2025 Excellence In Operations

PLANADVISER is pleased to open the nomination period for our inaugural Excellence in Operations award, looking for the retirement plan advisory firm leaders that “make the practices run” and support the advisers who are the faces at the forefront of the industry.

The Excellence in Operations recognition is for more senior non-adviser operations staff. It complements the PLANADVISER awards that honor advisers, to recognize the vital personnel of an advisory practice—whether focusing on operations, data, investment analytics, provider management, or some other piece of the business. After all, the Retirement Plan Advisers of the Year and the Top Retirement Plan Advisers don’t get to the top all by themselves!

Nominations for Excellence in Operations open in May. PLANADVISER vets the nominees in July, and the list makers are announced in August. Anyone working with a person who shows Excellence in Operations qualities may nominate that person, and self-nomination is allowed.

The 2025 PLANADVISER Excellence in Operations award recipients will be recognized at the PLANADVISER 360 event in November. Additionally, the conference will host opportunities for networking and educational opportunities specifically for this group of people.

Click on the images above to learn more about Excellence in Operations award recipients.

2025 PLANADVISER Excellence In Operations

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Chelsie Andrews
Chief Operating Officer, Deschutes Investment Consulting LLC

Jennifer V. Bauder
Principal & Director of Retirement Planning, Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management, LLC

David Bauer
Director – Investment Management, Shepherd Financial

Zarah Bautista
Client Services Administrator, HUB International Limited

Crista Bresnahan
Senior Relationship Manager – Retirement Solutions, Brio, an Alera Group Company

Enzo Dastoli
Financial Wellness Leader, Creative Planning

Jennifer Doss
Senior Director | Defined Contribution Practice Leader, CAPTRUST

Cynthia Eickhoff
Vice President, Operations, Newfront

Ethan Hausmann
Operations Associate, KerberRose

Samuel Henson, JD
Partner, Chief Legal Officer, Creative Planning

Whitney Hue
Director of Sales Support, Creative Planning

Jessica Hurley
Senior Operations Leader, Retirement Plan Services, Oswald Financial

James Jaramillo
Director of Relationships, Finspire

Tara Krueger
RPS Director of Product & Operations, 1834 Investment Advisors /1834, a division of Old National Bank

Tammie Kuhn
Director, Retirement Plan Operations, Plan Design & Compliance, Twelve Points Retirement Advisors

Deane Mayerhofer
Chief Operating Officer, Strategic Retirement Partners

Erinn Metzger
Director of Operations and Relationship Management, CSi Advisory Services, a division of HUB International

Christine Moher
Senior Manager, Client Service Operations, Retirement & Investment Solutions, a practice of CBIZ, CBIZ Investment Advisory Services, LLC

Connie Pallof
Client Service Associate, DBR & CO.

Ramesh Poola
Co-Chief Investment Officer, Creative Planning

Gretchen Radach
Senior Relationship Manager, Sikich

Rita Riccardi
Director – Retirement Plans, Fiduciary Pension Partners

Jenny Schroeder
Director of Operations, Registered Client Services Specialist, Retirement Plan Solutions

Emilio Vela-Negrete
Director, Participant Engagement, World Investment Advisors, LLC

Kimberly Wakeman
Relationship Manager, CSi Advisory Services, a division of HUB International

No one pays or is paid a fee to participate in the Excellence in Operations program. In 2025, there were 51 nominations, and 25 made the final list.

If you have any questions, please email awards@issmediasolutions.com.

PLANADVISER Excellence In Operations Nominations Open: May List Makers Announced: August List makers are recognized at PLANADVISER 360 in November. To receive invitations and reminders for the PLANADVISER Excellence In Operations Listing, click here.