About Us

Who we are

Our CES and CESA teams are dedicated to providing you with exceptional conciercge-level service.

Whether you require assistance with pre-sale inquiries, strategic guidance, application submissions, or reporting and administrative support, you can rely on our team to be there for you every step of the way. Your needs are our priority, and we are committed to delivering tailored solutions that enhance your experience.

Leadership Sales and support New business CES Administration CES Support

Our leadership team

Portrait of Randall E. O’Brien

Randall E. O'Brien

Founder, CES

Head of Strategy and Solutions | Equitable Life Distribution

robrien@ces-home.com | (217) 553-5626

Randy was named Head of Strategy and Solutions for Life Distribution in 2025 after a distinguished 45-year career in the insurance industry. As the founder of Corporate and Endowment Solutions (CES) and CES Administration (CESA) in 1996, he quickly became a recognized leader in intermediary-sold and small business executive retention strategies. Prior to founding CES, he served as Divisional Vice President, Marketing and Product Development at American General Life, and Divisional Vice President, Product and Special Markets for Executive Benefits of American Brands Corporation. He formed CES after seeing the value of creating an end-to-end platform on which highly customized corporate supplemental and income-deferral plans could be made available to smaller companies and high-income professionals.

In 2020, Equitable acquired CES in its efforts to expand distribution of institutional accumulation-driven plans in their retail and independent channels. Randy continues to spearhead distribution strategies into new emerging markets to leverage the CES platform to additional cadres of advisors and registered investment advisers for tax and income planning solutions.

Outside of the office, Randy served several years as Board President for a local charity that provides housing for at-risk women and children. He continues to support area charities by hosting an annual golf outing to raise funds each year. He resides in Springfield, IL with his wife and business partner, Barb.

Portrait of Randall E. O’Brien

Barbara O’Brien

CES Director | Senior Leadership Team

robrien@ces-home.com | (217) 546-4665

Barbara co-founded CES in 1996, following her tenure as Vice President at American General Life Insurance. Her invaluable operations and client experience were integral in the creation of CES, and she continues to be a driving force behind the culture and family-like atmosphere that is now synonymous with the CES name.

As the Director of CES, Barb is responsible for all CES operations, including advisor relations and experience, client-focused projects, key initiatives, special events, technology, and employee/office management and oversight. Her days are dedicated to seamlessly transitioning between various projects, all aimed at optimizing efficiency amidst the company's unprecedented growth. Barb also serves as a member of Equitable Life’s Senior Leadership Team and provides guidance on initiatives and strategies at the corporate level.

Outside of work, Barb is happiest when spending time with her family. She is also involved in a number of local charities and hosts many fundraisers and events throughout the year. She resides in Springfield, IL with her husband and business partner, Randy.

Our internal sales team
Portrait of Pierce Butler

Pierce Butler, NQPATM

Relationship Manager | Internal Sales Support

pbutler@ces-home.com | (217) 679-7870

Pierce has been an integral part of CES since 2011, where he excels as the Relationship Manager and team lead for the Internal Sales Support division. Pierce dedicates much of his time to assisting and training financial professionals on the nuances of COIL and the CES platforms. His responsibilities extend to aiding advisors in client communications and strategizing with Equitable wholesalers and team leaders. In his role, Pierce most enjoys interacting with diverse personalities and navigating the ever-changing financial industry.

Pierce stays busy in his free time with his wife Kara and their four children who range in age from 1-11. When he is not coaching his kids’ hockey teams, he enjoys spending time outdoors wake surfing, golfing or spending time at the lake with his family.

Fun fact: Pierce has a hockey career spanning over 30 years and played international hockey for Team USA.

Portrait of Logan Butler

Logan Butler

Sales Optimization | Internal Sales Support

lbutler@ces-home.com | (217) 679-7879

Logan began his journey with CES in 2013 as a part-time team member and transitioned to a full-time role in 2019. As a member of the Internal Sales Support team, Logan plays a key role in assisting financial advisors by enhancing their understanding of COIL through training sessions, addressing marketing requests and optimizing the overall individual CES experience. Logan says the best part of his job is working with a small team in a family-like culture.

