Crystal Arnold
Retirement Plan Advisor
Emmy Bellingrath, CPA, CFP®
Retirement Plan Advisor
Tom Coulter
President & Founder
Will Coulter, CPA, CFP®
Vice President
Vickie Elam
Operations Specialist
Renée Maggart, CPA
VP Operations
Mary Miller
Retirement Plan Advisor
Lisa Morgan, CEBS
VP Retirement Plan Services
Barbara Parrish, CFP®
Retirement Plan Advisor
Jenell Shaddix
Operations Supervisor
Jen Steffens, CFP®
Director of Client Services
Ashley Thomas, CFP®
Retirement Plan advisor & Financial Planner
Lisa Wade
Senior Retirement Plan Specialist
Angie Waggoner
Operations Specialist
Susanne White, CPA
VP Retirement Plan Design
Dave Zandstra, CFA
Chief Investment Officer
Dave Zandstra, CFA
Chief Investment Officer
Shareholder Dave Zandstra is responsible for the overall investment strategy and asset selection process at Meridian. He leads Meridian’s Investment Roundtable and is also a member of the Advisory Team, serving clients by managing individual accounts.
Originally from the Chicago area, Dave began his career serving the Trust department of First Chicago Bank. He soon after transferred his talents to Knoxville for its climate, low cost of living, and proximity to the mountains. He worked as a Portfolio Manager for First Tennessee Bank before joining Meridian in 2004.
Dave is happily married to Diana Moyer and is father to adult son Alex. In his free time, Dave thoroughly enjoys hiking, biking, traveling, and watching movies of all genres.
Education and Certifications:
• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Charterholder
• MBA from Heriot‐Watt University
• BA in Business Administration from Calvin College
Memberships:
• CFA Society of East Tennessee member
• CFA Institute member
• Knoxville Estate Planning Council member
Susanne White, CPA
VP Retirement Plan Design
Susanne is primarily responsible for designing and preparing plan documents, as well as overseeing that our retirement plans remain compliant with applicable rules and regulations. She is a true retirement plan expert and serves as Meridian’s encyclopedic resource for retirement plan and IRA research inquiries.
Susanne grew up alongside four brothers and a sister in Jefferson City, Tennessee, where her parents were active members of the community and her mother still resides. She is married to Charles, with whom she has raised two wonderful children. Their son Jamie completed law school at the University of Tennessee and is currently working as a government policy advisor in Nashville. Their daughter Kerres also graduated from the University of Tennessee, and now works as the Sales & Operations Manager for a bridal accessories designer in Nashville. In her spare time, Susanne can be found helping others, spending time with family, swimming, reading, and working jigsaw puzzles.
She has been with Meridian since its inception in 1997.
Education and Certifications:
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS)
• BA in Accounting from Tennessee Technological University – summa cum laude
Memberships:
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) member
• Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants (TSCPA) member
• Knoxville News‐Sentinel Charities: Empty Stocking Fund board member
• Premier Athletics gymnastics meets long‐time volunteer
Angie Waggoner
Operations Specialist
Angela Waggoner is Meridian’s primary custodian (e.g., Schwab & Fidelity) expert and liaison. She does much of the work associated with opening new accounts, processing money movements, and maintaining close relationships with our partner brokerage companies.
Before joining Meridian Trust in 1998, Angie had already amassed over 14 years of experience working for National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) brokerage firms. She is an avid animal lover and has enjoyed riding, training, and showing Appaloosa and Quarter horses for decades. She shares her home with two beloved Australian Shepherd dogs and also enjoys spending time with her stepdaughter and family, who reside in Nashville.
Education:
• Associates Degree in Business
Lisa Wade
Senior Retirement Plan Specialist
Lisa Wade’s responsibilities as Senior Plan Administrator are diverse. In addition to assisting with day-to-day plan administration, Lisa conducts year end reconciliations, creates plan sponsor deliverables, assists with plan conversions, and coordinates audits among, other trouble-shooting tasks.
Lisa began her career in the Trust department at Valley Fidelity Bank before shifting her talents to First Tennessee. In 2001 she arrived at Meridian, where her resourceful and versatile support allows the 401(k) Retirement Plans department to operate smoothly.
Lisa moved to Knoxville to attend college after falling in love with the Great Smoky Mountains while on a church youth trip. She and husband Will Wade are proud parents of two adult sons. They enjoy spending time together and with their large extended family where volleyball, kickball, fishing, board games, and lots of cooking keep them close. Lisa is an amateur landscape and nature photographer and feels fortunate to have her favorite mountains in her Sevier County backyard.
