigator Credit Union
Director: Sally Hoffstadt
New Britain Financial Advisors
at Merck, Sharp & Dome FCU
Director: Chris Thompson
PSB Investment Services
at Princeville State Bank
Director: Brian Card
SCU Investment Services
at Sacramento Credit Union
Southeast Financial Wealth Management
at Southeast Financial Credit Union
Director: Ken Coulthard
Steward Concepts
at Family Trust Federal Credit Union
Director: Matthew Griffin
Think Financial Planning
at Think Bank
Director: Steven Epp
Third Coast Advisors
at Third Coast Bank, SSB
Director: Chris Peacock
2024 Top Directors Finalists in Credit Union Firms
Category Sponsor:
Addison Avenue Investment Services
at First Tech Federal Credit Union
Alive Investment Services
at Alive Credit Union
Director: Aaron Logue
Blaze Retirement + Investment
at Blaze CU
Director: Jim Ganger
CCU Wealth Strategies
at Corning Credit Union
Director: Laura L. Sumner
Coastline Investment Services
at Coastline Federal CU
Director: Mike Lebanowski
Dupaco Financial Services
at Dupaco Community Credit Union
Director: Mark Hoaglin
Elements Wealth Management
at Elements Financial FCU
Director: Matthew Snively
ESL Investment Services
at ESL FCU
Kinecta Wealth Management
at Kinecta Federal Credit Union
Director: Frank Rehhaut
Kirtland Financial Services
at Kirtland Credit Union
Director: Todd Trevino
Meriwest Wealth Advisors
at Meriwest Credit Union
Director: Ian Foo
NCU Wealth Management
at Navigator Credit Union
Director: Sally Hoffstadt
New Britain Financial Advisors
at Merck, Sharp & Dohme FCU
Director: Chris Thompson
Northwest Financial Advisors LLC
at Northwest Federal Credit Union
Director: Karen Benedict
SCU Investment Services
at Sacramento Credit Union
Southeast Financial Wealth Managment
at Southeast Financial Credit Union
Director: Ken Coulthard
Steward Concepts
at Family Trust Federal Credit Union
Director: Matthew Griffin
UFCU Investment Services
at University Federal Credit Union
Director: Jeffery Ferraris
Wealth Management at FAIRWINDS
at Fairwinds Credit Union
Director: Brian Kent
2025 Top Directors Finalists in Women-Led Firms
Category Sponsor:
Interested in sponsoring this category? Contact awards@kehrergroup.com
Altra Financial Advisors
at Altra Federal Credit Union
Director: Cheryl Dutton
BCU Wealth Advisors
at BCU
Director: Kristi Mertens
Busey Wealth Management
at Busey Bank
Director: Vanessa Levan
CCU Wealth Strategies
at Corning Credit Union
Director: Laura L. Sumner
D.L. Evans Investment Services
at D.L. Evans Bank
Director: Brenda Sanford
Delta Community Retirement & Investment Services
at Delta Community Credit Union
Director: Julie Bates
First Investments & Planning
at First National Bank of Omaha
Director: Jennifer Benson
Legacy Financial Services
at Bank of Luxemburg
Director: Dana Tupper
NCU Wealth Management
at Navigator Credit Union
Director: Sally Hoffstadt
North Shore Investment Services
at North Shore Bank
Director: Erika Milosevich
Northwest Financial Advisors LLC
at Northwest Federal Credit Union
Director: Karen Benedict
Numerica Financial Services
at Numerica Credit Union
Director: Nancy Almond
OnPoint Investment Services
at OnPoint Community Credit Union
Director: Melisa Lindsay-Lipkins
PeoplesWealth Advisory Group
at PeoplesBank (MA)
Director: Alyssa Mandeville
VyStar Investment Services
at VyStar Credit Union
Director: Davida Carter
WesBanco Securities
at Wesbanco
Director: Lisa Stavsky
Wings Financial Advisors
at Wings Financial Credit Union
Director: Danielle Shuman
Yellow Cardinal Advisory Group
at First Financial Bank, N.A.
Director: Suzanne Short
2025 Top Directors Finalists in Emerging Firms
Category Sponsor:
Interested in sponsoring this category? Contact awards@kehrergroup.com
A+ Wealth Management
at A+ Federal Credit Union
Director: Aaron Persons
Bonvenu Investment Services
at Bonvenu Bank, N.A.
Director: Pat McCarthy
California Credit Union Wealth Management
at California Credit Union
Director: Brian Venn
Centennial Financial Services
at Centennial Bank
Director: Kyle Stroud
Empeople Investment & Retirement Services
at Empeople Credit Union
Director: Brad Johannes
ESSA Investment Services
at ESSA Bank & Trust
Director: Jim Ferry
Kearny Investment Services
at Kearny Bank
Director: Mike Reilly
S&T Financial Services
at S&T Bank
Director: Robert Thompson
SECU Financial Partners
at State Employees Credit Union of Maryland
Director: James Mellendick
Suncoast Investment Services
at Suncoast Credit Union
Director: Roy Echols
UFCU Investment Services
at University Federal Credit Union
Director: Jeff Ferraris
Wealth Management at UW Credit Union
at UW Credit Union
Director: Teo Trandafir