The NFEC Team
The NFEC team comes from diverse backgrounds and experience, yet all team members share a focused passion to build financial wellness champions around the globe so they can foster greater financial well-being in the lives of people in their communities. The goal is to empower champions with the tools they need to help others financially so their basic human needs are met and they are able to work toward fulfilling their lifestyle goals.
Leadership Team
Leadership Team
NFEC’s Leadership Team drives the company mission toward advancing the financial wellness space and making a measurable impact on individuals and our global community. They lead the team toward balancing the organization’s business objectives with our social impact goals.
Advisory Board
The NFEC’s Advisory Board members come from diverse backgrounds, yet share one similar goal – to help push the financial wellness movement forward. Board members serve in a variety of roles to support the Leadership Team to develop leading educational resources, expand our business, and create positive social change.
Florida Financial Educators Council Advisory Board
Amit Bansal
Director of the Center for Financial Health and Wellness, Oklahoma State University
Ohio Financial Educators Council Advisory Board
Melvin J. Scales
Executive Vice President of Meridian Resources and Senior Advisor with Armstrong-McGuire
Amy McMaster
Financial Coach for the Northwestern Ohio Community Action Commission (NOCAC) & Financial Opportunity Center (FOC)
Nathan Nguyen
Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI®), Business Farmer, Coach, Mentor & Best-Selling Author: Money Smarts
Bill Field
User Experience (UX) Director for the National Financial Educators Council (NFEC)
J.M. (Jack) Towarnicky
HR/Benefits Plan Sponsor and Plan Fiduciary Leadership Roles at Four different Fortune 500 companies
Massachusetts Financial Educators Council Advisory Board
Ellis Cropper
Registered Representative, New York Life Insurance, ChFC®, CLTC®, Major, U.S. Army, Retired
Andrew Lendnal
Financial Wellness Expert, Banking and Financial Services Executive, Bestselling Author and Speaker
Jacqueline Collins
Business Teacher, Mansfield High School, President of the Massachusetts Business Educators Association
New York Financial Educators Council Advisory Board
Dr. Mario DiFiore
Dr., Professor, and Senior Assistant Dean at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business
Mr. Turner was a champion of the people and committed to economic empowerment. As Director of the District of Columbia / National Capital Area Office for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Marvin Turner led the agency in affordable housing development, homeless prevention, foreclosure mitigation, and sustainable development. As an NFEC Board member, he shared his insight generously and was passionate about serving citizens across the country.
Team Members
Our team members are the backbone of the company. Our mission to foster greater financial well-being in communities around the globe is directly supported by our team’s efforts and commitment.
Website, Software, & Online Security
Joseph Salvadico
Victor Wilson
James Sun
Nicholas Dimitrios
John Cotton
Content, Video, & Layout
Nicole Hendricks
Joe Heap
Cyril Buchart
Nina Abady
Gabriella Varga
Omar Ahmetagic
Support & Client Services
Bree Patrick
Traci Allan
Shawana Iftikhar
Subject Matter Expert Team: Education
The education team is tasked with designing high-quality, unbiased financial education resources that align with research-based education methodologies with the primary objective of helping people improve their financial outlooks. Below are a few of the education experts that have generously contributed since our inception:
Subject Matter Expert Team: Personal Finance
The NFEC appreciates our current and former subject matter expert contributors who help us meet our education material development objectives. Their knowledge of personal finance has helped us bridge financial education with real world application. Listed are just a few out of the hundreds that have contributed their expertise:
Celebrity & Influencer Supporters
The National Financial Educators Council gives its heartfelt thanks to all the influencers who support financial literacy and contribute to the NFEC’s campaigns. Their support helps the NFEC raise awareness by sharing messages that resonate with people around the world, inspiring them to take positive action toward securing their financial futures.
Wilmer Valderrama
Wilmer Valderrama is a highly successful actor, entrepreneur and philanthropist. After starring in That 70’s show, Wilmer was the creator and star of MTV’s “Yo Momma”, and is the voice of Disney Channels’ popular animated program “Handy Manny”. Valderrama has also had great success crossing over to the big screen performing in a host of feature films. Most recently, Valderrama has been added to the film “Larry Crowne” with a superb cast including Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts. Now you can watch him Thursday nights on his latest series “Awake”. Follow Wilmer on Twitter at: @WillyVille
Brandon Lloyd
Brandon Lloyd, All-Pro NFL wide receiver for the New England Patriots, brings his passion for helping today’s youth to support the financial literacy movement. Lloyd personally visited Lowell High School in Massachusetts as part of the Money XLive Ambassador program to encourage students to work hard, follow their passions and to teach personal finance topics. Yahoo Sports featured a 4 minute video of this visit and this helped to generate over 1,000,000 impressions that promoted financial education.
John Salley
John Salley is recognized as the first player in NBA history to play on three different championship-winning franchises and holds four NBA Championship rings. He was Commissioner of the American Basketball Association, host of “The Block Party’ for 100.3 the Beat in LA and The Best Damn Sports Show Period. John Salley also starred in the TV show “I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!”. He is a practicing vegan, a successful business person and philanthropist. Visit JohnSalley.com to learn more. Follow John on Twitter at: @theJohnSalley
Amy Faber joined Duquesne University in 2016 as the University’s first-ever Treasurer. In her current role at Duquesne, Associate Vice President and Treasurer, Ms. Faber is responsible for banking relationships, cash management, investments, debt, treasury and merchant services, including PCI DSS compliance. Prior to joining Duquesne, she worked from 2005-2016 at Carnegie Mellon University in various roles, including Assistant Treasurer.
Amy oversees the Shared Services and Auxiliary Services functions of the University. She also supports the Budget Committee, Retirement Committee, Audit and Finance Committee, and Investment Committee of the Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Carlow University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in accounting with a minor in business administration. In addition to earning her Certified Treasury Professional designation in 2010, Ms. Faber also completed the Institute for Educational Management course at the Harvard Institutes for Higher Education in 2019 and at the Carnegie Mellon Leadership Academy in 2010.
Corey Beckett, a member of the Federal Government’s Senior Executive Service, has been the United States Secret Service Deputy Chief Financial Officer since April 2017. In this role, he provides executive leadership for the development and execution of a $2 billion enterprise budget and portfolio resourcing the agency’s integrated missions of protection and criminal investigation. He oversees the definition, development, implementation, and stewardship of all Secret Service program budgeting of resources, as well as all agency internal financial management, relocation, travel, and procurement processes.
Before assuming his current position, Mr. Beckett was the Comptroller and Chief Financial Officer for the United States Defense Security Service (DSS). In this capacity, he was the primary advisor to the Director, DSS in the areas of budget formulation, budget execution, financial management and policy, financial systems, and cost reporting. He also provided executive leadership to the agency’s safety, logistics, and facility management programs and contracting offices.
Mr. Beckett began his federal government service as a Budget Analyst within the Office of the Secretary of Navy, Comptroller, with assignments throughout the Department of the Navy to include Headquarters, Systems Command, Fleet Staffs, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. From 1993–2006, Mr. Beckett held a variety of positions with increasing responsibility at both the headquarters and field level of the Department of the Navy, in which he was responsible for planning and programming, budget formulation, justification and execution for a variety of operating and investment programs. Mr. Beckett is also an adjunct professor of Public Administration at several colleges and universities where he teaches a variety of courses.
Mr. Beckett holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Tuskegee University, a Master of Public Administration degree from Central Michigan University, and a Doctor of Public Administration degree from the University of Baltimore.
Dr. Pamela Rosa, as the president of Rosa Educational Consulting, provides a wide range of intellectually engaging AND high-energy teaching, mentoring-coaching, and leadership learning opportunities. Pam has served as an award-winning principal, district curriculum and professional development coordinator, state school improvement consultant, director of early learning center, and a teacher/instructional coach at all grade levels.
In her role as Director for Effective Teaching Practices at a non-profit “think tank”, Pam focused on increasing teaching effectiveness through collaborative partnerships between union and administrative leadership.
As a charter member of the Danielson Group, Pam has provided extensive educational support in designing and implementing The Framework for Teaching evaluation and professional growth processes, integrating enhanced Mentoring and Coaching approaches, facilitating collaborative learning-focused conversations, and guiding the implementation of District/School Improvement structures using SMART tools and processes.
Pam’s current action research efforts focus on validation of The Framework for Teaching in early learning grades (PreK-3rd Grade) and development of PK3TeachLeadGrow.org in partnership with The Center for the Study of Educational Policy at Illinois State University, maximizing teacher evaluation for student learning, and integration of The Framework for Teaching Clusters into the high-leverage teaching, coaching, and leadership modules (both in person and virtually).
Kenneth Abbott recently retired from the position as America’s Chief Risk Officer at Barclays Bank. Prior to that he was Chief Operating Officer (COO) for all Firm Risk at Morgan Stanley, a position he held for over nine years. While at Morgan Stanley, he covered Commodities, Rates, FX, Retail, and Emerging Markets businesses, and was CRO for Morgan Stanley’s buy-side activity.
He also spent 14 years at Bankers Trust in a number of trading, research, and risk management positions. He spent over five years at Bank of America in several senior Market Risk Management roles. Abbott currently sits on the Boards of the New Jersey Scholars Program, the Harvard Club of New Jersey, and CGU’s Financial Engineering Program, where he has recently been appointed as a Senior Fellow.
Ken Abbott has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Harvard University; a Master of Arts in Economics and a Master of Science in Statistics and Operations Research from New York University.
Robert Kinzer retired from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in 2017 after 31 years of service. He served as a Senior Community Affairs Specialist for the FDIC in his final two years. He traveled throughout the United States teaching and promoting financial education and economic inclusion to state legislators, education administrators, teachers, and consumers. The majority of Mr. Kinzer’s years at the FDIC were served as a Senior Financial Management Analyst, in which role he produced the corporation’s monthly and quarterly financials to be distributed to the FDIC Chairman and Board, Executives and Managers, Congress, and the public.
Mr. Kinzer has received the FDIC Chairman’s Nancy K. Rector Award for public service. He is a Senior Fellow with the Partnership for Public Service and a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Mr. Kinzer is a native of Washington, D.C. and a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School. He attended Penn State University and Texas A&I University, and received his undergraduate degree in Sociology and Anthropology from the University of the District of Columbia. After attending college, Mr. Kinzer played professional basketball in England and Scotland for five years.
Jonathan Walker is a Business, Marketing, and Cooperative Education teacher for Kirksville Area Career Center in Kirksville, Missouri. He teaches dual-credit business classes through Moberly Area Community College and the University of Central Missouri.
Jonathan is an advisor to Future Business Leaders of America, E-sports, and the National Technical Honor Society; he holds a Master’s in Business and Administration degree from William Woods University and an Education Specialist degree in Career and Technical Education from the University of Central Missouri. He has experience in human resources, business management, and finance. Mr. Walker (ABD) is a candidate for a doctoral degree in P-20 Education Leadership and Policy from Murray State University, expecting to graduate in Summer of 2021. He was a member of the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) MSIP 6 Successful Student subcommittee in 2017 and is currently serving on two DESE advisory councils: Career Technical Education (CTE) and Business, Marketing and Information Technology (BMIT). Jonathan was a member of DESE’s Personal Finance Content and Bias Review committee and Cooperative Education Policy Review committee in 2018. He is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success.
As Director of the District of Columbia / National Capital Area Office for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Marvin Turner oversaw four divisions with an annual economic output exceeding $1 billion in grants and over $4 billion in financings. As the Senior HUD Official in the market, Marvin leads the agency in affordable housing development, homeless prevention, foreclosure mitigation, and sustainable development. Initially hired into the Office of the Secretary, Mr. Turner went on to spend over 10 years in HUD Headquarters as a liaison to field offices around the country and served as the Chief of Emergency Preparedness, earning the Associate Business Continuity Professional designation from the Disaster Recovery Institute.
Marvin was a leading strategist in the formation of the HUD program entitled America’s Private Investment Companies (APIC), which was designed to provide for the significant expansion of private equity capital for the creation or relocation of large-scale businesses in distressed central cities and rural areas. He has received recognition from the White House and other government officials and has been recognized for his transformational leadership. Mr. Turner has frequently been called upon to coach Federal leadership in several agencies.
Aryav Bothra is a high school junior from Chicago. He is the founder and CEO of The Teen Trillionaire, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to make youth financial literacy more equitable to teens of all socioeconomic backgrounds. Toward its mission of inspiring a generation of more financially independent and educated teens, The Teen Trillionaire offers free financial consulting services that allow teens to get the answers they need on a wide variety of topics – from auto insurance to saving for the future.
Aryav is also an internationally-recognized debater in Model UN and loves to write. As part of the NFEC’s Advisory Board, he is eager to bring a fresh perspective to projects and discussions.
Matt J. Goren, PhD, is Director of the CFP® Certification Education Program and an Assistant Professor of Financial Planning at The American College of Financial Services. He joined The College in July 2018, having previously served as a professor in the Financial Planning program at the University of Georgia.
Goren is an acclaimed teacher and speaker who focuses on the interplay of personal finance and psychology. His personal finance radio show and podcast, Nothing Funny About Money, was named 2018’s most outstanding consumer financial information resource by the AFCPE. The show puts a lighthearted spin on personal finance and emphasizes solution-focused thinking and action. This mindset extends to Goren’s work as a pro bono financial advisor and instructor, and he has worked with over 4,000 individuals across the United States.
