Wellspring Financial Advisors is excited to announce the addition of Robert Jackson to the team as Senior Tax Advisor. With an extensive background in tax consulting and a deep understanding of tax laws, Robert’s expertise will play a key role in driving innovative solutions for the firm’s high-net-worth client families.

Robert joins Wellspring after having held various high-impact roles in the tax advisory field.  Most recently, he served as a Senior Manager in Tax at both Eide Bailly and Apple Growth Partners, where he successfully managed tax strategies for a diverse portfolio of clients, providing strategic insights to ensure tax efficiency and compliance. His wealth of experience over the past 25 years spans across many aspects of income tax and tax planning.

As Senior Tax Advisor, Robert will work closely with clients to deliver customized tax strategies, focusing on maximizing savings, minimizing risk, and ensuring full compliance with ever-evolving tax regulations.

Robert holds a Master of Taxation degree from the University of Denver and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from Kent State University. He is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Robert joined the firm effective February 6, 2025.

Jan. 8, 2025 – Wellspring Financial Advisors (“Wellspring”), an independent, fee-only multi-family office offering comprehensive wealth management services to ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, has appointed Johnny Sirpilla as its Chief Experience Officer. Sirpilla will be responsible for shaping and enhancing the overall experience of the firm’s clients, helping to ensure every touchpoint exceeds expectations while spearheading the firm’s new “Be Well” service line, which provides access to carefully vetted lifestyle partners. Additionally, Sirpilla is tasked with providing business development support through strategic planning and relationship building as well as leading programs to promote employee growth and engagement.

Sirpilla is well-acquainted with Wellspring, as he transitions into this role after serving as a board member for the firm since October 2023. As former President and Chief Business Development Officer for Camping World and Good Sam, he brings a depth of professional experience across disciplines, including strategic planning, operational management, and self-development practices. His experience will support the continued development of Wellspring’s client-first culture, rooted in excellence and collaboration. He will report to Wellspring founder and Chief Executive Officer Michael Novak and will serve on the firm’s leadership team alongside Novak and, President and Chief Operating Officer, Jeff Kadlic.

“At Wellspring, providing an outstanding client experience is at the heart of everything we do,” said Novak. “With Johnny’s continued leadership, we are excited to create even more meaningful, personalized, and seamless experiences for our clients and continue to deliver customized solutions to meet our clients’ unique and evolving needs.”

Novak founded Wellspring in 2007 with the mission to provide holistic wealth management solutions to wealthy families, specifically delivering services and support under one roof. The addition of a Chief Experience Officer underscores Wellspring’s commitment to providing a fully comprehensive offering as the firm seeks to innovate, grow, and build stronger connections with its clients.

“I had the pleasure of working with Wellspring in my previous role, and I am excited at the opportunity to further ingrain myself with their passionate and innovative team,” said Sirpilla. “Wellspring leadership has made strategic decisions to invest in continually improving the service and experience for their clients and I am thrilled to lead this effort.”

Sirpilla assumed the new role effective Jan. 2, 2025. He holds a Masters in Organizational Behavioral Management from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Miami University (Ohio). He also earned certifications in Executive Presence and Influence & Persuasive Leadership Development as well as Neuroscience of the Brain in Business from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School.

We are thrilled to announce Wellspring Financial Advisors has been selected as an Engage! Cleveland Generation NEXT Award Recipient in the ‘Company of the Year’ category.

Engage! Cleveland’s Generation NEXT Awards honors the companies, organizations, and individuals working diligently to attract, engage and retain up-and-coming talent to Cleveland. Winning companies and individuals are recognized for their efforts in helping transform the region into a premier community and making Cleveland a great place to live and work.

Wellspring has been involved as an employer member with Engage! Cleveland since 2022. On an individual level, Mac McLaughlin serves on the Board, Andy Siciliano serves as a member of the Leadership Council, and Laura Capuozzo is a former mentor of the mentorship program for E!C.

