Equity Trust Company

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Taskforce

The purpose of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Taskforce is to develop and promote strategies for best practices specifically focusing on racial, social and gender diversity at Equity Trust. The Taskforce further serves as a platform for members to provide suggestions and challenges that relate to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Meet the Taskforce

Melva Nelson

Client Services Representative, has been at Equity Trust for over 15 years.

Melva Nelson is a Client Services Representative and has been at Equity Trust for over 15 years. A United States Army Veteran, she strongly believes in justice, peace, and equality for all. During her time in the Army, Melva was able to experience working with others from a wide array of backgrounds and served as the Equal Opportunity Representative for her Unit while stationed at Fort Sill, OK. Today, she continues to encourage others to be the best they can be. As a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, Melva appreciates being able to enthusiastically contribute and provide ideas, concerns, and awareness of and for all associates.

Kimberly Eisom

Supervisor, Operations, has been at Equity Trust for over seven years.

Kimberly Eisom is an Operations Supervisor and has been at Equity Trust since 2013. She believes the DEI Taskforce is a way the company can grow and understand the people that make Equity Trust what it is. We are not the same, but we have a common goal of working together and understanding how best to empower our associates.

Jacqueline Bailey

Relationship Management Supervisor, has been at Equity Trust for seven years.

Jacqueline Bailey (She/Her) is the Relationship Management Supervisor and has been at Equity Trust since 2013. Jacqueline works closely with associates throughout the organization to help her team deliver superior customer service to the relationships they manage. Jaqueline has a passion for the experience of the internal and external client. She works to foster an environment which creates a place where all can be and feel included, represented, supported, respected, and valued – her “One Team One Goal” model. Being a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force provides her the opportunity to facilitate the enhancement of the company’s climate through implementation of policies, processes, strategies, and programs that can help promote the model she believes in.

Sarah Pearce

Supervisor for Client Services’ remote office in Sioux Falls, SD, has been at Equity Trust for eight years.

Sarah Pearce (She/Her) is a Client Experience and Product Manager, and oversees Equity’s office in Sioux Falls, SD. She has been at Equity Trust since 2013. Sarah is thrilled to be a part of the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force. She grew up and currently lives in a very conservative area/state, and has always been passionate about ensuring equality for all genders, races, sexual orientation, preferences, etc. Sarah knew from an early age that her ability to speak in front of groups with compassion for others would lead her on a path of advocacy. She is a proud mom of an LGBTQ+ daughter, the sister of an LGBTQ+ sister, and the friend and ally of many people with diverse backgrounds. She looks forward to additional opportunities to improve and enhance the diverse and inclusive culture at Equity Trust and beyond.

Shanice Collins

Team Lead of Client Services, has been at Equity Trust for four years.

Shanice Collins (She/Her) is a Supervisor for Client Services and has been at Equity Trust since 2017. Shanice enjoys being able to make a positive impact in people’s lives, whether that be with clients or her fellow associates. Being on the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force is important to her because she believes “every person deserves to feel comfortable and safe being who they are in their place of work.” She is honored to have the opportunity to be a part of the change for a better tomorrow.

Katie Plush

Supervisor of Employee Relations & Benefits, has been at Equity Trust for four years.

Katie Plush (She/Her) is the Manager, Employee Relations & Benefits and has been with Equity Trust since 2017. Katie engages with associates at all levels of the organization and strives to ensure the company has an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcomed by their colleagues and leadership. Katie is excited to be a part of the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, as it provides her the ability to learn more about associates’ backgrounds and perspectives to better support them with their work experience.

Jay Palmer

Communications & Engagement Specialist, has been at Equity Trust since 2022.

Jay Palmer (He/Him) is the Communications & Engagement Specialist and has been with Equity Trust since 2022. He enjoys being on the Diversity and Inclusion team so that he can help build understanding and comfort for all associates at Equity. As a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce, Jay appreciates that he can help bring ideas to the table, listen to employee needs, and be a supportive ally to all.

Jerome Davis

Vice President of Retail Sales, has been at Equity Trust for 10 years.

Jerome Davis is the Vice President of Sales at Equity Trust, where he has been inspiring and motivating the sales division to reach new heights since 2013. Jerome’s passions include revenue generation, developing leaders, and family. He feels it is important to contribute to the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force because everyone, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation deserves a voice and an opportunity to succeed.

Will Fitch

William Fitch (He/Him) is a Relationship Manager and has been at Equity Trust since 2022.

William works closely with advisors partnered with the organization to deliver superior customer service to the clients they manage. He works to create and ensure an environment which everyone can be and feel included, represented, supported, respected, and valued as a person. Being a member of the DEI Taskforce provides additional opportunities to improve and enhance the diverse and inclusive culture already established at Equity Trust and help support it’s continued excellence.

