Meet Our Professionals
Kurt Wedewer, CEBS, RPA
Executive Vice President
Retirement Planning Division
Kurt Wedewer is the Executive Vice President for the Retirement Planning Division at American Trust & Savings Bank. He joined the bank in 1997 and has over 23 years of experience in the banking and retirement planning industries. As one of the fastest growing areas in the bank, Wedewer is responsible for overseeing the division, including the sales and continued development of the retirement planning solution, and forming relationships with advisory firms. Today, American Trust Retirement Planning Services is recognized as a top retirement plan provider in the nation and has received recognition from PLANSPONSOR Magazine. Kurt is also a member of the bank's management team where he is instrumental in the strategic planning of the division and for the bank.
Kurt graduated from the University of Northern Iowa and pursued a career in pensions. He was awarded the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist designation by the Wharton School of Business and received the Retirement Plan Specialist designation in 2001. In addition to his pension related background, Kurt holds a Series 7 securities license.
Chuck Seymour, QKA
First Vice President
Client Services Manager
As First Vice President, Mr. Seymour manages our Client Services Department. He is responsible for the department's overall ongoing account management and administration services, as well as employee enrollment/education meetings for plan sponsors and participants. Chuck is a graduate from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, and has completed several securities examinations, including the Series 7 and 63. Chuck has over 20 years of experience in the service, administration and education of qualified retirement plans. He is a designated Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA) through the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries.
Fred Sear, Jr.
First Vice President
Technology Services Manager
As First Vice President, Mr. Sear is responsible for the department's technology needs, including overseeing day-to-day processing output. Fred graduated from Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa, with a degree in mathematics. He has over 18 years of qualified retirement plan experience and more than 10 years of designing and developing tools used both internally and externally. He also serves as a message board moderator for the employee benefits website, "BenefitsLink" and is an active member of the Sungard Relius Administration User Group.
Jeff Kunkel, ERPA, QPA, QKA
First Vice President
Compliance, Documents, and Testing Manager
As First Vice President, Mr. Kunkel manages the Transition, Compliance, Plan Document and Testing departments. His team is responsible for ensuring that all retirement plan clients maintain their tax qualified status by keeping each plan up to date and in compliance with IRS and DoL laws. Jeff is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Business Management. He has over 19 years of experience in the retirement planning industry. Jeff is an Enrolled Retirement Plan Agent (ERPA) and is enrolled to represent retirement plan clients before the Internal Revenue Service. In addition, he has attained the designations of Qualified Pension Administrator (QPA) and Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA) under the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA).
Dennis Herber, QKA
First Vice President
Sr. Regional Sales
As First Vice President, Mr. Herber is responsible for new business development within the Retirement Planning Department. More specifically, he aids in the creation and implementation of complex plan design solutions, which are specific to each customer. Dennis is a graduate of Northeast Iowa Community College where he earned an Associate Degree in Accounting. He has over 20 years experience in the retirement industry. He holds a Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA) designation through the American Society of Pension Professional and Actuaries, NASD Series 6 and 63 licenses.
Jill Courtney
Retirement Planning Marketing Specialist
As the Retirement Planning Marketing Specialist, Ms. Courtney is responsible for creating publications, brochures, sales promotions, and communications for the retirement planning department, including website development. She is also responsible for coordinating special events and projects. Jill joined American Trust in 2009 and has over 13 years experience in sales and marketing. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing from Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa.
Ryan Bryte
Regional Sales
Trust Officer
Mr. Bryte is responsible for direct and indirect sales within the retirement planning department. Ryan is also responsible for recruiting and developing new sales partners. He graduated from Simpson College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management and has a Master's degree in Business Administration from Clarke University in Dubuque. He has his Series 7 and Series 63 securities licenses. Ryan has nine years experience in retirement planning.
Michelle Breitbach
New Business Marketing Supervisor
Ms. Breitbach is responsible for overseeing the New Business proposal process, developing content for new sales marketing pieces, and acting as a liaison for our external sales partners. She is a 2002 graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Immediately after graduating, she began working in the retirement industry. Michelle came to American Trust in 2007 with a strong background in participant communication, disbursements and tax reporting.