Goren has provided business development and strategy consulting to dozens of organizations, ranging from small fintech startups to large land-grant universities and Fortune 500 corporations. Through this work, he has created and expanded financial literacy programs that now help thousands of students from children to seniors. In 2017, his team at the University of Georgia’s ASPIRE Clinic was named Pro Bono Advisors of the Year by Financial Planning Magazine.
He received his doctorate in psychology from the University of California Berkeley in 2014 and his CFP® in 2018.
Dr. Timothy Shimp is Superintendent of Schools for the Yorkville CUSD 115 in Yorkville, IL. Over his 27 years as an educational leader, Dr. Shimp has been instrumental in curriculum development and instructional best practice implementation; raising student achievement outcomes; bringing greater equity, access, and rigor to student learning experiences; and supporting a district culture of personalized learning.
Dr. Shimp believes that communities must partner together to bring timely and relevant financial education to all generations, help individuals and families change their stories and gain a true understanding of their financial situations, provide education and proven life-changing solutions to ignite optimism and progress, and assist individuals to solidify behaviors and create action plans to eliminate debt and gain wealth.
Thomas Charla is a marketing professional at MassMutual Financial Group focused Financial Planning and Wellness. In this role, Tom developed a comprehensive financial education program and curriculum to help individuals manage their day-to-day finances, understand important financial products, and prepare for the future including retirement, investing and Estate Planning.
Tom provides on-going training to financial professionals throughout MassMutual’s distribution system on how to implement a financial education program. Tom also consults one-on-one with individual planners and teams on best practices and the creation of effective curriculums for specific audiences. To date, Tom’s financial education program has been used successfully with employees in hundreds of companies, both large and small, throughout the country.
Prior to Tom’s current role, he was instrumental in helping MassMutual build their small business owner client audience through the development of tools, resources and content. Tom’s efforts help business owners understand the true value of their company, so they can better prepare for their eventual exit from company they created. Tom is also a subject matter expert on various financial products such as disability income insurance and long-term care insurance. Before joining MassMutual, Tom worked in various marketing and advertising roles in a number of business-to-business focused companies including publishing, mining, and advertising firms.
Tom lives in Connecticut with his wife and youngest son, a recent college graduate. Tom enjoys hiking, working in the yard, and cooking family dinner on Sunday night. Tom’s greatest joy is spending time with his family at their small, lake front cabin in the Catskill Mountains.
EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS
- Certified Financial Education Instructor
- Certified Family Business Specialist
- Special Needs Planner designation
- Long Term Care Insurance certification
- B.A., Business administration, Belmont Abbey College, Belmont NC
Old National Bank
My mission is to increase financial knowledge in the communities we serve. Our team works directly with community leaders, schools, non-profits and government agencies to determine the financial empowerment needs. Despite the recession and financial crisis of recent years, many Americans are still in the dark as to how to manage their finances. Some still have trouble understanding interest, loan terms and why it’s so vital to pay credit card balances on time. We believe our expertise in financial education will give our communities the tools to make sound money management decisions in their everyday lives.
As the Director of Financial Empowerment, Ben Joergens is responsible for enhancing financial literacy initiatives at Old National by partnering with schools, colleges, universities, businesses, non-profits and government agencies. His goal is to address community needs and implement financial empowerment programs based on sound money management skills.
Ben joined Old National in 1999 and has served in a variety of roles. He earned the 2011 Old National Wayne Henning Volunteer of the Year Award and was both the 2010 and 2012 Henderson, Kentucky Chamber Ambassador of the Year. In 2015, Ben received the George Bailey Distinguished Service Award, sponsored by the ABA Foundation. This national award is given to a non-CEO bank employee who demonstrates outstanding initiative, commitment to the bank’s customers and the communities they serve, and inspires others. In 2017, Ben was recognized by the National Financial Educators Council (NFEC) with its coveted Financial Education Instructor of the Year Award for his commitment and contributions to bringing financial education to the at-risk and underserved.
In addition to his extensive volunteer work, Ben also serves as a certified advanced VITA tax preparer with his local United Way Agency.
Current Community Involvement
- Indiana Assets & Opportunities Network, Steering Committee Member
- United Way Focus Area Cabinet, Member
- Bank On Indiana, Steering Committee Member
- Tri-State MS Association, Secretary
- Kyle L. Parker Memorial Golf Scramble, Treasurer
- United Way of SW Indiana, Advanced Tax Preparer
- Junior Achievement
- Bank On Educator
Accolades
- Certified Financial Education Instructor (NFEC)
- NFEC Financial Education Instructor of the Year, 2017
- George Bailey Distinguished Service Award Recipient, 2015
- Old National Bank Wayne Henning Volunteer of the Year, 2011
- Henderson, Kentucky Chamber Ambassador of the Year, 2010 & 2012
- Old National Emerging Leaders Program Graduate
- Graduate of Leadership Evansville & Henderson Leadership Initiative
Education
Bachelor of Arts, Marketing, University of Southern Indiana
Dr. Pamela Rosa
Dr. Pamela Rosa is an Educational Consultant and Senior Consultant for Effective Professional Practices at the Danielson Group. Dr. Rosa has supported schools nationally to design, develop, and implement Charlotte Danielson’s Framework for Teaching evaluation and professional growth process. As an educational consultant for the past 14 years, Dr Rosa specializes in teacher and principal evaluation and professional growth processes as well as teacher mentoring/coaching.
Jonna Wopperer
Jonna Wopperer is a skilled educator and curriculum developer with permanent certifications in Literacy and English Language Arts. She earned her M.S.Ed. as a Literacy Specialist from State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo in 2013. Since then, she has made significant contributions to developing and implementing curriculum at the high school through adult levels, designing educational content that aligns with learning standards posed by the Common Core and other top benchmarks. Those efforts have included developing and adapting lessons that reflect culturally relevant pedagogy.
Since 2014 she has applied her expertise to teach English Language Arts in grades 7-12 in the Buffalo Public Schools, including differentiated instruction for Special Education and ENL students and preparing advanced students for the AP English Literature exam.
In addition to her substantial teaching and curriculum design experience, Ms. Wopperer is also pursuing research studies. Her current research interests include applying technology to motivate English Language learners and students with special needs; and enacting critical literacy using a scripted program.
Sarah Eisenstein
Sarah Eisenstein is a founding teacher in the City University of New York’s nationally recognized CUNY Start program who has worked as a Curriculum and Professional Developer for the past 5 years. She has over 15 years of experience with curriculum writing and teaching, training, and coaching both high- and low-literacy adult learners. She is expert in student-centered learning, with strong technology and design skills; and currently offers instructional design services with specialization in interactive learning experiences through Storyline, Captivate, or Lectora.
Dr. Pamela Enders
Dr. Pamela Enders is a psychologist and peak performance coach. A current faculty member at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Enders also serves as a teacher and supervisor at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston. With three decades of experience, she works with high-performing professionals to project confidence and poise in high-visibility, high-pressure situations.
Kristina McCormick
Kristina McCormick has extensive experience in developing curricula and educational programs from inception. Ms. McCormick was instrumental in developing the NFEC’s project-based learning program for teens and young adults. She applied classroom teaching methodology and curriculum models to promote active student learning through the integration of technology in order to address the varied learning needs of all students.
Diane Larsen
Diane Larsen is an award-winning economics teacher and NFEC Instructor. Diane is a 26-year teaching veteran whose awards include being selected as Jump$tart Coalition Outstanding Educator for 2008. She was the only California teacher chosen by CEE and the U.S. State Department to travel to South Africa as part of an international economics teacher exchange program. Her students have won high honors in the California State Stock Market Simulation, placing first in 2008, 2009, and twice in 2012.
Gary Jaeckel
Gary Jaeckel is the author of Teaching Personal Financial Education and an NFEC Instructor. His passion for improving people’s financial capabilities took him from the corporate world to the financial literacy industry. He brings real-world experience to the academic side of the financial literacy field with his background in the securities industry and corporate finance. He is a recognized expert in teaching personal finance and an advocate promoting personal financial education as a stand-alone course in schools across the country.
Ann Johnson
Dr. Ann Johnson is an independent consultant who works extensively with international organizations to implement curriculum and assessment reform, develop high-quality leadership teams, and create training and implementation plans. Her practical approach to design and alignment is based on her 30 years of experience as a classroom teacher, associate superintendent, building principal, and adjunct professor to implement long-term curriculum alignment and mapping initiatives.
Helen Graves
Helen Graves With a diverse background in education, Adlerian psychology, Neuro-Linguistic Programming and marketing, Helen Graves is fascinated by how people think and learn. She has taught all age levels in formal classrooms as well as in workshops, conferences, and online seminars. She has recently moved into the field of content development and instructional design, and enjoys bringing her passion for clear communication and innovative solutions to the learning environment.
Ellen Smith
Ellen Smith has a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Special Education and several years of classroom experience. She works with the NFEC to produce and edit smart, practical educational resources that are easy to use. She is skilled and experienced at implementing and adapting curricula to meet the critical needs of learners from diverse backgrounds and competency levels.
Nicole Hendricks
Nicole Hendricks’ background represents a unique combination of legal, educational, and school leadership expertise. After receiving her J.D. cum laude from the University of Minnesota in 1996, Ms. Hendricks practiced in various legal capacities, including as an Attorney at Law in private practice and as Deputy District Attorney in Linn County, Oregon. In 2007 she went on to earn a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Western Oregon University, followed by a Masters in School Leadership from Concordia University, Chicago in 2018.
Currently Ms. Hendricks teaches English and Social Studies at EDGE High School in Salem-Keizer, Oregon; and serves as Project Lead for The Reimagined Classroom, a group of educational innovators who develop process-driven, student-focused curriculum content in all topic areas for K-12 and adult education. In these roles she has accumulated substantial experience in collaboration, content design, management, communications, and adapting coursework for online delivery.
Dr. Malia Hoffmann
Dr. Malia Hoffmann is a lifelong educator. With a Bachelor’s in Elementary Middle School education, she began teaching middle school, using integrated technology to motivate students. She earned her Master’s in Educational Technology and became adjunct for Marian University. She took a full-time position with Marian and began pursuing her doctorate in learning technologies at Pepperdine University. Her dissertation applied the technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge (TPACK) framework to study how undergraduate students and faculty use mobile devices for learning.
Kerry Toniolo
Kerry Toniolo has a Master’s in Early Childhood Leadership and 13 years in education. She works with students from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds, abilities, and disabilities. This experience has taught her a great deal about meeting learners where they are and breaking standards down into scaffolded steps. She believes in designing curriculum that is accessible to all students, challenges them to think deeply about things that matter in their own lives, and allows them freedom to discover and follow their own passions.
Michael Heyman
Michael Heyman, co-founder of the Reimagined Classroom, has a Master’s in K-6 Education and 10 years of teaching experience in elementary schools and Title I environments. He specializes in IB and STEAM curriculum. He believes that learning happens all around us, all the time; and that all students should have equal access to an amazing education and educational opportunities. He sees the educator’s job as helping facilitate a child’s natural inquisitiveness to foster and develop skills and ideas related to their inquiries.
Brett Meyers
Brett Meyers, co-founder of the Reimagined Classroom, has his Master’s in K-8 Education and 22 years of experience in nonprofits, international private schools, and public schools. He believes teachers need to focus on the journey of the learning process beyond the end result. He thinks education through inquiry and student ownership is essential to keep kids engaged in the classroom. Thus teachers need to help students not only learn core skills, but also socio-emotional and critical thinking skills to enable their future success.
Troy Flowers
Troy Flowers brings nine years of exemplary, student-centered teaching experience gained within public, charter, and independent schools to the NFEC. He possesses solid conceptual and applied knowledge of current research and trends in primary and middle school education, financial literacy curriculum development, service learning, assessment for instruction, and literacy.
Arnold Bellow
Arnold Bellow started his career in banking and leveraged that experience to teach courses to adult learners and community college students for more than 22 years using a practical hands-on approach and “real-life” instructional method. He has been an adjunct faculty member and community college instructor for over 20 years. He served on a number of community-based boards helping families in lower-income neighborhoods achieve financial stability and educational enrichment at the Adult Education School level.
Mark Munzenberger
Mark Munzenberger has been directly involved in teaching and developing financial wellness programs over the last 20 years. He holds multiple designations as a financial education instructor and financial coach professional, and leverages that knowledge and training to teach personal finance and lead programming across the state of Michigan.
Jana Sosnowski
Jana Sosnowski has a Master’s in educational psychology and instructional technology and 12 years teaching experience. Trained in ADDIE and backward design, she has worked as a curriculum and training writer for a math remediation program, several test preparation programs, and pilot and flight attendant training for a major airline. She is a strong writer and excellent communicator proficient in Canvas, Blackboard, and prosumer sites including Thinkific and Teachable. She has worked on many internally-developed LMS and is skilled at writing assessments and interactive learning components.
Maria Belem
Maria Belem is an education expert with a degree in accounting who has worked in the financial industry as a Financial Planning Junior Assistant in a major company, as a brokerage agent and insurance agent, in the construction industry as manager of several projects and real estate matters, in the fashion industry as a boutique owner, and in the network marketing industry by joining several companies in her home town.
Dr. Robert Martin
Dr. Robert Martin is a retired university professor and professional communicator with more than 20 years of academic teaching experience in communication. He has extensive experience in social science research, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, academic writing, and publishing. He has published numerous works in top academic journals, books, book chapters, and magazine articles in communication and social psychology. He has been a peer reviewer for various social science journals and manuscript reviewer for Wadsworth Publishing. He fully understands the multidimensional task of writing for different audiences.
