The Redwoods Initiative, Advisors

Scott Budge, Managing Director, RayLign Adivsory

Scott blends a breadth of experiences and capabilities in his work with RayLign clients. He is an expert in the dynamics of wealthy families, having worked directly with hundreds of entrepreneurs, corporate executives and their families. He has also worked extensively as a developer and educator of wealth advisors, which is the focus of his book, The New Financial Advisor: Wealth Management Strategies for Multi-Generational Clients (John Wiley & Sons). Prior to joining RayLign, Scott founded two companies focused on delivering internet-based management services to single- and multi-family offices, and financial advisors throughout the US and Canada. He was a Senior Vice President at SEI Investments where he co-developed their family wealth management unit and participated in several, multi-year strategic projects. Scott has published several articles, including works on the psychology of investments, family wealth and family businesses, and has served on the editorial board of the Family Business Review. He has also spoken at numerous industry conferences in the US, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. In addition, Scott was a founder and member of the creative team at Shaking the Tree Foundation, a professional theater group whose productions focus on challenges faced by families of wealth. Scott is a Fellow at the Family Firm Institute, a founding member of the Money and Family Life Project at the Ackerman Institute for the Family, and holds a PhD in Psychology from New York University.

Kathryn Dreghorn Linden, MSW

Specializes in creating individualized “next generation” education programs, and providing coaching/mentoring to young adults
Develops and facilitates retreats designed to help family members understand and manage the emotional meaning of money
Consults to family offices, wealth management professionals and privately-held businesses
Specializes in facilitating family meetings and building meaningful and effective communication patterns
Leverages knowledge as Certified Wealth and Life Advisor, and as candidate for Family Firm Institute’s Family Business Advising Certificate (awarded in September, 2010)
Speaks frequently on topics such as: “Parenting Under Wealth,” Relationships and Money,” and “Women: How to Adhere to Your Values During Times of Crisis”

Kathryn Dreghorn Linden (Katie) has a diverse background, making her uniquely equipped to assist families with complex issues as they navigate generational transitions while sharing assets. Katie began her career in the field of physical therapy and cardiac rehabilitation, ultimately developing her own personal training business which provided a holistic approach to health and wellness. During this period, she had the opportunity not only to alter the career of one of her primary clients, who was a major entertainer and celebrity, but also to impact her own career choice. Over time, Katie expanded her role as a personal trainer to assume responsibility for her client’s personal and business affairs. Katie became a trusted personal assistant, responsible for coordinating, preparing and attending business meetings, and eventually earned a role as a key member of her client’s management team. In addition, she worked with her client’s family as they adjusted to the newfound wealth and celebrity in their lives.

This experience inspired Katie to expand her own career to better understand the emotional complexity of families and individuals. She furthered her education by earning a Masters degree from New York University, and became a psychotherapist working extensively with adults, adolescents and families. She continues to work with clients facing very difficult transitions, as well as those facing acute and chronic conditions such as addiction and mental illness.

In 2006, Katie began consulting for family offices and family enterprises, thus merging her knowledge of privately-held businesses with her psychological understanding of family dynamics. Working with family enterprises and family offices, Katie developed her expertise on issues specific to women, and to members of the next generation. She has developed and facilitated private retreats which focus on the emotional meaning of money and create a powerful and lasting impact on the participants involved. Katie’s workshops result in more effective family communication and consensus-building skills, and inspire and empower her clients to better sustain their wealth, family life and legacies.

One of Katie’s additional professional focus areas has been succession planning and next generation transitions. She works in tandem with family members to refine the group’s values and desires, and then develops a family mission statement to serve as a guiding framework for the family’s philanthropic, financial and family decisions. Katie coaches young adults in assessing their unique skills, clarifying their individual career goals, and articulating their opinions and needs to the larger family group. This coaching supports the individual’s development, while maintaining a connection to their role within the larger family enterprise.

Katie is also in demand as a speaker and educator for other wealth management professionals, such as CPA’s, financial advisors and attorneys. She emphasizes the importance of integrating a comprehensive family plan into the broader financial strategy, which supports a family’s ability to sustain assets over several generations. Katie received her undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware, and her Masters degree from New York University.

Wayne Farmer, Managing Director, Arabella Advisors

Wayne Michael Farmer has spent the last twelve years working with foundations, philanthropists and families in starting or expanding several successful non- and for-profit organizations. World Links, founded by former World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn, was launched from inside the World Bank when he was recruited to build the board of directors and diversify revenue. Previous to World Links, Wayne launched a subsidiary organization of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Prior to joining Arabella Advisors Wayne was Director to The HealthStore Foundation, senior director to KaBOOM!, a board member to Living Goods and an advisor to numerous social ventures. Wayne has a B.A. in English Literature from Washington College before attending the Iowa Writers Workshop and earning a Master in Fine Arts.

