MIDTOWN FINANCIAL ADVISORS - Key Persons
Ashby Cook was born and raised in High Point. He graduated from Wake Forest in 1971 and started his financial career with Lincoln Financial immediately after graduation. He was an Agency Manager with Pilot Life and Jefferson Pilot from 1982 - 1998. In 1999, he created Ashby Cook Financial, and in 2016 he joined Midtown Financial Advisors at its creation. Ashby is an independent agent and investment broker. He specializes in financial and estate planning, primarily through investment products, annuities, and life insurance.
Ashby is married to Katherine and has two grown children. He is active in the community, Past President of Crescent Rotary, and Past President of Wake Forest Athletics Deacon Club. Ashby has an active role in the Athletes in Action ministry on campus at Wake Forest. As hobbies go, he enjoys traveling, working out, playing with his dogs, writing, and people. Oh...did we mention traveling?
Barry began his professional career in banking soon after graduation in 1971 from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, where he played basketball. He completed the management training program with the former Southern National Bank and graduated from the North Carolina School of Banking in Chapel Hill. He entered the insurance industry in 1980 and enjoyed a distinguished career with Jefferson-Pilot Insurance and its predecessor Pilot Life. Barry was the leading Sales Manager, nationally for 11 of his 14 years with the firm. After setting up his private practice in 1996, Barry has continued to focus on serving his many clients.
He and his wife, Amelia, reside in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Dwain has been a Financial Advisor for over 10 years and earned Education and Bible degrees in 1994 from Piedmont International University in Winston-Salem, NC. He started Deep River Capital Advisors in 2016 and merged his practice with Midtown Financial Advisors in December, 2019. He holds the credential of Certified Kingdom Advisor® and enjoys co-leading the monthly Kingdom Advisors Study group alongside other local investment professionals.
Dwain has over 20 years of experience in Christian retail and other business startups. He lead the adoption agency licensing process and served as State Director for Lifeline Children's Services here in North Carolina from 2013-2014. He is involved with several non-profits and has served as a board member and President of ABBA Fund since 2006.
Dwain lives in Bennett, NC with his wife Heidi and their 3 children - Anna, Sarah, and Jonathan.
Graham joined Midtown Financial Advisors in May 2018 as a Registered Office Assistant. His drive and determination led him to becoming a fully licensed Advisor in just 5 short months of joining Midtown! He holds his Series 7, Series 65, and life insurance licenses.
Originally from small town Bennett, NC, Graham graduated from Chatham Central High School before going on to attend Appalachian State University. During his time at Appalachian he enjoyed hiking, snowboarding, and attending Intervarsity Campus Ministries where he also led an underclassman bible study and small group each week. After spending four years at ASU, he graduated with a BSBA degree in Finance and Banking.
Graham, and his wife Kirsten, enjoys free time with friends, going to the gym, a good cup of coffee and spending time outdoors.
Job Titles:
- Director of Business Development
Holly Perryman joined the firm in 2010 and is the Director of Business Development.
Working closely with the Managing Partners to improve the operational systems, processes and policies in support of Midtown Financial Advisors' mission -- specifically, support better management reporting, information flow and management, business process and organizational planning.
Plan and implement programs, both short and long range, targeted toward existing and new markets...which include campaigns, events, social media marketing, and public relations.
Holly has been in the financial services industry since 1999. Her areas of expertise include: Client Services, Marketing, Event Planning, and Public Relations. Prior to this industry she was in Public Relations at a local High Point firm, as well as, an Advertising Executive at a community newspaper.
Holly has been in the financial services industry since 1999. Her areas of expertise include: Client Services, Marketing, Event Planning, and Public Relations. Prior to this industry she was in Public Relations at a local High Point firm, as well as, an Advertising Executive at a community newspaper.
Holly is married to Adam, and together they have two daughters, Hannah & Rachel. She is an active member of Community Bible Church. She serves in the Children's Ministry and the Choir. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family & friends, going to concerts to see her favorite rock bands, living an active lifestyle and volunteering with local charities and missions groups.
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner
- Managing Partner With
Jeff Phillips is a Managing Partner with Midtown Financial Advisors. He has been an Investment Advisor for more than 34 years. He developed his financial expertise with Prudential, PaineWebber/UBS, and Wachovia Securities before founding Phillips Wealth Management in 2003 and, in June of 2016, merged with three other successful firms to form Midtown Financial Advisors here in Greensboro.
Jeff studied computer science at the University of Central Oklahoma. He is a former Director at Daystar Church; he served on the board of directors of the Greensboro Children's Museum; is past President of the Greensboro Optimist Club; was President and co-founder of Men of Vision & Excellence, a Christian non-profit; he coached many youth basketball, soccer, and softball teams over the years, and was a former team leader for the Salvation Army's Night Watch ministry, serving the homeless in Greensboro.
He was elected to the Board of Guilford County Commissioners in 2012 and was immediately selected by his peers as the Chairman of the Budget Committee and has been instrumental in helping the board navigate the County's $600+ million annual budget. Jeff served as Vice-Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners in 2015 and 2019 and Board Chairman in 2016, 2017, and 2020.
