Meet the 2024 Honorees

The 2024 Savvy Ladies Honorees are each exceptional leaders supporting & leading financial empowerment for women. Each honoree, recognized for their unwavering commitment to financial education & advancement of financial well-being for women, will be honored at our Gala Celebration on October 28th, 2024 at the Nasdaq MarketSite, Times Square, NYC.
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Excellence in Mentorship Awards

The Stacy Francis Awards for Excellence in Mentorship honor two individuals (mentor/mentee) who mutually impact one another’s lives and careers. The Awards reflect the legacy and impact of mentorship in advancing women’s financial empowerment and leadership. Paying tribute to Stacy Francis, founder of Savvy Ladies, this pair of awards honor Stacy as a mentor to a generation of rising women leaders in the financial services industry and beyond.

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Holly Horn

Chief Surveillance Officer

Assured Guaranty

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Holly Horn has been Chief Surveillance Officer of Assured Guaranty since January 2022. Previously, Ms. Horn served as Chief Surveillance Officer, Public Finance, where she was responsible for ongoing surveillance, monitoring and loss mitigation of municipal risks insured by the Company across all sectors of the municipal market. Prior to that, she was a director in Assured Guaranty Municipal’s (AGM’s) health care surveillance group and a director in AGM’s health care underwriting group, where she was responsible for analyzing and recommending the insurability of health care credits.

Ms. Horn began her public finance career at Inova Health System, a nationally ranked integrated health care delivery system and subsequently served as a senior manager for the national health care strategy practice at Ernst & Young.

Ms. Horn holds a Master of Health Services Administration from George Washington University and a B.S. in Education from Bowling Green State University.

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Maria Smirnova

Assistant Vice President, Structured Finance

Assured Guaranty

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Maria Smirnova has been an Assistant Vice President within the Structured Finance department of Assured Guaranty since September 2023, primarily focusing on Fund Finance transactions. Previously, Ms. Smirnova served as a CMBS trading analyst at Barclays, and was a CMBS ratings analyst at DBRS Morningstar.

Ms. Smirnova holds a B.A. in Economics and Government from Connecticut College.

Male Ally Awards

Celebrating male allyship, the Male Ally Awards honors men in the financial field who have gone above the call of duty to support their female colleagues, bringing about positive change, valuing equality, and actively working to achieve it.

Charles “Chuck” Privitera

Vice President of Workplace Advisory Solutions

Goldman Sachs, Ayco

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Charles (Chuck) is a Vice President and Corporate Relationship Manager in the Workplace Advisory Solutions Group at Goldman Sachs Ayco. He has client relationship responsibilities in the Metro New York, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions. He assists corporate clients of Goldman Sachs Ayco in deliver services around the financial wellbeing of their employees.

Prior to joining Goldman Sachs Ayco, Chuck spent much of his career in benefits and human resource consulting. He is a nationally recognized influencer around the topic of financial inclusion.

A major focus for Chuck is on financial well-being of employees who are typically left behind by the financial services industry. He has identified serious gaps in 401(k) plan savings rates and large disparities in financial stress levels in the workplace based on race and gender.

Chuck has bachelor’s degree in management science/economics from the State University of New York at Cortland and the London Metropolitan University. He is a SHRM Senior Certified Professional and has the SHRM Credential for Inclusive Workplace Cultures.

Chuck resides in New Jersey with his wife Kathy and their 11-year-old son, Jack. He enjoys spending time with his family, coaching little league, and volunteering. He is a Deadhead, a Buffalo Bills fan, and competes in local and national powerlifting competitions. He has been called an ally to women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

Change Maker Awards

The Savvy Change Makers of the Year Award is given to individuals who make a significant difference in building and empowering communities that support women’s financial wellbeing.

This year’s recipients are making an impact by leading with purpose and have demonstrated valuable actions that create positive, real, authentic engagements.

Chanel Frazier - Change Maker 2023

Wendy Dessy

Director of Corporate Social Responsibility

Proskauer

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Wendy Hattler Dessy is the Director of Corporate Social Responsibility for Proskauer, where she oversees all aspects of employee community service engagement, board service, and corporate social responsibility, upholding the firm’s mission of creating and supporting programs that lead to lasting change. Wendy’s corporate social responsibility work at Proskauer focuses on the key areas of education enrichment, social justice, veteran affairs, hunger and poverty. Some of the most impactful programmings. Wendy has developed include creating an Adopt-a-School initiative which connects students from public and charter schools across the country to meaningful workshops designed to increase college and career readiness, a mentoring program for post-9/11 veterans transitioning to civilian life, and raising awareness of social issues through educational programs by creating the next generation of advocates for social justice. She also has helped to establish partnerships with soup kitchens, pantries, veteran organizations and non-profits across the U.S. and in London to address food insecurity.

Prior to joining Proskauer, Wendy served as Executive Director for the NYC Cool Roofs Initiative, an environmental volunteer initiative of Mayor Bloomberg’s PlaNYC to reduce energy consumption, cooling costs and carbon emissions, and Manager of Public-Private Partnerships for The Mayor’s Office of Service and Volunteerism from 2010-2014. Wendy held various positions within the Bloomberg Administration and campaigns from 2005-2014.

