Andy Zolper (USMC)

Executive Sponsor

Andy ZolperAndy Zolper is a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute and is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He served for five years as a communications and signals intelligence officer. He managed the deployment of first-generation tactical telephony/computing capabilities and integrated secure mobile voice, data, satellite, and multichannel systems while working with allied forces across Asia and Australia. He also served as an instructor for newly commissioned second lieutenants at The Basic School.

Before coming to Raymond James, Andy led teams in technology risk, cyber security, program management, and process reengineering at JPMorgan Chase, and was Chief Information Security Officer of UBS Wealth Management Americas, and later Global Head of Technology Risk Management for UBS.

At Raymond James, Andy Zolper serves as Chief Information Officer, leading a world-class team of experts who deliver high performance, highly secure technology solutions to our business enterprise and our clients. In 2024, Andy was named to the Raymond James CEO’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT). He also chairs the firm’s Operating Risk Management Committee and is executive sponsor of Valor, the veteran’s inclusions network.

Now that their five children are grown, Andy and his wife Linda are Florida Guardians ad Litem, court-appointed volunteer advocates for children in the foster care system.

Edward Sudzina (USAR)

Ed Sudzina is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and served as an Airborne/Ranger qualified Infantry Officer in the U.S. Army where he primarily served oversees and deployed to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Ed began his career in the financial services industry in 1997 as a financial advisor with Prudential Securities in Birmingham, Michigan. After a successful start to his advisory career, Ed was selected to attend Prudential’s Branch Manager Leadership Program in New York City.

In 2001, Ed was introduced to Raymond James and shortly thereafter chose to return to Michigan to assume leadership of Raymond James Auburn Hills. Ed was promoted to Complex Manager in 2005 and steadily grew his complex’s footprint for nearly two decades. He was twice named Raymond James Manager of the Year in 2015 and 2019 and was recognized as one of OnWallStreet Magazine’s Top 10 Branch Managers in 2016. In 2024, Ed was elevated to the role of SVP, Regional Director, for the Southwest Region of Raymond James & Associates.

Ed holds the Wealth Management Specialist designation, is a graduate of the Securities Industry Institute at The Wharton School in Philadelphia, and earned his MBA from The Broad School of Management at Michigan State University.

Mercy Ameyaw Aston (USAR)

Mercy Ameyaw Aston joined Raymond James in 2016 and currently serves as an Institutional Trader/Director of Municipal Dealer Sales at Raymond James where she serves as a trade liaison between the firm’s Fixed Income Municipal department and other broker/dealers throughout the country.

Most notably, Mercy is a highly decorated U.S. Army veteran who was medically retired in 2019 after 17 years of honorable service. Mercy served as an Acting First Sergeant and Platoon Sergeant of an elite and selectively manned Airborne unit with a focus on SOF intelligence targeting and signal network operations. She worked closely with Special Operations teams and law enforcement partners while serving in combat operations in Afghanistan, and NATO missions in Germany and Bosnia.

Mercy currently serves on five nonprofit boards ranging from veterans and first responder services, healthcare and community, equine therapy, mental health, children welfare, and professional business fellowship. Due to her success and leadership, as well as dedication to the financial industry and community, Mercy was awarded: 2025 Patriot Fund -American Patriot of the Year Award, 2024 Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Magazine Women Who Win Awards in the “Young” category, “Rising Star” award as part of the 2022 InvestmentNews Excellence in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Awards, and selected as a 2021 Tampa Bay Business Journal 40 under 40 honoree.

Mercy speaks five languages, holds a Master’s degree in Intelligence Studies and Operations, and a double Bachelor’s in Political Science and International Affairs. Mercy currently resides in Homestead, Florida, with her husband and two basenji dogs.

AnnMarie Hensler Davis (USN)

AnnMarie Davis earned her J.D. from Florida State University College of Law and her B.S. in Multinational Business. She spent the first four years of her career in the U.S. Navy JAGC. She served in the US and overseas in Italy for two years. After the JAGC, AnnMarie worked in the Tampa office of Holland & Knight, LLP for four years in its Employment Law division.