Taylor Straka

Taylor Straka (She/Her) is an Operations Associate for the Account Services and Transfers team.

Taylor has been with Equity Trust since 2022 and couldn’t be happier. Taylor has had the pleasure of working for and with some amazing people; and is always willing to help where needed with a smile on her face. She is excited for the opportunity to spread the knowledge learned while also helping the community and those around her. “LET’S GO ETC!!! 😊”

Reshawna Sheffield

Reshawna (Shawna) Sheffield (She/Her) is an Operations Associate for the Account Service & Transfers team.

Shawna started at Equity Trust as a temp and loved the moral within the company. She joined full-time in 2022. She always lends a helping hand when needed and loves the idea of coming up with creative ways to include and illuminate the differences of one another in a positive way. She believes it is important that every employee feels acknowledged, and heard, no matter the position held at Equity Trust. Shawna feels that the work being done by the DEI Taskforce is the right step in making that happen.

Jailyn Jackson

Jailyn Jackson (She/Her) is an Operations Associate with Equity Advisor Solutions and has been a part of the team since 2021.

Jailyn originally got her start in Trust Accounting. Jailyn enjoys being able to create reasonable and logical solutions to deliver a more positive experience for both the clients and her colleagues. Being on the DEI Taskforce is a significant milestone for her because she believes “being able to support transparency and fluidity in the workplace is an important stepstone to a healthy work environment.” She is so glad to be a part of this team.

Brian Lynch

Brian Lynch (He/Him) is an internal auditor that has worked for Equity Trust since 2022.

He graduated BGSU a year prior with his MBA in accounting and is excited to be a part of the DEI Taskforce. He hopes to make a positive impact in the lives of everyone in the organization and is committed to ensuring that everyone in the workplace feels valued, respected, and included.

Phil Romano

Phil Romano (He/Him) is a Sales Analytics Specialist and has been with Equity Trust since 2022.

A graduate of Baldwin-Wallace, Phil speaks Spanish and has an interest in other languages and cultures. Phil has a background of nearly 20 years in business management and understands the need for diverse representation across all levels of an organization. Phil hopes to direct his passion for diversity into impact within Equity Trust.

Rachel Smith

Rachel Smith (She/Her) has been with Equity Trust company since 2022.

Rachel knows firsthand what it is like being teased for being different. Rachel was born with a submucous cleft palate, which has left her with a speech impediment. She doesn’t want anyone to feel ashamed to be who they are. Just because you are “different” does not mean that you don’t have feelings. Rachel enjoys working at Equity Trust and is so honored to be a part of the DEI Taskforce.

Laura Palmer

Laura Palmer (She/Her) has worked for Equity Trust since 2016 in the client services area through the South Dakota office.

Laura is excited to work with the DEI Taskforce because she feels strongly that each person has so much to offer others, and varied and diverse backgrounds can only add to enrich each others life experiences and knowledge.

Lizzette Lopez

Lizzette Lopez (She/Her) has been with Equity Trust since 2020 as a Client Services Representative.

Lizzette’s role here at Equity Trust consists of working with internal departments to best service the needs of Equity’s clients. Lizzette represents the Equity Trust employees who have children with disabilities. “I’m a proud mother of an amazing autistic son. It is wonderful to be part of such an impactful team.”

Krista Manning

Krista Manning (She/Her) is a Relationship Manager under the Equity Institutional Sales team and has been with ETC since 2021.

Krista is excited to be on the DEI Taskforce so that she can empower other professionals to show up as their fully authentic selves. As a part of the DEI Taskforce, Krista strives to contribute her time, energy, and ideas in hopes of making a lasting impact on celebrating everyone’s differences, and creating a diverse and inclusive culture where people are comfortable.

Bill Ramsdell

William (Bill) Ramsdell has been with Equity Trust since 2019 in Investments, Digital currency and Precious Metals.

Bill likes being on the DEI Taskforce because he believes everyone is equal, and should be kind to people. Bill also wants everyone to feel safe in the workplace, and looks forward to change going forward.

Bringing your authentic self to work

How do we foster Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Equity?

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are an essential part of our culture and highlight the ways we bring purpose to our community.

We aim to embed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in all aspects of what we do. We plan to achieve these efforts by continuing to build an inclusive culture that recognizes, celebrates, and values the realities and experiences of our associates, and to serve the needs of our clients by engaging with society in the markets where we operate.

International Women’s Day

Participated in the Cleveland and Sioux Falls PRIDE parades

Learning Together

Equity Trust implemented a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training that focuses on unconscious bias, microaggressions, and the relationship between privilege, oppression, and power. Associates at every level are required to complete the training and will do so annually to further increase our knowledge surrounding diversity and inclusion in the future

“At Equity Trust Company, we believe every associate should be valued for their differences, and our goal is to ensure diversity and inclusion initiatives are a priority as we move forward.”

– George Sullivan, CEO