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Jacqueline “JaQ” Campbell

President, CEO, & Senior Wealth Advisor

Alexander Legacy Private Wealth Management

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Jacqueline “JaQ” Campbell’s professional background began in 1993 as a high school intern for Comerica’s Private Bank. She ascended from high school intern to running a $1.8 billion investment team for Chase Wealth Management, and now leads Alexander Legacy Private Wealth Management, as Founder, CEO and Senior Wealth Advisor, where her mission is to advance the next generation of advisors and investors in wealth management. JaQ holds her bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts with a focus area on Diverse Leadership in Financial Services from DePaul University. She also holds her Series 63 & 65 securities registrations.

Molly Kohrs

Molly Kohrs

Pro Bono Engagements Lead, Data Citizens with Purpose® 

KPMG

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Molly is a 15+ year KPMG veteran; she is a results-driven professional who, throughout her career, has worked with a variety of government, healthcare and nonprofit organizations to address pressing social issues including education and opportunities for youth, housing and health equity.  Currently, Molly leads the scoping and delivery of pro bono engagements as a part of the Data Citizens with Purpose® program.  Annually, her team delivers 45 engagements to nonprofit entities that are important to KPMG and its people.

Molly is an experienced leader who thrives on bringing people together, amplifying voices, and finding solutions grounded in evidence and data-driven facts.  She is a passionate volunteer, dedicating her efforts to organizations like CASA of Los Angeles, Downtown Women’s Center, and the National MS Society. Molly received a BA in Music Industry from SUNY Oneonta and an MS in Accounting from the University of Albany.

Alicia N. Groscost

Alicia Groscost

Executive Director: Chief of Staff & JPM WM DEI Champion

J.P. Morgan Wealth Management

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Alicia started her career with the firm by joining Banc One Securities in 2001. She started in the Wealth space and quickly moved through the ranks leaning into her passion for continued learning (Series 6, 7, 24, 63, and 66) and found her second passion; the employee experience.

In her current role, Alicia focuses primarily on running the business. Within Service & Administration the largest group provides phone-based and digital support for advisors and clients across J.P. Morgan Wealth Management. The organization also offers internal administration and support solutions, and most recently built out the new Client Welcome Group and the Affluent Service Group to better assist clients, no matter where they are in their investing journey.

Alicia’s passion for the employee experience positioned her well as she’s led the Employee Engagement Strategy for the ~1200 people organization for the past 6 years. In 2022, Alicia expanded her responsibilities by stepping into the role of DEI Champion for Wealth Management (~8K FTE) and quickly launched the DEI Council. The Council is comprised of leaders across the organization to action the DEI agenda (Talent, Culture, and DEI Skills).

  • JPMorgan Wealth Management DEI Champion; Chair JPMorgan Wealth Management DEI Council
  • JPMorgan Wealth Management Women on the Move (WOTM) – Governance / Oversight
  • Executive Director Sponsor for JPMorgan Wealth Management Associate Development Program
  • CCB Recognition Committee & CCB Culture Connectors & Columbus Culture Council (C3)
  • Ashland University Advisory Board – Women in Leadership

Alicia resides in Central Ohio with her husband and two teenage daughters. She’s an avid runner and is focused on keeping her Peloton streak alive! #1013Days

Rising Star Young Leader Award

The Rising Star Young Leader Award is given in recognition of a young professional who has impacted the field of financial education for women, believes in and advocates for financial equity, and inclusion, and demonstrates a commitment to financial well-being.

Kayla Kennelly - Rising Star Young Leader 2023

Ongelique (Chrissy) Winkfield

VP, Diverse Advisor Experience Program Lead

J.P. Morgan Wealth Management

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Chrissy Winkfield is a Vice President at JPMorganChase. In her current role, she serves as the Diverse Advisor Experience Program Lead, supporting J.P. Morgan Wealth Management’s financial advisors through project, program, business and events management.

She is an active member of the firmwide Black Organization for Leadership Development (BOLD), Women on the Move (WOTM) and the J.P. Morgan Wealth Management WOTM – Business Resource Groups.

Chrissy brings over a decade of industry experience from her roles as a Branch Teller, Claims Team Lead and Risk Project Manager. She holds an MBA in Project Management from Keller Graduate School of Management.

Chrissy lives in Ohio with her husband Dannye II and their 2 children; Riley and Dannye III. In her spare time, she serves on the Jr. Board of Savvy Ladies as their Co-Chair. She also enjoys spending time with her family outdoors, trying new restaurants and staying up too late to read.

Inspiration Award

The Savvy Ladies Inspiration Award honors Georgia Stitt, an award-winning composer, lyricist, music producer, and Founder and President of Maestra Music, an organization providing support, visibility, and community to the women and nonbinary people who make the music in the musical theatre industry.

