Cathy Stegmaier has played a critical role in the growth and development of ACA. After starting work in 1992 in the fee-only financial planning firm of ACA founder Bert Whitehead, in 1995 she joined the newly formed Cambridge Advisors, LLC in various roles including curriculum developer, instructor, manager, and she has been ACA's Executive Director since its transition to a non-profit in 2002. She is also the corporate Secretary. Prior to falling in love with how holistic fee-only financial planning transforms lives, she worked as a manager in both the medical and insurance industries. She is active in both the American Society of Association Executives and the Michigan Society of Association Executives.   

Board of Directors

Bridget Sullivan Mermel, CFP®, CPA - President
Bridget Sullivan, CFP®, CPA, is the owner of Sullivan Mermel Inc. in Chicago, Illinois. She holds a B.A. in Accounting and Marketing from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and a Masters in Liberal Arts from DePaul University in Chicago. Bridget previously worked at Peterson & Company supporting high-profile litigation; as a manager, then district manager at Starbucks during their start-up phase; and supporting derivatives trading at O'Connor & Associates. Bridget has been an ACA member since 2007.

Troy Thompson, JD, CFP® - President-Elect
Troy Thompson, JD, CFP®, is the founder of Thompson Advisory Services, with offices in San Francisco and Portland. Before opening his fee-only financial planning practice in 2008, Troy carried on a successful law practice with two global law firms. He has been a trusted advisor and counselor to clients in business, finance and government for over ten years. Troy earned his bachelor's degree in American History from Cornell University and his law degree from Harvard Law School. He has been an ACA member since 2008.

John Discepoli, CPA/PFS - Treasurer
John Discepoli, CPA/PFS, is the owner of Discepoli Financial Planning located in Glendale, Ohio. He received a B.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and is a graduate of the Executive Development Program at the Kellogg School of Management. John was trained at KPMG, one of the largest international public accounting firms and has more than 15 years of financial management experience. John has been an ACA member since 2004.

Jackie Kleinman, CFP®
Jackie Kleinman, CFP®, is the principal of KB Financial Advisory in San Francisco, California. Jackie started her career in financial planning in 1994 with John Hancock Financial Services. Jackie earned her AS at the University of Cincinnati in 1975 and her BS at the University of San Francisco in 1990. Jackie is a Certified Financial Planner™, Registered Investment Advisor and graduate of the College for Financial Planning. She has been an ACA member since 2002. 

Mary Alpers, EA, MBA, CFP®
Mary Alpers, EA, MBA, CFP® founded Alpers Financial Planning in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 2004. A former productivity analyst for Hughes Aircraft and SYVA/SYNTEX , she earned her Enrolled Agent designation in 1994 and established a successful tax preparation business which she merged with Alpers Financial Planning in 2005. Mary regularly writes and speaks on financial topics and has been quoted in numerous financial articles.  She has been an ACA member since 2004.

Ross Schmidt
Ross Schmidt is the owner of Aspen Wealth Planners, LLC with offices in San Francisco and Denver.  Before opening his fee-only financial planning practice in 2001, Ross spent 20 years in sales and sales management in the high tech industry.  Ross graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and flew F-4 fighter aircraft in the Marine Corps.  He has been an ACA member since 2001.