Anika Gakovic, Corporate Vice President Executive Development, New York Life

Anika Gakovic has ten years of experience in leadership development, change management, team building, employee engagement, strategic planning and organizational design. Anika joined New York Life in May 2009 as Corporate Vice President in Executive Development. Formerly, Anika was with HSBC since 2005 as Vice President for Change Management in North America and previously managed Learning and Development for the Private Bank. Before joining HSBC, Anika worked in Learning and Development roles at UBS Financial Services, MetLife, and JP Morgan Chase. Prior to that, she worked as a consultant developing selection tests for Hess Oil and the Chicago Police Department while teaching psychology courses at University of Houston. Anika completed her PhD and MA in Industrial Organizational Psychology at University of Houston. Anika has been a presenter at several conferences, including the Conference Board, Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and National Foreign Trade Council. She has also published articles for the Journal of Organizational Behavior and Organizational Development Journal. Anika’s presentations and publications focus on executive development, employee engagement and motivation, and driving strategy through learning and change management. Anika served on the Board of Directors for New York HR Planning Society (NYHRPS), teaches Organizational Psychology at Singidunum University in Belgrade and participates as a coach for the Business Plan Competition at New York University Stern School.

Darcy Garner Bhatia

Darcy Garner Bhatia is an advisor to entrepreneurial individuals and families around the areas of self, money and service.

Darcy was a founding Partner of Highmount Capital, a 2.5 billion dollar wealth management firm. While at Highmount, Darcy structured and managed the firm’s internal investment capabilities and resources. Darcy’s passion for educating women and the next generation was well known in the industry and during her time at Highmount, she developed a governance and education program that in 2010 was introduced as its own stand alone entity, a not for profit called The Redwoods Initiative. TRI seeks to educate individuals around three main areas: self, money and action (service) and works through collaboration with other advisors in these specialties for families. Prior to forming Highmount Capital, she served as a Portfolio Manager and Managing Director at Trainer Wortham & Company in New York, where she designed strategic investment and asset allocation strategies for families. Previously, Darcy served as Vice President and Portfolio Manager at The Pacific Bank in San Francisco, where she established the Investment Management Division of The Pacific Bank before it was sold to City National in late 1999.

Darcy received her BS from Tulane University and her MBA from Thunderbird, The Graduate School of International Management in Glendale, Arizona. Darcy has served on a variety of non-for-profit boards including K.I.D.S. and is a founding and advisory member of The Redwoods Initiative. She is a member of the Women’s Presidents Organization (WPO), Financial Women’s Association (FWA), New York Society of Security Analysts (NYSSA), The CFA Institute, Financial Planning Associations (FPA), and STEP. She holds a series 65, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, and a CFP (Certified Financial Planner). She is a member of Golden Seeds, a women’s angel investing group and on the Board of Springboard Enterprises, a venture catalyst for Emerging growth ventures led by women.

Brett Hickey, Founder & President, Availor Philanthropy

Brett Hickey is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and private equity/venture capital investor. He is the Founder and President of Availor Philanthropy Corp., a New York-based 501(c)3 and an active member of the global community volunteering his time across many charitable and non-profit organizations. Professionally he is the Founder & Managing Partner of the Availor Group of companies which includes a Social Impact Investing Fund focused on investing with leading entrepreneurs to build innovative technology-enabled companies that can make a substantial positive impact on society. He founded two companies before the age 20 (retail distribution store and a web-based work placement agency in the healthcare industry) and has formed and managed numerous institutionally-backed economic development private equity and venture capital funds through which he has made over 50 direct investments in small and medium-sized businesses. He also has a broad array of investment banking and transactional experience completing over $8 billion of financing transactions and $16 billion in mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Hickey hopes to leverage his experience in the private sector to help improve society and the lives of the less fortunate.