Outside of work Logan can be found painting, hunting, hiking, rafting or discovering other adventurous ways to spend quality time with his wife and children.

Fun fact: Logan is an abstract painter with recent exhibitions in New York City, Tampa, Chicago and participated in Art Basel, Miami.

Portrait of Preston Searl

Preston Searl

Multi-life Lead Associate | Internal Sales Support

psearl@ces-home.com | (217) 679-7875

Preston joined CES in 2020 as the lead designer for multi-life plans. With his MBA and broad experience in strategic planning, small business consulting and tax planning, he quickly became a valuable asset to CES. Preston’s day consists of consulting with financial professionals, designing custom client plans, researching issues and answering questions. Preston enjoys creating winning scenarios that enhance people's lives and futures.

Outside of work, Preston and his wife of 25 years, Melissa, have five children, seven grandchildren and two fur babies. Preston enjoys hitting the links and watching Snooker when he gets the chance.

Fun fact: Preston is a skilled musician and sound engineer, and plays in several local bands as a bassist/guitarist.

Portrait of Bryan Wilson

Bryan Wilson

Retention Manager | Internal Sales Support

bwilson@ces-home.com | (217) 679-7877

Bryan joined CES in 2015, initially focusing on single-life illustrations. Since then, he has acquired his Life Insurance license and a decade of experience, and now manages all annual reviews for multi-life plans. In addition, he serves as the IT liaison for CES and assists in training and onboarding new CES illustrators. Bryan says the best part of his job is getting to work with his internal teams, as well as helping advisors and clients with their needs.

Bryan married his wife Andrea in 2018, and they have three young children ranging in age from 6 months to 4 years old. Bryan enjoys spending time with his family and golfing any chance he gets.

Fun fact: Bryan is a lifelong Chicago sports fan and can be found cheering on the Cubs and the Bears.

Portrait of Hunter White

Hunter White

Advanced Markets | Case Design

hwhite@ces-home.com | (860) 409-1127

Hunter joined the CES Internal Sales Support team in June of 2025, but has been with Equitable since 2013. He brings decades of industry experience to his role, achieving his Series 6, 63, CT Life and Health, CLU® and NQPATM designations since he first started in the insurance industry in 1998. Hunter’s focus is on CES multi-life case design and support. He says the best part of his job is finding solutions for clients.

Hunter and his wife Amy have four kids ranging in ages from 16-27. They also have two dogs. In his spare time, he likes to hunt, fish and play fantasy football. He says he is happiest when spending time with his family while saltwater fishing.

Fun fact: Hunter is trained in Jiu-Jitsu, has been a volunteer firefighter and worked on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier during his service in the Navy.

Portrait of Aaron Hagerty

Aaron Hagerty

Illustrator | Internal Sales Support

requests@ces-home.com

Aaron joined the Internal Sales Support team in June 2021. He manages LIP requests and illustrates requests coming in from LIPQ and Aegis. Known as a team player, Aaron is the "go-to" for updated new business illustrations and is learning to process annual reviews so he can jump in when needed. Aaron says he enjoys collaborating with his team and supporting advisors and clients.

Aaron married his wife Nikki in 1997, and together they have one son. His family works with a local dog rescue charity and even serves as a foster home for rescued pups. Aaron enjoys being outdoors and working in his garden.

Fun fact: Aaron has a Ph.D. in Entomology and has worked in the fields of insect natural history and agricultural entomology.

Portrait of Zach Roegge

Zach Roegge

Illustrator | Internal Sales Support

requests@ces-home.com

Zach joined the CES team in summer of 2021 fresh out of college, but he hit the ground running, quickly learning the LIPQ and illustration systems. Zach spends the majority of his days running Life Income Plans and assisting with annual reviews and inforce illustration requests. Zach says he most enjoys finding ways to optimize policies to best serve each client's need.

