R. Cullen Powell

Chief Executive Officer, Director

Cullen joined Legacy Trust in April 2018. Prior to joining Legacy, Cullen worked for Wells Fargo Commercial Real Estate Group for thirteen years and Ford Motor Company in their Corporate Finance Group.

Experience

• Wells Fargo, Commercial Real Estate Group
• Ford Motor Company, Corporate Finance Group

Education

• University of Texas, McCombs School of Business, Master of Business Administration in Real Estate Finance
• Northwestern University, Bachelor of Arts in History and International Studies (double major)

Associations

• Texas McCombs Real Estate Center Advisory Council
• The Powell Foundation Advisory Board

Steve C. Sprengnether

President & Chief Investment Officer, Director

Steve joined Legacy Trust in 2005. Prior to joining Legacy, Steve 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.

Experience

• Goldman Sachs & Company, Investment Management Division
• Morgan Stanley & Company, Investment Management Division

Education

• Rice University, Master of Business Administration
• United States Military Academy at West Point, Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering
• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Charterholder
• Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association (CAIA) Charterholder

Associations

• The Periwinkle Foundation past president

Glenn A. Francis

Chief Operating Officer

Glenn joined Legacy Trust in 1986. Prior to joining Legacy, Glenn spent time in the audit division of Arthur Andersen. Glenn, a CPA, has over 40 years of experience in administration and operation of fiduciary and public institutions.

Experience

• Arthur Andersen – Audit Division

Education

• University of Houston, Master of Business Administration in Finance
• Texas A&M University, Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting

Associations

• American Society of CPAs member (Houston and Texas chapters)

Sarah A. Snook

Vice President, Chief Fiduciary Officer

Sarah joined Legacy Trust in 2014. She is a board-certified attorney in estate planning and probate. Prior to her time at Legacy, Sarah practiced law at firms in El Paso and Houston. She enjoys reading, travel, and hiking, and she and her husband cheer on their two children in sports and activities.

Experience

• Wealth Planning
• Estate Planning and Probate Attorney

Education

• University of Houston, Juris Doctor
• Rice University, Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Sciences (Cum Laude)

Associations

• Board Certified in Trusts & Estates Law, Texas Board of Legal
        Specialization
• State Bar of Texas member
• State Bar of Texas Real Estate, Probate & Trust Law Section member
• Houston Bar Association Probate, Trust & Estate Law Section member
• Houston Business and Estate Planning Council Board member
• Houston Trusts & Estates Club member

Nickie Dupuis

Vice President of Family Office

A CPA, Nickie has served high net worth individuals since 2007. She spent the first eight years of her career in public accounting and specialized in income and estate tax compliance and planning. Prior to joining Legacy, Nickie worked at a local family office where she excelled in helping ultra-high net worth families with a wide range of services including cash forecasting, charitable planning, accounting, property management, and foundation compliance. She applied her experience of income and estate planning to each project.

Experience

• Income and estate tax compliance and planning
• Wealth and gift planning

Education

• Texas State University, Master of Business Administration in Accounting (Cum Laude)
• Texas State University, Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting (Cum Laude)

Associations

• Houston Estate and Financial Forum member
• Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants (TSCPA) member
• Houston Business and Estate Planning Council
• The Parish School Board of Trustees

Brenda K. Vitek

Vice President, Tax and Accounting Manager

Brenda joined Legacy Trust in 1991 after spending 10 years with Ernst and Young in the tax division. She is a CPA specializing in taxation of individuals, trust, estates, and family limited partnerships. She has an extensive background in wealth transfer planning as well as in federal and state income, gift, and estate tax return compliance, and has represented clients before the IRS.

Experience

• Wealth Transfer Planning
• Federal and State Income, Gift, and Estate Tax Return Compliance

Education

• University of Houston, Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting

 Associations

• Houston Estate and Financial Forum past president
• Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants (TSCPA) member
• American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) member

Brad C. Bangen

Vice President, Head of Private Markets

Prior to joining Legacy Trust in 2019, Brad spent 11 years as a senior member of the investment team that managed the pension assets for the Houston Municipal Employees Pension System. Before managing an institutional portfolio, Brad began his career working with high net worth clients at Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch. In his spare time he enjoys cooking, travel, and spending time with family.

Experience

• Morgan Stanley
• Merrill Lynch

Education

• Moorhead State University, Bachelor of Arts

Rebecca C. Dietz

Vice President, Trust Officer

Rebecca joined Legacy Trust in 2011 after graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Trinity University with a B.A. in History and English. She has over ten years of experience in the management of trusts, estates, and private foundations and has served Legacy’s clients as a trust officer since 2017. A native Houstonian, Rebecca enjoys supporting the city’s parks and cultural arts.

