2023 Rising Leader Finalists

Investing locally is part of the Bartlett Wealth Management Way, and Catherine Miller leads by example with community involvement. She is a rising star in the Greater Cincinnati community; she selflessly gives her time, talents, and treasure to various organizations in the city. In 2022, she participated in the Chamber's C-Change program. She is a past member of the ArtsWave Women's Roundtable and is currently involed with CISE, Saint Ursula Academy, and the Goering Center. Her community involvement, in combination with her technical expertise in financial planning, has positioned her to be a future Principal of the firm.

Catherine was nominated by Keith Dershem, Bartlett Wealth Management.

Justin has experienced unprecedented success at USI Insurance Services. Originally a producer from outside the industry, he has achieved unparalleled revenue for someone so new to insurance. In 2022, Justin earned USI’s PEAK Award, which honors the top sales individuals across the company who produce over $2.5 million in premium written in such a short span. In 2023, Justin stepped into a leadership role in a time of need to lead their Select division within the state of Ohio. In a short span of time, he helped the Midwest set a revenue new business record in Q3. Additionally, he has successfully recruited great talent, exceeding expectations. He has a strategic business mindset and the ability to achieve financial success in terms of sales and profit growth.

Justin was nominated by Tom Cassady, USI Insurance Services.

At Donnellon McCarthy Enterprises (DME), Erica is a rising leader for several reasons: she does not say “no” to anything and steps up to any task thrown her way. She is more than just an employee; she is a cheerleader at DME. She helps wherever needed, whether in the sales department, customer service, billing, or IT. A key strength of Erica’s is the ability to train – she has assisted with training in the administrative department and trains all new sales representatives joining DME. She not only makes them feel welcome, but educates them on the best practices within the company. Over her five years with DME, Erica has trained several employees who have grown with the organization. She has secured several wins within request for proposals by training the employees to be successful.

Erica was nominated by Jim George, Donnellon McCarthy Enterprises.

At Pension Corporation of America, Seth Priestle has worked diligently to give back to his community, the financial services profession, and the next generation of Cincinnati business leaders. He previously served as the Chair of the Grants Committee and is the current Chair of the Investment Committee for the Community Foundation of West Chester and Liberty. Seth served as the President, Chairman, and pro-bono Director for the Financial Planning Association of Southwestern Ohio. He has spent many years on the Board of the Cincinnati chapter of the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA) and is currently an Adjunct Professor at the Carl H. Linder College of Business. He earned the Dean’s List of Teaching Excellence and was named 2018 Outstanding Adjunct Teaching in Finance.

During Seth’s tenure, the assets of the Community Foundation of West Chester and Liberty have grown considerably. As Chair of the Investment Committee, he has added new advisory partnerships, recruited new committee members, and provided fiduciary oversight to the Foundation’s $20+ million in assets. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Seth established the region’s first Community Health Fund. During his tenure for the Financial Planning Association, the organization increased membership, strengthened its financial position, and held multiple pro-bono Financial Planning Days.

Seth was nominated by Collin Ecklerle, Pension Corporation of America.