Ten years ago, she transitioned to the legal department at Raymond James and served as employment counsel for five years, spent the next five years in Human Resources leading the Employment Practices team and she is now reporting to the General Counsel and leads the Employment Law Group. The group endeavors to help the company predict, resolve and eliminate employment related issues.

AnnMarie and her husband, Trevor, live in Tampa with their daughter, Lily.

Rebecca Mohan-Gonzales

Rebecca Mohan-Gonzales, a Pittsburgh native, was born into a military family. All of Rebecca’s maternal uncles were Veterans, and her grandfather was stationed in Hawaii during WWII. She has long been an advocate for transitioning service members.

In her previous role at Chubb, she was awarded a Governor’s Citation by the State of Maryland for her “Outstanding Commitment to Veterans” during Operation Hire in 2014. She brought that passion to Raymond James, serving as the Military Liaison for Human Resources to assist in attracting and retaining Veteran talent to the organization. Rebecca works with external partners to drive Veteran traffic into the Raymond James hiring process, and also manages the Military Spouse Employment Partnership through the Department of Defense.

Rebecca joined the firm in 2019 after relocating to Florida’s Gulf Coast. She is a Senior Talent Advisor specializing in recruiting for the Advisor Mastery Program. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Business from Chatham University. Outside of Valor and her day job, Rebecca enjoys spending time with her wife and three fur kids, and fishing.

Austin Storck (USN)

Austin Storck is a financial advisor who currently resides in Virginia Beach with his wife. Austin was born and raised in Kansas. Prior to becoming a financial professional, Austin embarked on a remarkable journey that led him to enlist in the Navy. With honor and distinction, he served as an Assault troop Radio Operator at the Tier 1 Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG), where his exceptional talent for delivering tactical communication expertise was repeatedly put to the test.

Austin began his academic journey at Liberty University while in the Navy. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration: Financial Planning. Upon transitioning from the service, he earned a Master of Business Administration from the esteemed Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary and the Certified Investment Management Analyst® designation.

Austin was part of two amazing Military transition courses, The Honor Foundation and ViableEdu Armed for Finance, which ignited his fire to help more military professionals transition into the financial profession.

Shannon Murphy

Shannon Murphy, Military Recruiting & Retention Vice-Chair
Shannon MurphyShannon Murphy, a talent advisor on the Early Careers Recruiting Team, is a USAF military child and daughter of her late Colonel father, who served 32 years as a special operations pilot and later in aviation support, retiring from MacDill Air Force Base. Growing up, she experienced the frequent relocations and unique challenges faced by military families.

Shannon obtained her MBA from the University of South Florida and works out of the St. Petersburg office, considering Tampa her home. As a talent advisor, she is committed to guiding candidates toward the right opportunities. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending quality time with friends and family.

Having witnessed the sacrifices made by servicemembers, military children, and spouses, Shannon understands the transition from military to civilian life and the challenges of an ever-changing lifestyle. Joining Valor is her way of honoring her father’s legacy, and it is her personal mission to continue serving and supporting the community that has given so much to her.

Patty Wilson (USN Spouse)

Operations: Valor Spouse Network Chair

Patty Wilson is married to a retired 20-year Navy veteran. She is passionate about supporting women in their careers, especially military spouses. When she was a military spouse throughout the 80’s and 90’s, Patty experienced first-hand how challenging it was to truly immerse in a career.

In 1998, just two years prior to her husband’s retirement, she was finally able to start her own career in the financial services industry. Patty has been affiliated with Raymond James since 2011, serving in various roles in both branch locations and at the home office. Patty is currently the Complex Operations Manager for the RJA Minnesota/Dakotas Complex. She has a BS in Business Administration from the University of Southern Maine and holds Series 7,63, 66, 9, and 10 licenses.

She and her husband currently live in her home state of Minnesota, where they can be near their children and grandchildren.