Education and Certifications:
• Retirement Plans Associate (RPA) granted by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
• BA in Finance from University of Tennessee, Knoxville – honors
Will Coulter, CPA, CFP®
Vice President
Shareholder Will Coulter has a passion for serving clients and utilizing technology, which led him to join Meridian Trust in 2019. He wears many hats but primarily serves Advisory clients.
William graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he participated in the Haslam College of Business honors program, Global Leadership Scholars (GLS). Upon graduation from the Accounting Masters program, Will joined PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in Atlanta, first working with privately owned businesses in the audit practice. Next he joined PwC’s New Ventures, a technology group concentrating on software development. As a Manager at PwC, he worked with professional services companies, developing technology solutions customized for their operations.
Will enjoys spending time with his family and friends, exploring the Knoxville area, cheering on his favorite sports teams, and enjoying the beauty of the Smoky Mountains. He is engaged to Dr. Kylie Pearson, with whom he is always eager to have fun playing cards, backgammon, or board games. In his spare time, Will enjoys hiking, reading, traveling, and cooking.
Education and Certifications:
• Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• BA in Accounting with International Business concentration from University of Tennessee, Knoxville – honors
• Masters of Accountancy with Audit concentration from University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Memberships:
• National Eagle Scout Association
• Junior Achievement of East Tennessee volunteer instructor
Crystal Arnold
Retirement Plan Advisor
Crystal Arnold administers retirement plans and acts as an all-in-one point of contact for the Plan Sponsor and the Plan’s participants. She provides quality service by assisting with questions as well as holding enrollment and education sessions to ensure that participants understand the importance of active involvement in their retirement plans.
Crystal joined Meridian in 2022 and brought with her a background in corporate financial accounting (utility accounting, benefit accounting) as well as taxation. Prior to her arrival at Meridian, Crystal spent eight years in Atlanta and then nine years in Knoxville, earning her stripes in the accounting industry all along the way.
A Knoxville native, Crystal returned home to further grow her family- a decision that proved to be a wonderful excuse to come back to East Tennessee! Crystal has been married to Jason since 1998, and together they have two wonderful daughters, Chloe and Lily. In addition to all her left-brain work done at Meridian, she is equally prone to engage in right-brained activities like painting, designing, and organizing. She also loves music and movies.
Education and Certifications:
• BA in Accounting from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville – cum laude
• BA in Psychology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville – cum laude
Emmy Bellingrath, CPA, CFP®
Retirement Plan Advisor
Shareholder Emilyn Bellingrath administers retirement plans and acts as an all-in-one point of contact for the Plan Sponsor and the Plan’s participants. Emmy provides quality service by assisting with questions as well as holding enrollment and education sessions to ensure that participants understand the importance of active involvement in their retirement plans.
Emmy joined Meridian in 2021 and brought with her a background in financial statement preparation, review, and auditing. She became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in 2017 while working as a financial statement auditor for KPMG in Washington, D.C., where she worked after college before returning home to Knoxville.
Out of the office, Emmy enjoys spending time with her husband Jay and son Perry, family, friends, and dog Rosey. Family is what drew her back to the great city of Knoxville, where her roots will always be. The Smoky Mountains and her Vols were calling! You will often catch her around Knoxville trying out the new spots in town. She also has a longtime passion for playing games of all types: board, lawn, sports, etc.
Education and Certifications:
• Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• Masters of Accountancy with Audit concentration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• BA in Accounting with Finance collateral from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville – honors
Tom Coulter
President & Founder
President and shareholder Tom Coulter began his career in finance after graduating with honors from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in Accounting in 1978. After working at Deloitte and financial medical‐advising firm, FIS Associates, Tom became a founding member of Meridian Trust in 1997. He has amassed decades of experience working extensively in retirement planning, taxation, estate and financial planning, and investment management.
Tom is one of six children. Today the extended family exceeds eighty members! His wife Mindy grew up in Johnson City, Tennessee, and together they have raised four children: John Michael, Meredith, William, and Davis. Their eldest son, John Michael, married Ashley Robins Coulter and practices family dentistry. They are the proud parents of Grayson, Callie, Caitlin, Claire, and Thomas. Tom and Mindy’s daughter Meredith Oruc is an OB/GYN. Her husband Igor is a physical therapist, and together they have sons Niko and Marin. William joined Meridian in 2019 after several years at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Atlanta. Davis is a practicing hospital pharmacist. All reside in Knoxville.