Kambria Damesnel
With a background in instructional design, organizational development, and adult learning, she specializes in giving employees the tools they need to do their jobs well. As Training Content Developer for the State of Washington Department of Labor & Industries, she works directly with subject matter experts to translate their knowledge into effective instructional content. She enjoys learning about the latest instructional design and eLearning trends and staying up-to-date on the latest technology and software.
Liz da Rosa
This fall began her 23rd year teaching in a college setting, with 17 years in online teaching. She completed her doctorate in adult education with an earned graduate degree in sociology and certificate of graduate study in women’s studies. She has been Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Maryland; Dean of Education and Education Affiliates at the University of Cincinnati; Instructor at DePaul University and Western Michigan University; and Online Faculty/Course Developer at American Sentinel University.
Chanelle Paul
Chanelle Paul’s knowledge of instructional design models, such as ADDIE and the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy, guide her design process. She is especially proficient in curriculum development, mapping, and assessment. She believes the dynamics of teaching and learning are ever-changing and learners grow increasingly diverse. As an Instructional Designer dedicated to understanding client and learner needs, she is excited to take on new challenges and create new solutions. She is Adjunct Faculty at Southern New Hampshire University and Lead Instructional Designer at Wisewire.
Carolyn Fields
Carolyn Fields is a customer-centric Instructional Designer and published author with 20+ years of relevant experience. She is proficient at generating new content or improving upon existing materials. Her corporate experience focused on safety training, instructional design, and assessment creation. Well-versed in the Instructional Systems Design (ISD) model and Kirkpatrick’s Four Levels of Evaluation, she holds a Master’s in Management, qualification as Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®) practitioner, and certifications from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and Langevin Learning Services.
Glenn Dawson
Glenn Dawson has a Ph.D. in psychology and extensive experience in academic research, writing, and statistical analyses. He has multiple peer-reviewed publications including a first-authored journal article. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in psychology from Case Western Reserve University and his Bachelor of Arts (BA) in psychology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Michelle Cason
Michelle Cason, with over ten years of experience as an educator, has designed curriculum for dozens of classes across multiple skill levels, individually adapting to the needs of hundreds of students ranging from elementary-aged to graduate level. She holds a PhD in rhetoric and composition, so is well-versed in research practices, academic writing style, and clear organizational strategies. Her proofreading and editing skills are particularly well-honed, and she is able to copyedit quickly and clearly.
Delaney King
Delaney King has a Master’s Degree in Adult Education and more than 10 years of experience as an instructor. Her content experience includes business communication, literacy development, sustainability and environmental issues, adult education, women & gender studies, and cultural diversity. Her educational experience includes content development, instructional design, and curriculum development.
Samantha Faw
Samantha Faw is an experienced legal writer, educator, and consultant specializing in the academic, technical, and legal fields. She holds a Juris Doctorate (JD), Masters of Law (LL.M), and Masters in Energy Regulation and Law, and uses her extensive skills and experience to serve clients with excellence and precision.
Vince Shorb
Vince Shorb is the CEO of the National Financial Educators’ Council and leads the NFEC’s Subject Matter Experts board. Before becoming one of the council’s original founders, Shorb spoke with over 20,000 people about their financial situations and reviewed the personal financial statements of more than 10,000 clients across the country. Shorb has over 28 years of investing and financial industry experience and has spent 15 years directly involved in financial education.
Stan Webb
Stan Webb has been a steady beacon in the financial education world. In addition to his professional securities licenses, Stan is a Certified Fund Specialist and Certified Senior Advisor. He attained these designations to better help his clients achieve their financial goals and leverages his real-world experience to contribute to that goal. With a passion for improving the financial capability of his clients and community, Stan has hosted financial literacy promotions and a variety of financial education services throughout Kansas.
Laura Adams
Laura Adams is the award-winning author of the 2010 best seller Money Girl’s Smart Moves to Grow Rich and produces a weekly podcast that receives more than 500,000 monthly downloads. She won the Excellence in Financial Literacy Education Award and is considered one of the leading financial literacy experts in the country.
Steven Alexander
Steven Alexander has more than 27 years of financial experience working in different capacities with major financial institutions, including Bank of America Private Wealth Management, Wachovia Trust Nonprofit and Philanthropic Services, Bank of New York/Mellon, and TIAA/CREF Wealth Management. He embraced the importance of financial literacy education early in his career by obtaining his Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation in 1990.
Victor Ricciardi
Victor Ricciardi teaches Financial Management at Goucher College and has earned his BBA, MBA, and APC designations. Professor Ricciardi teaches a variety of subjects related to financial literacy for individuals and organizations, with special expertise in behavioral finance.
Erica Jackson
Erica Jackson served as Director for the Center for Financial and Consumer Outreach (at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College) and holds a certification as a Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI). Jackson also served as the inaugural Executive Director for Junior Achievement’s Northwest PA Regional Office. Over the years, Erica has partnered with several agencies and organizations to advocate for financial capability, including the National Financial Educators Council, Pennsylvania Treasury, Pennsylvania Department of Banking, and Jump$tart Coalition.
Steve Repak
Steve Repak is a Certified Financial Planner™ and author of Dollars & Uncommon Sense: Basic Training for Your Money. Steve is an advocate for financial literacy and a 15-year veteran in the financial services industry. Steve has top expertise as an educator demonstrated by how well his presentations are received by the audiences, and from the post-surveys collected which showed that the material made a strong impact.
Yamila Constantino
Yamila Constantino is an award-winning journalist with two decades of experience in the financial realm. She has been included twice on Hispanic Magazine’s “One Hundred Top Latinas in the U.S.” list. She acquired her financial expertise at Bloomberg TV and Radio where she held various positions, including Head of Production.
Peter Rasmussen
Peter Rasmussen, former Program Director to the Consumer Credit Counseling Service, is a current bank auditor. He is dedicated to sharing financial literacy with his community and is actively involved in the Money Smart Week promotions held during financial literacy month.
Dianne Jennings
Dianne Jennings is the executive producer of the radio talk show “Mine Your Business” and a co-host on the Tim Ridley Radio Show, which airs on the popular Sirius XM radio network. Dianne serves as an instructor for Brookshire Professional Training Institute, a continuing education resource center for the legal profession. Dianne’s lifelong career has been to assist others with their financial needs, thus allowing them to live lives of financial freedom.
Somya Munjal
Somya Munjal has been tackling the issue of financial literacy since she graduated from college. She realized quickly how fortunate she was to earn Bachelor’s and graduate degrees in accountancy completely free of personal debt, due to her work experience and scholarships. She is now a Certified Financial Accountant and holds Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Northern Illinois University.
Ornella Grosz
Ornella Grosz is a personal finance expert and author of a book titled Moneylicious: A Financial Clue for Generation Y. Ms. Grosz has been a featured financial expert for top radio shows on CBS, NBC, and ABC and is a personal finance writer.
Lee Aubry
Lee Aubry has been in the financial industry for over 20 years. A top producer in real estate loan origination and private banking/fund investments, Ms. Aubry spent five years as a financial analyst for a global oil company and five years in Washington, D.C. as a legislative analyst and lobbyist. She possesses an MBA from Santa Clara University where she graduated first in class, Beta Gamma Sigma.
William Martin
William Martin received his MS from the College of Financial Planning and a PsyD from Rutgers University in Clinical Psychology. Mr. Martin is an expert in personal financial psychology and has been featured in numerous publications highlighting his expertise. He currently works as Associate Professor and Director of the MSHR Department of Management at DePaul University.
Natasha Riley-Noah
Natasha Riley-Noah has been active in the financial services industry for more than 20 years. Ms. Riley-Noah brings diverse experience to the advisory board with experience in insurance, securities, debt management, and financial planning.
Danny Kofke
Danny Kofke is a teacher of 20 years and a personal finance expert. Mr. Kofke authored two financial books: How to Survive (and perhaps thrive) on a Teacher’s Salary and A Simple Book of Financial Wisdom: Teach yourself (and your kids) How to Live Wealthy with Little Money.
Chad Penry
Chad Penry brings 20 years of experience in the financial services and personal finance industry into converging financial solutions, philanthropy, entertainment, and business development working with celebrities, artists, athletes, leading industry professionals, and nonprofit organizations. Chad co-founded Money XLive, an edutainment program that teaches youth the value of financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and social responsibility.
Richard White
Richard White spent four years as an investor at multi-billion dollar hedge funds before launching his own startup. Prior to investing, he was a management consultant for three years. He earned his Doctor of Law (J.D.) degree from Columbia University in the City of New York and a Master’s in international finance from The Fletcher School at Tufts. He also holds a B.S. in Math from Yale University.
Jason Van Steinwyk
Jason Van Steinwyk has been a professional financial industry, insurance, and real estate writer since 2000. He cut his teeth as staff reporter for Mutual Funds Magazine and Time; has MARCOM agency experience as director of business development. His strengths are in investing, insurance, HR, employee benefits, and personal finance content. He has been published by Time, Journal of Financial Planning, NerdWallet, SeekingAlpha.com, Bankrate, WealthManagement.com, ValuePenguin.com, Nasdaq.com, Life & Health Pro, Senior Market Advisor, the Annuity Selling Guide, and MoneyGeek. He also is a 21-year Army veteran.
Paul Hilliard
Paul Hilliard is a versatile Certified Management Accountant (CMA) with a wide variety of corporate accounting experience, from basic bookkeeping to complex GL accounting. He has working experience in cash management, GL account analysis, expense analysis, revenue analysis, forecasting and budgeting, journal entries, financial statement review and analysis, and bookkeeping.
Angela Anderson
Angela Anderson is a tax and finance expert for a fee-based Q&A site. On a daily basis, she answers multiple questions relating to tax, accounting, general finance, and social security-related matters for individuals throughout the U.S. She also has acquired a basic to intermediate skill set and experience level in the fields of event planning, trade shows, audio editing, voiceovers, audio transcription, general writing, and travel consulting.
Rachel Morey
Rachel Morey is a journalist specializing in automotive, insurance, and finance content. She has been writing professionally for nearly a decade and has projects both in print and in broadcasting. A native Iowan, Rachel has a special fondness for the open roads of rural America.
Pat Valvanz
Pat Valvanz is an expert copywriter with a B.A. in English and a Master’s in Educational Psychology. She has written copy for offline and online articles, sales pages, and marketing for over 30 years. She writes excellent copy, edits and proofreads existing copy so clients’ online presence shines with professionalism. When the copy is perfect, audiences can focus on the message instead of being distracted by poor spelling, grammar, and syntax. Pat’s broad interests include finances and investing, insurance, women’s issues, cooking, gardening, psychology, and relationships.
Katrina Harris
Katrina Harris has a background in the Financial Services industry with a degree in Finance and has previously held the Series 66, 7, 9, and 10 licenses with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). She has worked both in banking and at a brokerage firm.
Jacob Schroeder
Jacob Schroeder specializes in financial writing and personal finance content (blogs, newsletters, websites, etc.) having led content production for two multi-billion-dollar financial planning firms. He serves as contributing writer at Kiplinger’s Magazine, Manager of Investor Education at Advance Capital Management, and Senior Financial Writer at Portfolio Solutions.
Larry is board certified and has in-depth experience in large public, private and not-for-profit business organizations with various and increasing responsibilities. Including accounting, purchasing, operations, customer service, international, marketing, timely, complete, and accurate reporting of financial results, evaluating capital expenditures, negotiating operating and capital leases, developing compensation and benefit plans, and negotiating working capital and medium-term financing and cyber security. During his career he was the leader or participated in Domestic and International Acquisition Teams.
Larry retired from CalChamber on April 30, 2022. He started there as vice president of finance on June 1, 2002. Larry was appointed executive vice president and chief financial officer in March 2007. In January 2012 Larry was chosen to lead CalChamber’s compliance business. The compliance business includes membership, products, and training. The members have access to best software as service (HRCalifornia) for providing answers to questions on California employment laws and a Helpline for answers to confidential questions. The products sold by this business include employment compliance tools, required state, federal and local employment posters and pamphlets, reference guides, and an online employee handbook creator. Training includes the best online sexual harassment prevention course in the country, compliance seminars and webinars.
Before coming to the CalChamber, he worked for Blue Diamond Growers in Sacramento as vice president of finance and chief financial officer. During his employment with Blue Diamond, he added responsibilities for human resources and information systems and added the responsibilities of corporate secretary.
Dicke was a founding member and past president of the Greater Sacramento Area Chapter of Financial Executives International. He was an adjunct professor for the Graduate School of Management at the University of California, Davis; served as chief financial officer for the California State Protocol Foundation; and was a member of the California Governor and First Lady’s Conference Board of Directors. He is a former president of the Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization (SACTO) and once served on the board of the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.
Dicke was born and raised in Chicago, graduating from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois with a B.S. in accounting. He passed the CPA exam in Illinois and earned his MBA from the University of Chicago and has a CERT Certificate in Cybersecurity Oversight. He is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors, Financial Executives International and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He was Sacramento area CFO of the Year for Nonprofits in 2014.
Veselina Dinova is faculty at Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, where she teaches finance, accounting, financial information analysis and stock valuation focused courses with the graduate and executive MBA programs. Her mission is to educate the future corporate leaders on how to build and grow companies that make the world a better place for all their stakeholders. She has won numerous awards for teaching excellence.