Dan McDermott
New Business Marketing Coordinator
Dan is responsible for creating sales marketing proposals for our internal and external sales force. He joined American Trust in 2012 with a Bachelor Of Arts degree in Finance and Management from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. Dan brings to American Trust a strong background in investment research, data analysis, strategic planning, and leadership gained through internships and involvement in the community. Dan plans on pursuing his MBA from Loras College.
Debra Morris
Second Vice President
Account Manager
As Second Vice President, Ms. Morris is responsible for account management and administration of retirement plans in our Iowa City office. Debra holds Bachelor of Arts and MBA degrees from the University of Iowa, and has more than 20 years of experience in Employee Benefits. She is also a graduate of the ABA National Graduate Trust School.
Tim Reynolds, APA
Second Vice President
Account Manager
Trust Officer
As Second Vice President and Trust Officer, Mr. Reynolds is responsible for account management and administration of retirement plans. Tim has over 22 years of experience in the retirement plan industry working with plan sponsors to maximize retirement savings and outcomes for their employees. Tim is a graduate of Western Illinois University and has attained Series 6, 63, and 26 securities licenses, as well as insurance licensing. He holds the Accredited Pension Administrator designation through the National Institute of Pension Administrators (NIPA).
Heather Hickie
Account Manager
As an Account Manager, Ms. Hickie is responsible for administering retirement plan accounts. Heather graduated from Western Illinois University with a Bachelor Degree in Business Communications, and a minor in Management with an emphasis in Marketing.. Heather is also currently pursuing the Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA) and has been with American Trust since 2012. Heather has seven years of retirement planning experience.
Erick Kephart
Account Manager
As an Account Manager, Mr. Kephart partners with employers on the administration and operation of their retirement plan. He also works individually with their employees providing guidance on retirement strategy and asset allocation. Erick graduated from Loras College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management. He joined American Trust in 2011 as an Enrollment Specialist with experience in 401(k) and Pension accounts, specifically providing investment assistance, education of plan features, and instruction on retirement strategies to plan participants. Erick holds his Series 6 and 63 securities licenses.
Barb Pins
Account Manager
Ms. Pins joined the American Trust Retirement planning team in 2013. Her responsibilities as an account manager include providing exceptional service and strategic solutions to plan sponsors. Barbara has 17 years of experience in the financial industry with 11 of these years dedicated to retirement planning. She has attended Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa. Barbara holds her series 6 & 63 securities licenses and completed Retirement Planning Fundamentals I and II.
Krista Lebeck
Trust Officer - Supervisor Retirement Planning Participant Services
As a Trust Officer, Ms. Lebeck is responsible for employee enrollment and education meetings. She has her Series 7, 63, and 65 securities licenses and her insurance license. Krista graduated from Loras College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Marketing. She has ten years experience in the financial and retirement industry on both qualified plans, as well as investment advising with IRAs and individual brokerage accounts.
Brian McCleary
Enrollment Specialist
As an Enrollment Specialist, Mr. McCleary is responsible for employee enrollment and education meetings. He has his Series 7, 63, and 65 securities licenses and is life insurance licensed. Brian graduated from Iowa Wesleyan College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Marketing. He joined the industry in 2000 and started at American Trust in 2009. He has 10 years of experience in the retirement industry on both 401(k) and Pensions, as well as investment advising in IRAs and individual brokerage accounts.
Linda Kirst
Enrollment Specialist
As an Enrollment Specialist, Linda is responsible for employee enrollment and education meetings. She joined American Trust in 2012 with five years of experience in the retirement industry. She also came with first hand teaching experience through being a substitute teacher for 15 years. Linda graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a Bachelor of Business Administration degrees in both Finance and Risk Management. She holds both the series 6 and 63 securities licenses.