Brianna Perry (USAR Spouse)

Operations: Valor Spouse Network Vice-Chair

Brianna Perry joined Raymond James in 2011 from Wachovia Securities to launch a new practice in Pinehurst, North Carolina. She spent a decade as a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates before transitioning to the corporate side of 2019. Since then, she has held leadership roles including Supervision Liaison for the independent RIA Division and Division Supervision Manager for ICD Southeast, overseeing multiple states and territories.

Currently, Brianna leads the firm’s Conference Strategy team within Practice Management & Growth Consulting where she designs impactful event experiences that drive advisor development and organic growth. She has also served as Co-Chair of the Women Inclusion Network’s Women Soaring Conference, championing initiatives that empower women across the firm. Passionate about enhancing associate and advisor engagement, Brianna is committed to building authentic connections, especially among military spouse families.

Brianna holds a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communication and Marketing, with a focus in Business Management, from the University of Central Florida. Brianna lives in Ponte Vedra, Florida, with her husband, Vern Perry, a retired Army veteran (5th Special Forces Group), their two young children, and miniature dachshund. The family enjoys an active, beach-centered lifestyles and frequent trips to Disney World.

Beth Jackson (USAF)

Operations: Finance Chair

Beth Jackson is a veteran of the US Air Force and a native of Akron, Ohio. She was assigned Airman-in-Charge of the pediatric clinic at Norton AFB, which treated 200 patients daily. Certified in CPR and an EMT, she was also assigned the duty of Aeromedical Staging Facility Technician while in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

After taking time off to start a family, she began her career in the financial field in 2001 at RBC Dain Rauscher in Texas. Her career has included stops at Brown Brothers Harriman in Dallas and Merrill Lynch in Ohio. To present, Beth has fulfilled many roles: from working in back-office operations, to working as a client service associate in a branch, to her current role as Division Supervision Manager at Raymond James. She holds Series 7, 63, 66, 24 and 9/10 FINRA licenses as well as a Florida Life, Health and Annuity license. Since joining Raymond James in 2018, she has been a part of the RJ Lunch Pals program and has served as a member of the Supervision Council.

Outside the office, she enjoys being on the water, live music (think Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam and Miranda Lambert), and waking up early to go to CrossFit.

Justin Maynard

Operations: Finance Vice-Chair

Justin Maynard is a business support analyst in Recruiting at Raymond James. He graduated from Florida State University, where he was involved in finance clubs and his fraternity.

Justin has a deep connection to the armed forces through his two brothers. One of his brothers is in the Army and the other spent six years with the Navy.

He loves meeting new people, working on cars, exercising, and wrestling. He is ecstatic about the opportunity to join Valor and help the organization expand.

Rich Konefal (USAR)

Operations: Fundraising & Impact Co-Chair

Rich Konefal, RJF Chief Compliance Officer, joined Raymond James and moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, in 2018 after spending over 20 years of his career in NYC with extensive amounts of time in London. Prior to his current role, he served as Chief Compliance Officer of the Capital Markets Division, where his team supported the firm’s efforts in Investment Banking, Public Finance, Institutional Sales and Trading, and Research.

Prior to Raymond James, Rich worked as the Global Head of Capital Markets Compliance at Barclays Capital, the Head of Equity Derivatives Compliance at Bank of America, and worked on the floor of the American Stock Exchange as a securities regulator. Rich holds the Series 4, 7, 24, 63, 79, and 99.

Many years ago while at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY, Rich enlisted in the Army Reserve and was a Field Artillery Radar Operator, spending time at Ft. Sill and Ft. Drum. He was with the Army Reserve until December 1999. Rich is married with two children, is an outstanding fisherman, a licensed Coast Guard Captain, and an avid yet sub-par golfer.

Bradley Freed

Operations: Fundraising & Impact Co-Chair

Bradley Freed has been with Raymond James since 2020 — beginning his tenure in the Assistant to the Chairman (A2C) program before becoming the VP, Strategy for the Corporate Real Estate department. Prior to Raymond James, Bradley spent time all over the country. He grew up in South Florida, did his undergrad at USC in Los Angeles, worked at Apple in their headquarters in the San Francisco Bay Area, did a joint JD-MBA at Northwestern in Chicago/Evanston, and worked at the NBA in New York City. But as he puts it, has found home in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Bradley’s passions reside with his South Florida sports teams, with his weekend warrior golf game over at Feather Sound, and most importantly with his family — including his “better half” wife Samantha, son Elliott, daughter Eden, and dog Bodie.