Education and Certifications:
• BA in Accounting from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville – honors
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) (inactive)
Vickie Elam
Operations Specialist
Vickie Elam boasts the smiling face you will first see when entering Meridian. She is primarily responsible for assisting with personal trust accounting, but she provides operational support in other areas, as well.
Before finding her home at Meridian in 1999, Vickie worked at Valley Fidelity Bank, the Trust Company of Knoxville, Home Federal Bank, and SunTrust Bank for a combined 24 years.
Vickie is happily married to Todd Elam, and together they have two beautiful daughters, Devyn and Kailyn, and grandson Forrest. She enjoys many activities with family and friends, including camping, gardening, reading, listening to live music, and following Tennessee football.
Renée Maggart, CPA
VP Operations
Renée serves as the Operations department’s Vice President. Beyond overseeing the execution of daily client transactions, her responsibilities include coordinating with the Advisory and 401(k) Plan teams and creating specialized reports for both internal and external use. Renée is Meridian’s principal client deliverable creator and can also be found coordinating special tasks and projects as needed within all areas of the firm.
Renée enjoyed a brief stint away from her Knoxville home during her undergraduate years, during which time she attended Vanderbilt University and was a member of the women’s track and field team. She completed her education at the University of Tennessee.
Outside of work, Renée is engaged in Knoxville’s local live music scene and can be found performing at bars downtown; but her favorite role is that of mother to her son Angelo.
Renée joined Meridian’s 401(k) Plan team in 2016. She then transitioned to Operations in 2021 as successor to the now-retired Janet Kannady, who paved the way by leading Meridian’s Operations team in outstanding fashion for over 25 years.
Education and Certifications:
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• QuickBooks Online® Certified ProAdvisor
• Masters of Accountancy with Tax concentration from University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• BA in Accounting with Finance collateral from University of Tennessee, Knoxville – summa cum laude
Mary Miller
Retirement Plan Advisor
Mary Miller administers retirement plans and acts as an all-in-one point of contact for the Plan Sponsor and the Plan’s participants. She is responsible for much of our important behind-the-scenes 401(k) work and also provides quality service directly to clients by assisting with participants’ questions.
Mary joined Meridian in 2023. With a career spanning 22 years in the accounting field to date, Mary loves helping others with their various accounting needs. Mary spent the last seven years preparing business and individual tax returns as well as resolving tax issues. Prior to this, Mary worked at Clayton Homes for 15 years as a corporate accountant.
Growing up in the foothills of the Smokies, Mary calls Maryville, Tennessee, her hometown. She enjoys taking in the beauty of East Tennessee with friends and family. Whether gardening, fishing, or tubing down the Hiwassee River, you can find Mary outdoors soaking up the sunshine. She has plenty of entertainment at home with her funny and fluffy felines.
Education and Certifications:
• Certificate of Accountancy from the University of Phoenix
• BS in Accounting & Human Resource Management from Tennessee Wesleyan College
Lisa Morgan, CEBS
VP Retirement Plan Services
Shareholder Lisa Morgan supervises Meridian team members who service our 401(k) plans. This department is responsible for administering retirement plan contributions, distributions, and loans, as well as disseminating all annual reports and notices. Each year she audits year end reports prepared by the plan specialists. Additionally, her calm and mediating personality serves her well in her role as a liaison between Meridian and our 401(k) recordkeeper and website provider, EPIC Retirement Plan Services.
Lisa grew up in a small town in Indiana, which reflects her personal “All‐American” values and character. She was the middle of three daughters born to her mother, a talented artist, and father, a decorated WWII and Vietnam War Air Force pilot. Lisa is an avid traveler and enjoys visiting various locales around the country with her friends and family. An annual ski trip to the Rockies in the spring and a fall trip to the beach with her sisters and their families are highlights of her vacation schedule. She cherishes her relationships with her many nieces and nephews. In her free time, Lisa enjoys walking and hiking. She is an avid dog-lover. Her other hobbies include gardening, reading, history, and music.
Lisa has been with Meridian since 2002.
Education and Certifications:
• Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS)
• BA in Business Administration from University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Johnson Bible College
Memberships:
• EPIC Retirement Plan Services User Group Committee
Barbara Parrish, CFP®
Retirement Plan Advisor
Barbara Parrish is a part-time Retirement Plan Advisor and relationship manager to many of Meridian’s 401(k) plan participants. Her career longevity has allowed her to personally assist some individuals quite literally from 401(k) start to finish; from enrolling them upon plan entry to approving their distributions well into retirement. By consistently reviewing participant accounts and offering investment advice servicing each phase of life, Barbara has had a hand in many of our retirement success stories.
