Our Professional Advisors
The Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico, in partnership with the Estate Planning Institute (EPI) Committee, is honored to recognize Mr. Richard Gregory. Rich, as many knew him, laid the groundwork more than 28 years ago for our annual estate planning conference. With his leadership, the Memorial Medical Center Foundation transitioned to the Healthcare Foundation of Southern New Mexico and to what is now the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico. Both he and his wife, Nancy, were steadfast volunteers, mentors and friends to this organization. This community lost a man of great distinguishes in May of 2012. Many in this community continue to honor Rich as volunteers on committees, speaking each year during EPI and being steadfast advisors to our organization.
As we remember Richard Gregory through our multiple estate planning conferences, honoring those that have given an estate gift as part of the Community Legacy Society and expand our reach to our community in his name. We want to thank Nancy Gregory, Rich’s wife, and their entire family, for allowing us this honor.
The Gregory Estate Planning Advisory Council thanks you for attending this year’s conference and we hope to see you for years to come.
Molly Bekken
Financial Advisor-Morgan Stanley
My experience starting and running a successful business, combined with a decade of teaching at the collegiate level has prepared me to work with affluent retirees, especially women, who are vastly underrepresented in this industry.
Your holistic financial life is important to me and I outline a roadmap with each and every client that includes financial planning, retirement planning, education goals, legacy and philanthropy goals. I believe complexity isn’t necessarily sophisticated, it’s just complex, so I will make sure you understand and feel confident with every investment strategy implemented and outline how it fits into your overall plan.
I love people, am a Las Cruces Native, an Idahoan business-owner, and a mom of four. My kids are my treasure, I am in love with my 20 year partner Joseph, and together we navigate the choppy waters of balancing home, work, kids, and everything in between.
I am an avid reader, I strive to support my local community first, and feel like superwoman in high heels.
Ken Binkley
Partner-Wilson Binkley Advertising & Marketing
Ken is a partner at Wilson Binkley Advertising & Marketing. His areas of responsibility are primarily as an account executive, but he also oversees the company’s finances and accounting, human resources and benefits, and information technology systems. He has worked at WBAM for over 30 years and started in August 1990 as a college intern. Ken left in June 1991 when he graduated from college and took a job with Dillard’s Department Stores in their executive training program. Ken returned to WBAM in June 1992 and became a partner in 1998. Ken holds two degrees from New Mexico State University; a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism/Mass Communications with emphasis in Advertising Administration and a Masters of Business Administration with emphasis in Finance. Other organizations that he is affiliated with are the Las Cruces Rio Grande Rotary Club, and he has also been a member of the First Baptist Church since the early 1990s.
Adrian F. Dodds
CFP® – Senior Financial Advisor & Managing Partner Dodds Wealth Management Group
Joshua Dwyer
Attorney and Shareholder Scott Hulse Attorneys at Law
Patrick Grooms
CFP, MBA – Financial Advisor and Investment Advisor Representative Spence Asset Management
Patrick Grooms serves as a Financial Advisor and is registered as an Investment Advisor Representative. In addition to assisting individual and institutional clients, he is the newest member of the Investment Committee, joining the Spence Asset Management team in 2016. He assists the investment committee in formulating investment ideas as well tactical allocations based upon market conditions.
Patrick brings a diverse financial background to the team. He started his career as an intern with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management then left the financial services industry to be a business analyst for Los Alamos National Labs. After relocating back to Las Cruces, Patrick became a financial advisor with Edward Jones and then US Bancorp.
Patrick earned a Bachelor Degree from New Mexico State University in 2006. Graduating with honors, he majored in Finance, Human Resource Management and has a minor in Economics. He then went on to further his education and earn his MBA from NMSU in 2008.