Bryan Lemke

Operations: Fundraising & Impact Vice-Chair

Bryan Lemke joined Raymond James in 2015 as an analyst for the firm’s Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Client Intelligence Unit. He has since advanced to become the Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), where he leads the department. Born in Venezuela, Bryan’s early years were spent in diverse locations, including Mexico City, Puerto Rico, and Basel, Switzerland. He eventually settled in Tampa, FL, to attend the University of South Florida, where he earned a degree in International Business with a concentration in Finance.

It was during his college years in Tampa that Bryan met his wife, Tiffany, a Florida native. Together, they have two wonderful children, Luca and Adalynn. Bryan is passionate about golf and mixed martial arts. He is also dedicated to giving back to the community, having volunteered as a Big Brother with the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. He is thrilled about the opportunity to contribute to such a remarkable organization as the Raymond James Valor Network. 

Bill Cosper (USAR)

Local Co-Chair: Tampa/St. Petersburg (FL)

Bill Cosper, a former financial advisor, joined Raymond James in 2000, working in what is now known as Capital Markets, marketing new issues to Raymond James’ financial advisors. Bill is fourth-generation military and a Gulf War veteran, having served in the U.S. Army, Army Reserve, and Florida National Guard prior to his career in financial services.

He serves as a local co-chair for Valor, the Raymond James veterans inclusion network. Bill graduated magna cum laude from the University of South Florida, earning a B.S. in Finance.

My Newsome

Local Co-Chair: Tampa/St. Petersburg (FL)

My Newsome has been with Raymond James since 2018 and is part of the Compliance Branch Exams team.

She is passionate about being an ally and advocate for others, and is also currently the Communications Co-Chair for the Pride Inclusion Network.

Supporting the military and veterans is very important to My as she has family members that are current and former military (U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corp, and U.S. Air Force).

She resides in the Tampa area with her husband, son, and two dogs.

Amanda Jones

Local Co-Chair: Memphis (TN)

Amanda Jones is a Senior Risk Analyst in the Corporate Actions Department, bringing over 25 years of experience to Raymond James, including her earlier tenure at Morgan Keegan.

A lifelong resident of Memphis, Amanda is proudly married to a Memphis Police Officer. Their son serves as a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army and is currently stationed at Fort Stewart, continuing the family’s tradition of service.

Amanda is a passionate animal lover and shares her home with one cat and three dogs — including a retired Memphis Police K9.

Outside of work, she channels her creativity into refinishing and custom painting furniture for clients. She also generously mentors others who are eager to learn the craft, fostering a supportive community of DIY enthusiasts.

Divina Williams

Local Co-Chair: Memphis (TN)

Divina Williams is a dedicated Sr. Corporate Actions associate with over 20 years of experience in roles that emphasize service and collaboration. Throughout her career, Divina has excelled in positions such as Sr. New Accounts Associate, and before joining the firm in 2016, she held roles including Employee Recognition Specialist, Events Coordinator, and Specialty Supervisor. She consistently demonstrates a commitment to helping others and ensuring needs are met.

Outside of her professional life, Divina is deeply involved in community service and volunteering, often serving at her church, in her community, and with various volunteer organizations in Memphis and Arkansas. Her passion for service extends into her personal life, where she supports her husband, a Mental Health Crisis Assessor of over 13 years. Divina is a fun mom to three beautiful daughters and one pup, Dallas, named after her favorite NFL team, the Dallas Cowboys. Divina’s values are rooted in service, community engagement, and dedicating support to make a positive impact both professionally and personally.

Michael Takvorian

Local Co-Chair: New York (NY)

Michael Takvorian is a business manager working with the management team of the Midtown, New York, Alex. Brown branch at 320 Park Avenue.