Veselina has researched and analyzed the financial performance and corporate governance of publicly traded companies from a wide range of industries. She cares deeply about education and enjoys working with and learning from her students with vastly diverse backgrounds, opinions and aspirations. She is passionate about innovation and has mentored startups at SkyDeck, the premier accelerator at UC Berkeley.
Prior to becoming faculty at Haas, Veselina was in corporate treasury at multinational corporations where she had a wide range of responsibilities: portfolio management of fixed income and equity investments, bank and investment managers’ relationships, corporate cash forecasting, SEC reporting, internal audit compliance.
Veselina is originally from Bulgaria and came to the US to pursue her MBA degree at Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona. She is a CFA charter-holder and a member of the CFA Society of San Francisco. She is NACD Directorship certified.
Trevor Stoll has felt passionate about bringing greater financial wellness to Californians for decades. When he was an undergraduate at the University of California, Riverside, he witnessed many of his classmates struggling to balance their college budgets and wanted to do something to help. When he heard about the NFEC and its financial education advocacy, he reached out to them. In partnership, they started the American Dream Movement chapter at UCR. This movement gave Trevor the opportunity to empower his college peers with the financial knowledge they needed to effectively and confidently tackle the real-world life decisions they would face during their college years and beyond.
Stoll earned an MBA from the University of California, Irvine and a BS in Business Administration from UCR. This educational background gave him the qualifications to take his passion for promoting financial wellness to the next level. Now, as the NFEC’s Chief Operations Officer, Trevor takes a data-driven approach to planning financial wellness strategies and initiatives for maximum long-term social impact. He also is charged with maintaining quality control of the NFEC’s resources and ensuring their compliance with top standards. These are just some of the contributions Stoll is looking forward to making as part of his role on the California Financial Educators Council’s Advisory Board.
Carolyn Campbell is an experienced executive and board director with over 25 years of investing in the financial services and technology sectors. Ms. Campbell is a founder and managing partner of Emerging Capital Partners (ECP), a private equity firm which has raised over $3.4 billion in growth capital for investment in over 70 listed and private high-growth companies, with a focus on innovation in financial services, telecom and energy/logistics. As a member of ECP’s Audit/Valuation, Investment and Executive Committees, her M&A financial and legal background makes her a key decision-maker in relation to financial performance and governance. As chair of the firm’s advisory committees and a director of multiple boards, she is valued for oversight and strategy in relation to finance/audit, corporate governance, management and ESG, improving financial reporting, corporate governance, business plans and IT systems. Ms. Campbell is particularly well-versed in issues facing highly-regulated industries and those looking to expand into new markets.
Prior to founding ECP, Ms. Campbell worked in global private equity at Emerging Markets Partnership (EMP), where she provided overall leadership and strategy for funds in Asia and Eastern Europe. Prior to that, Ms. Campbell worked in M&A and corporate finance globally at White & Case LLP, where she advised on U.S. venture capital deals and guided expanding multinational corporations to find suitable investments, build strong local partnerships and achieve best governance practices. Her work at White & Case spanned a variety of sectors, including financial services, insurance and technology.
Ms. Campbell has received various awards including the Private Equity Africa Women Impact Award and life membership in the Council on Foreign Relations. A sought-after speaker on board governance, investment strategy and executive management, she has appeared on C-SPAN, Bloomberg and Africa Today, spoken at the National Economists Club, the Brookings Institute, and the Harvard and Wharton Business Schools. She has published on cryptocurrency and other topics in the Financial Times, Environmental Finance, Quartz and Private Equity International. Ms. Campbell received a BA in Economics summa cum laude from the University of Connecticut, a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, and a Ph.D. in Political Economy from Oxford University and is fluent in French.
Other Board Experience
- Chair of Finance/Audit Committee for six years of Washington International School, a private K-12 school with over $45m in revenues
- Investment Committee Member, American Psychological Foundation
- Advisory Council Member, United States Millennium Challenge Corporation
Sonja Strzoda has over twenty-five years of experience in the global asset management and financial services industries working with Boards, senior executives and major investors. She was most recently with ColumbiaThreadneedle Investments (a subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial) where she served as Director of Consultant Relations and facilitated the re-engineering of the global consultant relations effort. Previously, Sonja was Senior Vice President for Putnam Investments where she worked as part of the global sales team and re-established the firm’s brand in the institutional marketplace. Earlier roles and positions included Vice President at Robeco Investment Management, Principal at Bradford & Marzec, Inc., a privately held institutional fixed income manager, PIMCO, and Dean Witter Reynolds (Morgan Stanley).
Sonja currently sits on the Boards of WISE-Women Investing in Security and Education, NuVision Federal Credit Union where she serves on the Asset and Liability Committee and CEO Compensation Committee, and Working Wardrobes where Sonja is a member of the Governance and Strategic Planning Committees, and Chair of the Audit Committee.
Sonja received her MBA with an emphasis in finance from California State University, Long Beach, where she was the first woman portfolio manager on the University’s Student Managed Investment Fund. She earned her BS with a major in economics from University of California, Irvine. Sonja is also a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and held FINRA Series 7 and 63 licenses.
Internationally recognized financial literacy pioneer and leader Sam X Renick has joined the California Educators Council Advisory Board as of 2022. Mr. Renick’s expertise lies in innovative children’s financial education, with which he has reached more than a quarter million children across 8 countries and 40 US states over the past two decades.
Mr. Renick founded his social entrepreneurial venture, the “It’s a Habit!” Company, in 2001 and co-created the Sammy Rabbit storybook character to empower individuals from all backgrounds to teach young children excellent money habits in an entertaining, effective format. For his own far-reaching children’s financial literacy instruction efforts, he and his team have earned multiple honors – including the 2016 National Financial Educators Council Instructor of the Year Award, the New Jersey Coalition for Financial Education Lifetime Achievement Award, the California Jump$tart Coalition Leaders in Personal Literacy Award, and induction into the Loyola Marymount University Wall of Honor, among many more.
A prolific author and songwriter, Mr. Renick has developed one of the largest financial literacy resource libraries in the world. Among this extensive bank of resources can be found storybooks and songs such as Sammy’s Big Dream, Get in the Habit, S.A.V.E. Rainy Day, Lemonade Stand, Anyone Can Be Rich, and Show Your Family the Way.
Mr. Renick also has garnered substantial media attention for his exemplary work in the financial education space. His efforts have been featured in television and radio spots on ABC, the Armed Forces Network, Fox, and NPR; and in print media including the Chicago Tribune, New York Times, Kansas City Star, MSN, Kiplinger, MarketWatch, and Yahoo Finance.
Today, Mr. Renick serves a myriad of high-profile clients, both individuals and enterprises. His work has gained worldwide support from groups of all sizes and from all sectors, including the US Department of Defense, Air Force Aid Society, Citi, Girl Scouts of America, Texas Family Community Leaders of America, Toyota, the University of Maryland, and the United Way.
Sam X Renick’s lifelong commitment to spreading knowledge and joy on great money habits has helped form his mantra: “Great habits give all kids a better and brighter future!”
Advisory Board Member Rodney Balbuena was chosen to serve on the California Financial Educators Council (CFEC) due to his passion for helping individuals and organizations secure their financial futures – a calling that deeply aligns with the mission of the National Financial Educators Council, the CFEC’s parent organization. Across his nearly three-decade career in financial services, Balbuena has consistently demonstrated innovation, compassion, and contributions to positive social progress.
Criteria for selection to the Advisory Board include having a proven dedication to financial wellness and service to California communities. Rodney Balbuena’s history of success in guiding his clients toward financial well-being and his commitment to empowering underserved groups with financial education recommend him strongly to fill this position. The California Financial Educators Council anticipates a highly productive and beneficial collaborative relationship with Rodney Balbuena well into the future.
Innovative Solutions for Economic Empowerment: Rodney Balbuena
I attended California State University at Los Angeles, where I pursued a major in Business Marketing. During those formative years, I cultivated a keen interest in the art of public speaking, effective presentations, and the world of financial products. As I ventured into the job market in 1994, a remarkable opportunity emerged for a bilingual educator role within a global financial services corporation, and I was fortunate enough to be selected for this prestigious position.
With a career spanning over 27 years in this dynamic industry, I have diligently acquired and currently hold a series of prestigious securities licenses, including Series 6, 63, and 65. Furthermore, I take great pride in being recognized with a Chartered Certified Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA) and Behavioral Finance Analyst designation, which unequivocally underscores my unwavering dedication to achieving professional excellence.
I am excited and committed to lending my skills, insights, and experience to the ongoing success and growth of the National Financial Educators Council and its state affiliate, the California Financial Educators Council. Together, I believe we can achieve remarkable results and make a positive impact.
I look forward to collaborating with the entire advisory board in the coming months and years, as we work together to shape the future and realize our vision.
In the financial wellness domain, the role of a Community Engagement Director takes on a significance that goes beyond customer service: that position has the potential to empower people’s lives. Claudia Martins, Community Engagement Director for the National Financial Educators Council (NFEC), offers a shining example of how that role can be leveraged to transform and inspire others with greater financial health.
Serving as the front line of contact for all entities and individuals with interest in the NFEC, Martins’ influence is felt at all levels of interaction – from program enrollees, to advisory board members, to top-level organizational partners. Her dedication to excellent customer service ensures that every interaction with the NFEC is not just informative, but transformative.
Claudia Martins’ Unique Backstory
Born and raised in Brazil, Claudia’s life-changing journey began 23 years ago when she uprooted, left her legal career, and came to the U.S. with only $700 in her pocket. Although she immediately fell in love with the people and surroundings in Florida, where she landed, she initially faced daunting financial challenges. Those trials were to form the impetus behind her passion and life purpose.
Martins started a Facebook group for women to share their financial struggles and triumphs. This virtual community soon grew into a space for empowerment, attracting more and more followers inspired by Claudia’s authentic story. She embraced entrepreneurship, becoming a healthy lifestyle coach consulting with individuals, nonprofits, and community groups. In 2018 she was introduced to the NFEC and earned her Certified Financial Education Instructor® and Certified Personal Financial Wellness Consultant credentials. Claudia took her relationship with the NFEC to the next level in 2020 by assuming her current Community Engagement Director (CED) role.
A Dynamic Force for Empowerment
The CED is tasked not only to connect with all clients and stakeholders, but to support them toward professional working relationships and help ensure that programs can be taken to scale. Martins conducts outreach to build partnerships and seek out opportunities that further the NFEC’s business and social impact mission. Her law background extends her expertise into the legal realm, where she manages license agreements and compliance matters for the organization.
With a strong commitment to detail, Claudia demonstrates talents for event planning, decision-making support, and multimedia communications. Fluent in Portuguese, English, and Spanish and currently studying French, she is skilled at communicating effectively with diverse and multicultural audiences. She also manages inter-organizational communications, activities, and content that align with the NFEC’s vision of creating a healthy, rewarding work environment.
Inspiring Future Generations
Claudia’s commitment to empowerment through financial education extends to children and the broader community. Following the end of her marriage, she took it upon herself to build up her own kids’ financial literacy – a subject rarely taught at school. This experience inspired Claudia to align herself with the NFEC’s mission to implement financial literacy in schools across the U.S. Her belief in raising self-sufficient, financially secure children embodies Claudia’s understanding that financial empowerment is the key to developing resilient, prosperous adults.
Both Claudia Martins’ life journey and her contributions to the NFEC’s mission are testaments to the transformational power of financial education. Claudia represents an inspiration to others who aspire to rise above their challenges and embrace their true potential. Her legacy reminds us that all individuals have the capacity to rewrite their narratives, empower others, and move toward healthy, secure futures.
Advisory Board Member Dr. Renée Baker, DBA, RCC™️ is the Founder and CEO of The RBI Group, a company committed to educating, empowering, and elevating individuals and organizations toward financial success and freedom. Throughout her extensive career in financial services and academia, Dr. Baker has continuously championed actionable financial strategies, guiding numerous individuals and entities toward reaching their financial goals.
In her capacity as an Advisory Board Member, Dr. Baker advocates for financial education. Known as a forerunner in advancing financial literacy, especially in Florida, her influence stretches well beyond the realm of finance. Her commitment spans community development, mentorship, and all-encompassing growth. Recognized for her expertise, Dr. Baker has received significant acknowledgment, marking her as an authority in financial well-being and community leadership both in Florida and beyond.
Dr. Baker’s educational credentials include a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Rutgers University, a Master of Business Administration degree from The Pennsylvania State University, and a doctorate in Business Administration from Wilmington University. Her expansive knowledge is further enhanced by her completion of executive education at the Securities Industry Institute, co-hosted by SIFMA and Wharton.
Professionally, she holds Series 6, 7, 26, and 63 licenses and is a registered corporate coach. With this diverse skill set, she delivers unique financial mentorship and strategies, ensuring actionable outcomes and tailored financial education solutions.
Forming a Language of Empowerment: Dr. Renée Baker
I grew up in humble beginnings, in a family where money was rarely discussed. It wasn’t until I got into college that I started to understand money and my personal finances and became able to share that information with my family and community. Nearly 30 years later, I founded The RBI Group to be a solution provider: bridge the chasm of wealth inequality, uplift living standards, stimulate economic opportunities, and ultimately revolutionize our global landscape. Having a fundamental understanding of money management doesn’t just equip individuals to navigate their finances adeptly; it also gives them a potent arsenal of tools – and the unshakable confidence – to journey toward wealth creation, regardless of scale.