Ali Hewell
M.P.A. Trust Officer, Disability and Elder Trust Solutions-Bank of Albuquerque
Ali Hewell has over 20 years of experience in the legal, banking, and trust industry. Ali has spent the last 17 years working on probate, guardianship, insurance defense, and trusts in multiple federal and state jurisdictions. She holds a Master of Public Administration from Tarleton State University, Bachelor of Arts in University Studies (English, Technical Communication and Personal Financial Planning) from Texas Tech University, and a Paralegal Certificate from The University of Texas at Arlington. Ali currently serves as a Trust Officer working on behalf of special needs beneficiaries and their families.
George Kennedy
Attorney–Gluth Law, LLC
Bridget Mullins
Associate–PBWS Law
Bridget is a graduate of the University of New Mexico Law School represents clients in the areas of Guardianships, Probate, Wills, Trusts, Elder law, and Family law with a focus on working with Spanish-speaking clients. In addition, Bridget has a strong trial background after spending many years prosecuting domestic violence, child abuse, and human trafficking cases for the District Attorney’s and Attorney General’s Offices.
Bridget has worked with Spanish-speaking families in many different contexts – as a teacher, an advocate, and as an attorney. While attending law school at the University of New Mexico, Bridget also taught Spanish classes to undergraduate students and earned a Master’s degree in Latin American Studies as well as her Law Degree. She has also worked on consumer protection issues and taught Financial Literacy classes to help community members learn about debt, investing, and credit.
Diana Seward
Financial Advisor–Edward Jones
I came to Edward Jones 17 years ago as a financial advisor. Prior to coming to Edward Jones, I managed the trust department of a local bank for many years. I dealt with many aspects of a client’s life, including investments, legal affairs, tax issues and insurance. This knowledge has been very useful in helping my clients utilize the right professionals to handle the many facets of their lives.
My strength is in educating and helping clients meet their financial goals. I believe in keeping clients informed about current market conditions as well as discussing what actions to take to stay on course to meet your long-term goals. Stephanie Barncastle and Katy Stahley assist me and we are all very dedicated to providing you with the highest level of service and ensuring your needs are met.
I attended NMSU. My family has a long history with NMSU, starting with my grandparents all the way down to my children. It’s no wonder that my office is directly across the street from NMSU. Throughout my career, I have been on the boards of the Community Foundation of Southern NM, the Dona Ana Arts Council and the NMSU Presidents Associates and on many committees.
Born and raised here in Las Cruces, NM, it is a privilege to be a part of this community. My husband, Brett, and I have raised three children as well as goats, chickens, dogs and cats. We enjoy spending time with our family, with our friends and at the family ranch. I look forward to continuing to serve this community and clients for years to come.
Stephanie Townsend-Allala
Associate Attorney–The Law Offices of Townsend Allala Coulter & Kludt
Stephanie Townsend Allala is President and CEO of Townsend Allala, Coulter & Kludt, Attorneys. She is a Director of the Board of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys-Texas Chapter, and she is a Director on the Board of Bienvivir Senior Health Services. She is a national Editor of the Journal of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. She provides services in the areas of Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning, Trusts, and Crisis Placement Management.
Prior to studying law, she was a journalist working in radio, television and newspaper. She began in radio news at KHEY Radio in 1981. She then became a television news anchor and reporter for KVIA TV, and later a business reporter for the El Paso Times.
In addition to her legal practice, Stephanie is a recognized advocate for transparency in government and open records laws. She is the recipient of the Legacy Award, the “Pantalones” award, and the El Paso/El Chuco Person of the Year for 2014. She is a past-president of the El Paso Press Club, the El Paso Women’s Bar Association, and El Paso Women’s Bar Auxiliary. She also served as a director on the Board of the El Paso Bar Association and Nazareth Nursing Care Center. She has received awards for her writing, including topics such as Elder Law, Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning and Probate.
She obtained her law degree in 2002 from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Texas-El Paso. She is a graduate of the Law School Preparatory Institute at UT-El Paso, and was the first woman graduate of the program to be licensed in Texas. She is the proud mother of two daughters, one of whom is a partner in her law firm.