Meet The
Legacy Trust Board of Directors
Champion T. Traylor, III
Chairman of the Board
Champion “Champ” Traylor has served as chairman of the board for Legacy Trust Company since 2003. He joined the Legacy Trust Board in 1993 and serves on the Strategic Planning Committee. Throughout his leadership, Mr. Traylor has helped evolve Legacy Trust Company from a local firm into a nationally chartered trust bank with approximately $3.8 billion assets under management. Prior to joining the board, Mr. Traylor founded and ultimately sold a personal property insurance business in Houston, Texas.
Mr. Traylor attended Westminster College and The University of Texas at Austin. A native Texan, Mr. Traylor ranches and is active in numerous charitable organizations.
Edward R. “Ned” Naumes
Vice Chairman of the Board
Edward R. “Ned” Naumes served as the president and CEO of Legacy Trust Company for 25 years and is now the vice-chairman. He is a member of the board of directors of Legacy Trust Company and serves on both the Audit and Investment Committees. He attended Santa Clara University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1975.
Mr. Naumes also serves as the chairman of First Continental Investment Company, president of Audubon Magnolia Development, LLC, director of Bluerock Energy Partners, director of Harry E. Bovay Jr. Foundation, and director of Wizard Island Foundation.
Isaac Arnold, III
Isaac Arnold began his professional career at Stuart L. Phelps & Company as a vice president. He later joined Real Estate Investments and was a director of Quintana Petroleum Corporation until 1997. Mr. Arnold served as assistant district attorney for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office until 2000 and subsequently had his own law practice until 2016. Mr. Arnold is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration and earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law.
Mr. Arnold currently serves as chairman of the board of Legacy Holding Company and is on the board of directors of Legacy Trust Company where he chairs the Audit Committee. He is also a trustee for the Cullen Foundation.
Jeannette S. “Robin” Cloyd
Jeannette “Robin” S. Cloyd is a graduate of Sweet Briar College where she received a Bachelor of Arts of Distinction in Political Economy. She earned her Master of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University. Mrs. Cloyd has worked as a paralegal for Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP. She joined the Legacy Trust Company Board of Directors in 2021 and is a member of the Audit Committee.
Mrs. Cloyd is active in the Houston community, serving as chairman of the board of First Citizens Bancshares and Citizen National Bank of Texas, director of Waxahachie Development Corporation, president and director of IMI Marine Operations, and as president of the Wind River Homeowners Association in Teton Village, WY.
Benjamin M. Fink
Benjamin M. Fink has extensive experience in the energy industry having served as CFO of Anadarko where he was responsible for the company’s accounting, treasury, tax, investor relations, corporate communications, internal audit, corporate planning, Mozambique project finance, and corporate development groups. As a member of the Board of Directors of Legacy Trust, Mr. Fink serves on both the Strategic Planning and the Compensation Committees. Mr. Fink is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania where he earned a Bachelor of Science.
Mr. Fink is an active angel investor in the Houston community and currently serves on the board of directors of the Houston Grand Opera.
Alfred C. Glassell, III
Alfred C. Glassell, III is president of Glassell Producing Co., Inc. and chairs the Strategic Planning Committee for the Legacy Trust Board of Directors. He is experienced in all aspects of the oil and gas industry with specific expertise in planning and executing business strategy for companies, partnerships, and foundations. Mr. Glassell holds officer and director positions with several oil and gas companies and partnerships. He is also a trustee, officer, and director of the Glassell Family Foundation, Inc. and a trustee of several other private family entities.
Mr. Glassell is an active member of the Houston community, serving on the board of trustees for the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, The Glassell School of Art, Houston, the Museum of Natural Science, and the Texas Heart Institute where he currently holds the position of vice chair. Additionally, Mr. Glassell is on the board of directors of C.W. Lane Company, Inc. and Spearpoint Resources Company.
Edward C. Lasater
Edward C. Lasater grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, and began his legal career in a small firm, working in criminal defense and municipal law. He then worked at the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office as a criminal prosecutor in the Gang and Homicide Prosecution Unit. He is a graduate of Tulane University and a Juris Doctorate from Southern Methodist University School of Law.
Formerly, he served in multiple roles with Asset Deployment, including an instrumental role on diverse deals such as an underground natural gas storage, distressed residential real estate, and multiple oil and gas leases in addition to normal management duties.
Mr. Lasater joined the Legacy Trust Company Board of Directors in 2008. He is a member of the Compensation Committee and chairman of the Investment Committee. He also currently serves as the director of a property and casualty company, director of a biotech company focused on Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, and a director of a charitable foundation for a non-profit Alzheimer’s care center.
R. Cullen Powell
Cullen Powell joined Legacy Trust in 2018 and serves as the firm’s CEO and director. Prior to joining Legacy Trust, Mr. Powell worked for Wells Fargo Commercial Real Estate Group for thirteen years and Ford Motor Company in their Corporate Finance Group. He is a graduate of Northwestern University with a double major in History and International Studies. He went on to receive a Master of Business Administration from the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas with a concentration in Real Estate Finance.
Mr. Powell is an active member in the community, serving on the Powell Foundation Advisory Board and the Advisory Council for the Texas McCombs Real Estate Center. In addition to his community involvement, he also serves as president of Powell Interests.
Robert D. Spencer
Robert D. Spencer has over 30 years of experience providing economic and financial consulting services and currently serves as principal of the firm he founded, Urban Economics. Mr. Spencer received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Colorado College and later earned a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University. Having joined the Legacy Trust Board of Directors in 2010, Mr. Spencer currently chairs the Compensation Committee.
Mr. Spencer serves on the board of trustees of the William H. Donner Foundation and the Donner Canadian Foundation.
Steve C. Sprengnether
Steve C. Sprengnether joined Legacy Trust in 2005 and currently serves as president and chief investment officer. Prior to joining Legacy Trust, Mr. Sprengnether served as a captain in the United States Army. He also worked at Goldman Sachs & Company and Morgan Stanley & Company in their Investment Management Division.
Mr. Sprengnether is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering. He went on to earn a Master of Business Administration from Rice University. Always giving back, Mr. Sprengnether is the former president of The Periwinkle Foundation and currently serves as an Advisory Board member.
James Wu
James Wu is a Houstonian born and raised. His professional career involved leading Hugesen Polymers and C&W Packaging as principal and vice president for over twenty years. In those roles, he spearheaded business development and operational growth. He joined the Legacy Trust Company Board of Directors in 2021 and is a member of the Investment Committee. Mr. Wu is a graduate of Boston College where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance.
Mr. Wu serves on the boards of The Coronado Club, Boys and Girls Country, and the Advisory Board of Amegy Bank. As an avid golfer, Mr. Wu also is on the board of directors of a local golf club. He is active in the community, including volunteering with Boys and Girls Country and Project C.U.R.E.
Advisory Board
Issac Arnold, Jr
Houston, Texas
Garland M. Lasater, Jr.
Fort Worth, Texas
Douglas B. Marshall
Houston, Texas
Harry H. Cullen, Jr.
Houston, Texas
Robert L. Cullen
Houston, Texas
Harris L. “Shrub” Kempner
Galveston, Texas
J. K. “Jim” Jones
Austin, Texas