Our WISE staff members bring our mission to life each day through thoughtful leadership, operational excellence, and meaningful community engagement.

Prior to founding DAI Partners in 1989, Angela Dailey was Senior Vice President and member of the Board of Directors

Joyce Averna is an Executive Director with J.P. Morgan’s Private Bank in Orange County, California. In her role, Joyce provides tailored solutions to address the totality of her clients' financial lives, helping them achieve the dreams they have for their family, their business, and their future legacy. Together with the J.P. Morgan team, she delivers the firm’s comprehensive platform of investment management, trust & estate planning, banking, lending, and philanthropic services. She also leads the Orange County team's Non-profit practice, utilizing the firm's deep global resources in support of their mission.

Kasey Buharie is the owner of Rave Branding, LLC, where she leads brand strategy, digital marketing, and design projects for a variety of clients. She specializes in creating SEO-optimized websites, managing social media campaigns, developing content calendars, and designing marketing collateral to drive audience engagement and growth.

Liz deSousa is a Principal in the El Segundo/Beach Cities office. She is a member of the Multifamily Practice Office team, providing financial planning and advice, working with clients to develop strategies unique to their financial and personal goals. She coordinates all aspects of wealth management and collaborates with the team of cross-disciplinary professionals to provide options and solutions for individual situations. She especially enjoys working with women experiencing a life transition, such as divorce or the death of a spouse. Liz wants all her clients to feel in control of their lives and their finances, freeing them to focus on enjoying life.

Jessica Deller-Hubbard is a nonprofit executive and education leader with more than two decades of experience advancing educational access, youth development, and organizational growth. She currently serves as Executive Director of Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano, a community-based college-access organization supporting first-generation students from middle school through college completion and into career pathways.

Ashley Fairon is the Director of SVB’s Technology Banking practice in Orange County where she is responsible for serving the OC tech community with tailored lending solutions, commercial banking services, and acting as the connective tissue between investors, innovators, and ecosystem partners. Since joining SVB in 2016, she’s held various roles in Los Angeles and London. Prior to joining SVB, she worked in MUFG’s debt capital markets group.

Stephanie King is a seasoned investment management executive whose career includes seventeen years at PIMCO. As head of institutional sales groups, she drove strategy to exceed revenue targets. She also advised and educated investors and their boards on investment strategies as a senior account manager.

Xandra Laskowski is an angel investor and startup advisor with over 25 years of entrepreneurial experience with large multinational tech companies. She has also acted as a startups founder, investor, advisor, and board member throughout her career. She has held managerial roles in positions such as Worldwide Commodity Manager and National Major Accounts Manager before moving into the Angel Investment and startup worlds. She founded OSEA Angel Investors in 2017, a woman focused angel investment group based in Newport Beach, California.

Trae Lewis has deep roots in Orange County, California, where she was born and raised, before receiving her BA in Journalism from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Formerly with Tiger Woods Foundation, Trae gained critical expertise in public relations and sports marketing while working with the world’s most elite athletes on the PGA Tour. Shifting her focus to long-term investment opportunities, Trae recently joined RealtyOne Group West as a real estate investment specialist. Working with RealtyOne Group West has given Trae the opportunity to offer an unrivaled, personalized level of service to her clients.

Becky is a Senior Vice President, Human Resources at Capital Group, home of the American Funds. Capital Group is one of the world’s largest investment management organizations, managing over $3 trillion in assets. For over 94 years, Capital has helped people take control of their financial futures by staying true to our core beliefs, our approach to investment, and our commitment to community. We believe that the success of the people who invest with us depends on the success of the people we invest in.

Jennifer Powers serves as the Senior Vice President and Treasurer at Edwards Lifesciences, the leading global structural heart innovation company based in Irvine, CA. In her role, she is responsible for managing financial risk, optimizing capital structure, and overseeing global cash investment.

Sonja Strzoda is an active board member and inspirational investment management executive who has consistently advanced financial service organizations. Sonja brings broad proficiency in capital markets, as well as in the marketing and distribution of both traditional and alternative investments. She possesses strong strategic growth expertise, and has worked across market channels including institutional investors, intermediaries, and retail organizations with large global networks.