Experience

• Management of Trusts, Estates, and Private Foundations

 Education

• Trinity University, Bachelor of Arts in History and English (Phi Beta Kappa)

Gallin G. Fortunov

Vice President

Gallin currently manages and focuses on special projects for Legacy while overseeing the compliance department. Since joining Legacy, he has worked in the company’s investment group with a focus on private equity and alternative investments in energy and real estate. He is also an avid photographer and a wine enthusiast.

Experience

• McMurrey Investment Advisors – Equity Analyst
• Enron and Conoco Phillips – Energy Investments 
• Corporate finance and investment bank relationship management

Education

• Rice University, Master of Business Administration, Jesse H. Jones Graduate School
• Austin College, Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Business Administration (Magna Cum Laude)

Associations

• St. Luke’s Methodist Church volunteer
• West University Little League volunteer
• Mark Twain Elementary volunteer
• Blue Rock Energy Board of Directors

Danya D. Goerig

Director – Human Resources

Danya joined Legacy Trust in December 2021. Prior to joining Legacy, Danya spent more than two decades gaining experience in human resources strategy, project management, talent management and acquisition, and compensation and benefits.

Experience

• Chevron Corporation
• Chevron Phillips Chemical Company

Education

• Texas A&M University, Master of Science in Human Resource Management
• Baylor University, Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting 

Associations

• Society of Human Resource Management member

Diane W. Guiberteau

Vice President, Trust Officer

Diane joined Legacy Trust in 2010 with over 25 years of personal trust, estate administration, and private foundation management experience. She began her career in the trust department of US Trust, Bank of America (formerly Houston-Citizens Bank & Trust Co.).

Experience

• US Trust, Bank of America – Trust Department

 Associations

• Development Board of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston volunteer
• Planned Giving Committee of Northwest Assistance Ministries volunteer
• Women in Philanthropy member
• Philanthropy Southwest member

Gregory A. Hammond

Vice President, Tax Manager

Greg joined Legacy Trust in 2001 after working for the founding families since 1980. He has 45 years of experience in individual and business tax preparation, review, and planning, with a particular focus on trusts, individuals, real estate, and oil and gas partnerships. He is an active member of a men’s tennis league in his home town of Missouri City, Texas, and works on collector cars in his spare time.

Experience

• Individual and Business Tax Preparation, Review, and Planning

Education

• Wichita State University, Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting

Mary Jane E. Jwanisik

Vice President, Trust Officer

Mary Jane joined Legacy Trust in 2002 when she opened and served as the company’s trust officer at the Wilmington, Delaware, office. In addition to her Delaware functions, she performs periodic internal compliance and operational reviews for the Houston office. She has over 20 years of experience in bank auditing, software system selections and conversions, and trust asset funding.

Experience

• Trust Funding Services
• First City Bancorporation
• Allied Bancorporation
• MCorp
• Deloitte & Touche – Consulting Division

Education

• University of Delaware, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Phyllis L. Joe

Vice President, Trust Officer

Phyllis is an attorney with more than a decade of experience in advising ultra-high-net-worth families. Prior to joining Legacy Trust in 2021, she was a Senior Wealth Planner at Sentinel Trust Company, LBA and an estate planning and probate law attorney at Fizer Beck.  Phyllis earned a Master of Laws in Taxation in which she focused on gift, estate, and income tax issues affecting wealthy families.  She is Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.  As a former avid tennis player, Phyllis continues to enjoy tennis and staying active and busy, which includes traveling with her family and running after her two kids.

Experience

• Sentinel Trust Company, LBA – Senior Wealth Planner
• Fizer Beck – Estate Planning and Probate Law Attorney

Education

• Georgetown University Law Center, Master of Laws in Taxation (with Distinction), Certificate in Estate Planning
• The George Washington University Law School, Juris Doctor
• The George Washington University, Bachelor of Arts (Cum Laude)

Affiliations

• Houston Business and Estate Planning Council, Member
• Houston Estate and Financial Forum, Member
• State Bar of Texas, Member
• Asian American Bar Association of Houston, Member

Allan S. MacInnes

Vice President, Trust Officer

Allan joined Legacy Trust in 2019. He understands clients’ unique needs for personalized wealth solutions. Originally from Scotland, Allan moved to Houston in 2002 and has integrated into the community by supporting the Houston Dynamo, local animal rescue groups, and neighborhood initiatives.

