Our people

Dani is responsible for creating systems for stronger customer service, and she supports team members in our Lone Star Division, Austin, Dallas, Scottsdale, and Elk River locations through hiring and training.

Prior to taking a management role in 2021, Dani served in support and coordinator roles at North Star where she provided exceptional customer service to our associates and clients for six years. Her firsthand experience in the roles she manages allows her to support her teams at a greater level.

Dani is passionate about empowering her teams through training and collaboration to provide value-added services to our financial professionals and to ensure clients’ goals and needs are supported at every level of the organization.

Robin joined North Star as our IT Director in early 2020, and he has championed initiatives such as Microsoft Outlook Mobile, Microsoft One Drive, and Microsoft Teams, as well as providing guidance through remote work and the new website launch.

Before coming to North Star, Robin had extensive experience in IT operations and strategy as a director at Assurant for over 13 years. His cross-discipline experience has made him a valuable resource to all advisors and associates at North Star.

Chelsie is the senior professional development growth officer at North Star Resource Group’s Minneapolis headquarters. She leverages her extensive background in helping new financial advisors market themselves and their businesses to lead the Professional Development team in their mission of developing emerging financial leaders.

Chelsie originates from Hurley, Wis., and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin—Green Bay’s business administration program with a marketing focus. She has previous experience as a professional education and events coordinator along with an associate brand manager role.

Eventually, after being introduced to North Star via her older brother, Chase Brakke, Vice President of Business Owner Solutions, she joined the firm as a market development specialist in 2022 to fulfill a growing need to train and lead new financial advisors.

Since transitioning to her current leadership role in early 2025, Chelsie has continued to use her expertise in marketing and educational events to assist advisors in the early stages of their careers. She also works with each North Star branch office’s field leader to ensure their advisors have the tools they need for success.

Chelsie resides in South Saint Paul, Minn. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her four-year-old daughter, playing golf with her dad and brothers, playing basketball and pickleball, and researching organic foods and products to incorporate into her household.

Anna has been serving North Star’s teams since 2015, and she brings with her nearly 20 years’ accounting experience.

Overseeing our accounting operations, Anna excels in financial professional tax prep consulting, client service, internal audit/controls, Agility, Great Plains, QuickBooks, Excel, year-end close, and management efficiency, and she serves as a resource and expert for each of our 160 financial professional practices throughout the United States.

North Star financial professionals are freed up to focus on their clients’ needs first and foremost, knowing their operations have the expert support of Anna and the rest of the accounting team.

Anna graduated Summa Cum Laude from the College of St. Scholastica and received her Certified Public Accountant certification from the Minnesota State Board of Accountancy.

Nick supports team members in our Madison and Portland offices, as well as serving as a resource for the new business, contracts and licensing, and office support teams at our headquarters in Minneapolis.

Nick joined North Star in 2019 bringing with him over 13 years’ experience with management in the hospitality industry. Today, his responsibilities at North Star include hiring, training, professional development, and firmwide team building, and he uses his experience working with employees and customers of diverse backgrounds to create a more inclusive environment at North Star.

Davin has been a financial professional with North Star since 2001. He also serves as growth and development leaders at North Star Consultants of Texas – Austin and on our firm’s Servant Leadership Steering Committee.

With a focus on developing financial professionals, Davin believes recruiting the right people for the industry and training them for success is the best way to strengthen the business and provide quality guidance to the individuals and families who rely on North Star.

Finally, Davin has spent several years coaching his three daughter’s elementary school basketball teams, allowing him to invest in the community while being all-in where it matters most: his family.

Tony develops lasting connections with advisors at North Star to see them through to a successful career.

Joining North Star in 2010, Tony has an extensive career in sales management and customer relations, and he is passionate about helping emerging advisors learn the communication and marketing skills needed to serve their clients in life-long relationships.

Along with one-on-one coaching, Tony also introduces new advisors to North Star’s extensive training and development program. He works with industry organizations, division specialists, and tenured advisors to provide interns and advisors the education needed to master the complex topics of financial services.