Kathy Tam is a passionate brand strategist and lifelong champion of meaningful connection, with more than 30 years of experience in marketing, brand development, communications, and public relations. Throughout her career, Kathy has combined creativity, strategy, and heart to build authentic brands, inspire teams, and move missions forward with purpose.

Jonathan Treussard, Ph.D. is the Founder of Treussard Capital Management LLC, where he serves as a fiduciary wealth partner to successful individuals and families. He combines institutional-grade investment expertise with boutique, highly personalized service to help clients regain clarity, control, and agency over their wealth.

Susan Willig is CEO and Chief Brand Strategist of TrueNorth, a brand and marketing advisory firm guiding startups, early-stage, and “restart” companies in healthcare and healthtech to find their optimal path to growth. Susan brings 30+ years of global brand and marketing strategy experience to companies that need to focus their time, money, and resources for maximum impact. Featured as one of the 10 Most Innovative CMOs of 2024, Susan is also an Octane Preferred Advisor.

Our WISE Advisory Board Members provide valuable expertise, strategic insight, and connections to strengthen our mission. While not responsible for governance, they serve as trusted advisors and advocates, championing financial education and empowering women and girls to build confidence, achieve independence, and create lasting opportunities through better management of their finances.

Marilyn Blank has been practicing as a certified public accountant since 1986. M. Blank & Company was established in 1993 after having spent 7 years with Deloitte and Touche in Los Angeles and Orange County.

Ms. Buchan is Chief Executive Officer of Martlet Asset Management, a family office established in 2018.

Prior to founding Martlet, Jane was Chief Executive Officer of PAAMCO, a fund of hedge funds, which she helped found in 2000, and Co-CEO of the holding company, PAAMCO Prisma Holdings. Under her leadership, the firm grew to $32 billion in assets under management.

Kristine (Krissy) Collins is Dean of the Division of Continuing Education at the University of California, Irvine. Since joining UC Irvine in 2022, she has led the development of a strategic plan, forged new industry partnerships across Orange County, and strengthened cross-campus collaborations—all with a learner-centered approach that prioritizes quality and impact.

David Collins is the Chairman Emeritus of Active Living International, a company that focuses on the development and operations of senior and active adult communities worldwide. David was a founder of ARV Assisted Living– at one time the nation’s largest assisted living company– now known as Atria. He has more than 40 years experience in the senior housing industry and has served on several public, private, and charitable boards in the United States and abroad.

Veronica Dagher is an award-winning personal finance reporter for The Wall Street Journal, where her work explores the intersection of the housing market and individual wealth. She’s also the co-author of an upcoming book on retirement to be published by Penguin Random House.

DiMario is a multi-dimensional economic development professional with over forty years’ experience in public, private and non-profit sectors. She served as the Greater Irvine Chamber’s Executive Vice President for over seven years leading a full scope of economic development and tourism work including business attraction, business growth strategies, foreign direct investment focusing on UK life science and technology company expansion to Irvine/Orange County, talent attraction solutions, growing the Irvine/OC innovation eco-system and winning the 2018 Presidential “E” Award for export assistance.

I believe that everyone deserves financial security. My goal is to educate you on the tools and behaviors that will build and protect your wealth. This isn’t taught in most schools, and perhaps your parents didn’t model it for you. That’s why I work to teach the behaviors and provide the strategies that will contribute to growing your wealth and helping to achieve financial security.

Julie Hill is a highly accomplished executive and leader with a diverse background in business and philanthropy. She has held various board positions in companies, including The Lord Abbett Family of Mutual Funds ($200Bn under management), Anthem Inc (now Elevance Health; market capitalization of $100Bn), Lend Lease Corporation based in Sydney, Australia ($3Bn), and the US subsidiary of Holcim (based in Switzerland; $55Bn). She is currently a board member of The Cannabist Company listed on the Toronto stock exchange, and of Lyric Health, an AI based platform owned by Texas Pacific Group.

