Northwestern Mutual
West Hartford
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Leadership
Putting people first.
All of our leadership are dedicated to doing good for our clients, employees, and community.
Get to know our leadership team
Leadership at the West Hartford office is dedicated to doing good for our clients, employees and community.
Dante Pizzuti
CLU®, CLTC®, RICP®
Managing Partner
Dante started his career with Northwestern Mutual in 1993. He has served in the Leadership Development Program, holding a multitude of positions such as College Unit Director, Field Director, Managing Director and was recently appointed as the Managing Partner in West Hartford, CT. Dante's charge in West Hartford as Managing Partner includes recruiting and developing representatives to serve Connecticut and Massachusetts. Dante oversees three District Network offices in Hartford, CT, New Haven, CT and Springfield, MA. Dante grew up in upstate New York in the city of Binghamton. He went on to graduate from the University of New York, Binghamton, with a bachelor’s degree in leadership development & business. His family consists of his wife, Andrea, and their three children. Dante enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, biking and reading.
Justin Scalise
Growth and Development Director
Justin Scalise is a seasoned financial advisor and the Growth and Development Director for the West Hartford network office. Leading a team, which has expanded to include 10 advisors, 2 full-time staff, and 6 interns, Justin demonstrates exceptional leadership and vision. He also serves as the head wrestling coach at Hall High School. Born and raised in West Hartford, Justin now resides in Wethersfield, CT, with his wife, Ashleigh, and their baby girl, Sloane. Balancing a successful career in finance with a commitment to nurturing young athletes, Justin is dedicated to fostering growth both on and off the mat. His expertise and leadership extend beyond his professional roles, making a positive impact in his community and family life.
James Finlay
Chief Recruitment Officer
Jim Finlay serves at the Chief Recruitment Officer for Northwestern Mutual in the Pizzuti Agency Network Office in West Hartford. and works closely with the Managing Partner and the Leadership team to assists in the agency’s talent acquisition and growth strategies. Jim has been involved with full-time and internship recruiting for more than nine years. Prior to Northwestern Mutual, Jim had a long and successful NCAA collegiate coaching career in the sport of Men’s Lacrosse. The majority of Jim’s coaching career was spent at the NCAA Division I level, coaching at academic institutions such as Harvard University, Brown University, and University of Notre Dame. In his free time, Jim enjoys time on the farm raising cattle, mules and running his two English Labrador Retriever’s, Hurricane and Mojo. In the summer, he can be found attending various country music shows and vacationing in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Amanda Meskell
Director of Internship Development
Amanda Meskell, raised in Enfield, Connecticut, holds a bachelor's degree in business management from Westfield State University and also pursued her MBA at the University of Hartford. Currently residing in Suffield, Connecticut, Amanda shares her life with her husband, Tommy. Outside the professional realm, Amanda finds joy in spending time with family and friends, as well as expressing her passion for dance through teaching and choreography. As the Director of Internship Development and Recruitment at Northwestern Mutual's West Hartford and New Haven office, Amanda is deeply dedicated to her role. She derives immense satisfaction from witnessing interns evolve into full-time financial advisors, making each day in her job a source of fulfillment and joy.
Michael Stanton
Recruiter
Mike grew up in the small town of Cheshire, Connecticut then later moving to Worcester, Massachusetts and now living locally in West Hartford, Connecticut. He went on to graduate from Assumption University with a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communication and a minor in Sport Management. He is recently married to his wife, Lauren. Mike enjoys playing golf when he can as well as traveling and hanging out with his puppy, Milo. Mike’s role in West Hartford is to bring in new talent for our Financial Representative positions to serve in our West Hartford office.
Carol Pickett
Recruiter
My 30 plus years with Northwestern Mutual have been very diversified leading me from early years as an Northwestern Mutual administrative assistant onto the Director of Training, Development Director, a partnership with the Agency Managing Partner and now an Executive Recruiter with Dante Pizzuti, Managing Partner for Greater Hartford, Connecticut. All of the titles come to one important passion, my passion for Northwestern Mutual and bringing individuals into this amazing career, helping them to capture their vision and life dreams, through our nationally recognized training and development path where they will change the lives of every client they meet on a daily basis for the better through their gift of financial planning.
Dante Pizzuti
RICP®
Chief Operations Officer
DJ has been with Northwestern Mutual for over 8 years and in that time has operated within and supervised numerous departments in the West Hartford office. Currently he works on elevating the Financial Representative experience working with our office’s Sales support, Investment support, Supervision, Marketing, Event, and Development teams. As well he hires for and advises on long term staffing needs for our office. When not at work DJ enjoys spending time with his family, working on his personal hobbies, and taking part in outdoor activities such as hiking.
John Baker
CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, MBA, MSM
Director of Supervision
John grew up and resides in East Hartford, CT. He is a graduate of Albertus Magnus College New Haven CT with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, a Master’s in Business Administration and a Master’s of Science in Management. John is a Charter Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). His family consists of his wife Donna and their four children. In his down time, John enjoys golfing and fishing and is a good soul to all. As Director of Supervision, John supports the Manager Partner in shaping the culture of compliance in the 005.
Courtney Ossolinski
Director of Finance
Courtney Ossolinski, born and raised in Connecticut, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Central Connecticut State University. As the Director of Finance, she is deeply committed to her role, bringing expertise and dedication to her work. Outside of her career, Courtney finds immense joy in her roles as a loving wife to her husband and a proud mother to adorable twin daughters. When not immersed in the world of finance, Courtney treasures moments with her family and enjoys beach outings, where the sun, sand, and waves create cherished memories. Adding to her household is her beloved cat, Gypsy, who brings companionship and warmth to her home life.
Dani Babon
Training and Development Coordinator
Dani Babon, raised in Southington, Connecticut, holds Bachelor’s degrees in Social Work and Art from Wheelock College in Boston, MA. With a passion for helping others reach their full potential, Dani works closely with leadership team to implement innovative training programs that drive both individual and organizational success. Outside of work, she enjoys quality time with her beloved dog and cherishes moments spent with family and friends. Dani’s dedication to continuous learning and personal growth is reflected in every aspect of her life.
Alexandra Maistrelis
MBA
Contract and License Coordinator
Alexandra “Allie” Maistrelis serves as the Network Office Contract, Licensing, Registration (CLR) Coordinator, Recruiting Coordinator, and Onboarding Specialist. She is also Dante Pizzuti’s, MP, Executive Assistant, and the Women’s Field Association Network Office Liaison. Giving a first-class experience in onboarding those to our agency; and helping and developing Financial Representatives, College Financial Representative Interns, and staff, drives Allie’s passion. Her success has brought her to present nationally at the Northwestern Mutual Home Office in Milwaukee in 2024. Allie was born and raised in Colchester, CT, and graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2019, with a major in Communications and a minor in Business Administration. In 2022, Allie received her MBA from the University of Hartford. In her personal time, Allie enjoys her wonderful life with her fiancé, Adam, as they are planning their wedding and starting their life together.
Jen Vitas
District Director
Jen Vitas, a Wisconsin native raised in Muskego, holds a Bachelor of Science with a management emphasis from Carroll University. As a dedicated mother of three, she cherishes moments with her children and finds joy in outdoor activities, swimming, attending concerts, and exploring her extensive travel bucket list. Passionate about empowering others to achieve their dreams, as Chief Development Officer, Jen collaborates with senior leadership to foster growth and development of those within the agency. Thriving in a role she genuinely loves, she takes immense pride in witnessing the growth and success of those around her.