Wellspring is honored to earn this award as it showcases our commitment to providing opportunities for our employees to grow and thrive.

For the full announcement, click here: https://engagecleveland.org/generationnext/

May 1, 2024 – Wellspring Financial Advisors (Wellspring), a registered investment adviser and multi-family office catering to ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, is thrilled to announce President & CEO, Michael Novak, has been named the Estate Planning Council of Cleveland’s 2024 Distinguished Estate Planner (DEP). This award honors local accountants, attorneys, financial planners, insurance professionals, philanthropic professionals, or other related professionals, for their outstanding contributions to their respective fields. The Distinguished Estate Planner Award is presented to one individual annually.

To be considered for this award, candidates must be engaged in practice or recently retired with 15 years involvement in their respective field of estate planning and must also have been a member of the Cleveland Council for at least five years. Those eligible to receive the award are required to hold one of the following certifications: Accredited Estate Planner^®, Attorney (licensed to practice in State of Ohio), Certified Financial Planner^®, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Trust & Financial Advisor, Certified Wealth Strategist^®, Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy^®, Chartered Financial Analyst, Chartered Financial Consultant^®, and/or Chartered Life Underwriter^®.

Recipients reflect, in practice, the goals for which The Estate Planning Council of Cleveland was created, which includes furthering the education of the members of the council and of the public, fostering a better understanding of the proper relationship among professionals of various disciplines, and providing a better understanding of estate planning. As such, the criteria for the award may include teaching, speaking, authorship, service to the Council, professional, civic or charitable service and creativity or accomplishment in development of services, products, solutions, legislation.

Past recipients of the Distinguished Estate Planner Award include: Janet L. Lowder (2023), James A. Goldsmith (2022), Lisa Roberts-Mamone (2021), Don Laubacher (2020), Ginger F. Mlakar (2019), Alan D. Gross (2018), Patrick J. Saccogna (2017), Howard B. Edelstein (2016), Joseph M. Mentrek (2015), Radd L. Riebe (2014), M. Elizabeth Monihan (2013), Matthew F. Kadish (2012), Gary A. Zwick (2011), M. Patricia Culler (2010), Stephen H. Gariepy (2009), Marcia J. Wexberg (2008), James G. Dickinson (2007), Herbert L. Braverman (2006), Roger L. Shumaker (2005), Jeffry L. Weiler (2004), Robert M. Brucken (2003), J. Donald Cairns (2002), and P. Thomas Austin (2001).

The Awards celebration will be hosted by The Estate Planning Council of Cleveland on June 10^th.

Additional information on the Distinguished Estate Planner Award can be found on the Estate Planning Council of Cleveland website: https://www.epccleveland.org/members/directoryAddl.

At our core, Wellspring serves to improve the lives of others. Our mission is, and always has been, to work hard everyday to make a difference. We accomplish this through our dedication to providing professional guidance to our clients, giving back to the community through donation of time, talent, and treasure, and creating a collaborative and inclusive environment for employees to thrive.

This report focuses on two of Wellspring’s core values: give back and cultivate inclusivity, outlining our commitment to serving the community on a firm and individual level and creating a workplace where differences are embraced.

We welcome you to review our 2023 accomplishments and goals as we continue to grow and evolve as a firm centered on serving others.

This year, nine women will receive the award at YWCA’s Woman of Achievement Award Ceremony, which will be held on May 30, 2024 at Severance Hall. This group of honorees represent organizations across Northeast Ohio that are investing in the betterment and progress of women and girls in our community.

