MFEA Members

Brent Beardsley is a Partner in BCG’s Chicago office. He is a core member of BCG’s Financial Services Practice Area, and heads up BCG’s Asset Management Practice in North America. Since joining BCG in 2001, Brent has worked with a broad set of asset and wealth management clients on topics such as growth strategies, organizational design, product innovation and sales force effectiveness. Brent holds an MBA, with high distinction, from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, a Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University.

John Cammack, Executive Committee Chairman —MFEA
John Cammack was a Vice President of T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc., Head of Third Party Distribution and a member of the firm’s Operating Steering Committee. His duties included management of the firm’s Third Party Distribution division and 529 College Savings Programs. Before joining T. Rowe Price in 1991, John was a Vice President with Alexandra Armstrong Advisers, a financial planning boutique, located in Washington, DC. John is a Phi Beta Kappa with honors from Denison University and holds an M.B.A. from Columbia University. John is a past member of the Investment Committee of the Phi Beta Kappa Foundation and the CFP Board of Governors. He is currently a member of the boards of the Foundation for Financial Planning, Mutual Fund Education Alliance, Leaders for Tomorrow and the Jemicy School.

Max Dietshe, Senior Vice President, Integrated Communications—Addison

Max Dietshe is a senior marketing communications strategist who conceives and implements a broad range of simplified communications and business literature projects, primarily in the financial services industry. His clients include Merrill Lynch, T. Rowe Price, Guardian Life Insurance, Wells Fargo and other top-tier firms. He is a frequent writer and speaker on simplified communications and user experience design. Max joined Addison in 2001 from OppenheimerFunds, where he served as Director of Marketing Communications, overseeing a 40-person department of designers, writers, print buyers and account executives. He previously spent 12 years at Deloitte & Touche. There, he held a variety of writing and marketing communications roles in the firm’s international organization. Max also served as a proposal writer for the Tri-State (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut) region, and built and managed the region’s Proposals and Sales Support Group. In his last position at Deloitte, Max served as Director of Marketing Communications for the Tri-State Region, leading a 30-person team responsible for internal and external communications, proposals and sales support, PR and advertising, and new media. Max started his career in the non-profit arena, where he managed the publications program for the British-American Chamber of Commerce. In that role, he created and marketed the Directory of U.S. Subsidiaries of British Companies. Max earned a Bachelor of Arts and an Masters of Arts from Columbia University.

Andy Edwards, Business Development Manager —kasina
Andy Edwards is kasina's Business Development Manager and focuses on developing client relationships. Prior to joining kasina, Andy was part of the management team of a leading industrial distribution company. Beyond learning the ins and outs of nuts and bolts, Andy led a team of leading sales associates and worked on developing the tactical and strategic vision for the company's e-Business unit.

Mike Ellison, Executive Vice President—Corporate Insight

Mike Ellison has been responsible for analyzing financial services firms’ websites and marketing efforts for over five years. He was instrumental in developing Corporate Insight’s Mutual Fund Monitor service, which tracks the fund industry’s online marketing and customer service efforts in the retail segment of the industry. Mike is currently responsible for the development and implementation of new products and services provided by Corporate Insight, including the firm’s latest service – Mutual Fund Monitor: Advisor – which tracks how mutual fund firms market to the independent advisor channel. In this capacity, Mike manages a staff of expert analysts, oversees the distribution and dissemination of weekly, monthly and quarterly research reports, and is responsible for maintaining relationships with Corporate Insight’s financial services clients. Prior to joining Corporate Insight, Mike was an Associate Analyst at Dealogic, a corporate finance activity and deal management systems provider. At Dealogic, he was responsible for implementing and servicing the firm’s electronic book-running software used by the syndicate desks of country’s largest investment banks. Mike was also a Performance Measurement Analyst with Effron Enterprises where he was responsible for analyzing the account performance reports for the firm’s clients, which included independent advisors, family trusts, and pension funds. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and Finance from Syracuse University.

Ryan George, Public Relations and New Media Specialist—U.S. Global Investors

Ryan George is public relations and new media specialist at U.S. Global Investors, a publicly traded asset manager based in San Antonio. Ryan is responsible for extending the corporate brand through new media outlets like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. He is part of a two-person communications team that manages all investor relations, media relations and creative content for U.S. Global. Ryan joined the company in 2005 after earning a bachelor’s degree in public relations from the University of Texas at Austin.

Dana Johnston, Vice President of eSales and eBusiness Development—DST Outpu

Dana Johnston is the Vice President of eSales and eBusiness Development for DST Output. In his current role, Dana is responsible for sales, marketing and product development for DST Output’s suite of electronic products and services. Additionally, Dana is responsible for managing the DST enterprise business development agenda to take advantage of the changing regulatory environment such as the SEC’s enactment of the Notice and Access rule for Proxies and most recently the rule amendment supporting the use of a Summary Prospectus for fund disclosure. Dana’s primary focus is on the application of print and electronic technology as an enabler to assist fund companies efforts to comply with these new rules. Dana is also spearheading DST Output’s eCommerce efforts to deploy a web based print portal environment and enhance its bill presentment and payment platform. Dana has spent his entire career in financial services working for BFDS, RR Donnelley, an Internet start-up, Fidelity and ADP (now Broadridge Financial). Dana received a degree in Managerial Economics from Union College in 1982 and continued his studies in Entrepreneurial Management at Babson College.