Michael joined Raymond James in September 2016 following the acquisition of the U.S. Private Client Services Unit of Deutsche Bank, which he was a part of since 2011 and which resurrected the Alex. Brown brand. Prior to unification of the Alex. Brown Division with Raymond James in October 2023, he was part of the COO Team.

Currently he also serves a Local Co-Chair for the Mosaic Inclusion Network in NYC. Michael received a B.S. in Organizational Management from Felician University in New Jersey, and enjoys spending time with his wife Kim, three stepchildren, three dogs, family and friends, and one Harley Davidson.

CONNIE ROMANO

Local Co-Chair: New York (NY)

With over four decades of experience in the financial services industry, Connie Romano brings a deep well of knowledge, dedication, and heart to her role as Senior Registered Sales Associate at the Midtown, New York, Alex. Brown branch, located at 320 Park Avenue. Connie has been a key part of the Raymond James team since 2016, following the firm’s acquisition of the U.S. Private Client Services unit of Deutsche Bank. She had been with Deutsche Bank since 2000, during which time the historic Alex. Brown brand was revitalized. Her career began in 1982 at Merrill Lynch, where she laid the foundation for what has become a 43-year journey in the business. Connie has been awarded Branch Associate of the Quarter and also the Robert A James Award of Service Excellence.

But Connie’s impact extends far beyond the office. A Staten Island native and proud grandmother of two, Connie is as committed to her community as she is to her clients. She serves as the bar chairman at the Staten Island Yacht Club, where she also resides, and is a passionate advocate for charitable causes both within and outside the workplace. Her philosophy on giving is simple yet powerful: “Doing good is easier than you think.” That belief was instilled early on by her father, who each year would donate Connie’s and her brother’s allowances to the Jerry Lewis Labor Day MDA Telethon. That small but meaningful tradition sparked a lifelong commitment to service. Today, Connie leads numerous charitable initiatives through her branch — organizing fundraisers, coordinating volunteer events, and rallying her colleagues to make a difference. For Connie, giving back isn’t about grand gestures — it’s about consistency, creativity, and compassion. “You don’t have to write a huge check,” she says. “Helping others can be part of the little things you do every day.”

TAMMY HANCOCK (USAR)

Local Co-Chair: Southfield (MI)

Tammy Hancock brings a unique blend of service, discipline, and financial expertise to her role as Senior Vice President, Investments. Her professional journey began in the U.S. Army, where she served from 1986 to 1991 as a Medical Laboratory Specialist, stationed in Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska. Her military experience instilled in her a deep sense of duty, precision, and compassion — values that continue to guide her work with clients today.

Tammy has been in the investment industry since 1996 and has been with Raymond James since 2000. She provides comprehensive financial guidance in areas such as estate planning, portfolio management, retirement strategies, mutual funds, stocks, insurance, and investment research. As a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®), she also specializes in helping clients navigate the financial complexities of divorce, both during the process and in the years that follow. She also holds MPASTM and AIF® designations.

She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance from Grand Valley State University in 1998 and completed her Master of Science in Personal Financial Planning from the College of Financial Planning in 2022.

Tammy is passionate about giving back to her community and especially values opportunities to support fellow veterans. Military service runs deep in her family — three of her brothers and two sisters-in-law served in the U.S. Air Force, with two of her brothers retiring after more than 20 years of service.

She lives in Howard City where in her free time, she enjoys fishing, boating, and spending time outdoors. She is also actively involved in the Montcalm County 4-H Fair and loves spoiling her grandchildren.

Nicole Kelly

Nicole Kelly has been with Raymond James since 2018. Nicole is currently a senior manager in Compliance supporting the firm’s AlertLine and Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption programs. Prior to her current role, Nicole was part of the firm’s Anti-Money Laundering team and served as consultant for Ernst & Young, where she focused on helping her clients navigate regulatory challenges. Nicole is a proud Florida State University alumna and even named her dog, Doak after the Doak Campbell stadium.

Nicole is passionate about helping her community and is actively involved in several organizations, including Feeding Tampa Bay, Children’s Miracle Network, and the Humane Society of Tampa Bay.