Tony works out of North Star’s headquarters in Minneapolis, but he enjoys connecting with advisors throughout the nation on his weekly mentoring and coaching calls with advisors at all stages in their careers.

Jay Pugh joined North Star in 1986, and he has served the firm as Senior Vice President since 2013.

Mariann joined North Star in December 2006 in a role supporting senior leadership. As the leadership team experienced some changes and the firm grew, she was presented with an opportunity to lead the Compliance team.

The North Star Compliance team provides daily support for financial professionals and team members to better navigate the plethora of industry regulations we operate under and help them continue to conduct business that aligns with the ever-evolving compliance standards.

Compliance is essentially tasked with serving and protecting both clients of the firm and those working within the firm.

Mariann received a degree in business from the University of St. Thomas in 2004, and prior to North Star, she worked for a couple of smaller Minneapolis-based companies outside of the financial services industry. She currently holds her Series 7, 63, 65, 53, and 24 registrations.

Eliot is the Senior Director Experienced Advisor Recruiting at North Star Resource Group’s Minneapolis office. In addition to leading and supporting the Recruiting department, he helps recruit financial advisors at each of our offices nationwide.

Eliot grew up in Golden Valley, MN, a suburb of Minneapolis. After graduating from Hampton University, he began his career as a financial advisor. Eventually, he transitioned to the recruiting side of the business at Ameriprise and Equitable Advisors, where he spent nearly 10 years using his knowledge and passion for the industry to connect with prospective financial advisors.

Now at North Star, he uses this same knowledge and passion to partner with the Recruiting department as they recruit experienced financial advisors, career changers, and recent college graduates to the firm.

Eliot continues to call Golden Valley home today. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, gardening, spending with his family, and cheering on the Arsenal FC soccer team.

Megan leads our team of talented, service-focused marketing professionals who are dedicated to the financial professional’s growth. She specializes in coaching and helping advisors with their overall marketing strategies and creative initiatives that are right for their practices.

Megan and her team put the financial professional first—providing opportunities and resources for new and tenured financial professionals in each of our 41 locations.

Jenna joined North Star is 2006, and she has worked in developing and supporting team members committed to serving our clients and communities for her entire career.

Jenna’s proudest accomplishments involve bringing people together and encouraging hearts of service in others. She is actively involved in Stop Alzheimer’s Now and Feed My Starving Children.

Currently working out of North Star’s office in Dallas, Jenna supports our new and tenured financial professionals and their teams throughout the nation.

Mary Claire supports team members in our Minneapolis, Iowa City, Milwaukee, Richmond, and Durham offices through hiring, training, and continued professional and personal development.

Before joining North Star in 2019, Mary Claire spent time as a retail manager and on the training team at Securian Financial. Here, she honed her communication, team-building, management, and team member training skills. In addition to fulfilling these roles at North Star, she also helps provide growth and professional development opportunities to others within the firm.

Mary Claire is the recipient of several awards, including the 2024 BestPrep Service Award, the 2024 TeamWomen Community Impact Award, and the 2023 North Star Foundation Builders Award. She is also a founding member and the leader of North Star’s DEI Committee, which helps develop and execute North Star’s DEI strategy while providing insight into diverse identities, experiences, and cultures.

Additionally, Mary Claire is committed to giving back to others, working with the Jeremiah Program, No Kid Hungry, the Black and Brown Run Around, and BestPrep, where she serves as North Star’s volunteer coordinator. With BestPrep, she also volunteers as a classroom speaker and is a member of the BestPrep Emerging Leaders Alliance (BELA) board.

Her mission at North Star is to serve as a link between upper leadership, financial professionals, and team members to ensure everyone receives the respect and kindness they deserve, regardless of background or knowledge. She makes herself a resource and advocate for all team members, building stronger teams and a culture of integrity throughout North Star nationwide.