Reshma Kapadia is an award-winning financial journalist with more than two decades of experience covering markets, economics and business news. Currently, Reshma is an associate editor at Barron’s Magazine, where she writes frequently on China, retirement, and investing themes at the intersection of geopolitics, economics and markets. Reshma helped launch Level Up, an event series featuring conversations with influential women in finance about investing, caregiving, philanthropy and more.

David Karachuk is a registered representative with, and securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC.

Consuelo Mack, Tearing Down The Pink Wall Advisory Board, joined CNBC in 1998 as part of the network’s strategic alliance with Dow Jones and is one of the most accomplished women in business journalism.

Mark Moehlman holds an MBA from the USC Marshall School of Business, and has dedicated his entire business career to helping others manage their wealth. Mark was born in Los Angeles and moved to Newport Beach in 1975, and has lived in Big Canyon for the past twenty years.

Throughout her career, Nella has successfully combined sustained, significant contributions to multiple Orange County non-profit organizations with a high-profile career in the financial services industry.

In her business career, Nella Webster O’Grady has managed investment, trust, and financial planning services for clients throughout Southern California. She served in senior executive roles at US Trust, Wilmington Trust, First American Trust, First Foundation Bank, Palo Capital, and Ocean Heights Advisors, now part of Mariner Wealth Advisors.

Anna Paglia is executive vice president and chief business officer for State Street Global Advisors. As chief business officer, she is responsible for developing long-term growth strategies for its major businesses across global ETFs, index, cash and defined contribution; increasing the firm’s overall competitive positioning; and delivering investment exposures and tailored solutions to its clients. Anna is also a member of State Street Global Advisors’ Executive Management Group.

Putri Pascualy is an experienced investment professional in alternative investments, currently a Client Portfolio Manager at Man Group. Before Man Group, she was the lead Product Specialist at TPG Angelo Gordon, where she led product and strategy efforts for the firm's multi-strategy and performing credit. Earlier, she served as a Partner and Portfolio Manager for the Credit and Co-Investment Portfolio at PAAMCO Prisma, part of KKR's hedge fund solutions platform, investing in leveraged finance, direct lending, asset-backed and opportunistic credit solutions. Pascualy is an author of Investing in Credit Hedge Funds: An In-Depth Guide to Building Your Portfolio and Profiting from the Credit Market, published by McGraw-Hill. Putri holds a BA in Economics and an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley.

Tina re-joined Benefit Financial Services Group in 2019 after spending 7 years with Prudential Retirement as a Vice President, Consultant Relations where she was responsible for managing the firm’s largest advisory firm relationships in the Western region. Tina was originally with BFSG from 2004 to 2011 and primarily served as an Investment Consultant to a number of corporate and public clients. Tina currently serves as a Principal and Senior Retirement Plan Consultant where she advises on investment strategies, plan design and governance, and provides employee education. Her expansive background in the retirement industry allows Tina to contribute to the firm’s overall vision and best practices.

Katrina F. Sherrerd is Partner, Vice Chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Research Affiliates. Katy joined Research Affiliates in 2006. She also serves on the firm’s Executive Committee and chairs the Management Committee.

Lucy Sun is a former Managing Director of Goldman Sachs and worked in the firm’s Equity Division in New York, Hong Kong and London for over two decades. A graduate of Vassar College with a BA in Art History, she also holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, as well as an MA in Art and Archaeology from the University of London. Since retiring from the banking industry, Lucy has devoted much of her time to nonprofit board service in the arts and in education. She served 3 terms as Trustee of Vassar College (2000-2012), and was a Trustee and Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. In 2014, Lucy was appointed by Mayor Ed Lee to be a Commissioner of the Asian Art for the City of San Francisco. In 2021, she joined the Board of the Orange County Museum of Art and served as its Vice Chair in 2022, and Chair in 2023. Lucy is a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of California Irvine Foundation, and serves on the Advisory Board of the UCI Langson Museum of Art, the Claire Trevor School of the Arts, and is a member of the UCI Foundation Investment Committee.