Steven Miyao, Chief Executive Officer—kasina

As founder and CEO of kasina, Steven has overseen the company's growth from a young startup company to one of the most influential strategy consulting firms in the financial services sector. Under his direction, kasina has earned the influence and trust of major leaders in the asset management industry. kasina's family of clients represents over $8 trillion in assets under management. After running the financial services e-business consulting practice at McGladrey & Pullen, Steven made the leap to found his own company. As an innovator and thought-leader in the industry, Steven provides forward-looking distribution advice to the world's leading financial services companies. He shares his insights in the form of lectures and seminars with various industry groups and institutions such as the Investment Company Institute, the National Investment Company Service Association, Dublin Funds Industry Association, and NYU Stern School of Business. He is frequently mentioned in business and trade media such as The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, BusinessWeek, and numerous other trade publications.

Don Phillips, Managing Director, Corporate Strategy, Research and Communications, and President of Fund Research—Morningstar, Inc.
Don Phillips is a managing director of Morningstar, Inc. and is responsible for corporate strategy, research, and corporate communications. He has served on the company’s board of directors since August 1999. Don is also president of fund research, which includes research on mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, and alternative investments. He joined Morningstar in 1986 as the company’s first mutual fund analyst and soon became editor of its flagship publication, Morningstar® Mutual Funds™, establishing the editorial voice for which the company is best known. Don helped to develop the Morningstar Style Box™, the Morningstar Rating™, and other distinctive proprietary Morningstar innovations that have become industry standards. Journalists regularly turn to Don for his insight on industry trends. Investment Advisor magazine has named him to its list of the most influential people in the financial planning industry. Financial Planning magazine has named Don one of the planning industry’s "Movers & Shakers." Registered Rep. has named him one of the investment industry’s 10 key players. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Texas and a master’s degree in American literature from the University of Chicago.

Andrew Seibert, President and Publisher—SmartMoney
Andrew Seibert was named president of SmartMoney in January 2009. He added the title of publisher in June 2009. In this expanded role, he is responsible for the circulation, advertising and marketing operations of SmartMoney magazine as well as for SmartMoney.com and Custom Solutions, the venture’s successful custom publishing arm. Seibert joined SmartMoney in 1999 as creator and vice president/publisher of the Custom Solutions division, whose printed communications reach more than 13 million investors each quarter. Over the past ten years, Custom Solutions has become the top custom publisher in financial services, building a roster of more than a dozen blue-chip clients. The communications created by Custom Solutions have won its clients more than 250 key awards, including STAR, Astrid, Pearl and Xerox PIXI awards. Before joining SmartMoney, Seibert was general manager of Money magazine’s Education Services, a division of Time Inc. that focused on retirement and investment-education products, from 1996 to 1999. He also served as vice president of marketing at a division of GE Capital from 1994 to 1996, and as a marketer at American Express Travel Related Services from 1989 to 1994.

Dan Sondhelm, Partner and Vice President—SunStar

Dan Sondhelm is a partner and vice president of SunStar, a marketing consulting firm based in Alexandria, Virginia. SunStar has helped institutional investment managers and mutual fund firms raise billions of dollars by attracting and retaining investors, strengthening distribution, and building brands through structured news generation programs and smart marketing. Dan’s expertise spans the mutual funds and asset management industry. He is a specialist in distribution, sales and marketing. He was one of fewer than 200 people in the mutual fund industry nominated to be considered for MFWire's 2009 Most Influential People in Fund Distribution list. He is also readily familiar with the legal, regulatory and compliance issues facing clients. Dan has been instrumental in helping smaller or lesser known firms develop strong distribution programs, as well as helping larger firms control their spending by establishing virtual wholesaling programs as substitutions or enhancements for traditional wholesaling efforts. On the public relations front, Dan helps clients get the attention and recognition they deserve. He knows the journalists who cover our industry. Reporters rely on Dan as a credible source of experts needed for print publications and news shows. These long-standing relationships allow him to facilitate interviews, shape positive news stories and control those that may not be entirely positive. His clients have benefited from exceptional coverage in leading publications including Forbes, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC and Fox News Channel. Dan is also the editor of FundFactor.net, an innovative Web site with over 4,500 subscribers. Dan is a sought after speaker on financial and investor relations topics. He has spoken at well-attended industry conferences, including those sponsored by IBC USA, IIR, NICSA, Mutual Fund Education Alliance, US Bancorp Fund Services, Federated Investments, MFWire’s Most Influential People in Mutual Fund Distribution, and at FRC’s MarkeTrends Conference. Dan earned both his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Finance and an MBA in Marketing from the Kogod College of Business Administration at The American University in Washington, D.C.

Ted Stauderman, Director, Marketing Services and E-Commerce—Calvert

Ted Stauderman is Director, Marketing Services and E-Commerce for Calvert Investments. Ted leads the development and execution of marketing communications, advertising, and e-commerce strategies. Prior to joining Calvert in 2007, he served as a Vice President at Citigroup in New York City where he led marketing initiatives and increased client acquisition through the management and expansion of marketing distribution channels, particularly through the Internet. Prior to Citigroup, he served seven years with Ameriprise (formerly American Express Financial Advisors) as Director of Online Marketing as well as holding positions in product and acquisition marketing. Ted has over 15 years experience in the financial services industry. He earned an M.B.A. in Marketing and Management from Fordham University and a B.A. in English and History from Syracuse University. He holds Series 7, 63, 65 and 24 Security Licenses.

Deb Wetherbee, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing—kasina

Deb landed at kasina after 14 exciting years of meeting and working with hundreds of smart, innovative people in the financial services industry. Most recently, she was involved in everything from sales to product development to consulting in her 8 years at FRC. The foundation of her product training is credited to her start at Nuveen, which included Munis, exchange funds, closed ends and, of course, funds. She then had the chance to introduce advisors to an altogether new product, the ETF, while selling WEBS MSCI (now ishares MSCI). Moving from this role to Nvest (now Natixis), she enjoyed the challenge of selling funds to the RIA marketplace.

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