I feel a strong commitment to my community, which has inspired me to become involved in various community boards. For example, I serve on the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation board, chairing the Investment Committee. I am Chair of the Admiral Society for United Way Suncoast; a board member of Girls Inc., Pinellas, where I serve on the Finance Committee; and Treasurer for the IDEA Charter Schools Fiduciary Board for Florida. I also hold the title of Lifetime Member of Leadership Florida.
I feel that empowering people with the vital knowledge of financial literacy and guiding businesses with strategic marketing consulting isn’t just a mission; it’s a calling. As an Advisory Board member of the Florida Financial Educators Council, I bring my passions to the table: forming a language of empowerment, an art of resilience, and a pathway to boundless opportunities for Floridians and individuals all across the country.
The Florida Financial Educators Council selected Richard Cautero as a member of its Advisory Board due to his distinguished career as a senior executive at a major multinational consumer company and board member at publicly-held and private companies, family-owned businesses, major nonprofits, and the government sector.
He is currently a board and finance committee member at Goodwill Industries Manasota, the Sarasota affiliate of Feeding America (All Faiths Food Bank), and the City of Venice Police Pension Fund. He previously served on the boards of Jones Soda Company (public company), Royal Bakers Distributing (private company), Ann’s Place (nonprofit cancer support organization), as well as numerous other boards and advisory committees.
Longtime Community Service Advocate: Richard Cautero
Rich formerly spent 30 years at Kraft Foods and its former parent company, Altria, in numerous leadership positions including Chief Financial Officer at Maxwell House Coffee and Vice President of Finance and Strategic Planning at Altria.
Rich is a longtime advocate of community and public service. He also previously served as a two-term elected Council Member at the City of Venice, Florida. He completed his second term in 2021. Rich was also elected Vice Mayor three times, in 2017, 2019, and 2021.
Cautero holds a BBA in Accounting and an MBA in Finance and Investments from Hofstra University.
Commenting on his Advisory Board appointment, Rich stated, “I am excited about the opportunity to assist the National Financial Educators Council advocating for initiatives in support of greater financial security and wellness for communities and individuals.”
A philanthropist, visionary, and history-maker, Evelyn Magley is the first woman and first African American woman to own a professional men’s sports league in the United States – not just a team, but a whole league. As owner and CEO of The Basketball League (TBL), Magley leads a professional basketball organization that began operation in the U.S. in 2019 and has a stated mission to deliver a world-class entertainment experience to its communities, fans, and players. TBL provides players who, for one reason or another, do not participate in the NBA or G-League with opportunities to make a living playing the game they love on a professional basis.
Leading up to her current role, Magley has been an educator and dedicated community servant for decades. Qualified as a Music Educator and Music Therapist, she has a passion for making a positive impact on the lives of young people. In an accomplishment that illustrates this commitment, a $3.7 million Fine Arts Building was constructed to house and educate students in a music program that grew to an 89% participation rate under her tutelage in Bradenton, Florida.
Promoting Financial Education as a Key Life Skill: Evelyn Magley
A graduate of the University of Kansas, Evelyn Magley co-founded “Children with Purpose,” an inner-city ministry focused on mentoring children through the gospel, academic services, hot meals, and music. She also is the former Director of Community Engagement at the Brampton A’s of the National Basketball League (NBL) of Canada. As a liaison between the league and the city of Brampton, she scaled the forward-facing programming of the NBL, professional basketball teams, and nonprofit organizations within the community at large. Now she brings this expertise to bear on her TBL leadership efforts.
Under Magley’s leadership, TBL is dedicated to providing its host communities with professional basketball teams that offer an affordable, high-quality family entertainment experience. And the league’s community contributions go far beyond its professional-level basketball games that entertain local families. TBL supports local youth through school and group appearances, youth camps, clinics, and nonprofit organizations. The league also gives its players educational opportunities to learn from nationally acclaimed life skills classes – including training in financial literacy, health and wellness, nutrition, preventive medicine, and sports biomechanics.
Magley’s commitment to community service also has financial wellness as a large component. For example, she was the driving force behind the TBL Financial Literacy Campaign that kicked off in 2020 with the objective to train TBL teams, executives, and staff how to teach personal finance. More than 70 participants registered for the Certified Financial Education Instructor course as part of this initiative.
Magley’s position as owner and CEO of The Basketball League represents the culmination of her lifelong passion for sports and community involvement. Her participation in the Advisory Board is vital to the Florida Financial Educators Council’s efforts to promote financial wellness across Florida.
Philip Herzberg, CFP®, CDFA®, CTFA, AEP® is a lead financial advisor at Team Hewins, a wealth management firm with offices in South Florida and the San Francisco Bay Area. As a Certified Financial Planner® professional, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® practitioner, Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor, and Accredited Estate Planner® designee, Philip uses his expertise to help clients implement tax-efficient investment, retirement, and estate planning strategies.
A regular Journal of Financial Planning columnist, Herzberg has authored or contributed to over 60 peer-reviewed estate, tax, and financial planning articles. Philip has been cited as an authority in regional and national media publications, including the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, CNBC, AARP, Kiplinger, Financial Planning, Morningstar, MarketWatch, Barron’s, InvestmentNews, Financial Advisor Magazine, TheStreet, Miami Herald, and South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Spreading the Financial Education Message Wide: Philip Herzberg
Herzberg has been a featured speaker for local and national professional organization audiences such as the Estate Planning Council, Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA), Financial Planning Association (FPA), United Way, and the Jewish Community Foundation’s Professional Advisory Council (PAC). He currently serves as a CFP® Board Ambassador and is Chair of the Jewish Federation of Broward County’s Advisor Philanthropy Initiative (API). He also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Estate Planning Council of Boca Raton and Collaborative Family Law Institute.
He served as 2018-19 President of the Estate Planning Council of Greater Miami and is a Past President of the FPA of Florida and the FPA of Miami.
Herzberg’s strong background and expertise make him a highly-esteemed member of the Florida Financial Educators Council Advisory Board.
As a Black American civil rights business leader, professional trader, investor, Certified Financial Education Instructor®, and extensively published writer/accredited international journalist, Advisory Board Member Richard F. Cason is uniquely positioned to contribute his wealth of expertise to the Florida Financial Educators Council’s (FFEC) Advisory Board. Cason was selected to serve on the Board due to his strong alignment with the mission and values of the National Financial Educators Council, the FFEC’s parent organization.
Cason’s advanced education in the field of information technology – including an AS in Computer Programming from Florida National College and a BS and Masters in Information Technology from Barry University in Miami – also offer a unique and advantageous perspective to his contributions as a founding member of the FFEC.
Building Strong Communities through Financial Education: Richard F. Cason
My military service – spent overseas working in intelligence as administrative specialist for a battalion commander – taught me invaluable skillsets including leadership, accountability, discipline, adaptability, and honor. My early career as a federal immigration officer with the US Department of Justice gave me a unique perspective on the challenges facing communities and the importance of creating safe, inclusive environments for all individuals.
This rich background formed the backdrop against which I developed my passion: helping the citizens of underprivileged, underserved, and disenfranchised poor urban communities – especially people of color – by equipping them with the knowledge and insight to take control over their personal financial destinies. Many people in these communities struggle with debt, financial insecurity, credit problems, and lack of knowledge about money management. I want to be part of the solution by sharing my experience and expertise.
One of my major contributions to the FFEC’s Advisory Board will be to foster alliances and partnerships with faith-based organizations, non-profits, and government agencies to assist these communities to receive the education and support they need to take control over their own personal finances and set up more secure futures for themselves and their families.
I am committed to making a positive social impact, and I believe that financial literacy education is a crucial part of achieving this goal. By sharing my knowledge and experience as an Advisory Board member, I hope to inspire others to take charge of their financial futures and make informed decisions that will benefit them and their families for years to come.
I am honored to be recognized as a founding member of the Florida Financial Educators Council’s Advisory Board. Together, we can create stronger, more financially secure communities where everyone can thrive, all across the state of Florida.
Amit Bansal serves as the Director of the Center for Financial Health and Wellness at the Spears School of Business, Oklahoma State University. The center’s mission revolves around empowering individuals to make well-informed and meaningful decisions concerning their personal finances. It achieves this vision through the provision of workshops and personalized counseling on various financial matters such as budgeting, savings, investing, debt management, and more.
Advisory Board Member Amit Bansal, an alumnus of Oklahoma State University, initially gained experience in corporate banking and capital markets in New York before transitioning to his current role. Since 2018, he has been utilizing his expertise to educate students at the Spears School of Business, sharing his knowledge and passion for finance through teaching finance courses.
Long-time Advocate for Financial Education: Amit Bansal
Amit Bansal has been a great supporter of financial literacy education for decades. Even as an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Finance, he seized opportunities to conduct financial wellness seminars for Master’s students, PhD students, faculty members in Residential Life, and high school students. His directorship at the Center for Financial Health and Wellness affords him the opportunity to promote financial literacy not just to the university’s students, but also to staff and community members.
Bansal grew up in Agra, India and earned his bachelor’s degree in electronics and communication engineering from Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal, India. He earned both a Master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering and an MBA from OSU. While earning his MBA, Bansal was an intern at the Chicago Board of Options Exchange.
Amit Bansal’s participation on the Florida Financial Educators Council Advisory Board offers him yet another opportunity to contribute to the financial literacy movement in Florida, Oklahoma, and around the U.S.
Paul Goebel launched the center at UNT in 2005 as a non-academic financial education program dedicated to serving students. Since then, Paul and his team have reached nearly 167,000 students with financial education instruction and special events; and more than 11,000 students with personalized financial coaching through the Center. In addition, more than 200 universities and community colleges rely on Paul for his expertise, resulting in the establishment of financial education programming at higher education institutions across the country.
Expanding the Reach of Financial Education Programming
Goebel gives raising awareness about financial wellness top priority. He continually explores opportunities to find unique, relevant, and engaging ways to reach the ever-changing composition of UNT’s growing student body. Paul forms collaborative partnerships across university departments and offices to facilitate outreach and ensure holistic learning opportunities for all students campus-wide.
Goebel’s work extends beyond the UNT campus to bring sustainable financial education programming throughout Texas and around the U.S. His innovative, adaptable teaching style transforms financial instruction from ideation into implementation – laying a strong foundation for sustainability
Advisory Board Member Sharita M. Humphrey is a nationally-recognized and award-winning Certified Financial Education Instructor and business mentor. Sharita has received two Texas Proclamations recognizing her ongoing commitment and work to teach financial and business literacy to marginalized communities and small businesses. Sharita was named the National Financial Educator of the Year in 2020 for her education and advocacy work across the country. In 2021, Sharita began to do global financial literacy work via the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Namibia.
Sharita plans to leverage her substantial experience in mentorship, financial literacy, and entrepreneurism as she makes significant contributions to the mission and vision of the Texas Financial Educators Council’s Advisory Board.
Fostering Collaboration and Inspiring Global Financial Freedom: Sharita M. Humphrey
Sharita Humphrey has continued to work with state and local agencies, nonprofits, banks, and educational institutions, presenting and developing curricula, workshops, and training to increase financial and business literacy awareness and education. She is a resident business advisor for a collaborative project including Houston Community College, the City of Houston, and the Spring Branch Independent School District to help aspiring entrepreneurs gain access to educational resources and capital.
She is a regular contributor to major publications and has been featured in top-tier media, including CNBC, MSN, Acorns, Wall Street Journal, Martha Stewart, Credit Karma, iHeartMedia, Forbes, Yahoo Finance, and BBC World News. She is a talented media spokesperson and partners with other brands and organizations to further educate mass communities on financial well-being, entrepreneurship, and funding opportunities.
Sharita and her family set a goal of purchasing hundreds of acres of land over the next few years to build a family-run farm. During their journey, Sharita will be teaching under-resourced farmers how to obtain capital to acquire and retain their farmland for generations to come.
Elaine King, CFP® is the founder of Family and Money Matters™, a company with the mission of empowering the family’s financial and human capital to achieve financial well-being. She has served as the Family’s Financial Planner for over 1,200 families and 100 multigenerational family enterprises, helping those families and enterprises craft actionable family financial plans.
Elaine is a Financial Education advocate, creator of the first family financial program in Latin America, and winner of the Best Latin Book Award. She was recognized in 2020 in the list of Investopedia‘s Top Influential Advisors and in 2017 as one of People Magazine’s Top 25 Influential Hispanic Women. Elaine has been featured in television spots on Telemundo and CNN, and in print in the Wall Street Journal and Forbes; and is a columnist for financial journals in the U.S. and Latin America.
Financial Education with a Family Focus: Elaine King
Elaine King was born in Peru at a time when the country was going through its longest economically and politically volatile period, with record-high inflation rates, terrorism, and national curfews. She has lived, studied, and worked around the world – in Canada, Mexico, Austria, Japan, and the United States – an experience that taught her to love culture and appreciate diversity. She also speaks six languages.
King built her expertise over 18 years by climbing the corporate ladders of the largest and most powerful financial institutions in the world, advising international families with actionable strategies for a healthy financial plan, structure, and governance. Thus she built her foundation and formed a passion for spreading economic empowerment, qualities she brings to her contributions to the Florida Financial Educators Council Advisory Board.
Irene Day was selected as a member of the Ohio Financial Educators Council’s Advisory Board due to her strong alignment with the mission and goals of the National Financial Educators Council. Advisory Board Member Irene Day has distinguished herself through both her lengthy personal experience in the financial space and the ethical, professional conduct of her business enterprise. Her leadership has brought a wide variety of individuals and organizations together to work toward a common goal: improving people’s lives through financial education.
