Top Directors Awards Winners
Top Investment Services Directors in Financial Institutions 2025 Winners
Congratulations to the 2025 Top Directors Award winners! 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.
View all the nominees for this year’s awards here.
The Top Directors Awards season culminated in a live, in-person ceremony on November 6-7 in Chapel Hill, NC where the winners were announced. The finalists are listed below by category. The Top Directors in Credit Unions were announced at the 2025 PROCU Conference in San Diego, CA.
2025 Top Directors Finalists in Mega Firms
Category Sponsor:
Key Investment Services at Key Bank
Solomon Schmidt
Ranked #1
Fulton Financial Advisors at Fulton Bank
Michael George
First Horizon Advisors, Inc. at First Horizon Bank
Martin De Laureal
Ranked #3
Synovus Securities, Inc. at Synovus Financial
Rob Varner
Ranked #4
Regions Investment Services at Regions Bank
Brandon G. Greve
Ranked #5
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:
FirstBank Investment Partners at FirstBank
Tripp Thompson
Ranked #1
Addison Avenue Investment Services at First Tech Federal Credit Union
Ranked #2
ESL Investment Services at ESL FCU
Peg Gaston
Ranked #3
Hancock Whitney Financial Consultants at Hancock Whitney
Keith LeBlanc
Ranked #4
Associated Investment Services at Associated Bank
David Kuipers
Addison Avenue Investment Services
at First Tech Federal Credit Union
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:
CTBC Wealth Management at CTBC Bank
Michael Lai
Ranked #1
CCU Wealth Strategies at Corning Credit Union
Laura Sumner
Ranked #2
Towne Wealth Management at TowneBank
Ken Wren, Jr.
Ranked #3
Elements Wealth Management at Elements Financial FCU
Matt Snively
Ranked #4
Cathay Wealth Management at Cathay Bank
Phil Hurst
Ranked #5
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:
Steward Concepts at Family Trust Federal Credit Union
Matthew G. Griffin
Ranked #1
Kirtland Financial Services at Kirtland Credit Union
Todd Trevino
Ranked #2
First PREMIER Investment Services at First PREMIER Bank
Gary Harmelink
Ranked #3
PSB Investment Services at Princeville State Bank
Brian Card
Ranked #4
Great Plains Investment Services at Great Plains National Bank
Zachary Archer
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
2025 Top Directors Finalists in Credit Union Firms
Category Sponsor:
Addison Avenue Investment Services at First Tech Federal Credit Union
Ranked #1
CCU Wealth Strategies at Corning Credit Union
Laura Sumner
Ranked #2
Elements Wealth Management at Elements Financial FCU
Matt Snively
ESL Investment Services at ESL FCU
Peg Gaston
Ranked #4
Kinecta Wealth Management at Kinecta Federal Credit Union
Frank Rehhaut
Ranked #5
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
CCU Wealth Strategies at Corning Credit Union
Laura Sumner
Ranked #1
Northwest Financial Advisors LLC at Northwest Federal Credit Union
Karen Benedict
Ranked #2
North Shore Investment Services at North Shore Bank
Erika Milosevich
Ranked #3
BCU Wealth Advisors at BCU
Kristi Mertens
Ranked #4
Numerica Financial Services at Numerica Credit Union
Nancy Almond
Ranked #5
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
A+ Wealth Management at A+ Federal Credit Union
Aaron Persons
Ranked #1
Empeople Investment & Retirement Services at Empeople Credit Union
Brad Johannes
Ranked #2
Wealth Management at UW Credit Union
Teo Trandafir
California Credit Union Wealth Management at California Credit Union
Brian Venn
Ranked #4
Kearny Investment Services at Kearny Bank
Mike Reilly
Ranked #5
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