The 2024 Women of Achievement Honorees are:

• India L. Birdsong Terry General Manager & Chief Executive Officer, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
• Laura J. Bloomberg, Ph.D. President, Cleveland State University
• Jenice Contreras Executive Director of the Northeast Ohio Hispanic Center for Economic Development (NEOHCED)
• Vickie  Johnson Chief Community Officer, Cleveland Clinic
• Lillian Kuri President and CEO, Cleveland Foundation
• Jeneen Marziani State President, Bank of America Ohio; President Bank of America Cleveland
• A’Shira Nelson, CPA Tax Manager, Director, Wellspring Financial Advisors
• Airica Steed, Ed.D., MBA, RN President and CEO, MetroHealth System
• Bonita G. Teeuwen Chief Operating Officer, City of Cleveland

“The nine women who were chosen from a record-breaking number of nominations are remarkable and it will be an honor to celebrate them,” said Helen Forbes Fields, YWCA Greater Cleveland President and CEO. “The 2024 class has demonstrated unwavering commitment, leadership, and dedication to advancing women’s rights and empowerment in our community.”

The Women of Achievement Academy boasts over 250 past honorees, all of whom are esteemed leaders, movers and shakers making an impact in Northeast Ohio.

Meet the 2024 YWCA Women of Achivement Honorees

India L. Birdsong Terry joined the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) as Chief Executive Officer and General Manager on September 16, 2019. She brings nearly 15 years’ experience working in positions of increasing responsibility in the public transit industry, most recently in Nashville, where she served as Chief Operating Officer, and in Chicago. At RTA, Birdsong Terry oversees more than 2,300 employees at one of the largest transit system in Ohio, which provides more than 35 million annual rides to customers using the bus, rail, paratransit, trolley and bus rapid transit system across the county’s 457 square miles. Responsible for managing the Authority’s $292 million operating budget, Birdsong Terry is committed to transparent leadership, management accountability and sound financial oversight.

Laura J. Bloomberg, Ph.D was appointed the eighth president of Cleveland State University (CSU) in the spring of 2022. She had previously served at CSU as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs since the fall of 2021. She has guided strategic initiatives that support CSU’s ability to create an academic community in which everyone can thrive and enrich the surrounding region. Before Cleveland State, Bloomberg served eight years as dean and prior associate dean of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. In that capacity, Bloomberg led the global expansion of the school, established a national pathway program for students underrepresented in public policymaking, launched an internationally focused Human Rights degree, and developed the Mandela Washington Fellowship program to support young leaders from countries across Africa.

Jenice Contreras is an established leader in small business and community development, healthcare and nonprofit management. Currently, she serves as the Executive Director of the Northeast Ohio Hispanic Center for Economic Development (the Center). Under the Center, Jenice is responsible for the NEO Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and community development. Jenice is a driving force around the neighborhood redevelopment efforts in Cleveland’s Clark-Fulton neighborhood known as La Villa Hispana. La Villa Hispana is a cultural and economic placemaking initiative in the most densely populated Hispanic enclave in the state of Ohio. Under Jenice’s leadership, the Center has ventured into the first real estate development of La Villa Hispana known as CentroVilla25 where she represents the organization as Project Owner and a Co-developer.

Vickie  Johnson is Cleveland Clinic’s first Chief Community Officer. She leads Cleveland Clinic’s efforts to nurture healthy communities, improve our neighbors’ lives and meet their evolving needs. Vickie guides strategic community planning nationally and internationally while cultivating collaborations with local institutions, government agencies, elected officials and healthcare professionals to bring about meaningful change. Vickie has decades of leadership experience in Cleveland’s nonprofit, government and business sectors. She most recently served as Cleveland Clinic’s Senior Director, Government and Community Relations, where she led the initiative to attract a Meijer grocery store and bring affordable housing to the Fairfax neighborhood; facilitated a $52.5 million gift to support lead safety; and designed Cleveland Clinic’s Louis Stokes Summer Internship Program to foster future healthcare workers.