The criteria for Advisory Board member selection include a commitment to and passion for promoting financial wellness and a history of community service. Irene Day’s credentials underscore her reputation and success in these areas and more. The Ohio Financial Educators Council looks forward to her contributions and inspiration in the months and years to come.
Empowering Financial Literacy: Irene Day
As President and CEO of IreneDay.com, I am dedicated to giving real-life financial literacy solutions to individuals and organizations. Over the past 5 years, I have grown to feel truly passionate about educating people so they don’t fall into the same financial hardships I experienced early in life – all from just not understanding how money worked.
With a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Baldwin Wallace University, 7 years in the financial industry space, and having started a multimillion-dollar company from scratch, I know first-hand the importance of understanding how money and our economy work.
My interest in learning the ins and outs of the credit system began in 2014. I had paid off $30,000 worth of debt with the money my grandfather left me after he passed; but my credit score only increased 12 points. I was absolutely mortified. This situation motivated me to do extensive research on how my own personal credit was determined, which in turn led to an interest in the credit repair industry itself. In 2017 I officially started my business, Hannah Financial.
When I was told that I was being considered for the Advisory Board for the Ohio Financial Educators Council, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. This was my opportunity finally to be able to make a difference in my community by leveraging my education, experience, and network to continue to build and implement financial literacy programs across my state.
I am incredibly honored to have been appointed to the Ohio Financial Educators Council’s Advisory Board. I am excited to continue advocating for the widespread promotion of financial literacy throughout Ohio and beyond.
Melvin J. Scales has been a management consulting professional since early 1997 and currently serves both as the Executive Vice President of Meridian Resources – a leading national talent management consulting firm – and a Senior Advisor with Armstrong-McGuire, which provides leadership-based consulting to nonprofit organizations.
Prior to his appointment to the executive leadership team of Meridian Resources, Advisory Board Member Melvin Scales was the Assistant Director of Career Services for the Wake Forest University Schools of Business. He also served as the Global Senior Vice President for the world’s largest career management and outplacement consulting organization – Right Management – leading the organization’s thought leadership and global delivery for all 19 global operating regions. Melvin has also held several roles in brand management with leading international consumer products organizations such as Hanesbrands, R.J. Reynolds, Anheuser-Busch, and Nabisco.
Bringing Ethical Leadership to Financial Education: Melvin J. Scales
Scales has lectured in marketing and career management at the Graduate School of Business at Wake Forest University and currently serves as a business community coach focused on ethical leadership for the university. He serves as Chairman for the Atrium Health’s CareNet Psychological Services, board and investment committee member for the Twin City Development Fund, board member and Governance committee chair for the Historic Magnolia House and Foundation, board member of the Triad North Carolina Film Commission, board and governance committee member for the Western Conference United Methodist Fund, board member for Leadership Winston-Salem, and board member for Forsyth County Senior Services.
Melvin is a native of Winston-Salem and a graduate of Wake Forest University, Brevard College and received a Doctor of Divinity degree, Honoris Causa, from Provident University. He served honorably in the United States Navy. He is married to Yvette Bishop-Scales and they have one daughter, Kelli, and one grand-dog, Shug Avery.
Amy McMaster is a Licensed Social Worker with a Bachelor’s degree from The Defiance College. She is a financial coach for the Northwestern Ohio Community Action Commission (NOCAC) Financial Opportunity Center (FOC). In these roles, Advisory Board Amy McMaster assists low- to moderate-income families to achieve financial wellness. She has coordinated the NOCAC Individual Development Accounts (IDA) Matched Savings Program and also enjoyed her time as a NOCAC Head Start Preschool Family Service Specialist.
Empowering Positive Life Changes: Amy McMaster
Mrs. McMaster has made it her mission to bring fun and entertainment to financial literacy classes. In addition, she views all clients as creative, resourceful, and whole individuals. She enjoys assisting clients with one-on-one budget counseling, access to banking information, credit improvement, and social support. Mrs. McMaster values community partnerships for the wealth of knowledge and support they offer.
Her entire career has been spent providing services to low-income households of Northwestern Ohio. She focuses on empowering individuals and families to make positive life changes. Her goal is to ensure that all members of her community have access to the support and resources they need to live satisfying lives.
When not working, Mrs. McMaster can usually be found spending quality time with her family, playing board games, celebrating her nieces’ and nephews’ life accomplishments, assisting her husband in the garden, and spoiling three kittens.
Nathan Nguyen, Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI®), is a business farmer, coach, and mentor; best-selling author; investor; and a passionate financial education ambassador. With 20+ years of entrepreneurial experience and a business portfolio of 25+ businesses in 8 industries, he believes in unleashing and empowering the entrepreneurial spirit in people to move humanity forward with greater innovation and solution creativity.
As a CFEI®, Education Loan Analyst, and Certified College Funding Specialist, Advisory Board Member Nathan Nguyen founded College Career Advisory to help parents and students plan for college, career, and life success. He authored the book Money Smarts and created the Money Simulations Game to prepare students on how to be financially independent and to develop the money skills involved in making, saving, borrowing, and investing money.
Making a Local Impact with Financial Education: Nathan Nguyen
Nguyen is a lucky husband and proud father of three kids. Locally, he serves his community as a board member to nonprofit organizations, high school and college lecturer, and professional development speaker. His welfare to college multi-millionaire success story has been featured in the all-time bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul series book Chicken Soup for the Extraordinary Teens Soul, as well as The Richest Kids in America. Nathan also has been featured on the cover of Trade Magazine and the Young & Successful series Millionaire Spotlight Live on CNBC.
Bill Field was chosen to represent the Ohio Financial Educators Council (OFEC) on its Advisory Board because of his commitment to promoting financial wellness, close alignment with the National Financial Educators Council’s vision, and childhood ties to Ohio. Advisory Board Member Bill Field stands out in the User Experience (UX) arena for his skill, insight, and user-centric approach – qualities that recommend him both to provide key input to the OFEC and for promoting the financial wellness cause as a whole. His leadership guides system improvements that support a broad range of financial wellness objectives.
The criteria applied to select professional Advisory Board members include dedication to promoting financial wellness and contributions to making a positive social impact. Bill Field has earned a reputation for strength in both these areas, among many others. The Ohio Financial Educators Council looks forward to Field’s contributions to the board across the long-term.
Supporting Global Financial Wellness: Bill Field
Having been born in Ohio and living there as a child, I feel a strong connection to those roots and to my fellow Ohioans. As User Experience Director for the National Financial Educators Council, I’m the organization’s front-line contact for promoting the financial wellness cause. My approach is to give the people I serve top priority when designing real-world financial education solutions. I’ve learned that meaningful connections and clear communication are essential to building bridges between the organization and the individual.
In today’s digital world, creating an excellent financial wellness experience includes staying on top of rapidly changing technology and taking a people-centric approach to designing programs. I strongly believe in gathering as much input as possible from participants in a training to gain a deep understanding of their needs, which in turn guides design of the user experience at every touchpoint.
My BA in Journalism from California State University, Business Management training, and experience as an event photographer have taught me the importance of ensuring a positive user experience at each stage of a financial wellness program – before, during, and after the program concludes.
I am honored and delighted to be selected to serve on the Ohio Financial Educators Council’s Advisory Board. As a contributing member, I hope to apply my knowledge and expertise to make a difference among Ohio communities and families. I look forward to this opportunity.
Ray’Chel Wilson is not your regular teacher; she is a self-proclaimed Teacher 2.0, challenging the norms of education and redefining what it means to live financially well. Originally from Ohio and still feeling a strong connection to her Ohio roots, Ray’Chel moved to Black Wall Street, Tulsa, to teach high school biology and personal finance to nearly 1,000 students while blazing her own path to wealth as a first-generation entrepreneur.
Honored as one of the top “20 Under 2” teachers across the state of Oklahoma, Advisory Board Member Ray’Chel Wilson considers educating about holistic financial wellness and closing wealth gaps as a central part of her mission. She is the published author of the internationally sold Black Wealth Freedom, a 3-part workbook series that serves as the foundation for next-generation wealth building.
Having achieved notable financial milestones, such as leveraging cryptocurrency profits to pay off her undergraduate student loans, Ray’Chel founded Raise the Bar Investments & ForOurLastNames.
Raise the Bar Investments aims to provide minorities with digestible financial education and operates with values of excellence, integrity, and relationships at the forefront. Recognizing the disjointed relationship between education and investing, Wilson co-founded the upcoming “ForOurLastNames” app, empowering individuals to build wealth for their last name. Serving both individuals and financial institutions, ForOurLastNames is a financial technology that bridges the education gap for first-generation investors. Through its patent-pending gamified approach, ForOurLastNames will shape the future of less risky, minority-friendly investing.
Community Service through Financial Education: Ray’Chel Wilson
Ray’Chel Wilson holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from The Ohio State University, a Certificate in Women’s Entrepreneurship from Cornell University, and has earned credentials as a Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI®) through the National Financial Educators Council. Currently, Ray’Chel is a Duke Graduate School student pursuing her Master of Divinity and specializing in Investment Management.
These career achievements in service and entrepreneurship have led to Ray’Chel being inducted into her alma mater’s Hall of Fame with the Professional Achievement Award, making her the youngest person and the fourth African-American honored in the high school’s 120-year history. Due to the holistic “money moves” she teaches and incorporates into her own life, Ray’Chel enjoys taking road trips in her hybrid, sharing conscious meals with friends, and expressing gratitude to God for better days.
J.M. (Jack) Towarnicky has more than 40 years of professional experience – 31 years in HR/Benefits plan sponsor and plan fiduciary leadership roles at four different Fortune 500 companies; plus more than a decade as a compliance and consulting attorney. Jack has higher education teaching experience at Duquesne, Ohio State, and Franklin Universities and has served as an instructor for the Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) and Certified Plan Sponsor Professional (CPSP™) designations. He brings this rich experiential background to bear for his contributions to the Ohio Financial Educators Council’s Advisory Board.
Advisory Board Member J.M. (Jack) Towarnicky received individual national recognition in 2021 as 401(k) Champion and his team was presented with the Platinum Award from the National Business Group on Health (NBGH) “Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles®” program in 2010.
Highly-valued Experience and Background: Jack Towarnicky
Towarnicky received his LLM degree with honors in Employee Benefits from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago, IL; his JD from the South Texas College of Law in Houston, TX; his MBA and BBA in Economics from Cleveland State University in Cleveland, OH; and holds designation as a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS).
Jack’s experience as director, member, and trustee on professional boards has included the Department of Labor’s EBSA and ERISA Advisory Council; the Presbyterian Church USA Board of Pensions; World at Work; Council on Employee Benefits; American Benefits Council; and the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Corporate Board. This substantial list of accomplishments makes him a highly-valued member of the Ohio Advisory Board.
Retired Army Major and MFEC Advisory Board Member Ellis Cropper, who holds Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) and Certification in Long-Term Care (CLTC®) credentials, has worked as a Life Insurance Agent and Registered Representative for New York Life since 2018. He is currently expanding his expertise to make a positive difference on a broader scale – spearheading campaigns to bring financial education to his Worcester community and across the state of Massachusetts. It is Cropper’s rich, varied background and experience, along with his passion to make a positive community impact by helping people move toward financial freedom, that align his vision so strongly with the goals of the MFEC Advisory Board and its parent company, the National Financial Educators Council.
Originally hailing from Louisiana, Ellis Cropper earned his BS in Biology with concentrations in Nuclear Medicine Technology from Worcester State University in 1996. His 34-year career in the U.S. Army included 22 years of active service plus the honor of serving as an Assistant Professor of Military Science at Widener and Villanova Universities. He is currently pursuing his MBA at Nichols College in Dudley, Massachusetts. Cropper feels highly motivated by the opportunity to serve as a founding member of the MFEC’s Advisory Board.
Equity and Progress through Financial Stability and Freedom: Ellis Cropper
As an ‘A’ student third in my high school class, I was accepted into all the colleges I applied to, including Louisiana State University. But I decided to go into the Army because I believed that was the chosen path for me. Even as an 18-year-old enlisted soldier making $8,000 a year, I was always good at accounting for my money. But like John Maxwell said, “A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.” Well, I knew where my money went, but I didn’t tell it where to go. Learning how to tell your money where to go is part of becoming financially free.
My passion for teaching financial literacy is born out of that concept of freedom. In the Army, as a reserve officer, I had a lot of autonomy and flexibility – but I wasn’t free. It wasn’t until I retired from military service that I first felt any kind of freedom. And true freedom comes with financial freedom. Money has an impact on every area of life, and I believe this country won’t see the change it needs to start moving in the right direction until more people have achieved financial stability. Once people become financially stable enough to be active in the world, to change things that affect them – that’s when we’ll see more equity and progress.
My deep-rooted passion for raising financial literacy lies behind my goals as a founding member of the MFEC Advisory Board. Ultimately I want to help my alma mater provide scholarships to college students in financial services. And as I’m working in elementary and middle schools, I’ll be looking for philanthropists to donate to those kids’ college funds, enough to where the kids can see the money grow over time and start to manage it themselves.
I feel privileged to become a founding member of the Massachusetts Financial Educators Council’s Advisory Board. I am looking forward to a long-term partnership that brings greater financial stability and financial freedom to Massachusetts and around the country.
