Celebrating Our Most Loyal Supporters

The American College of Financial Services is committed to delivering the highest quality applied education to the professionals entrusted with the public’s financial wellbeing. The yearly President’s Dinner serves to highlight what’s new and exciting at The College while recognizing the significant contributions of some of the generous supporters who help make it all possible.

Awards Presentation

Each year, the President’s Dinner includes a series of award presentations to recognize the contributions of financial services leaders who have inspired us with their passion and commitment to helping The College achieve its mission.

Congratulations to this year’s recipients:

Huebner Gold Medal: Sy Sternberg, CLU^®

Sy Sternberg. CLU® is the former chairman and chief executive officer of New York Life Insurance Company. He joined the company in 1989 as a senior vice president, was elected vice chairman of the board in February 1995, and became president and chief operating officer in October 1995. He became chairman and CEO in 1997 and remained CEO until his retirement in 2008.

President’s Award: R. David Fritz Jr., CLU^®

R. David Fritz Jr., CLU® is the co-founder and managing partner of Executive Benefits Network and a 38-year veteran of the financial services industry. David began his career in the insurance industry in 1986 after graduating from Williams College with a BA degree. David started at UNUM Life Insurance Company as a group sales representative in Washington, DC, and then later became an employee benefits manager in UNUM’s Milwaukee, WI office. David joined Northwestern Mutual in 1993 and founded Executive Benefits Network 23 years ago. He specializes in the design, funding, securing, and administration of non-qualified deferred compensation plans and bank-owned and corporate-owned life insurance programs. 

David and his wife Molly are very active in philanthropic efforts. He is a past trustee of The American College of Financial Services and currently serves on the President’s Council. He and Molly live in River Hills, Wisconsin with their six children.

Alumni Hall of Fame: James A. Petersen, PhD, MSM, MSFS, CPMBC, CFP^®, CLF^®, CPBL, ChFC^®, CLU^®, CASL^®, RICP^®, WMCP^®, ChSNC^®, CRPC^®, CAP^®, AEP^®, CEPA^®

Jim Petersen is the chief executive officer (CEO) and founding principal of Diversified Professional Coaching, LLC. Jim is also the president and owner of the Professional Business Coaches Alliance, LLC, which is committed to training and supporting the future of professional business coaches. In addition, Jim is a serial entrepreneur who is involved in a variety of businesses including a car wash and a bio-hazard cleanup company.

As Roger Hull/James S. Bingay Chair of Leadership at The College, Jim is the program director for the Chartered Leadership Fellow® (CLF®) Program and serves in an emeritus capacity on the Alumni Council, as well as outgoing chair of the American College Center for Military and Veterans Affairs advisory council.

Second Century Society: Charles R. (posthumously) and Mary M. Wright

Charles (Chuck) and Mary Wright met at Yankton College in Yankton, South Dakota. Together, they were leading donors to The College, with an emphasis on the American College Center for Women in Financial Services.

Chuck was senior executive vice president and chief agency and marketing officer at State Farm Insurance Companies. He later served as chairman of the board of trustees and was a driving force behind the creation of the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) and Chartered Advisor of Senior Living® (CASL®) designations.

Mary’s years of service through philanthropy led her to complete her CAP® designation, which she would use to help others engage in philanthropic work as well. As a passionate lifelong learner, Mary continues to carry on Chuck’s legacy by laying the foundation for the Wright Fellowship under the Center for Women in Financial Services.

The College is proud to recognize Chuck and Mary’s continued impact.

Women Working in Wealth: Leslie Susanne Calkins, MSFS, CLU^®, ChFC^®, CASL^®, RICP^®, CAP^®

Leslie Susanne Calkins has a passion for sharing and giving back. She utilizes the knowledge she gained from The College to better serve her community through her career at State Farm. Education and philanthropy were key values in her family, which continue to inspire her today.

Since receiving her MSFS degree, Leslie is proud to share how each course has made her more confident, knowledgeable, and able to help others in so many ways. She continues to give back by serving as an annual senior counselor at the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. This leadership conference changes the lives of high school students in Colorado and Wyoming and is the highlight of her year.

NextGen Financial Services Professional Award: Gloria S. Garcia Cisneros, CFP^® & Brandon Lovingier, ChFC^®, MQFP™

Gloria Garcia Cisneros is a Wealth Manager in Los Angeles with the firm LourdMurray. As a first-generation Mexican immigrant, she's passionate about empowering underserved communities through financial education. Gloria holds various degrees from UCLA in applied mathematics and Spanish community and culture. She is actively involved in various professional and community initiatives, serving on committees and advisory boards for organizations where she contributes to developing financial education programs and increasing diversity within the finance industry.

Brandon Lovingier has a passion for helping people with their finances. While on active duty in the Army, Brandon pursued his education, earning the Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designation in 2022. He’s also one of the first to hold the Military Qualified Financial Planner™ (MQFP™) designation. He’s currently pursuing the Accredited Financial Counselor® (AFC®) designation. His blog, Enlisted Money, helps enlisted service members on their own personal finance journey, while his book, Enlist to Wealth, is currently in the editing stages. He is set to retire from the Army in February 2026, when he will return to Kansas City with his wife and son to continue pursuing his passions.

Venue

A sophisticated staple of Center City, The Four Seasons at the Comcast Center is located in Philadelphia’s tallest building, complete with unobstructed city views, luxury hotel rooms, and access to conference and event spaces. Guests were treated in high style as The College celebrated the accomplishments of distinguished honorees.

The President

President and CEO of The College George Nichols III, CAP® presided over the 2024 President’s Dinner. He reflected on a transformative year while looking toward the future. In recognizing the community that makes up The College, George invited guests to lead the way for the financial services profession by uplifting and benefiting society. It was an inspiring message reminding all in attendance that the arc of change requires forward-thinking and innovative leadership.