Outside of work, Zach can be found spending time with friends and family. He enjoys concerts and sporting events, especially watching the St. Louis Cardinals or Illini basketball and footbal.

Fun fact: Zach is an avid cyclist and often goes on 20+ mile rides along the Lake Shore Trail in Chicago.

Portrait of Brady Beard

Brady Beard

Illustrator | Internal Sales Support

requests@ces-home.com

Brady joined CES in the fall of 2023 right after graduating from Illinois State University with a Finance degree. As a self-proclaimed “nerd,” Brady loves working with numbers and naturally became a vital member of the illustration team. Brady’s main focus during the day is completing annual reviews on all LIP policies. He also handles specific face decrease and inforce requests received through the requests email inbox.

Outside of work, Brady spends his time at the gym or socializing with his friends. He also likes reading books about finance to enhance his professional development. Additionally, he enjoys sports and never misses an Illini football or basketball game.

Fun fact: Brady was raised as the middle child in a large family with five brothers.

Our new business team
Portrait of Nancy Harry

Nancy Harry

Manager | New Business/Sales Support

nharry@ces-home.com | (217) 679-7867

Nancy is the New Business and Sales Support Manager and has been with CES for over 27 years. Leveraging an MBA and prior insurance industry experience, Nancy leads an ever- expanding team of several individuals dedicated to assisting advisors through the entire application process, as well as multiple team members from the Internal Sales Support team. Nancy and her team provide concierge-level service and support encompassing every facet of CES, including marketing and design of multi-life plans, completing applications, guiding policies through the underwriting process, successfully placing policies inforce and completing annual reviews thereafter. Nancy says she enjoys the tight-knit group she works with and the family-like culture of CES.

Outside of work, Nancy enjoys playing golf, fine wine and spending time with friends. She and her husband Scott are transitioning to empty nesters with two children living in Chicago, and their youngest finishing up his degree at Bradley University.

Fun fact: Nancy was the very first person hired at CES.

Portrait of Tina Pile

Tina Pile

Lead Associate | New Business

tpile@ces-home.com | (217) 679-7873

Tina became a valued member of the New Business team in June of 2015. Her extensive 34-year career in insurance made Tina an exceptional addition to the CES team. Tina’s typical day is dynamic, managing paperwork and new business applications. She works closely with financial professionals to ensure applications are completed accurately and assists with obtaining delivery requirements and moving pending items through underwriting. Tina has a passion for teaching others and enjoys the unique challenges each case presents.

Outside of her professional life, Tina enjoys fishing, floating in her pool and cheering on the Fighting Illini. Tina and her husband Rick have shared 43 years together. They enjoy living near their son’s family, especially getting to spend time with their grandsons, Noah and Maverick.

Fun fact: Tina and her husband volunteer 2 weeks of every summer to raise money for St. Aloysius Church/School by parking cars at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

Portrait of Savannah Keys

Savannah Keys

Associate | New Business

skeys@ces-home.com | (217) 679-7872

Savanah joined the CES New Business team in August of 2023 and quickly became an integral member. Savannah serves as an intermediary between underwriters, financial professionals and other departments to ensure a seamless underwriting process. Although her days are often filled with managing emails, she enjoys feeling like she’s a part of something bigger than herself. Savannah loves meeting and engaging with new people and continues to learn something new every day. Savannah has been happily married to her college sweetheart, TJ, for 15 years. Together they are the proud parents of an energetic 41⁄2-year-old daughter, Sawyer.

Outside of work, you can find Savannah and her family spending time on the golf course or socializing with friends.

Fun fact: Savannah’s perfect getaway is being on a beach with her family, building sandcastles and doing cartwheels with her daughter.