Mahendra Pattni is a strategic and results-driven International Senior Finance and Operations Executive with extensive corporate expertise in the Biotech/Pharmaceutical and Consumer industries driving revenue growth, cost savings, process improvements, and knowledgeable in operational excellence at all levels of the organization.
Advisory Board Member Mahendra Pattni trained as a mechanical engineer, earning a bachelor’s degree from the National Institute of Technology in India and an MBA from Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois. He is also a Fellow of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, London, England.
Forging Business Partnerships through Financial Education: Mahendra Pattni
Pattni has over 30 years of experience in the Consumer Healthcare/Pharma/Biotech industry supporting as finance business partner to operational and corporate functions. He has extensive experience working closely with different functional areas such as Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Procurement, R&D and Corporate at GlaxoSmithKline and Shire/Takeda. He also worked as Director, Business Planning, Global Business Services (GBS) at Biogen, where he supported senior management to set up a new Global Business Services function and track financial benefits of a change management program to institutionalize and improve business performance.
Mahendra currently serves as Head of Finance at Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute where he reorganized the Finance function and implemented business planning processes including financial systems and Adaptive Insights for reporting financial performance. At present, he is working on developing finance team members into business partners working collaboratively to support operational and strategic needs.
Elizabeth Clark is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Harvard Business School (HBS), where she oversees a group of 285 information technology (IT) professionals committed to helping advance the teaching, learning, research, and administrative mission of HBS. As CIO, she plays a critical role in strategically driving forward HBS’s broad, ambitious technology aspirations. With 25 years of experience in higher education IT, Advisory Board Member Elizabeth Clark has served in a number of leadership roles and spearheaded countless campus-wide initiatives spanning the academic enterprise.
Building Stakeholder Relationships for Financial Wellness: Elizabeth Clark
Involved locally and nationally with nonprofit associations that advance higher education through the use of information technology, Dr. Clark regularly speaks on topics including IT in higher education, strategy and innovation, change management, and diversifying IT organizations; and she has published on women in IT and diversity in higher education. For example, she is author of the 2013 research report Gender Diversity among Higher Education CIOs, published by the Educause Center for Analysis and Research. She holds a PhD from Boston College, an MSW from Boston University, and a BA from the University of Massachusetts.
A dynamic leader with extensive experience building stakeholder relationships and managing organizational change, Dr. Clark is a highly results-oriented professional with demonstrated skills to quickly synthesize complex information to support decision-making and overall objectives of executive leadership. Her competence at building relationships with stakeholders by obtaining and incorporating their feedback is well-recognized. Dr. Clark is known as a change agent who builds programs from scratch to drive institutional transformation. Her innovative leadership has led to high achievements in the critical areas of instructional technology and design; and online/hybrid learning and working.
Hailing from New Zealand, Financial Wellness Expert, Banking and Financial Services Executive Andrew Lendnal has made Washington D.C. his home, where he lives with his wife and three daughters. A distinguished alumnus, Andrew holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Science from Victoria University of Wellington, as well as an MBA from Massey University. Alongside these academic accolades, he also attained the Series 7 and Series 63 financial certifications. With over two decades in the industry, Advisory Board Member Andrew Lendnal has made an indelible mark in the financial wellness arena. More than just a financial expert, he’s fervently passionate about guiding individuals toward financial stability and independence. Holding the Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI®) designation through the NFEC, Andrew’s dedication has positioned him at the forefront of the workplace financial wellness movement and its related communities.
Bestselling Author and Speaker for Financial Wellness: Andrew Lendnal
Andrew Lendnal is an internationally bestselling author who has written seven books simplifying intricate financial concepts for readers of all backgrounds. Titles such as ‘Gold Start’, ‘Budget Wise Dollar Rich’, and ‘Catalyst’ have received global recognition. Moreover, his children’s series, ‘Money $mart’, paves the way for the financial literacy of future generations. Beyond Australasia, Andrew’s influence in the media landscape has expanded, with regular appearances on ‘Good Morning’ and authorship of authoritative columns cementing his reputation as a trusted financial voice in the U.S.
Recognized worldwide as a compelling speaker, Andrew skillfully blends education with engagement, captivating the attention of audiences globally. While serving pivotal roles in esteemed firms like Morgan Stanley, KeyCorp, and Morningstar Inc., Andrew has meticulously devised and navigated financial wellness strategies that resonate with employees predominantly at Fortune 500 companies. In 2020, his significant contributions were spotlighted when a New York Times journalist named him one of the top five leaders championing financial wellness in the workplace. Andrew remains committed to his mission: guiding the path toward financial enlightenment and empowerment.
Advisory Board Member Mary Ellen Normen of the Massachusetts Financial Educators Council is an experienced and skilled strategic leader in the areas of Municipal/Education Finance, Human Resources, and Operations who is a committed lifelong collaborative learner and coach of human creativity, ingenuity, compliance, and process improvement.
Mary Ellen also is a mentor and coach to emerging and experienced school business administrators as well as other management-level professionals. She provides niche coaching and strategic leadership to small organizations or individuals who are in transition due to organizational leadership changes or employment opportunities and personal growth. She also provides districts with talent management recruiting and onboarding in niche finance positions.
Delivering Powerful Student Learning: Mary Ellen Normen
Mary Ellen believes that all aspects of a free and public education system must function with understanding the primary purpose of delivering student learning in the classroom. Education must be tailored to a student’s learning style without bias, prejudice, or favoritism. Her passion project is to teach and mentor children to have a healthy and abundance mindset around their personal finances. She believes it is our duty as strategic and thoughtful leaders of any organization to strive to deliver what every student needs to learn in order to participate in our democratic society with the critical thinking and problem-solving skills necessary to become their best and most productive self and experience unfettered opportunity to thrive. The results of our collective work are best measured by the achievement level experienced by every student under our care and responsibility.
Jacqueline Collins is a National Board Certified Teacher in Career and Technical Education, specializing in Business, Marketing, and Financial Services. She has called Mansfield High School home since 2006, where she is a business teacher and instructional technology specialist. Jacqueline strives to give back through her volunteerism. She serves as the President of the Massachusetts Business Educators Association, spent nine years on the MassCUE Board of Directors (eight in the role of Treasurer), and is a proud founding member of the Wharton Educator Advisory Board. Jacqueline held fellowships with both Discovery Education and NextGen Personal Finance. She is an outspoken financial literacy advocate and co-authored the 2021 National Standards for Personal Financial Education.
Jacqueline holds a BS BA in Accounting and Computer Information Systems from Stonehill College, an MBA in Marketing from Marist College, an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instructional Technology from Framingham State University, and a Certificate in Online Learning and Teaching from Endicott College.
Awards include:
- 2021 National Business Teacher of the Year
- 2015 Massachusetts Business Teacher of the Year
- 2015 Leavey Award for Excellence in Private Enterprise Education
- 2023 Career Compass Award in Marketing
- 2016 & 2017 Finalist, Massachusetts STEM Teacher of the Year
- 2017 Semifinalist, Massachusetts Teacher of the Year
Dr. Melissa Weathersby’s selection as a member of the Texas Financial Educators Council (TFEC) can be attributed to her distinguished leadership background, wealth of expertise, and strong support of the mission and vision of the National Financial Educators Council – the TFEC’s parent organization. Advisory Board Member Melissa Weathersby is a licensed mortgage broker, professor, published author, highly sought-after speaker, and founder/CEO of 5-Star Empowerment, a personal and professional development coaching and consulting firm.
Melissa Weathersby more than meets the stringent criteria for selection to the Advisory Board through her commitment to educating individuals and organizations in personal and business finance, supporting whole communities in the process. The Texas Financial Educators Council eagerly anticipates a dynamic and productive collaboration with Dr. Weathersby in the coming years.
Building Personal Finance Acumen on a Global Scale: Melissa Weathersby
As President and CEO of 5-Star Empowerment, I am committed to making personal finance education available to individuals, communities, and organizations globally. After spending several years in the financial services sector, I realized how many are lacking basic financial acumen.
I worked my way from part-time teller to assistant branch manager at a large credit union before being promoted to banking center manager at a major retail bank. It was then that I became aware of the stark differences between the business models of credit unions and banks. I even worked briefly for a finance company that made short-term loans with exorbitant interest rates and fees. I had the “privilege” of making collection calls and repossessing collateral for defaulted accounts. It was there that I learned of poverty and predatory lending. I vowed never to work in such a place again.
After leaving the banking industry, I became a licensed Realtor® and decided to open a mortgage brokerage company. I learned very quickly that many people who applied for a mortgage did not have their financial affairs in order and had very little idea what it took to purchase a home, let alone maintain home ownership. This was during the time that the subprime market was booming, and many fell into the lure of adjustable-rate mortgages. When the market crashed in 2008, I went to work at a community college.
Once I entered higher education, I became a vocal advocate for financial literacy. In 2018, I completed and published a 400+-page doctoral dissertation highlighting the need for financial literacy in higher education. The dissertation has been downloaded more than 150 times in 24 different countries. I teach real estate, business, and personal finance classes and continue to emphasize that financial literacy is a life skill that affects all areas of our lives and our families. I continue to speak at conferences, churches, and radio shows whenever the opportunity affords me to discuss this important topic. I have also written books to help those who need clarity about the mortgage approval process and for those who need an action plan for overcoming a financial crisis.
It is an honor to be chosen to serve on the Texas Financial Educators Council Advisory Board. This is my opportunity to go beyond working with individuals and to begin making high-quality financial education resources widely available at the community and organizational levels. My goal continues to be financial wellness advocacy and consulting, and this opportunity to network with likeminded individuals will further advance my doctoral social justice contribution and promote positive social change by helping to create fiscally competent adults who are likely to produce fiscally sound communities and economies.
Advisory Board Member Marlon Green, MBA, CFEI®, is the founder of the Prosperous Athletes financial education and career awareness program for high school and collegiate athletes. Marlon has more than 20 years of accounting and finance experience during which he has worked in various industries such as Chemical, Oil and Gas, and Consulting. Marlon holds an Undergraduate degree in Accounting and Business Administration from Houston Baptist University. Marlon also obtained his MBA in Finance and Investment Management from the University of Houston Downtown. He earned his Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI®) credentials via the National Financial Educators Council, an organization that specializes in providing financial wellness education and training and is the parent organization to the Texas Financial Educators Council.
Marlon attributes his professional successes to his background as a student athlete where he learned the importance of discipline, teamwork, communication, collaboration, time management, leadership, and perseverance at an early age.
Marlon has over 15 years of leadership experience where he has led teams in Accounting and Human Resources (Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion). Marlon has worked on global projects with various cross-functional organizations such as Supply Chain, Procurement, Treasury, Manufacturing Operations, Recruiting, and Human Resources – with efforts spanning across various regions including Europe, Asia, India, and Latin America.
Marlon is a husband, father, leader, and mentor. In his spare time, Marlon enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, reading, and exercising.
Adding Value by Bridging the Financial Literacy Gap: Marlon Green
As an Accounting and Finance professional, I have over 20 years of experience working in various industries such as Oil and Gas, Chemical, Consulting, and Insurance. Obtaining an Undergraduate degree in Accounting and an MBA in Finance and Investment Management has equipped me with the necessary knowledge and tools required to educate my clients and assist them to navigate the arena of personal finance. My experience and passion for paying it forward has created a pathway for me to add value to the Texas Financial Educators Council’s Advisory Board.
As a former athlete and now a financial educator, my mission is to provide a comprehensive financial literacy program that will empower current and former athletes to take control of their financial destinies. I founded Prosperous Athletes with the goal of raising awareness about personal finance in my community and becoming an advocate for financial wellness. Throughout my personal and professional journey, I have overcome my own financial pitfalls through continuous learning and awareness. My purpose is to add value to the lives of others by helping bridge the financial literacy gap in our communities. I believe that financial wellness is a cornerstone of personal and societal well-being.
It is an honor and privilege to be on the Texas Financial Educators Council’s Advisory Board. I look forward to sharing information that will empower and equip those in my community and beyond. Financial Education is not just a topic that we discuss, it is a life skill that empowers individuals to design the lives they deserve.
Advisory Board Member Gerardo King was selected by the Texas Financial Educators Council not only due to his rich background in the investment banking and financial services industries, but also because of his multicultural connections and commitment to making a positive social impact.
In addition to his contributing role on the TFEC Advisory Board, Gerardo also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Peak 10 Energy – a leading energy company – where he provides strategic insight and guidance on the company’s growth and sustainability initiatives. He plans to leverage his wealth of expertise to create value and positive impact for the TFEC’s financial wellness community campaigns across the state of Texas and beyond.
Forging Global Financial Wellness Partnerships: Gerardo King
Gerardo King is a well-seasoned investment banker with more than 20 years of experience across various divisions of world-class financial institutions. He began his career at Citigroup in the top-tier corporate, mining, and resource industries group as a Management Associate, participating in the most relevant deals in the Andean Region while leading a transaction execution team by the time of his departure. In 2004 he joined Standard Bank as a Vice President for Resource Banking, closing the first staple oil and gas syndication in the LatAm region for the bank. Later he evolved to become the lead deal originator for the Americas.
In 2008 he joined Morgan Stanley to head and develop its Investment Banking franchise across the southern cone of the Americas, including the Andean region. During his tenure as an Executive Director, Gerardo poised Morgan Stanley as a leader in the primary league tables for the first time in the American emerging markets history. As a result, in 2011 the bank opened its representative office in Peru to provide pivotal support to the region. He was the protagonist for the origination and execution of first-time issuers in the mining, energy, and oil and gas industries, establishing a robust presence for Morgan Stanley. This accomplishment led him to become an integral member of the bank’s operating committee for the Americas, nominated to Managing Director in 2015.
