CINCINNATI ESTATE PLANNING COUNCIL

About the Panelists

Mary P. Burns, Esq.

Vice President of Estate Planning & Senior Trust Counsel

Johnson Trust Company

Mary is Vice President of Estate Planning and Senior Trust Counsel for Johnson Trust Company, and also serves as Vice President and Gift Counsel for Johnson Charitable Gift Fund. She has been practicing law for over twenty years, more than half of which have been spent at Johnson Trust Company. Mary is on the Management Team of Johnson Investment Counsel and is also a shareholder of the firm. 

Todd Durham, J.D.

Trust Officer

Park National Bank

Todd is in his 25th year as a trust officer with Park National Bank, providing financial solutions to individuals and families, community organizations, and businesses. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science at DePauw University and is a graduate of Capital University School of Law. Todd is also a registered Attorney at Law in Ohio.

Christopher J. Geiss

Chief Fiduciary Officer

Western Reserve Trust Company

Christopher J. Geiss joined Western Reserve Trust Company as its Chief Fiduciary Officer.  As Western Reserve’s Chief Fiduciary Officer, Chris manages the firms trust operations and trust administration team. Chris also serves as a Trust Officer to Western Reserve clients and beneficiary’s whereby he provides them with expert advice on trust and estate matters, assists clients with the creation and implementation of trusts in coordination with the client’s outside legal counsel, and oversees the administration of existing trusts based on the trust’s terms and State statutes. Chris collaborates with outside investment management firms to choose appropriate asset allocation targets based on the long-term financial goals and best interests of the beneficiary(ies) to ensure that sound fiduciary judgment is followed. Finally, Chris also serves as Western Reserve’s Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering (BSA AML) Compliance Officer. 

Jessica Rawe, J.D., CFP®

Senior VP, Fiduciary Market Manager

PNC Private Bank®

As a senior vice president and a fiduciary market manager for the PNC Private Bank®, Jessica provides trust, financial planning and fiduciary leadership. She also serves as a fiduciary advisor for complex accounts. Jessica and her team of fiduciary advisors work closely with experienced professionals in investment management, financial and estate services, and banking services to help clients achieve their financial objectives.

Prior to joining PNC, Jessica spent eight years practicing law at Adams, Stepner, Woltermann & Dusing, PLLC, focusing on estate planning, trust administration, probate, and small business law. She then served as head of trust administration for The Wealth Advisory Group at The Bank of Kentucky, before managing its conversion to BB&T Wealth. While at BB&T, Jessica continued to oversee all trust administration functions for its Wealth team in the Greater Cincinnati region.

Michael Stegman, Esq.

Partner

Frost Brown Todd

Michael J. Stegman is a partner at Frost Brown Todd in their Wealth Planning and Family Office group. He has over forty years’ experience in estate planning. Representing individual private clients, he focuses on the preservation and succession of wealth and the reduction of wealth transfer taxes. Michael is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). He is also a member of The International Academy of Estate and Trust Law and of STEP. He is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, as certified by the Ohio State Bar Association.