Portrait of Denise Neal

Denise Neal

Associate | New Business

dneal@ces-home.com | (217) 679-7871

Denise joined the New Business team in October of 2023 and quickly became an invaluable asset due to her problem-solving skills and ability to pivot. Her typical day involves a variety of responsibilities including entering applications, ordering and following up on APS requests, monitoring emails, entering illustration requests, and registering financial professionals on the CESA portal. Denise says the favorite parts of her job are the people she works with and the family-like atmosphere of the office.

Denise married her high school sweetheart, whom she has been with for 32 years. Together they have two sons, Johnny and Joey. Outside of work, Denise enjoys being in or around the water. In the summer you can find her at the beach, in a pool or floating down a river.

Fun fact: Denise and her family are avid animal lovers and have two Labrador retrievers, one kitten and have rescued, racoons, rabbits and even a coyote.

Portrait of Sharonda L. McGill

Sharonda L. McGill

Sales Support II | New Business

Sharonda joined CES New Business in April 2025, leveraging her MBA and over 18 years of experience in finance. As part of the team, Sharonda manages COIL cases ensuring all requirements are met as they go through the underwriting process. She also assists with issuing cases for the inforce side of the business. Sharonda’s ability to problem solve, help others and build relationships are what makes her an asset to the team and happens to be the things she enjoys most in her role.

Sharonda is a proud mother to two children, Kiara and Cameron. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling to gorgeous beaches and immersing herself in different cultures and environments. She also loves family game nights at home.

Fun fact: Sharonda enjoys cake decorating, a hobby she shares with her sister. She says it provides an outlet for her artistic side.

Portrait of Nikki Greene

Nikki Greene

Relationship Case Manager | New Business

Nikki transitioned to CES New Business in April 2025 after spending 28 years with Equitable. Nikki’s entire career has been dedicated to New Business, bringing invaluable experience to our expanding team. Nikki works closely with the underwriting team moving cases from application entry all the way through to processing post-issue requirements.

Nikki has a son named Joshua and is a dog mom to a rescue pup named Pork Chop. Nikki enjoys doing anything outdoors from light gardening to hiking. She also enjoys charity work and participates in several charity rides in her Jeep with Pork Chop every year.

Fun fact: Nikki is a big DIY-er and likes taking on new projects around the house.

Our CES Administration (CESA) team
Portrait of Alison Buecker

Alison Buecker

Manager | CES Administration (CESA)

alison@cesadministration.com | (217) 546-4665

Alison joined CES in May 2005, making her the second most senior member of the company. As the manager of CESA, Alison supports the team in managing the day-to-day requests regarding administration, reporting and servicing of existing contracts. For nonqualified 409A plans, Alison produces plan documents, ensures the plan meets requirements and prepares enrollment material for participants. Additionally, Alison has the responsibility of finding ways to continuously enhance CESA's offerings and services.

When Alison isn’t working, you can find her bicycling, reading or relaxing with her family and friends. She also enjoys watching her kids’ sporting events and golfing with them.

Fun fact: During her time in the AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps), Alison built several Habitat for Humanity homes along the southeastern U.S. and helped organize volunteers for the Special Olympics.

Portrait of Matthew Ramirez

Matthew Ramirez

Sales Support | CES Administration (CESA)

matthew@cesadministration.com | (217) 546-4665

Matt became a member of the CESA team in May 2022, bringing over 25 years of experience in the insurance industry. In his role, he spends much of his time addressing phone calls and email requests from clients and advisors. This mainly consists of researching individual policy questions and producing reports for account inquiries. Matt says the best part of his job is being able to utilize his analytical and technical skills to help others.

Matt is the proud father of three children ages 16-21. When not at work, he enjoys the outdoors and likes to spend his time walking his rescue dog Sugar, gardening and fishing. Matt loves spending time with his family and always enjoys being with good people.

Fun fact: Matt is a high school varsity football coach, specifically coaching quarterbacks.

Portrait of Ed Boyd

Ed Boyd

Operations Coordinator | CES Administration (CESA)

edb@cesadministration.com | (217) 546-4665

Ed came to CES in January of 2023 bringing with him more than 40 years of experience in the insurance industry. Ed holds a master’s degree in economics and computer science and has experience spanning Planning and Forecasting to IT to Operational Analytics. Ed is the Swiss army knife of the CESA team performing a variety of tasks relating to analytics, data mining, and reporting. When he isn’t involved in a special project, he jumps in to assist the team with inforce administration requests.

Ed is a very proud father of two adult children. His son is an engineer with a dual bachelor’s degree in physics and engineering and his daughter is an RN doing graduate work at Mizzou.

Fun fact: Ed is a former professional musician and plays a wide range of instruments.

Portrait of Davin Cravens

Davin Cravens

Plan Administrator | CES Administration (CESA)

davinc@cesadministration.com | (217) 546-4665

Davin joined the expanding CESA team in September 2023, bringing with him a wealth of expertise from his 15-year career in financial fraud. His skills in research and information validation have proven invaluable, enabling him to meet client and advisor needs swiftly and accurately. His workdays consist of responding to emails, taking phone calls or handling other administration and reporting needs. Davin’s positive attitude and sense of humor contribute significantly to the CES office.

Outside of work, Davin is an entertainment enthusiast, enjoying television, movies and sports—always cheering for Chicago teams. For seven years, he co-hosted a media show/podcast where he shared his insights on movies, television and the entertainment industry.

Fun fact: Davin is known to be an excellent baker and is often sought after to create birthday cakes and other treats.

Portrait of Josh Cable

Josh Cable

Plan Administrator | CES Administration (CESA)

joshc@cesadministration.com | (217) 546-4665

Josh joined CES in September of 2023 after graduating from Wichita State University with a degree in Business Management. Josh, along with the CESA team, spends his time assisting advisors and clients with questions and requests regarding inforce policies. The requests range from discussing policy characteristics and running reports to assisting with fund allocation changes or premium payments. Josh says his favorite parts of the job are being around his coworkers and building relationships with advisors and clients.

Josh enjoys spending his free time outdoors, especially on a golf course. Being naturally competitive, he loves playing games, including video games, sports and board games with friends and family. He particularly enjoys pickleball and tennis.

Fun fact: Josh ran track for Wichita State University and still participates in races around the country.

Our CES support team
Portrait of Jill Marshall

Jill Marshall

Senior Associate | Office Manager

jmarshall@ces-home.com | (217) 546-4665

Jill joined CES in December 2010 and swiftly became a vital member of the team. Her responsibilities are diverse, including serving as the primary contact for incoming calls, processing requests in the LIPQ system, assisting with the distribution of marketing materials, and managing office supplies and expenses. Jill is always ready to lend a hand and supports her colleagues with various tasks whenever needed. Jill enjoys working with the CES team and says they make coming to work a pleasure.

Jill has been married to her husband Artie for 19 years. Together they have seven children and 12 grandchildren. To relax, Jill enjoys grabbing a cup of coffee with friends and spending time with family. During the spring and summer months, being outdoors brings her happiness. She can often be found in her garden.

Fun fact: Jill loves sports and is actually a really good basketball player!

Portrait of Stacey Solano

Stacey Solano

Emerging Markets | Program Manager

ssolano@ces-home.com | (217) 6797865

Stacey transitioned into this role in August of 2023 after serving as Randy’s Executive Assistant for 7 years. Her responsibilities range from helping to develop and drive new markets from inception to execution to leading marketing strategy initiatives and elevating the CES brand. She guides the creation of CES marketing and manages compliance approval, renewal and distribution of all materials. In addition, she oversees the preparation, planning and coordinating of CES meetings and special events. She also creates communications, presentations, training decks and other documents for leadership as needed.

Outside of work, Stacey enjoys being on or near the water, which is what propelled her to move to Pompano Beach, FL. She is an avid paddleboarder and spends most weekends at the beach. She is the proud mom of a 22-year-old son and a 9-year-old black cat.

Fun fact: Stacey loves to travel and is usually planning her next trip.