Finance Insurance and Real Estate Advisory Board Biographies
The Department of Finance, Insurance and Real Estate at the University of Memphis is supported by a board of professional business partners who provide advice about our department's curriculum developments, degree and non-degree programs, student career opportunities, and other strategic initiatives. Our advisory board members are listed below.
- Toni Barnes
toni.barnes@truist.com
Toni is a Relationship Manager in Truist Bank’s Commercial Community Banking Group where she manages the commercial deposits and lending portfolios of a broad base of corporate clients whose annual revenues range from $5MM to $75MM. She has twenty five years of banking experience and has worked with companies in diverse industries, with a particular emphasis in the agricultural and transportation industries and international trade.
Prior to becoming a Relationship Manager in Truist’s Commercial Community Banking Group, Toni managed the international trade services department for two banks headquartered in Memphis, TN.
Toni is active in community organizations such as the Memphis Agricultural Club, the advisory board of the Finance, Insurance and Real Estate department at the University of Memphis and the Board of Advisors of the Memphis World Trade Club where she chairs the scholarship committee.
Toni earned a B.A. degree in International Studies and Spanish from Rhodes College, Memphis, TN, and an M.A. in Comparative Politics from Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. and has taken numerous banking and finance courses throughout her career.
- Will Bond
wwbond1@memphis.edu
William (Will) Bond is a graduate of the Fogelman College of Business & Economics with an BBA in May 2021. Will is currently finishing working on an MS in Finance at the U of Memphis with the intention of moving into a Doctoral program at U of Memphis. William started his career in homebuilding in 1994 and has held a real estate Agent / Principal Broker’s license in TN, MS, AL from 1997 to 2017. William has built over three hundred custom and investment grade housing units and developed over one thousand lots in his career. William has also held a general contractor’s license residential and commercial with an unlimited endorsement from 2003 to 2017. William has also been a general licensed electrician from 1997 to 2017. William has also held insurance licenses in Property & Casualty and Health & Life in TN. William has experienced and participated in other privately held companies both active and equity basics throughout his work experience. William brings a vast knowledge of real-world business experience in the areas of real estate and finance.
- Mark Cary
Mark.Cary@fhnfinancial.com
As Manager of the Asset Strategies Group at FTN Financial Capital Assets Corporation, Mark has almost thirty years of experience working with financial institutions in various capacities. Mark focuses on balance sheet management issues involving analyzing whole loan portfolios and making recommendations for optimizing performance through the loan portfolio. He also assists Capital Assets Loan Advisory and Consulting group with various accounting issues.
Prior to joining Capital Assets, Mark spent over ten years in public accounting working exclusively with financial institutions as an auditor and consultant. Mark’s expertise and concentration is in balance sheet management – analyzing accounting, regulatory and operational issues.
Mark is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Martin and holds an MBA from the University of Memphis. Mark is a CPA and a member of both the AICPA and Tennessee Society of CPAs. Mark is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Memphis.
- Grant Ellis
Grant.ellis@lpl.com
Grant Ellis is the founder and Managing Principal of Ellis Retirement Services, an investment advisory and financial planning firm headquartered in Memphis, TN. He has over 17 years of experience and over 15 of running his own firm. Grant is a serial entrepreneur, having started several businesses in the financial services industry as well as other industries.
After graduating from the University of Memphis, Grant spent time with a global financial services firm in Atlanta before moving back to Memphis. He opened his first investment advisory firm in 2009, and soon after, relocated the firm to Nashville, TN. After 13 years in Nashville, Grant moved the firm and his family home to the Memphis area.
Grant loves to serve his community and has served on numerous boards such as Habitat for Humanity of Middle Tennessee, Young Leaders Council, and as the Chair of the board of Project Connect Nashville. He is excited to put his skills to work in the Memphis community.
Grant and his wife Cara have two children. They live in Eads, TN and attend Grace Valley Church, where Grant plays guitar and sings as one of the worship leaders.
- Dustin Jones
djones@jonesaur.com
As a Memphis native and seasoned retail real estate professional, Dustin Jones is recognized as a go-to resource for shopping centers and retail business owners alike. He’s an industry veteran, with more than 20 years of experience in the retail arena.
Before his real estate success, Dustin developed and owned restaurants, including both small locally-owned restaurants and large publicly traded groups.
In his free time, Dustin has found recognition for repeatedly being terrible at golf, solving the Rubik’s cube in less than two minutes, coaching middle school robots, and enjoying everything Marvel and Star Wars.
