Wealth Advisor Briefing - Dallas - May 17, 2017

Ruth Easterling, Managing Director, Member Services

Ruth Easterling is Managing Director, Member Services, for Family Office Exchange (FOX). In her role, she provides relationship management for family and advisor members by aligning FOX services with the unique needs of each member. Ruth also co-moderates the Private Family Trust Company Network and works with the team at FOX to develop programming and insights for the Network.

Prior to her current responsibilities, Ruth led all FOX member services activities, and oversaw the delivery of conferences, educational forums, webinars, website resources and member communications annually. She has overseen marketing and drove the redesign and brand initiative that differentiates FOX today.

Under Ruth’s direction, FOX has integrated member feedback processes through satisfaction surveys and advisory boards to guide the development of new programs and services. She played a lead role in the design and delivery of the first comprehensive program for wealth owners known as the FOX Learning Academy.

Prior to joining FOX, Ruth worked with the professional services firm Smith, Bucklin & Associates, which provides management and consulting services to more than 180 associations. She served as executive director to professional associations ranging in size from 300 to 4,000 members, re-engineering membership structures and planning processes to better enable organizations to maximize their potential through efficient governance structures and member participation. In addition, Ruth often consulted with international and national organizations on strategic planning and governance design.

Ruth holds a bachelor’s degree in Management and Leadership from Judson College. She is a volunteer leader in organizing her community’s food collection and distribution initiative that aids 350 families and volunteers at the Breakthrough shelter for women.

Mariann Mihailidis, Managing Director, Councils

Mariann Mihailidis serves as managing director and consultant to family office members of the Family Office Exchange. In her role she oversees the management of all domestic family office relationships. As a practicing tax and estate-planning attorney, she develops strategies in wealth transfer issues, taxes, and corporate structures. Mariann has served as an executor and trustee, and her fiduciary responsibilities included administrative, legal, and accounting duties of various trusts and estates.

Prior to joining FOX in 1996, Mariann worked in one of America’s leading family offices for four years as an accounting manager for the family’s investment partnerships and operating companies.

She also spent more than six years in public accounting, including work as an auditor for Price Waterhouse. Mariann received a Bachelor’s Degree in accounting from the University of Notre Dame and a JD from IIT-Kent College of Law.