Lillian Kuri became President & CEO of the Cleveland Foundation on August 1, 2023. She is the first woman to hold the full-time president and CEO position at the nation’s oldest community foundation. Lillian’s entire career has demonstrated her passion to improve the quality of life of all people in Greater Cleveland. Prior to becoming President & CEO, Lillian had served as the foundation’s Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer since 2021, leading the development of the foundation’s strategic plan and the design execution, operations and community planning for the foundation’s new headquarters in MidTown. Lillian has also had appointments from four successive Cleveland mayoral administrations and recently played an important civic role as a member of Mayor Justin Bibb’s Operations Task Force.

Jeneen Marziani is Bank of America’s state president for Ohio and the president of Cleveland, responsible for growing Bank of America’s business and reputation in the Cleveland market and across the state. That includes driving business integration by connecting Bank of America’s capabilities across their eight lines of business to people and companies in Cleveland. It also includes deploying Bank of America’s resources to build strong communities. Jeneen is committed to ensuring that Bank of America is a great place to work by connecting employees to the broader enterprise, championing a culture of diversity and inclusion, and fostering opportunities for employees in Cleveland to develop and grow.  In addition to her responsibilities in Cleveland, Jeneen represents Ohio on state-wide initiatives focused on public policy activities and key issues in Ohio.

A’Shira Nelson, CPA, serves as Tax Manager and Director at Wellspring Financial Advisors. In this role she oversees the firm’s Tax Department, which includes day-to-day management and oversight of the tax team in addition to tax research and forward-looking planning for the firm’s ultra-high-net-worth clients. With over 12 years of industry experience, A’Shira delivers innovative solutions. As a manager, A’Shira meets regularly with Wellspring’s leadership team to discuss the firm’s strategic goals and initiatives. She is also a member of the firm’s DEI Committee, which was established to help build a workforce that encourages flexibility and fairness to enable all employees to reach their full potential. A’Shira also founded Savvy Girl Money, a financial empowerment platform with a mission to educate and inspire women to take control of their finances.

Airica Steed, Ed.D., MBA, RN, President and CEO MetroHealth System, is leading innovative approaches to transform patient care beyond traditional healthcare walls and championing a commitment to eradicating health disparities and advancing the health and wealth of the communities. She is a highly accomplished and award-winning transformational healthcare executive with over 20 years of exceptional leadership skills and has a proven track record of championing health equity, driving results, and leading large-scale transformation of health organizations. Dr. Steed is a fearless champion for Diversity and Inclusion and has advocated for the recruitment of underrepresented physicians and physician leaders to better mirror the population that the community serves. Prior to moving to Cleveland, Dr. Steed served as the System Chief Operating Officer/Executive Vice President at Sinai Health System in Chicago.

Bonita G. Teeuwen, Chief Operating Officer of the City of Cleveland, oversees both enterprise and general fund departments: Port Control, Public Utilities, Public Works, and the Mayor’s Office of Capital Projects. These departments are the largest and most public-facing areas of public service. As the COO, she is leading many projects that will have lasting change on our region: lakefront development, the transition of struggling City assets like Highland Park Golf Course and the West Side Market to more effective nonprofit management, a Parks and Recreation master plan, and strategic investments in City facilities. In all the departments she oversees, she sets an expectation that service be equitable to all residents of Cleveland. Further, she enthusiastically leads and engages in projects that promote racial equity in City neighborhoods and facilities.

About YWCA Greater Cleveland
YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. YWCA Greater Cleveland was established in 1868. It is the seventh oldest YWCA in the country and one of the oldest continuously operating nonprofits in Cleveland. For over 150 years, YWCA has fought to bring shelter and structure to the vulnerable, to build greater racial equity and to provide a space where women’s leadership is valued and promoted.

In this Capital Group webinar, Michael Novak shares his approach to business planning, which has helped his team develop and focus firm operations to drive growth and deliver high-value client service. Joined by Capital Group’s Content Director Will McKenna and RIA Relationship Manager Ryan Radtke, the group will offer insight on effective planning techniques to create a practical and versatile business plan focused on key growth strategies for your practice.

