INVESTORS TRUST COMPANY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Assistant Vice President, Middle Office Manager
Charles oversees and implements policies and protocols and manages day-to-day activities of our middle office.
Charles has nearly 15 years of experience in the financial services industry. Before joining Investors Trust, he served in various roles in the Raleigh area, including as practice manager with Sharp Advisors, and earlier, as client service manager with LifeTime Asset Management. Charles began his career with Capitol Financial Solutions as a registered representative and was promoted to practice manager.
Charles earned a B.S. in business administration with a concentration in finance from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
Charles lives in Raleigh with his wife, Mandy, and daughter, Lucy. In his free time, Charles enjoys spending time with his family.
As president of Investors Trust, Craig oversees day-to-day operations and manages the team to provide the personalized service necessary in meeting a wide range of our clients' investment, retirement, and other financial planning needs.
Craig has more than 25 years of leadership experience in investment-related businesses, and served most recently as chief investment strategist at Manchester Capital Management. Prior to that role, Craig served as chief investment officer at Franklin Street Partners in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, for 12 years. His earlier career includes Boston-based positions, including principal and portfolio manager at Essex Investment Management, portfolio manager at Putnam Investments, and analyst at Keystone Investments.
In addition, Craig served in the U.S. Army Reserve for ten years, where he attained the rank of captain.
Craig graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.S. in economics and received an M.B.A. with a concentration in finance from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Craig and his wife Erica are now empty-nesters living in Hillsborough. In his free time, Craig enjoys golfing, biking, and hiking with his Bernese Mountain dogs.
Job Titles:
- Client Service Administrator
Crystal has more than 10 years of experience in the customer service industry. She brings a wealth of expertise in delivering exceptional experiences and swift problem-solving. As a client services administrator, she oversees processing of client requests, efficiently opening and servicing accounts, conducting regular reviews, maintaining client accounts, and ensuring seamless communication.
Crystal received an A.A. from Wake Technical Community College and a B.S. in middle grades education from North Carolina State. She began her career as a middle school science teacher and then worked in the apartment and medical device industries before coming to Investors Trust in 2023. These professions have enriched her understanding of beginning with the end in mind and then breaking down how to effectively set daily goals to have small wins every day.
Crystal lives in Raleigh with her husband. During her leisure time, she indulges in watching movies, reading, workouts, and actively pursuing a healthy lifestyle.
Job Titles:
- Client Service Administrator
Eileen has more than 20 years' experience in customer service and administration. As customer service account manager, she oversees the client onboarding process, maintains accounts, processes distributions and deposits, and communicates with all clients. Eileen enjoys meeting and connecting with people and is a key member of the team, ensuring clients receive high-touch service.
Prior to joining Investors Trust in 2008, Eileen employed her interpersonal skills and attention to detail in customer service roles at Midway Airlines and Nations Home Funding, where she also interfaced with the executive staff.
Eileen received the Certified IRA Specialist designation through Ascensus and demonstrates her dedication to her profession by participating in ongoing education courses to stay on top of changes associated with the Secure Act.
Eileen has lived in Durham for more than 30 years, where she raised her two children. She enjoys spending time with family, friends, her sweet dog, and especially with her grandson. She loves music, whether it is listening at home or the car, going to concerts, singing in her church choir, or enjoying her favorite music of all: hearing the birds when she goes for a walk.
Job Titles:
- Relationship Manager
- Senior Vice President
As a senior vice president and relationship manager, Ginger works with a team comprising a client service account manager and portfolio manager to ensure we provide the highest quality customer service to our clients. That service includes administering trust accounts, transferring funds, arranging client meetings and portfolio reviews, responding to questions, and listening to clients to understand and meet their needs.
Ginger has more than 30 years of experience in the trust and investment industry, beginning with Central Carolina Bank in 1992. After graduating from Southeastern Trust School at Campbell University in 1995, she helped open a trust office in Greensboro, North Carolina. Ginger served as a vice president and trust administrator for 12 years before joining Investors Trust in 2008.
Ginger graduated from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, earning a B.S. in industrial relations.
Ginger lives in Durham with her husband, Jim. In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing golf, traveling with her husband, and watching ACC sports.
Jim joined Investors Trust Company's parent company, Investors Title, in 1987 and has acted as chief executive officer of the Trust Company since 2004. He serves in a number of executive leadership roles for the entire family of Investors Title companies, and has extensive operations and marketing experience in addition to his strong background in investment strategy and strategic planning. Prior to joining Investors Title in 1987, Jim worked at a private family office.