After receiving an English degree from UCLA, Laura obtained her CFP license in 1984 and founded her firm in 1985. Tarbox Family Office, Inc. Is located in Newport Beach, CA and employs a team approach in offering comprehensive wealth management services to a small group of families with $5 million or more of investable assets.

Jan Walsh is a highly motivated and accomplished insurance executive with personal and professional integrity. Her innovative sales and marketing strategies and leadership skills are the foundation of her success.
Jan started her career at Anthem Blue Cross as a Medicare Sales Rep and was quickly promoted to a Regional Sales Manager for Individual, Group and Medicare sales. In 2012, she was recruited by Word & Brown as National Sales Director, developing their Individual & Medicare division. When that division was sold, she became an Account Executive with Emerson Reid, serving as a General Agent for Group Insurance. Jan then assisted Easy Choice Health Plan integrate with WellCare, and grew the Medicare membership in Southern CA. During the acquisition of WellCare by Centene, she was promoted to Senior Manager – Broker Products. Since 2020, Jan has served as Regional Vice President for Copeland Insurance Group – an Integrity Company overseeing 26 states nationally.

Ms. Yu is a senior vice president and CIT product strategist within PIMCO's retirement practice, based in the Newport Beach office. Anna leads CIT strategic initiatives, partnering with internal and external stakeholders to drive CIT product development and end‑to‑end implementation across all asset classes, including private market strategies. Prior to her current role, she was an account manager focused on client servicing and business development for U.S. institutional retirement plans. She holds an MBA from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. She has over 25 years of experience working in the asset management industry, and received her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Irvine. She is a CAIA charterholder.

Evelyn M. Zohlen has served on both the personal and the institutional sides of financial services for 25 years. She currently serves as a Regional Director and Senior Financial Planner for Apella Wealth in Hartford, CT. Formerly, she was the founder and President of Inspired Financial, a wealth management firm in Huntington Beach, CA that joined Apella in July 2023 with eight employees and $275 million AUM. She also served as a Relationship Manager at The Vanguard Group where she was the trusted advisor for clients with retirement plan assets ranging from $175 million to $500 million. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas, her Master of Science from the Joint Military Intelligence College, and her Master of Business Administration (with a concentration in Finance/Portfolio Management) from Villanova University.

Helen M. Olson, Ph.D., was a founding member of the Invest in Yourself Conference and Founder of WISE, Women Investing in Education and Security®, a nonprofit foundation formed in 1999.
She retired from a career in molecular biology and clinical chemistry, having published extensively in those areas. Sadly, Helen passed away on July 1, 2021. Because of her inspiration and vision, WISE continues to educate thousands of women every year.

Dr. Victoria Collins, Ph.D., was the founder of the Invest In Yourself Conference and a principal at First Foundation Advisors. She was named among the "best financial advisors" in the country by Worth Magazine for five consecutive years. A recipient of the Outstanding Business Woman Award from the Orange County Business Journal, Victoria served on the Orange County Register's financial experts' panel. Dr. Collins wrote or co-authored six books, including her most recent, “Best Intentions: Ensuring Your Estate Plan Delivers Both Wealth and Wisdom.” She was interviewed on Good Morning America, CBS News, CNBC, PBS, and quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Business Week, USA Today, Money Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, and The New York Times.

Our WISE staff members bring our mission to life each day through thoughtful leadership, operational excellence, and meaningful community engagement. From developing impactful programs and cultivating partnerships to supporting members and advancing financial education initiatives, our team works with purpose and passion. Together, they ensure that WISE continues to empower women and girls with the knowledge, confidence, and resources needed to build lasting financial security.

Jody Killion is a seasoned accounting and administrative professional with experience spanning finance, human resources, nonprofit administration, and insurance services. She currently serves in multiple roles in different industries. Her career reflects a strong foundation in benefits administration, insurance policy management, and financial reporting. Jody’s background also includes leadership roles in marketing, education, and healthcare.

Ashley Rausch is a communications and events professional who thrives on bringing big ideas to life. With a background in public relations, social media, and marketing at leading agencies, she has managed everything from influencer campaigns to large-scale events with equal parts strategy and creativity.