It is Barbara’s personal goal that through encouraging savings and providing financial education, she help participants accumulate sufficient funds for an enjoyable retirement. In addition to retirement plan administration and financial planning, Barbara has decades of experience in both income tax and financial statement preparation. Over the years she has served as treasurer for many organizations, including her church, PTA, and the Knoxville Chapter of the Financial Planning Association.
Barbara graduated from the University of Tennessee on June 8, 1973, and married Doug Parrish the following day. Over the next 45 years they would raise a family that brings them great pride and joy. Their older daughter Jennifer married Jason, and Kimberly married Nathan. Each now has 3 children of her own.
Barbara has been with Meridian since 1998 and also worked for its predecessor.
Education and Certifications:
• Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)
• BA in Accounting from University of Tennessee, Knoxville – honors
Memberships:
• Financial Planning Association (FPA)
• Financial Planning Association of East Tennessee (FPAET)
• Tennessee Immigrant Empowerment Solutions board member and Treasurer
Jen Steffens, CFP®
Director of Client Services
Director of Client Services and shareholder Jennifer Steffens works closely with Meridian’s clients to help them take the right steps towards achieving their financial goals. As part of this process, she collaborates with her clients’ tax professionals, estate planning attorneys, and other trusted advisers. Jen recognizes that effective financial planning is about more than advice– it is about helping people understand and change their relationships with money.
Jennifer grew up outside of Blacksburg, Virginia, not far from where she would eventually begin her professional journey at Merrill Lynch’s Roanoke office. After working as a planner with Sullivan Bruyette Speros & Blaney, located in northern Virginia, she moved to Knoxville with First Tennessee Bank in 2007, where she worked for 10 years. Jen joined Meridian in 2017.
Jennifer is happily married to Nick, and together they enjoy raising Jack and Drew. Her favorite pastimes include spending time with family and friends and gardening.
Education and Certifications:
• Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)
• Certificate in Financial Planning from Florida State University
• MBA with Finance concentration from Virginia Tech
• BFA with Interior Design concentration from University of Memphis – magna cum laude
Memberships:
• Financial Planning Association (FPA) member
• Alpha Delta Pi Foundation Investment Committee member
Jenell Shaddix
Operations Supervisor
Jenell’s many operational roles include coordinating the daily workflow, reviewing daily activity for accuracy, and reconciling bank accounts. She also processes all stock and mutual fund reorganizations, manages Meridian’s billing process, and coordinates the monthly reconciliation of assets held at brokerage firms.
In 1989 Jenell relocated from California to Knoxville, infatuated by its beauty and Southern hospitality. Proud mother of three boys, she is an increasingly experienced member of the highly sought‐after Grandmother Club.
Outside of Meridian, Jenell enjoys reading, crafting, baking, and spending time with family and friends. She is a highly involved mentor to the youth at her church, where she has led a Sunday school class for many years.
Jenell has been with Meridian since 2000.
Education:
• Graduate of Southern Trust School
• Completion of several American Banking Association courses
Ashley Thomas, CFP®
Retirement Plan advisor & Financial Planner
Shareholder Ashley Thomas is a Retirement Plan Advisor and Financial Planner. Her dual responsibilities serve both Advisory and Retirement Plan clients. As a Retirement Plan Advisor, Ashley acts as a main contact for both Plan-sponsoring employers and their employees. She conducts enrollments, educational meetings, and account reviews for the benefit of hundreds of retirement plan participants. As a Financial Planner, she works closely with personal clients, helping develop holistic plans that best suit investors’ needs and goals.
Ashley began her career in finance as a Customer Service Representative at First Tennessee Bank in 2004. She soon after transferred her skills to Clayton Bank and Trust, working her way from Customer Service Representative all the way to Branch Manager before joining the Meridian Trust family in 2008.
Ashley is happily married to Dave Thomas, and together they are raising Mackensie, Mason, and Cooper. She is a proud alumnus of the Delta Zeta sorority Beta Lambda chapter and a member of First Farragut United Methodist Church.
Education and Certifications:
• Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)
• BA in Business Administration with Finance concentration from University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Memberships:
• Junior Achievement of East Tennessee volunteer instructor
• University of Tennessee Delta Zeta Finance Advisor