Meet Our Professionals
KURT WEDEWER, CEBS, RPA
Senior Vice President
Retirement Planning Division
As Senior Vice President and Department Manager, Mr. Wedewer is responsible for all aspects of American Trust's full-service, bundled Retirement Plan administration product. He is involved in the selling, plan design, and ongoing administration of all types of qualified plans; specializing in the areas of complex plan design, compliance and investment selection. After graduating from the University of Northern Iowa in 1990, Kurt was a pension underwriter with CIGNA before joining American Trust in 1997. He was awarded the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist designation in 1998 by the Wharton School of Business and the Retirement Plan Specialist designation in 2001. In addition to his pension related background, he owns a series 7 securities license, is currently pursuing the Certified Financial Planner designation and is enrolled in the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking.
DENNIS HERBER, QKA
First Vice President
Retirement Planning Department
As First Vice President, Mr. Herber is responsible for new business development within the Retirement Planning Department. More specifically, he aids in the creation and implementation of complex plan designs solutions, which are specific to each customer. Prior to joining American Trust, Dennis worked for Prudential Retirement for 16 years, where he held the position of Vice President, Investment Products and Advisory Services. In this role, he was responsible for providing consultative solutions regarding plan design, nondiscrimination testing, operational plan compliance, merger and acquisition transactions, and investment strategies.
Dennis is a graduate of Northeast Iowa Community College where he earned an Associate Degree in Accounting. He holds a Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA) designation through the American Society of Pension Professional and Actuaries, NASD Series 6 and 63 licenses and is currently working on his BA in Business Management at Clarke College.
MICHELLE BREITBACH
New Business Marketing Coordinator
Retirement Planning Department
Ms. Breitbach is responsible for coordinating marketing material for our five partner banks' Retirement Departments Sales teams as well as assisting the American Trust New Business team. She is a 2002 graduate of the University of Northern Iowa (BA). Immediately after graduating she began working in the retirement industry. Ms. Breitbach came to American Trust in 2007 with a strong background in participant communication, disbursements, and tax reporting.
JODY CLASEN
Transition Specialist
Retirement Planning Department
As a Transition Specialist, Ms. Clasen is responsible for transition of plan assets, participant data and historical information for the plan. She is a graduate of Clinton Community College, Clinton, Iowa with an AA in Business. Jody brings 10 years of banking experience to American Trust & Savings Bank. She has also completed Consumer Credit Schooling, in Ames and was a consumer loan officer for 3 years before coming to American Trust & Savings Bank in 2006.
FRED SEAR JR.
Second Vice President
Manager, Technology Services
Retirement Planning Department
As Second Vice President, Mr. Sear is responsible for the department's technology needs, including overseeing day to day processing output. Fred graduated from Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa, with a degree in mathematics, and has over 15 years of qualified retirement plan record keeping experience and more than 8 years of designing and developing tools used both internally and externally. He also serves as the Form 5500 Message Board Moderator for the employee benefits website, "BenefitsLink."
JEFF KUNKEL, QPA, QKA
First Vice President
Retirement Planning Department
As First Vice President, Mr. Kunkel manages the Compliance, Documents, and Testing department. Jeff is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Platteville and holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Accounting and Business Management and has 16 years of experience in retirement planning. He is a designated Qualified Pension Administrator (QPA) and Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA).
CHUCK SEYMOUR, QKA
First Vice President
Manager, Client Services
Retirement Planning Department
As First Vice President, Mr. Seymour manages our Client Services Department which includes both ongoing account management and administration services as well as employee enrollment/education meeting for plan sponsors. Chuck has completed several securities examinations, including the Series 7 and 63. Chuck is a graduate from Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa, and has over 18 years of experience in the administration of qualified retirement plans. He is a designated Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA).
DEBRA MORRIS
Second Vice President
Account Manager
Retirement Planning Department
As Second Vice President, Ms. Morris is responsible for account management and administration of retirement plans for our Iowa City office. Debra holds BA and MBA degrees from the University of Iowa, and has more than 20 years experience in Employee Benefits. She has also completed the National Graduate Trust School.
KARA HICKIE
Senior Account Manager/Trust Officer
Retirement Planning Department
As a Senior Account Manager and Trust Officer, Ms. Hickie is responsible for plan administration and client satisfaction. Prior to joining the American Trust team in 2008, Kara was a Relationship Manager with Prudential Retirement where she worked for 11 years in various client service roles. Kara is a graduate of the University of Iowa and currently holds her Series 7 and 63 securities licenses as well as her insurance license. She is currently pursuing her Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA) designation.
LORI LOCH
Account Manager
Retirement Planning Department
As an Account Manager, Ms. Loch administers retirement plan accounts, responsible for the day-to-day functions along with quarterly plan administrator meetings. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin Platteville in 2002, Lori was employed with Prudential Financial Services for 3 years as a Client Consultant, then spent a year with Diversified Investment Advisors as an Account Consultant where she earned her Series 6 Securities License. Lori is currently pursuing the QKA designation and has been with American Trust since 2006.
RYAN BRYTE
Account Manager
Retirement Planning Department
As an Account Manager, Mr. Bryte administers Retirement Plan Accounts. Ryan graduated from Clarke College with a Master's degree in Business Administration. He has his Series 7 and Series 63 securities licenses and also has his insurance license. Ryan has 5 years' experience in retirement planning.
KRISTA LEBECK
Enrollment Specialist
Retirement Planning Department
As an Enrollment Specialist, Ms. Lebeck is responsible for employee enrollment and education meetings. She has her Series 7, 63, and 65 securities licenses and her insurance license. Krista graduated from Loras College with a BA in Business Marketing. She has over 5 years experience in the financial and retirement industry on both 401(k)/Pension as well as investment advising with IRAs and individual brokerage accounts.
LINDSEY DUERR
Account Manager
Retirement Planning Department
As an Account Manager, Ms. Duerr is responsible for administering retirement plan accounts. Lindsey graduated from the University of Wisconsin Platteville with a bachelor degree in Business Administration. Lindsey is currently pursuing the Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA) and has been with American Trust since 2005.
JENI FERRING
Retirement Planning Specialist
Retirement Planning Department
As a Retirement Planning Specialist, Ms. Ferring is responsible for account openings, distributions, and tax reporting. She also assists with PrimeVest accounts held in the Trust department. Jeni attended Loras College and the University of Northern Iowa. She has 30 years of banking experience with 20 year Trust experience.
BRIAN McCLEARY
Enrollment Specialist
Retirement Planning Department
As an Enrollment Specialist, Mr. McCleary is responsible for employee enrollment and education meetings. He has his Series 7,63 and 65 securites licenses and is life insurance licensed. Brian graduated from Iowa Wesleyan College with a BA in Business Marketing. He has 10 years of experience in the retirement industry on both 401(k) and Pensions as well as investment advising in IRAs and individual brokerage accounts.
Securities and insurance products are * Not FDIC insured *May go down in value *Not financial institution guaranteed *Not a Deposit *Not insured by a federal government agency.