Jim graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.S. in business administration. Jim also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) designation.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Senior Vice President
- Member of the Durham & Orange County Estate Planning Council
As senior vice president and managing director of our Raleigh office, Michael leads a team that provides the personalized service necessary to meet our clients' investment, trust, and other wealth planning needs.
Michael has nearly two decades of experience in investment-related businesses, most recently as senior fiduciary officer for PNC Wealth Management in Washington, D.C. Prior to that, he was a financial advisor with Wells Fargo and Edward Jones Investments.
Michael earned a B.S. in business administration in management from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Master of Trust and Wealth Management, magna cum laude, from Campbell University. In addition to earning the designations of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Accredited Estate Planner, he also holds the American Bankers Association's Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA) designation and successfully completed its national graduate-level trust program.
Michael is a member of the Durham & Orange County Estate Planning Council and was past president of the Piedmont Estate Planning Council. He recently served on the local Board of Directors for Make-A-Wish® Foundation and Habitat for Humanity.
Michael lives in Raleigh. In his free time, he enjoys traveling internationally to exotic locations such as Iceland, Egypt, and Turkey. He is also a pilot based out of RDU and enjoys flying throughout North Carolina, especially along the Outer Banks.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Wealth Advisor
Robby began his career in the nonprofit space, working with endowments and charitable organizations to assist them in planning. He is passionate about helping clients align their goals with their investment objectives. Prior to joining Investors Trust, Robby served as chief investment officer and Wealth Advisor at Cook Wealth, a Raleigh-based independent wealth advisor. A key strength is his ability to communicate the intricacies of the capital markets to clients in ways that affect each of them specifically.
Robby graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.S. in economics and earned two M.A.s from Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest. He also holds both the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) designations.
Robby lives in Raleigh with his wife, Cherie, and their two daughters. In his free time, Robby enjoys tennis, CrossFit, and leading an active life with his family.
As chief investment officer of Investors Trust since 2013, Bob Fontana oversees the investment activities of the firm to ensure we deliver positive risk-adjusted returns.
Bob has more than 25 years of investment management experience, serving affluent individuals, institutions, 401(k) plans, and nonprofits. Prior to joining Investors Trust, Bob served as president and chief investment officer of Caritas Capital, LLC, and as principal, portfolio manager, and director of research for Portfolio Capital Management. He also was chief financial officer for broker-dealer TCA Financial Group.
Bob graduated from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, earning a B.S. in international economics, and received an M.B.A. from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) designation.
Bob lives in Charlotte with his wife and two children. In his free time, he enjoys sports, reading financial thrillers, and relaxing with his family.
Job Titles:
- Client Service Administrator
Shelly ensures our clients receive high-level service. Her day-to-day role at Investors Trust consists of processing client requests, opening and servicing accounts, performing regulatory reviews, providing ongoing maintenance of client accounts, and conveying information. Throughout her 20-year career, Shelly has focused on delivering a high level of customer service, including positions at an acute hospital care company and in healthcare training consultancies.
Shelly earned an A.A. from Harrisburg Area Community College and attended Penn State University in York, Pennsylvania. She also holds a certification from Southeastern Trust School at Campbell University.
In her free time, Shelly enjoys traveling, reading, supporting live music, and cooking.
Job Titles:
- Director of Asset Allocation & Portfolio Advisor
As director of asset allocation and portfolio advisor, Ty creates asset allocation strategies and works with clients to implement appropriate investment solutions and construct portfolios to align with their individual goals.
Ty has more than 25 years of investment experience. Most recently, he served as portfolio manager for the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer's $120 billion defined benefit retirement plan, where he oversaw more than $15 billion in investments across credit, real asset, and multi-strategy investments. Prior to that role, Ty served as co-portfolio manager and director of research for Hatteras Funds, an alternative investment firm in Raleigh, North Carolina. Previously, he was a senior equity analyst at Brightleaf Capital in Durham, North Carolina, and served as an associate equity analyst at BB&T Capital Markets in Richmond, Virginia. Ty began his career in private wealth management as a vice president at Deutsche Bank Alex Brown in Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
Ty earned a B.S. in economics from Washington & Lee University and an M.B.A. with a concentration in investment management from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In addition, he holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) designation.
Ty lives in Durham with his wife and two children. In his free time, Ty enjoys running, reading, and playing pickleball.