Ashley Williams

Co-Chair: Events Marketing & Community Outreach (Outreach)

Ashley Williams has been with Raymond James since 2014. She started in the Memphis office under Morgan Keegan and relocated to Florida while working in Mutual Funds Ops and moved to a Marketing role in 2018. The marketing role at Raymond James introduced her to many leaders in the company and led her to joining Emerge leadership in 2019. In marketing, Ashley was able to expand on her project management and process improvement skills. This prepared her for her move to PCG in 2021.

Ashley has always looked for ways to give back whether it be with RJ or on her own time. In 2019, she became heavily involved in what is now Reach St Pete. This organization focuses on assisting the houseless/homeless in the area by designated outreach programs. She has learned that just being there to listen can make an impact and uses this for her approach to conversations within the veteran community.

Shereen McCall

Co-Chair: Events Marketing & Community Outreach (Marketing)

Shereen McCall is a coffee-operated professional storyteller and dot connector, currently serving as Director of Strategy & Administration for Technology and Operations. She joined Raymond James in 2012, spending nine years in public relations and four in internal communications before transitioning to her current role. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida and her master’s degree from the University of Florida.

As a proud Navy brat, her journey has taken her across the U.S. and the Pacific to many places she’s been lucky to call home — from California, Hawaii and Japan to Texas, Virginia and Florida.

Outside of work, she and her husband, Tyler (who works in Compliance at the firm), are the proud parents of two energetic boys, Ryder and Deacon, and their three cats.

Sarah Nightengale

Vice-Chair: Events Marketing & Community Outreach

Sarah Nightengale joined Raymond James in 2023 through the Hiring Our Heroes Military Spouse Fellowship Program. She currently serves in Compliance Oversight and Surveillance, where she leverages data analytics to support regulatory adherence and risk mitigation initiatives.

As the spouse of an active-duty Army service member stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Sarah has lived in nine states and two foreign countries over the past 14 years. A committed advocate for military-affiliated causes, she has founded and led multiple chapters of the Hiring Our Heroes Military Spouse Professional Networking Group. She also volunteers as a mentor with Hire Heroes USA, providing guidance to transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses navigating career transitions. In recognition of her dedication to her own career pivot, she was named the 2023 Military Spouse of the Year by Hire Heroes USA. Sarah is actively involved in legislative advocacy focused on improving employment opportunities for military spouses, particularly in reducing barriers for those with professional licenses.

She is also a registered yoga instructor and regularly volunteers to lead unit physical training and yoga sessions for service members and their families.

Lauren Carnali

Vice-Chair: Events Marketing & Community Outreach

Lauren Carnali currently serves as Sr. Manager of Second Line Communications at Raymond James, where she leads a dynamic internal communications team supporting the firm’s Compliance, Risk, and Anti-Money Laundering functions. With a degree in English from Penn State, Lauren began her career in New York City’s publishing world, spending over a decade managing contracts and business affairs for top publishing houses and literary agencies before transitioning into corporate communications.

A passionate advocate for inclusion and community engagement, Lauren has served as a hospice companion, guardian ad litem, and a leader within the Raymond James Pride Inclusion Network. Originally from Pittsburgh, she now lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, with her partner—an Army Reserve Logistics Officer—and their four energetic dogs. Lauren is excited to bring her storytelling and strategic communication skills to support Valor’s mission.

TALIA VENTRONE

Vice-Chair: Events Marketing & Community Outreach

Talia Ventrone joined Raymond James in 2023 and currently serves as a senior analyst in Data Analytics within the IT Regulatory and Legal Response team. In this role, she supports data collection and analysis for mandatory reporting and compliance initiatives, helping ensure the firm meets its regulatory obligations.

She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida and went on to complete a Master of Science in Data Science from City University of Seattle.

Talia’s connection to the military community runs deep as her father, brothers, and husband are all former active-duty service members. This personal experience fuels her passion for supporting veterans, first responders, and their families. She lives in Riverview, Florida, with her husband, Michael, and their two children, Axel and Natalie.