In 2016 he founded Tamesis, a multidisciplinary boutique investment bank with partnerships across the globe. With a strong focus in private markets, asset curation, and its take-out to public markets, he has gained a wealth of experience with asset managers worldwide. He is also the principal as an investor in the Peru Forest Impact Fund, a USD200MM reforestation effort primarily funded by institutional liquidity and operated by a world-class asset manager.
Gerardo’s skill sets range across business development, corporate finance, M&A advisory, debt and equity capital market, and commodities. He has over USD25BN of origination and structuring experience across debt and capital markets placements and has wide access to executive management in top-tier corporations and institutions. King holds an outstanding reputation across the institutional investor community including pension funds, insurance companies, investment fund managers, family offices, broker-dealers, and banks.
Elizabeth Cruz was chosen as a member of the Illinois Financial Educators Council’s Advisory Board due to her substantial financial coaching experience and positioning in alignment with the National Financial Educators Council’s values and mission. As a Certified Personal Financial Wellness Consultant, Advisory Board Member Elizabeth Cruz stands out in the financial counseling arena for her skill, empathy, and professionalism. Her unique mixture of academic and practical experience strongly qualifies her to offer insight and strategic guidance to help bring greater financial wellness to Illinois communities.
Qualifications for selection to the Advisory Board include dedication to the financial wellness cause, a passion for helping others, and a background in community service. Elizabeth Cruz meets and exceeds all these criteria. The Illinois Financial Educators Council anticipates a long-term relationship with Elizabeth that supports and sustains its vision for the future.
Inspiring Stability and Prosperity through Financial Education: Elizabeth Cruz
I am Elizabeth Cruz, owner and founder of Moxie Financial Wellness and it is with great enthusiasm that I join the Illinois Financial Educators Council (IFEC) Advisory Board. My dedication to empowering individuals and organizations to achieve their financial goals lies at the heart of my professional journey. With extensive experience in financial coaching, I am committed to guiding others toward identifying and reaching their financial aspirations.
My path as a financial coach is fueled by the steadfast belief that effective financial management is key to prosperity and stability, for both individuals and businesses. My specialized expertise focuses on assisting clients to set clear financial goals and providing the support and guidance they need to navigate their journey toward those objectives.
My qualifications include a Master’s Degree from Arizona State University and a Bachelor’s Degree from Loyola University of Chicago, complementing my certification as a financial coach. This blend of academic achievement and practical experience forms the foundation of my approach to financial education and advising.
As a member of the IFEC Advisory Board, I am eager to offer insights that combine practical financial management with strategic decision-making.
This role represents not just a professional commitment but a personal one as well – to advance the cause of financial literacy and empowerment. I look forward to collaborating with my fellow board members and making a meaningful impact in the lives of the individuals and communities we serve.
Craig Hill was selected to serve on the Illinois Financial Educators Council (IFEC) Advisory Board due to his leadership in the personal finance management sector and his commitment to improving financial wellness among his fellow Illinoisans and beyond. His business and personal experience, academic achievements, and credentials place Advisory Board Member Craig Hill in powerful alignment with the objectives and vision of the IFEC’s parent organization, the National Financial Educators Council.
Advisory Board members are chosen according to stringent criteria for professionalism, integrity, and innovative approaches to financial wellness promotion. Hill’s entrepreneurial nature and professional background position him to make unique contributions to the organization’s mission. The Illinois Financial Educators Council anticipates a positive and mutually beneficial relationship with Craig Hill in the months and years to come.
Democratizing Financial Well-being: Craig Hill
With almost two decades of experience as a Chief Financial Officer in the steel industry and the entrepreneurial spirit to found SPENDiD, my journey has been one of continuous learning and leadership in financial management. This path has been further enriched by my academic background, holding a BS in Accounting and Business Administration from The University of Alabama, and solidified by professional certifications as a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA). These experiences and credentials have not only sharpened my financial acumen, but also instilled in me a profound passion for financial wellness and literacy.
My goal in joining the financial wellness cause is rooted in a desire to democratize financial literacy, making it accessible and understandable to individuals from all walks of life. This passion is driven by my firsthand observation of the transformative impact that informed financial decision-making can have on individuals and families. When we lift the fog, the way forward gets much clearer. My motivation stems from a belief that financial wellness should be a universally attainable goal, not just a privilege for the few.
Through SPENDiD and MyBudgetReport, I have pioneered tools that simplify the complex world of finance into actionable insights for everyday people. This unique position enables me to contribute a practical perspective to the financial wellness movement, merging technological innovation with financial education. My expertise in predictive cash flow analysis and budgeting-as-a-service tools exemplifies my commitment to creating solutions that foster financial independence and confidence.
It is with great honor that I embrace the opportunity to serve on the Illinois Financial Educators Council’s Advisory Board. I am eager to contribute to this vital cause, leveraging my expertise to enhance the financial literacy landscape. My commitment is to work tirelessly to empower as many people as possible with the knowledge and tools they need to achieve financial wellness, making a lasting impact on the financial health of individuals and families across the country.
With a Master’s Degree in Human Resources from The University of Arizona and a double bachelor’s degree in Communications & Business Management from Loyola University of Chicago, Advisory Board Member Darrin “Boomer” Williams brings his strong dedication to personal growth to his participation on the Illinois Financial Educators Council Advisory Board. As a Certified Personal Finance Expert, he also serves as CEO of Vertex Credit & Financial, providing invaluable financial coaching and credit education tailored to aspiring and established professional athletes within their industry.
Through Vertex, Darrin partners with schools, colleges, universities, businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies, aiming to serve at-risk and underserved markets. Leveraging his experience as a retired professional basketball champion, he assists participants in achieving a successful financial transition, from building credit to developing solid money management skills. All participants can expect to receive tangible results and personalized recommendations to help them progress toward their financial objectives.
With his blend of athletic prowess, entrepreneurial acumen, and philanthropic spirit, Darrin “Boomer” Williams continues to inspire and uplift those around him, both on and off the court.
Passion for Empowering Future Leaders: Darrin “Boomer” Williams
Meet Darrin “Boomer” Williams, a towering figure in the world of professional sports. Originally hailing from Detroit, Michigan, his passion for the game has propelled him to the highest levels of competition worldwide. With a remarkable 10-year career adorned with championships and All-Star accolades, he has indisputably made his mark on the sport of basketball.
Darrin’s journey has been one of boundless exploration, spanning three continents and traversing 30 countries during his illustrious career. His experiences, both on and off the court, have fueled the creation of “Basketball Secrets: 10 Secrets to Become a Professional Basketball Player.” This comprehensive guide, born from his wealth of knowledge and expertise, has achieved bestseller status on Amazon and was recently recognized as one of the top 100 Basketball Books of All Time by Book Authority.
Beyond his athletic feats, Darrin’s philanthropic endeavors shine brightly. Through his influence in sports and entertainment, he has spearheaded efforts that have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charitable causes. His commitment to community upliftment extends far and wide, with high-impact initiatives touching lives both locally and internationally. In his role as Advisory Board Member to the Illinois Financial Educators Council, Darrin is actively engaged in fostering positive change and empowering future leaders across Illinois and beyond.
Krystle Gladden, CFEI®, CFLPSM, Air Force veteran, entrepreneur, and community leader, is founder of Financial Fluency, a company with a mission to equip high school students, college students, and young professionals with the knowledge and tools they need to confidently navigate their financial lives. Gladden’s commitment to the financial wellness movement stems from her unwavering belief that financial literacy is the key to unlocking a brighter future for all and inspires her motto, “If you knew better, you’d do better.”
Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, Krystle possesses an MBA in Accounting and more than a decade of experience in the financial industry as an accountant and tax professional. She climbed the corporate ladder in both the private and non-profit sectors, thereby gaining deep insight into the ways in which finances affect both individuals and organizations. Her dedication to improving financial well-being motivated her to earn her Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI®) and Certified Financial Literacy Professional (CFLPSM) credentials through the National Financial Educators Council.
As a member of the New York Financial Educators Council Advisory Board, Gladden strives to bring greater economic empowerment to her New York neighbors and across the tri-state area. She firmly believes that financial education is a crucial life skill for everyone, regardless of demographics. Krystle Gladden has distinguished herself as a true leader in the financial wellness space.
In her spare time, Krystle values family and spending time with loved ones. She feels passionate about fitness and traveling, and tries to strike a life balance that allows her to enjoy those pursuits.
John Levar is a versatile professional with a rich background. He served in the United States Marines from 2000 to 2008, transitioning to a successful career as a commercial real estate broker from 2008 to 2013. In 2013, John founded Max Clean USA, where he served as CEO until 2017. Following this, he ventured into a partnership at Sign Me Up Signs and Advertising, which was later acquired by a Fortune 500 company from 2017 to 2020. John then pivoted into the financial sector, working as a Licensed Financial Advisor from 2020 to the present.
Advisory Board Member Mario J. DiFiore, PhD – professor, dean, journalist, and consultant – is Senior Assistant Dean and Director at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business in New York. A member of the Finance and Business Economics faculty since 2001, Dr. DiFiore serves as Chairman of the Investment Committee of the ESG Student Management Investment Fund, an experiential learning opportunity for students in the graduate division to manage approximately 1,000,000 of the University’s Endowment.
A five-time award winner for teaching excellence and innovation, Dr. DiFiore leads the Gabelli School’s financial wellness initiatives. He also serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Financial Compliance, an internationally peer-reviewed journal devoted to best practices in the field of compliance. DiFiore’s rich career and experiential background underlies his contributions to the New York Financial Educators Council’s Advisory Board.
Global Proficiency in Financial Research, Monetary Policy, and Macroeconomics: Mario J. DiFiore
Dr. DiFiore has had an extensive career on Wall Street and in the banking industry. Prior to joining Fordham, Dr. DiFiore was Global Head of Compliance Training at Deutsche Bank AG for nearly 10 years; Deputy Director of the Ten Squared LLP hedge fund in Greenwich, CT; Global Head of Continuing Education at Prudential Securities; and Assistant Director of New York University’s (NYU) Finance Division in the School of Professional and Continuing Studies.
Dr. DiFiore began his career at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York where he worked for about a dozen years in the research and statistics, international affairs, and public information areas. In fact, as the Fed’s Senior Representative for International Relations, Dr. DiFiore regularly met with and discussed issues relating to monetary policy, macroeconomics, and Fed policy with central bankers from across the globe. Dr. DiFiore ended his Federal Reserve career as Assistant Director of Public Information, where he led the group responsible for all financial and economic data releases for the weekly Fed press conferences.
Dr. DiFiore also serves as an international consultant, providing extensive training and consulting in financial compliance, economics, financial markets, and other areas in the finance and economics sphere. He has taught in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and North and South America. He holds a BA, summa cum laude, in Economics from Fordham University; an MBA also from Fordham; and a PhD in Financial Economics from the NEOMA Business School in Paris, France.
With a strong financial services management foundation, Advisory Board Member Donna Cirillo has transitioned from her former professional and educational background to delivering top-quality, customized, engaging, and high-impact financial education programming and content. As a Financial Services Professional turned Financial Educator, Donna is committed to empowering individuals with the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to take control of their financial futures.
As founder of her financial education website and blog, Smart Money Changes Everything, Donna is dedicated to inspiring, motivating, and transforming financial lives. She has earned credentials from the National Financial Educators Council as an Accredited Personal Finance Instructor (APFI℠), Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI®), and Certified Financial Literacy Professional (CFLP℠). These qualifications, along with her previous top-level experience in bank management and training, uniquely position Donna as a key contributing member of the New York Financial Educators Council Advisory Board.
Teaching, Inspiring, and Motivating Learners toward Financial Wellness
After earning her B.S. in Finance from St. John’s University, New York, Donna entered a Management Training Program at the prestigious wealth management bank, U.S. Trust. She later assumed Bank Officer management and training roles at U.S. Trust and J.P. Morgan Chase while pursuing her MBA. During this time, she recognized a pressing need for financial literacy, particularly evident among bank customers and employees. Driven by a passion for bridging this knowledge gap, Donna spearheaded comprehensive financial product and concept training initiatives, significantly enhancing the capabilities of the call center department to successfully handle over one million inbound calls annually. The training not only elevated the department’s level of service, but also made profound transformations in the employees’ professional and personal lives. Motivated by the training’s success, Donna pursued accreditation as a financial educator from the National Financial Educators Council, earning her Accredited Personal Finance Instructor (APFI℠), Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI®), and Certified Financial Literacy Professional (CFLP℠) credentials.
Donna has designed and delivered customized financial education for diverse audiences, including corporate employees, recent graduates, young women transitioning out of foster care, college-bound high school girls, and those navigating significant life changes like divorce or widowhood. Demonstrating her commitment to promoting financial literacy from an early age, Donna has delivered financial education to public and parochial elementary and middle school students in the New York City area, both independently and in collaboration with Junior Achievement. Additionally, Donna currently serves her community as a member of the Board of Trustees of a parochial academy in Queens, New York.
Donna believes financial education is so much more than solely providing financial knowledge. With the right instruction, inspiration, and motivation, learners can make positive behavior changes and improve their financial mindset to gain the confidence, personal growth, direction, and resiliency they need for financial transformation.