Experience

• JPMorgan Private Bank, Houston
• Mellon Trust, London
• Wellington Management, London
• Bank of America, London and New York

Education

• University of Hull, Greenwich College, London, Master of Business Administration

Marley E. McBurney

Vice President, Relationship Manager – Family Office

Marley joined Legacy Trust in January 2022. Prior to joining Legacy, Marley spent four years at LeafHouse Financial Advisors, LLC serving as Chief Compliance Officer and Senior Operations Manager overseeing client operations and managing business operations.

Experience

• LeafHouse Financial Advisors, LLC
• StartupRunner
• Morgan Stanley

Education

• Southwestern University, Bachelor of Business Administration

Morgan P. Richardson

Vice President, Trust Officer

Morgan is an attorney licensed to practice in Texas with experience in wills, trusts, estates, and mental health. Prior to joining Legacy in 2018, she was the Litigation Staff Attorney for a Harris County Probate Court. Morgan enjoys traveling to beautiful places abroad, checking out Houston’s newest restaurants, wine tasting, and spending time with her family.

Experience

• Harris County Probate Court – Litigation Staff Attorney

Education

• South Texas College of Law, Juris Doctor
• Texas Christian University, Bachelor of Science in Communication

Affiliations

• State Bar of Texas, Member
• Houston Bar Association, Member
• Houston Estate and Financial Forum, Member

Stephen M. Sandhop

Trust Operations, Accounting

Steve joined Legacy Trust in 1998. Formerly with the accounting firm of Peat Marwick (KPMG), First City National Bank, Texas Commerce Bank, and JP Morgan Chase, he has over 30 years experience in trust, banking, and finance.

Experience

• Trust, Banking, and Finance
• KPMG

Education

• Texas A&M University, Mays Business School, Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Laurence P. Unger

Vice President, Head of Public Markets

Laurence draws on over a decade of diversified investment and business management experience with hedge funds, family offices, start-ups, and social impact investments. She has covered many different industries ranging from pharma and biotech to media and food products.  Her business management experience stems from three years working with a power plant development company to build two gas-fired plants in Texas and from two years structuring and overseeing social impact investment strategies for a family office. Laurence is passionate about her philanthropic work and actively supports her local film and arts non-profits.

Experience

• European and US based Global Equity Funds
• Investment Analyst and Trader 

Education

• Columbia Business School, Master of Business Administration
• Oxford University, Bachelor of Arts in Modern Languages 

Saadia Jaleel 

Director of Human Resources 

Saadia joined Legacy Trust in 2022 with over a decade of combined experience in Human Resources and Organizational Development. Prior to joining Legacy, Saadia worked on the HR team of an investment management firm, headquartered in Houston, Texas. She has an extensive background in the Financial Services industry, Mergers and Acquisitions, as well as International HR Consulting.

Experience

• Human Resources, International Labor Relations, and Organizational Development
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Salient Partners, L.P.
• Wisaal Development Centre
• Unilever Arabia

Education

• Master’s in Human Resources Management and Labor Relations — New York Institute of Technology, New York.
• SHRM Certified HR professional — SHRM-CP, 2017
• Strategic HR Business Partner certified – sHRBP, Human Capital Institute, 2019

Molly Lochridge Powers

Vice President, Trust Officer

Molly is an attorney with experience in estate planning and estate administration. Prior to joining Legacy Trust in 2023, she represented high-net-worth clients at Roscher Law. She also served as Director of the Client-Attorney Assistance Program at the State Bar of Texas. Born and raised in Austin, Molly enjoys exploring places of natural beauty with her family.

Experience

• Roscher Law Office, PLLC – Estate Planning and Probate Law Attorney
• State Bar of Texas – Client-Attorney Assistance Program Director
• Teach for America – Rio Grande Valley School Teacher

Education

• The University of Texas School of Law, Juris Doctor
• The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture, Master of Science in Community and Regional Planning
• Rhodes College, Bachelor of Arts (Cum Laude)

Affiliations

• State Bar of Texas, Member
• Austin Bar Association, Member
• Estate Planning Council of Central Texas, Member

David Genova

Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer

David joined Legacy Trust in 2023. Prior to joining Legacy, David served as Managing Partner of Impact Capital Group, a private investment firm.  Prior to that, David spent 15+ years at Invesco where, as part of the senior leadership team, he served as the firm’s Chief Administrative Officer of Investments and Global Investments Director. David’s background includes extensive experience in fintech, mergers and acquisitions, and financial management.

Experience

• Invesco, Senior Leadership Team
• Arthur Andersen, Audit Division

Education

• Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Master of Business Administration in Finance, Marketing and Decision Science
• University of Virginia, Bachelor of Science in Commerce in Accounting
• Certified Public Accountant