Kaitlyn Ries
Enrollment Specialist
As an Enrollment Specialist, Ms. Ries is responsible for employee enrollment and education meetings. Kaitlyn graduated from Clarke College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing. She joined the financial and retirement industry in 2007 and started at American Trust in 2013. She holds both the Series 6 and 63 securities licenses.
Holly J. Digman
Enrollment Specialist/Sales Assistant
As an Enrollment Specialist/Sales Assistant, Holly is responsible for 401(k) enrollment and education meetings, and she also acts in the capacity of a Sales Assistant on the brokerage side of the business. She has 20+ years of experience in the retirement planning industry, prior to coming to American Trust & Savings Bank in April of 2013. Holly holds the Series 6 and 63 and the life and health insurance licenses.
Ashley Mangers
Retirement Planning Specialist
As a Retirement Planning Specialist, Ms. Mangers is responsible for assisting Plan Sponsor's with day to day processing inquiries and ongoing service and communication requests. Ashley has an Associate of Arts Degree from Hawkeye Community College. Ashley comes to American Trust with seven years experience in the Retirement Industry, with a strong emphasize on distributions and participant communication.
Jeni Ferring
Retirement Planning Specialist
As a Retirement Planning Specialist, Ms. Ferring is responsible for account openings, distributions, and tax reporting. She also assists with PrimeVest accounts held in the Trust department. Jeni attended Loras College and the University of Northern Iowa. She has 30 years of banking experience, including 20 years of Trust experience.
Cindy Wiederhold
Retirement Planning Assistant
Ms. Wiederhold joined American Trust in 2009 with 14 years in the Retirement Planning Industry. Cindy has extensive experience in processing and has taken on a variety of leadership roles in that area. As a Retirement Planning Assistant, she is responsible for offering support in several areas of the department, primarily focusing on providing excellent customer service.
Jody Clasen
Senior Transition Consultant
As a Senior Transition Consultant, Ms. Clasen is responsible for transition of plan assets, participant data and historical information for the plan. Jody partners with employers in getting the operation of their retirement plan set up. She is a graduate of Clinton Community College, Clinton, Iowa with an Associate of Arts in Business. She has also completed Consumer Credit Schooling in Ames and was a consumer loan officer for three years before coming to American Trust in 2006. Jody has over 15 years of experience in customer service, client communications, and brings 12 years of banking experience to American Trust & Savings Bank. Jody plans on pursuing the Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA) designation.
Sue Jacobs, QKA
Trust Officer - Supervisor Document Services
As the Supervisor of Document Services, Ms. Jacobs is responsible for overseeing plan document services for new business and existing clients. Sue consults with new business clients on plan design and drafting of their plan document materials, and also assists with ongoing amendments and technical/compliance related questions for existing clients. Sue joined American Trust in 2008 with over 10 years of retirement planning experience. She has an Associate Degree in Business from Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, Illinois and holds a Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA) designation.
Molly Freiburger
Documents Specialist
Ms. Freiburger is responsible for drafting plan documents and assisting with technical and compliance related questions. She joined American Trust in 2009 with over 10 years of retirement planning experience. Prior to joining American Trust, Molly has filled various roles in the retirement planning industry including Participant Services, Client Services, Compliance, and Plan Document Design. Molly holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa.
Natalie Nieman
Documents Specialist
As a Documents Specialist, Ms. Nieman is responsible for drafting plan documents and assisting with technical and compliance related questions. She joined American Trust in 2012 with over 12 years of retirement planning experience. Prior to joining American Trust, Natalie has filled various roles in the retirement planning industry including Client Consultant, Transition Consultant, Business Analyst, Pension Consultant and Compliance Analyst. Natalie holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.
Jarred Koos
Documents Specialist
As a Documents Specialist, Mr. Koos is responsible for drafting plan documents and assisting with technical and compliance related questions. He attended the University of Dubuque and has over six years of financial industry experience between retirement planning and consumer lending. Mr. Koos joined American Trust in 2013.
