Karen is responsible for ensuring efficient and effective partnership and execution internally, as well as evolving client engagement strategy to enable client and business development outcomes. Before joining American Century Investments in 2018, Karen was Director, Head of U.S. Sales for Allianz. Previously, she was Vice President of Mutual Fund Sales, Head of Distribution for Nationwide Financial Services. Karen has worked in the investment industry since 1999. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Mount Holyoke College, a master’s in business administration from Loyola University, has earned her CIMA designation and is a Certified Business Coach.

Ronald Reeves, CDP is currently AIG’s Chief Diversity Officer. He has worked for AIG for 21 years. Prior to assuming the CDO role, Ronald was Head of Diversity & Inclusion for the United States, Canada, Latin America & Caribbean for four years. He is responsible for partnering with AIG’s leaders, managers and employees to design, develop and implement a sustainable and measurable D& I strategy that focuses on talent, workplace and the marketplace. Ronald is a Certified Diversity Professional.

Under Ronald’s leadership, AIG has been named to the DiversityInc’s Top 50 List for the past four years. In 2021, AIG was ranked #37. AIG was ranked No. 38 in 2020, No. 39 in 2019 and No. 45 in 2018. AIG placed 5th on DiversityInc’s Top Companies for Employee Resource Groups list for 2021. AIG has also been recognized as one of the Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality by the Human rights Campaign for nine consecutive years.

Ronald is a seasoned financial services industry training & leadership development professional. With over 20 years of insurance industry experience, he has extensive global leadership and management development experience. He has traveled to over 25 different countries in the Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific facilitating leadership, management and professional development programs. He is a skilled presenter, facilitator, sales trainer, instructional designer, project manager, executive/sales/life coach & learning officer. Ronald has deep expertise in sales training/coaching, business/technical training as well as management, leadership and professional development. He holds numerous learning & development certifications such as Achieve Global, DDI, Wilson Learning, Results Coaching Systems, MBTI and Facet 5 to name a few.

Ronald also has experience writing state training grant proposals as well as administering million dollar grants. He is a former award winning Sales Agent & Sales Manager for Allstate Insurance Company. Ronald is passionate about diversity & inclusion, leadership/executive development as well as improving sales revenue/production. He received his B.A. in Journalism from San Jose State University. Ronald resides in Los Angeles.

Desiree Maldonado, CIMA®, CPWA®, CFP®, is a financial advisor at Popular Securities, LLC. Maldonado has served clients with Popular, Inc. since 2004. With over 20 years of experience, Maldonado has dedicated her career to assisting high net worth individuals and families manage and preserve their assets. Maldonado and her team offer comprehensive investment and financial planning services, and she specializes in helping clients plan for financial independence, manage risk, and plan their legacies. She has the unique distinction of being the first CPWA certificant in Puerto Rico and one of only a handful in Puerto Rico to have earned the CIMA, CPWA and CFP designations. Maldonado has been an active member of the Institute since 2004 and has served as chair of the CPWA Certification Commission.