Johnny Sirpilla to provide expert guidance that supports the firm’s client-centric philosophy and growth

Wellspring Financial Advisors (Wellspring), a registered investment adviser and multi-family office catering to ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, is pleased to announce the addition of Johnny Sirpilla to its advisory board. Johnny joins current board members Scott Roulston and Larry Wolf to support and enhance the mission and vision of the firm.

Johnny Sirpilla is an entrepreneur, author, and speaker. He speaks professionally to businesses, communities, and universities on the importance of managing thoughts, internal honest reflection to develop meaningful professional and personal relationships and re-framing each challenge in your life as an opportunity for self-development and growth. Addressing college students, young professionals, and emerging leaders to discover the power they must develop for their personal brand is one of his passions.

Johnny is the owner of Encourage, LLC. and the retired President and Chief Business Development Officer of Camping World and Good Sam. Johnny’s experience in business leadership began in 1992 when he became President of Sirpilla R.V. Center, Inc. and was recognized out of 3,000 dealers as the National RV Dealer of the Year for best overall run dealership in the country in 1995. In 2003, he was one of the initial acquisitions by Camping World and served in key executive leadership roles of the $4 billion revenue business for 14 years prior to his retirement.

He currently runs his family office, Encourage, LLC, which has holdings in several industries including e-commerce consolidations, fashion and interior design, spirit brands, senior housing, med-tech device development and population health management. Johnny is co-founder/board member for Society Brands (Audit Chair), board member of TecTraum, board member of publicly traded Lippert Components (LCII) where he serves on the M&A, Risk and Human Capital & Compensation Committee (Chair), board member at Braintrust Growth, board member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Personnel Chair) and serves as an active leadership consultant, public speaker and best-selling author of “Life is Hard but I’ll Be Ok”.

He has been an active community leader serving as Chairman of the Board for the United Way of Greater Stark County (Ohio), Chairman of the Board for Stark County Catholic Schools, Executive Committee Member & Board Member of the Aultman Health Foundation, Executive Committee Member and Board Member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and board member of The Pregnancy Support Center. He received the Jackson Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Citizen of the Year.

Johnny graduated from Miami University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a special interest in psychology and received his master’s in Organizational Behavioral Management from University of Phoenix. He also received certification from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School in Executive Presence and Influence & Persuasive Leadership Development.

Wellspring’s other advisory board members include:

Scott Roulston – Scott is an Advisory Partner for both The Pritzker Organization (TPO), the merchant bank for the interests of the Tom Pritzker family, and Brownhelm Capital, a Cleveland-based single-family office. He is also Investment Expert Trustee of the $100B State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio and a board member of Bluecoats, Inc. Formerly, Scott was CEO of Roulston & Company, Inc. (now known as Fairport Wealth) and has held management positions at MAI Capital Management (MAI) in Cleveland, and Segall Bryant & Hamill in Chicago. He has served on the boards of three public companies, several private companies, and founded the Cleveland Chapter of Private Directors Association.

Larry Wolf – Larry is CEO of Red Diamond, Ltd., a single-family office located in Rocky River, Ohio and sits on numerous boards for family-owned businesses and the family’s private foundation. Larry also serves as President of Red Diamond Management Co., the family’s Private Trust Company. He works closely with Greycourt & Co. for investment planning and is a member of their Client Advisory Council. Larry was a founding member of Forge, a national peer-to-peer networking community for single-family offices in the United States, and is a member of their Executive Committee. Larry is also a board member for Investor Diversified Realty ODCE Index Fund and serves as head of their Audit Committee. Prior to working at Red Diamond, he was a Tax Partner in the Cleveland office of Arthur Andersen & Co.

“Wellspring’s advisory board offers a breadth of industry knowledge that supports the firm’s growth and will enhance the client experience”, said Michael Novak, President and CEO at Wellspring. “We are thrilled to have Johnny join with Scott and Larry as we continue to navigate Wellspring’s future in a strategic and meaningful way.”