- Jimmy Madeksho
jimmy.madeksho@mcgriff.com
Jimmy is an Insurance Broker and Health Risk Consultant in McGriff’s Employee Benefits Division. He helps business leaders implement population health solutions at the organizational and individual level. His expertise is in procuring insurance, implementing new health and wellness programs, and managing complex claims for clients.
With a specific emphasis on the technology industry, Jimmy’s 12+ years of experience in Human Capital Consulting, Sales, and Marketing has allowed him to assist organizations through their own digital maturity needs.
He is an active member in community organizations such as the Greater Memphis Employee Benefits Council and is VP of Finance for the Midsouth Compensation Association in Memphis, TN. He also serves on the advisory board for the Finance, Insurance and Real Estate department at the University of Memphis.
Jimmy earned his B.A. degree in Public Relations at the University of Memphis and met his wife, Samantha, while attending the U of M as well. He is licensed in life, accident, and health insurance and holds the CLCS (Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist) designation. Other organizations near and dear to his family are the Alzheimer’s Association, Autism Speaks, LeBonheur and St. Jude Children’s Hospitals.
- Shawn Massey
shawn.massey@tscg.com
Shawn has over thirty two years’ experience in commercial real estate: site selection, leasing, zoning, acquisition, commercial brokerage, financing, residential and commercial development, management, consulting, marketing, construction, project management, sustainable development, research and teaching. Ten years’ experience in wireless telecommunications, development, project management and implementation engineering. Twenty one years in retail site acquisition, leasing, brokerage and development. VIDEO: Mr. Shawn Massey's Background and Advice to Students
- Michael T. "Mac" McGinnis - Advisory Board Vice-Chairman
mmcginnis@brileyfbr.com
Mac McGinnis joined B. Riley FBR in April 2018 as a Managing Director and Southeast Sales Manager of the firm’s Fixed Income Capital Markets division. He brings over 38 years in the fixed income industry and has developed an extensive background across all levels of institutional and retail sales, investment banking, underwriting and trading across a wide range of taxable and non-taxable securities.
In his current role, he leverages his knowledge and experience to provide clients with strategic portfolio management reflective of the highly regulated environment. His clientele includes banks, savings and loans, credit unions, insurance companies, pension funds, investment advisors, mutual funds, hedge funds, public funds and individuals. Additionally, Mr. McGinnis also assists B. Riley FBR in developing and managing an institutional marketing group in the southeastern U. S. and nationally.
Prior to joining B. Riley FBR, Mr. McGinnis served as a Director in Hilltop Securities’ Capital Markets division. His previous experience includes 17 years as an Executive Vice President and Branch Manager at a firm where he was involved with all levels of sales, secondary municipal tax-exempt and taxable trading, competitive underwriting and public finance. He also assisted in developing and managing the firm’s retail sales, equity, UIT and mutual fund departments.
As a registered representative with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Mr. McGinnis holds the following licenses: Series 7, 52, 53, 63 and 24.
- Stephen K. Valadié, CFA
svaladie@firsthorizon.com
Steve is a part of the Fintech Strategy team at First Horizon, focused on applying AI across the enterprise. He joined this team after 24 years at FTN Financial, serving in technology, trading, and sales management roles, and leading their Asia operation in Hong Kong. Steve earned BBA and MBA degrees from the University of Memphis and is a CFA® charter holder.str
- Scott A Trammell, CFP
strammell@strategicfinancialpartners.com
Scott is an Executive Vice President and Financial Advisor at Strategic Financial Partners. He began his career in financial services in 2001 and has been with SFP for his entire professional tenure. Joining the firm’s leadership team in 2007, he enjoys supporting advisors, as well as continuing to serve his clients.
A native of Mobile, Alabama and a Memphis resident for nearly 20 years, he holds a BBA in International Business from the University of Mississippi and is a Certified Financial PlannerTM certificant.
Within the Memphis community, Mr. Trammell is a current member and former board member of the Financial Planning Association of Greater Memphis, past President of the Kindred Place Board of Directors, and has served in various leadership roles at St. John’s Episcopal Church. VIDEO: Mr. Scott Trammel's Background and Advice to Students
- Alex Beis
abbeis@memphis.edu
Student representative as of 02/25/2022
- Pankaj K. Jain, Ph.D
pjain@memphis.edu
Department Chair and George Johnson Professor of Finance, Insurance and Real Estate at the Fogelman College of Business & Economics.