Georgia Stitt

Founder and President

Maestra Music

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GEORGIA STITT is an award-winning composer, lyricist, music producer, pianist, and activist. Her original musicals include Snow Child, Big Red Sun, The Danger Year, The Big Boom, The Water, Mosaic, and Samantha Spade, Ace Detective (“Outstanding New Musical” from National Youth Theatre). Georgia has released four albums of her music: A Quiet Revolution, My Lifelong Love, This Ordinary Thursday, and Alphabet City Cycle. She has a large library of published choral music (including “The Promise of Light” and “De Profundis”) and is currently producing a new album of theatrical art songs and an oratorio called The Circling Universe. Georgia is the Founder and President of Maestra Music, an organization for women and nonbinary theater musicians, and is in leadership at The Dramatists Guild and The Recording Academy. She teaches Musical Theater Writing at Princeton University. Georgia has worked in the music department on projects including NBC’s The Sound of Music (Live!), Off-Broadway’s Sweet Charity (starring Sutton Foster), the films of The Last Five Years (starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan) and 13: The Musical, and the recent Broadway revival of Parade. She lives in New York with her husband Jason Robert Brown and their two wonderful daughters. www.georgiastitt.com

Female FinFluencers Special Recognition

Recognizing top female financial influencers, 40 and under, that speak out about the importance of financial well-being for women. Savvy Ladies is launching this new award this year to women who are making learning about money fun and accessible, extending financial education to new women’s communities.

Mayra Alejandra Garcia, 2024 Gala Honoree Finfluencer

Mayra Alejandra Garcia

Financial Literacy Education Coach

Debt-Free Latina Podcast

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Mayra is a financial literacy education coach on a mission to empower and motivate families to live a debt-free lifestyle.

After spending years in debt, she started her debt-free journey in 2010 and was able to pay off her debt in 17 months. She’s a wife and mother of two and is passionate about teaching financial literacy! She’s the host of the Debt-Free Latina Podcast.

Mayra Alejandra Garcia, 2024 Gala Honoree Finfluencer

Jen Hemphill

 AFC® (AccreditedFinancial Counselor); Podcast Host, Author, Speaker

Her Dinero Matters

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Jen Hemphill is an award-winning podcaster, AFC® (Accredited Financial Counselor), author, and speaker. Her mission is to empower people to simplify their finances, build confidence, save more, get out of debt faster, and build wealth. Jen’s podcast, Her Dinero Matters, is dedicated to helping Latinas gain confidence and control over their finances. She has been featured in prestigious publications such as Forbes, The New York Times, O, The Oprah Magazine, Good Company Magazine, as well as NPR and NBC News.

​Jen Hemphill es una premiada creadora del podcast Her Dinero Matters, AFC® (Consejera Financiera Acreditada), autora y conferencista. Su misión es ayudar a las personas a tener más confianza y simplificar sus finanzas para que puedan ahorrar más, salir de sus deudas más rápido y generar riqueza. El podcast de Jen, Her Dinero Matters, está dedicado a ayudar a las latinas a ganar confianza y control sobre sus finanzas. Ha aparecido en prestigiosas publicaciones como Forbes, The New York Times, O, The Oprah Magazine, Good Company Magazine, así como en NPR y NBC News.

Mayra Alejandra Garcia, 2024 Gala Honoree Finfluencer

Lissa Prudencio and Liz Marie

Co-Hosts of Net Net Podcast

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Lissa Prudencio, Co-Host of Net Net Podcast 

Lissa Prudencio is an Accredited Financial Counselor®, content creator, co-host of Net Net Podcast, and the founder of Wealth for Women of Color. With over 10 years of corporate experience at Google & YouTube, Lissa leverages her business expertise to remove barriers to wealth for women of color. She has grown her social media following by talking about finances in an inclusive, easy-to-understand way. Lissa is passionate about sharing her knowledge and empowering women of color to claim the wealth they deserve. Her mission is to bridge the wealth gap through educational resources, financial counseling, and partnerships with organizations. 

Lissa was born and raised in Salinas, CA, to Filipino immigrant parents. Now based in Los Angeles, CA, she is passionate about being a lifelong learner & sharing her knowledge to empower others. Her hobbies include playing basketball, tennis, and pickleball. 

 

Liz Marie, Co-Host of Net Net Podcast 

Liz is a strategic leader with nearly two decades of experience building, positioning and scaling alternative investment products and brands. She has worked with hundreds of brands across financial services, including Charles Schwab, Russell Investments, Principal Funds, Kayne Anderson, Angel Oak Capital, Gurtin Capital ($38B municipal bond manager acquired by PIMCO), AIG and more. 

Previously, Liz served as Chief Product Officer at Revedy, a short-term rental portfolio investment platform. Liz operated her own strategy consultancy and served as the Creative Director at Griffin Capital, a $9B interval fund sponsor acquired by Apollo in 2022. She also spent 10 years as Director of Strategy at an investment marketing firm. 

Liz holds a BA in Communication Studies and Spanish from UCLA and an MS in Design and Technology from Duquesne University.

 

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