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2026 Connect Money Next Generation Wealth Management Awards
Winners
- Cristina Wiebelt-Smith: Redefining Wealth Advice Through Education, Community Impact
- Jack Reifsnider: Linking Capital, Community, and Client Outcomes
- Ximena Silva-Avila: Pairing Values-Based Planning with Community Advocacy
- Scott Frazin: Blending Personal Engagement with Next Gen Advisory Approach
- Ken Vendley: Driving Growth Through Mentorship and Holistic Planning
- Michael Bueti: Scaling Growth, Innovation and Next Gen Client Engagement
- Abhishek Vakil: Aligning Personal Performance with Firmwide Growth
- John B. Petrick: Advancing Next Gen RIA Framework
- Alan Simeon: Transformation Through Growth, Innovation and Mentorship
- Julian Locke: Expanding Industry Access Through Mentorship
- Dana Hall: Redefining Wealth Creation Through Community Equity Innovation
- Alex Pape: Bringing AI, Unified Portfolios to the Advisor Desktop
- Nicholas Petrelli: Powering Growth Through Client Acquisition and Team Leadership
- Kelly Ann Winget: Challenges PE Norms With Access and Innovation
- Ashton Lawrence: Building $200M Practice Around Trust, Planning and Education
- Jacob Gurock: From Messaging to Mentorship
- Robert Howland: Modernizing a Legacy Firm While Deepening Client-Centered Advice
- Mamadou-Abou Sarr: Building $1.4B Quant Platform With High-Touch Innovation
- Collin Lyon: Rewiring Tech, Talent, and Team-Based Planning
- Lucas Mijares: Putting Values at the Center of Wealth Planning
- Danielle White: Building a One-Stop Operations Platform for Independent Advisors
- Susy Thomas: Bringing Athlete’s Discipline to Client-Centered Planning
- Rebecca Trethewey: Strengthening Platform With Retirement, Benefits Expertise
- Gautam Muthusamy: Accelerating Growth Through Personalized Advisory and Strategic Leadership
- Joseph Spina: Bridging Institutional Research and Private Wealth Advice
- Lowell Lyon: Prioritizing Simplicity in Wealth Management
- Greg Giardino: Turning Personal Experience Into Client-Focused Advisory Approach
- Hannah Forney: Guiding Families and Athletes Through Wealth Decisions
- Zach Schear: Fueling Record Growth and Transformation
- Megan Higgins: Driving Operational Innovation, Next Gen Talent Development
Dana Hall: Redefining Wealth Creation Through Community Equity Innovation
Emerson Collective leader builds scalable ownership model linking real estate, capital
Dana Hall, director of programs at Emerson Collective, is reshaping traditional wealth-building frameworks by advancing a model that integrates community ownership directly into real estate development.
Over the past three years, Hall has led the creation and implementation of the Community Equity Endowment (CEE), a structure designed to allocate a share of development equity to surrounding communities. The model addresses a longstanding gap in traditional development, where residents often lack access to long-term value creation. By embedding shared ownership into projects, Hall is positioning communities as active stakeholders rather than passive beneficiaries.
Her work in Washington, D.C.’s Congress Heights neighborhood moved the concept from theory to execution. Hall convened a Community Advisory Board, guided the creation of a formal governance charter, and established decision-making frameworks that institutionalize community participation. At the same time, she aligned capital structuring with philanthropic investment and local engagement, creating a scalable model for equitable development.
Outside of Emerson Collective, Dana amplifies her impact through sustained mentorship and nonprofit leadership. As founding director of Aya Inc., she oversees a dual-mentorship model connecting African American professional women, Howard University undergraduates, and local high school students; over the past decade, Aya has supported more than 400 undergraduate women and now serves over 75 undergraduates and 30 high school students each year.
She also serves on the board of Girls Inc. DC and chairs Delta Academy for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., advancing academic enrichment and leadership development for girls across Washington, D.C.