Heidi Hunter, QKA
Trust Officer - Supervisor Compliance Services
As the Supervisor of Compliance Services, Ms. Hunter is mainly responsible for managing the year end discrimination testing and Form 5500 annual reporting processes. In the 11 years Heidi has been employed with American Trust, she obtained experience in the administrative, data entry, and document areas of the Retirement Planning Department. Heidi attended Northeast Iowa Community College and completed courses in Accounting and is a designated Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA).
Karen Schwendinger, QKA
Compliance Testing and Reporting Specialist
After graduating from the University of Iowa, Ms. Schwendinger began working in the retirement planning industry where she has held various positions. She joined American Trust in 2005 as a compliance tester and relocated to the West Des Moines office in 2006. She holds a Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA) designation.
Diane Boleyn, CRSP
Compliance Specialist
Ms. Boleyn joined the American Trust Retirement Planning Department as a Compliance Specialist in 2003. In her 27 years experience in the retirement planning industry, she has been involved in all aspects of qualified plan administration. Her primary focus since joining American Trust has been in compliance and testing, while assisting in other areas of retirement planning. She has earned the designation of Certified Retirement Services Professional from the Cannon Financial Institute Retirement Plan Services Schools.
Loran Decker, QKA
Compliance Testing and Reporting Specialist
Mr. Decker Joined American Trust in 2007 with 12 years of compliance testing and 5500/audit support experience. He has a Bachelor of Arts degrees in Accounting and Marketing and has his Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA) designation.
Kristy Coyle
Technology Specialist
As the Technology Specialist, Ms. Coyle is responsible for coordinating the plan sponsor and participant reports, supporting administration of the recordkeeping system, and new technology developments. She joined American Trust in 2007 with 17 years of retirement planning experience and six years of technology experience. Kristy obtained her Computer Information Systems degree from Wartburg College in 1992.
Jennifer Travis
Processing Supervisor
Ms. Travis began her career with American Trust in 2005. She holds an Associate of Applied Science degree with emphasis on Administrative Assistant, as well as an Account Clerk Diploma from Northeast Iowa Community College. As Processing Supervisor, Jennifer is responsible for overseeing all policies and procedures for the recordkeeping area, new plan set up on the system, and is also responsible for research and reporting for the recordkeeping area.
Jillian Kronfeldt
Lead Data Specialist
Ms. Kronfeldt began her career with American Trust in 2007. As Lead Data Specialist, Jill is responsible for cash management, balancing accounts, managing workflow and is also responsible for training new employees. She has completed her Retirement Planning Fundamentals I and II courses.
Kari Tuecke
Data Specialist
Ms. Tuecke joined American Trust in 2007 with over 15 years in banking experience. Kari has an Associate Degree in Accounting from Madison Area Technical College. Kari has completed her Retirement Planning Fundamentals I and II courses.
Carol Ambrosy
Data Specialist
Ms. Ambrosy joined American Trust in 2007. Carol has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Dubuque, and has completed her Retirement Planning Fundamentals I and II courses.
Denise Mohr
Data Specialist
Ms. Mohr began her career at American Trust in June 2011 and moved to the Retirement Planning Department in January 2012. She relocated to Dubuque from Garrison, New York and has a background in bookkeeping and administration with five years experience in pension administration. Denise is currently pursuing her Retirement Planning Fundamentals I and II courses.
Beth Ostwinkle
Data Specialist
Ms. Ostwinkle has been with the American Trust since 2008 and transferred to Retirement Planning in January 2012. Beth is currently pursuing her Retirement Planning Fundamentals I and II courses.
Sheila Hall
Data Specialist
Ms. Hall began her career at American Trust in 2013. She has been a data specialist for 19 years with 15 years specifically in retirement planning. Sheila is currently pursuing her Retirement Planning Fundamentals I and II courses.
Marketing
New Business Team
Client Services Team
Led by Chuck Seymour
Compliance, Documents & Testing Team
Led by Jeff Kunkel
Technology & Processing Team
Led by Fred Sear