Jeff's guidance and leadership resulted in tens of millions in savings for county taxpayers, a reduction of hundreds of millions in county debt, property tax rate cuts in 4 of the last 8 years, as well as increases in Public Education funding for each of the past 8 years. Jeff has also been instrumental in leading transformative community advancement around the issues of domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, mental health, and homelessness with the opening of the Guilford County Family Justice Center in 2015 and the Guilford County Behavioral Health Crisis Center early 2021.
Jeff has been married to Lori for 38 years, has two married daughters, and three beautiful grandchildren - Raleigh is 5, Adley is 4, and Remy is 2.
Job Titles:
- Financial Advisor
- Associate in Arts at Guilford Technical Community College
- Member at Definition Church
Karlee Lakin received her Associate in Arts at Guilford Technical Community College in 2019 while being awarded the Academic Excellence Award and Outstanding College Transfer Graduate. She transferred to Appalachian State University and graduated with a BSBA degree in Finance and Banking in May of 2021. During her time at ASU, Karlee participated and was part of the leadership in the campus ministry Reformed University Fellowship (RUF). Furthermore, she was a member and equity analyst in a collegiate class of 12 hand-selected students in the finance program where they actively managed a stock portfolio for the school, The Bowden Investment Group. After graduating, she spent three months doing a missions internship for Reaching a Generation in South Africa and Zambia.
Karlee has recently become the newest onboarded Financial Advisor on the Midtown Financial Advisors team. She interned for Chuck Furr and his staff for three years during her school breaks at Appalachian State University (ASU).
Karlee is an active member at Definition Church and enjoys time with friends & family, hiking, and coffee. She is witty, a fast learner, and one who values the cultivation of relationships. Karlee enjoys the financial markets and assisting people with accomplishing their life goals. She wants to be an advocate for clients and help them navigate the complexities that finances can bring.
Job Titles:
- Client Specialist for Chuck Furr
Kenda Blackwood was with Furr & Associates Financial since 1995 before its merger into Midtown Financial Advisors in 2016. Serving in various capacities over the years, Kenda currently provides customer service to individual investment clients. She, her husband, and their three children reside near Greensboro and are active in their church. She is an avid reader, loves old movies, volunteering at her children's schools and going on mission trips.
Job Titles:
- Director of Client Relations for Ashby Cook
Leslie Craven grew up in Charlotte, graduated from UNC-G, and remained in Greensboro following graduation. She has worked in the financial services industry since 1987, and joined Ashby Cook in 2005. Leslie and Ashby joined Midtown Financial Advisors at its creation in 2016.
She is married to John, they have two children and two granddaughters, and are members of Muir's Chapel United Methodist Church. In her free time, Leslie enjoys spending time with family and friends, gardening, reading, and photography.
Lori Haddock spent 30 years in banking with Wells Fargo and its predecessors, First Union and Wachovia. Thirteen years were spent in commercial banking and commercial real estate lending, thirteen years were in relationship management in Private Banking and four years were spent as a trust officer. She has experience in working comprehensively with her clients' financial and planning needs. Lori is a graduate of East Carolina University with a BSBA and MBA from the College of Business. She is a Certified Financial Planner™ and holds the Certified Trust Financial Advisor designation from the Institute of Certified Bankers. She is a member of Greensboro Rotary Club and is a member of the Investment Committee for Presbyterian Homes. She has served on the board of directors for Presbyterian Homes, Inc. (Chair, board member, committee chair for Executive and Finance Committees), Rotary Club of Greensboro and Greensboro Montessori School, and has participated in various fund raising events in the community. She is an active partner at Daystar Church. Lori has lived in Greensboro for 32 years. She is married to Byron Haddock and has two children, Ben who lives in Charlotte and Kate who is a senior at UNC-G. Lori enjoys hiking, walking her dogs, exercising, reading and music.
Richard began his career as a financial professional in 2014, and after a year of working in a support role and learning the operations side of the business, he became a licensed representative in 2015. His passion for personal finance was sparked after he became involved with leading Dave Ramsey's "Financial Peace University" class at his church here in Greensboro. Richard's desire is to teach and serve people in the area of investment planning with the highest level of integrity.
Richard graduated from Appalachian State University, where he met his wife, Rachel. Together they have two children, Ashlynn and Brody. He is actively involved in several ministries at Westover Church and enjoys cheering on the Tar Heels and Mountaineers to many victories!
Job Titles:
- Financial Advisor
- Life Community Church As a Worship Leader
Shepard Ottaway is a graduate of Wingate University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. There, he divided his time between his studies and representing the university as a member of the Wingate Track & Field team. Shepard started his career in finance at Western & Southern Life after graduating in winter of 2019 and spent more than a year there gaining experience in the industry. He then moved to Midtown Financial Advisors where he continues to devote himself to helping clients plan their financial futures. Shepard's passion is educating and empowering his clients to help them achieve their goals. Shepard has Series 6, 63, and 65 securities licenses. He is also licensed in Life Insurance and Long-Term Care.
Outside the office, Shepard serves at Life Community Church as a worship leader, youth small group leader, and as a member of the Church Security Team. Shepard also volunteers at High Point Christian Academy where he is an Assistant Coach for their track and field program. In his spare time Shepard enjoys firearms, lifting weights, and spending time with his wife, Jenni.