Garden State Trust Company

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Ira J. Brower President & Chief Executive Officer Ira founded Garden State Trust Company in 2008. He has over 40 years in the trust industry primarily providing trust, estate and investment solutions for retired and soon-to-be retired individuals. As President and CEO of Garden State Trust, Ira has grown the company with the simple premise that caring for and thoughtfully guiding clients develops strong trusting relationships that span generations. In 1990, Ira co-founded Manchester Trust Bank that became the wealth management division for Sovereign Bank. Under Ira’s leadership, the wealth management division of Sovereign Bank grew to $2 billion in assets under administration. Ira stepped away from Sovereign as Managing Director of Wealth Management to ultimately form Garden State Trust Company.

In 1981, Ira worked with the senior management of Berkeley Federal Savings, a New Jersey Savings and Loan Association, to establish a Trust Department under the newly enacted Monetary Deregulation Act. Berkeley was granted the First Trust Charter by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board for the New York, New Jersey and Puerto Rico District as a Division of a Savings and Loan Association.

In his professional activities, Ira is a member of the Samaritan Healthcare and Hospice President’s Advisory Council; a former member of the Virtua Foundation Gift Planning Advisory Council, and a Trustee of the 21 Plus Foundation.

Moreover, Ira is past president and a Paul Harris Fellow of Central Ocean Rotary, Toms River. He also served as past president of the Ocean County Estate Planning Council and the Ocean County Bankers Association.

Barbara Kannheiser Executive Vice President & COO Barbara is a principal of Garden State Trust Company. She has over 25 years of experience in fiduciary administration and operations. In her role as EVP and COO, Barbara oversees all facets of fiduciary activities. Additionally, she is responsible for all financial reporting for Garden State Trust Company. The depth of Barbara’s experience and dedication to problem solving promotes a culture within the company for the delivery of quality and responsive service to clients.

In 1990, Barbara joined Manchester Trust Bank and became the Chief Financial Officer. When Manchester Trust became the wealth management division for Sovereign Bank, Barbara served as senior manager on various management committees overseeing the daily administration and investment activities for the fiduciary accounts ensuring regulatory compliance and risk management for a multi-billion dollar division serving a multi-state market.

Barbara has a B.S. degree in accounting and her MBA from Georgian Court University.

Adam B. Brower, CTFA Vice President & Trust Officer Adam is a Vice President and Wealth Management Advisor. He takes pride in finding solutions for client’s needs while developing strong and lasting relationships.

Adam earned a B. S. in Marketing from West Chester University, PA. He is a member of the Estate and Financial Planning Council of Central New Jersey. Adam graduated from Cannon Trust School and earned his Certified Trust & Financial Advisor (CTFA) designation. He holds a Life Insurance and Property & Casualty Insurance license through the State of New Jersey. He also sits on the board for the SPCA of Ocean County.

Siobhan M. Connolly, CTFA Vice President and Trust Officer Siobhan joined Garden State in January of 2009. As Vice President and Trust Officer her focus is on relationships and day to day contact with our investment management, trust and charitable foundation clients. The last few years her work has included a focus on Special Needs Trusts which often requires navigating the dilemmas faced by special needs clients and their families. Siobhan enjoys working with these families and takes pride in helping them provide the best life possible for their loved one.

Prior to joining Garden State Trust Company she owned her own business and worked in Corporate Communications in NYC. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Social Community Activities Network serving the large retiree population of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

Siobhan graduated from Cannon Trust School and earned her Certified Trust & Financial Advisor (CTFA) designation. She also holds a Masters in Education from Long Island University and a Bachelor of Science from University of Albany.

Sean M. Rice, CTFA Vice President and Trust Officer Since 2012, Sean has been a Wealth Management Advisor with GSTC working diligently to expand our client relationships and professional network in the South Jersey market place. Presently, Sean plays a pivotal role in attracting and retaining clients by cultivating new relationships via professional associations, local community events, and a wide array of relationship-building activities.

In his professional activities, Sean is a member of the following:

• New Jersey State and Burlington County
Bar Association

• South Jersey Young Professionals

• Estate and Financial Planning Council of
Southern New Jersey

• Moorestown Rotary Lunch Club

Sean graduated from Cannon Trust School and earned his Certified Trust & Financial Advisor (CTFA) designation. He earned his B.S. degree in Management and a Minor in Business Law at Smeal College of Business at the Pennsylvania State University.

Kurt Talke, CTFA Senior Vice President and Trust Officer Leveraging more than 26 years of helping clients reach their goals in connection with trust and investment management, Kurt plays a vital role in GSTC’s north/northwest New Jersey marketplace client development efforts. In addition to attracting and retaining clients by cultivating new business relationships via a wide range of legal, financial and other professional associations, Kurt builds strong relationships with long-time clients, spanning generations. In 1997, Kurt joined the Peapack-Gladstone Bank’s Trust Division located in Bedminster, NJ where he was instrumental in helping the division grow its assets under administration consistently each and every year.

He was a senior managing director heading their trust and estate administration group, was the plan administrator for their savings & investment plan and a member of the Peapack-Gladstone Bank, Delaware Board of Directors.

Kurt began his career in 1990 with United Trust located in Bridgewater, NJ where he was a vice president and trust officer responsible for administering personal and charitable trusts, estates, retirement funds and investment management accounts.

Kurt obtained the designation of Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA) from the American Bankers Association and is active in many local estate planning associations. He works from the Lebanon office.

John M. Bonk, CTFA Senior Vice President & Trust Officer John’s role is to expand our Investment and Fiduciary Service business. His approach has always been to provide trust, estate, investment and tax services in a coordinated manner to enhance the client experience.

He is a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CFTA) through the American Bankers Association and serves as Trustee of various foundations and associations within the community.

Mary Gonzalez Administrative Assistant Mary began her career with Garden State in 2010. Mary began part time and joined the team as a full time Administrative Assistant in 2013, supporting our trust and investment officers with account management and client requests. She is a team player with extensive customer service experience. Mary takes pride in working with our clients and adds her personal touch as well as analytical skills when addressing their needs.

Karen Spanover Administrative Assistant Karen joined Garden State in 2010 as an administrative assistant. She provides administrative support to our operations, investment and relationship managers. Karen manages accounts payable processes for our client accounts.

1390 Route 22 West, Suite 101 • Lebanon, NJ 08833

908-287-7188

1886 Hinds Road, Suite 2 • Toms River, NJ 08753

732-255-5000

1236 Brace Road • Cherry Hill, NJ 08034

856-281-1300