Steven G. Hoch

Steven co-founded Highmount Capital in 2002, and with Maarten van Hengel shares the general management of the firm. In addition, he has senior responsibility for a number of American and European client relationships. Prior to forming Highmount Capital, Steven was a Principal, member of the Executive Committee, and Head of Client Service for Pell Rudman Trust Company in Boston, where he helped pioneer the concept of a multi-family office and governance advice to substantial families. Steven is considered an expert on the strategic issues facing trans-Atlantic families. Prior to his association with Pell Rudman, Steven was a Senior Vice President at Bessemer Trust Company where he was responsible for European and US private clients and served as a member of both the Management and Strategic Task Force Committees. Steven began his career with Chemical Bank in NY and Zurich, working in commercial banking for ten years before transferring to private banking. He is a Director of Nestle S.A., a Trustee of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and a member of the Smithsonian National Board. Steven is a cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.

James E. Hughes

Mr. Hughes is the author a newly published edition of Family Wealth: Keeping It in the Family, and numerous articles on family governance and wealth preservation and a series of reflections which can be found on his website jamesehughes.com. He was the founder of a law partnership in New York City, Hughes and Whitaker, specializing in the representation of private clients throughout the world and is now retired from the active practice of law. He frequently facilitates multi-generational family meetings with a special emphasis on mission statements and governance issues. He has spoken frequently at numerous international and domestic symposia on international estate and trust planning. He is an emeritus member of the Board of The Philanthropic Initiative; a Counselor to the Family Office Exchange, an emeritus faculty member of the Institute for Private Investors; a retired member of the Board of the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation; as well as a former advisor to New Ventures in Philanthropy . He is also a member of the Circle of Friends of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, a Roundtable member of the Hastings Institute, a member of the Board of the Spiritual Paths Foundation and a member of the Board of the Rocky Mountain Institute, as well as a member of boards of various private trust companies, an advisor to numerous investment institutions and a member of the editorial boards of various professional journals. Mr. Hughes was a partner of the law firms of Coudert Brothers and Jones, Day, Reavis and Pogue. He is a graduate of the Far Brook School, which teaches through the Arts, The Pingry School, Princeton University and The Columbia School of Law.

Kay Lee, Managing Director, Aperio Group

Kay G. Lee represents Aperio’s services to family offices and wealth advisors outside the San Francisco Bay area. Kay’s prior experience includes 20 years at Bankers Trust Company, based in NY, London and Greenwich CT. Her broad experience has encompassed both international banking, with clients in Asia, Africa, and England, and fiduciary services. Kay has served clients including family offices, and earlier in her career, large institutional clients including CALPERS, McKesson, ICI, and Royal Dutch Shell among others, both in the U.S. & Europe. Kay has been active in civic affairs and is currently an active board member of the Lark Theater, a nonprofit, single screen community film center. Kay is a graduate of Vassar College, with a B.A. in Political Science.

Joe Reilly, President, Family Office Association

Joseph W. Reilly Jr. is the President of the Family Office Association. Previously Mr. Reilly helped to start a single-family office and foundation in New York where he was an Investment Manager for six years. He was an Energy Specialist focused on options and futures trading at Crédit Agricole Indosuez in New York prior to that, and started his career at Salomon Smith Barney. Mr. Reilly has spoken on family office issues at conferences and been quoted in such media as the Financial Times. Mr. Reilly has an A.L.B. from Harvard University and is a member of the Economic Club of New York and the Harvard Club of Fairfield.

Rebecca Sommer

Bio coming soon

Jo Singel

Jo Single is the founder of JLA Partners. She has twenty-five years of experience in conducting retainer search for C-Suite and mid to senior level professionals in a wide range of industries and not-for-profit organizations.

Ms. Singel has achieved results in assessing talent for purposes of development, retention and restructuring resulting from buy-outs, investor funding and mergers & acquisitions. She has acted in the capacity as advisor and coach to C-Level Professionals in Global 10, Family Foundations and Fortune 500 companies.

Additionally, Ms. Singel is experienced in performance management, productivity improvement, organizational development, leadership & management development, change and knowledge management. She has over fifteen years of experience in corporate environments: Estee Lauder, Gulf+Western Industries, General Instrument, and JPMorgan Chase.

Her activities include acting as a Mentor, Coach and Advisor to Business Schools: Baruch College, Zicklin School of Business; New York University, Stern School of Business; Pace University, Lubin School of Business. Ms. Singel has served as a Coach/Evaluator for The NYU Berkeley Center Entrepreneurial Business Competition for the past several years.

Ms. Singel has authored two books, “Every Person a Leader” and “The Dandelions of Woodlawn Avenue”. She is a frequent Speaker and Presenter at Conferences and Trade Associations, addressing a variety of topics on leadership and management challenges in organizational environments.

Ms. Singel graduated from New York University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Humanities. She received the Founders Day Award in 1981 for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement.