John began his career in 1981 in Santa Barbara, California. His position as a financial advisor soon led to management responsibilities culminating in Smith Barney’s youngest branch manager in 1988. He was soon promoted to lead Portland’s flagship office where headcount and revenue grew nicely over the next decade. In 2005, John was offered and accepted a position with UBS Financial Services as Director and Executive Vice President responsible for the state of Oregon.
The financial meltdown of 2008 presented new opportunities. Umpqua Holdings, one of the leading community banks in the Pacific Northwest recruited John to oversee and build its Portland based full service brokerage firm, Strand Atkinson, Williams and York (founded in 1928). As President/CEO, John established a path for growth that resulted in a tripling of the firm revenue.
John stepped out of day to day operations to establish an independent consulting firm dedicated to establishing leadership and compliant direction among professionals within the financial services industry.
John has served as Chairman of the Securities Industry/Regulatory Council on Continuing Education for the New York Stock Exchange. He was also instrumental in establishing the first Portland Metro program for the National Academy of Finance, which is a national organization that partners with public high schools by providing an investment and financial planning curriculum for students.
On a personal note, John enjoys all things culinary; wine making, cooking, farm to table, and traveling to where food and wine compliment the experience. In addition, you’ll find John fly fishing, crafting things in his wood working shop, photographing images from the great outdoors and his hands in the dirt in his garden.