Northwestern Mutual
Atlanta
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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 Atlanta office is dedicated to doing good for our clients, employees and community.
Dwaan Black
CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®
Managing Partner
Dwaan was born and raised in Morristown, TN. He attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville where he graduated with honors with a BS degree in Finance in 1989. Dwaan joined Northwestern Mutual in 1988 as an intern. During his 32 years with the company, he has served clients and the organization in every field leadership role. He continues to lead Northwestern Mutual-North Atlanta as its Managing Partner, since being appointed in 2007. Dwaan married his high school sweetheart, Ellen, in 1991. They have 3 sons: William, Brantly, Robert, and a new daughter-in-law, Caroline, who married William in July 2020. In addition to investing his time and energy into growing the leaders and advisors in their office, Dwaan enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, exercising and reading. Dwaan and Ellen worship and serve at Peachtree Church. Dwaan’s strongest passion in life is to be a catalyst for personal and professional impact, fulfillment, and growth.
Ali Walker
Chief of Staff
Ali became a part of our team in June 2022 following a seven-year journey in the education sector. In her role as the Executive Assistant to Managing Partner Dwaan Black, she astounds us with her exceptional ability to streamline workflow processes, elevate productivity, and ensure the flawless execution of tasks. Ali is not just a proactive communicator but also an innovative problem solver, serving as an invaluable bridge between the executive, advisors, and team members. Her reliability and resourcefulness make her an integral member of our Executive Leadership Team. Ali's roots run deep in Georgia, where she was born and raised, and she holds a bachelor's degree from The University of Georgia. When she's not busy at work, Ali treasures moments with her family, enjoys playing tennis, and cheers for the Dawgs!
Randi Michaelson
Chief Growth Officer
Randi joined the Callaway Black Group as the Distribution Growth Officer in September 2022. Prior to joining this team, she had over 17 years working with Northwestern Mutual. She started her career as the Director of Recruitment and Selection where she was responsible for the highest level of sourcing, recruiting, and developing top talent. In 2012, Randi realized her desire to want to expand her reach across many networks and was inspired to start her own Northwestern Mutual consulting business. Randi is known for being able to recognize business opportunities, articulate new strategy and drive growth, she excels at executive development and organizational design as well as executive recruitment and selection which is why it was the right fit to partner with the Callaway Black group. Randi grew up in Maryland and received her Bachelors Degree from Michigan State University. Randi and her husband Matt live in Charlotte, NC., and they 2 children.
Jessica Burks
MBA, CLU®
Director of Supervision
Jessica joined our firm in September 2019 after spending 16 years working in various roles with our home office in Milwaukee, WI. Her experience includes life underwriting, marketing compliance, field supervision, and distribution policy. Jessica holds a bachelor’s degree from Florida A&M University, a master’s degree from Cardinal Stritch University, and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. She has a passion for financial literacy and sees herself as a teacher at heart. Jessica works with our advisors and teams to help them navigate our regulatory environment, so they can grow their practices with confidence.
Allison Curcio
Director of Training and Development
Allison joined our firm in February 2018 as Executive Assistant and Recruiting Coordinator. After a year into the business, she realized her passion for coaching and developing young advisors. Allison was promoted in October 2021 to Director of Training and Development where she will lead the accountability systems and processes for the Network and District Offices. Allison has previous experience in Public Affairs and Community Giving, which translates to our philanthropy work within the community. Allison holds a bachelor’s degree from Kennesaw State University and is originally from Newnan, GA.
Bethany McFarland
SPHR
Director of Operations
Katy Simpson
Chief Marketing Officer
Roberto Valles
CFP®
Managing Director
Roberto was raised in Arvada, Colorado. He enlisted in the Navy and was primarily stationed at Naval Air Station Atlanta in Marietta, GA. His core values will always be those instilled by the Navy – Honor, Courage, and Commitment. Roberto married Ericka after separating from the military. He went on to earn his BS in Finance from Georgia State University. Roberto joined Northwestern Mutual in 2013. He serves as a Financial Advisor and District Director. His mission is to help people retire on their terms, protect families from unexpected financial obstacles, and provide guidance on achieving any financial goal. Roberto oversees the development of all North Atlanta’s new financial representatives. He aims to develop principled financial advisors and leaders to serve North Atlanta. Roberto and Ericka are the proud parents of Samuel, Sawyer, and Sara. Away from work, you'll find Roberto spending time with his family, playing golf, working on their home, or serving at his church.
Sam Pittard
CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®
Managing Director
Sam was born and raised in Athens, Georgia. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 2011, and he started his career with Northwestern Mutual in 2012. He has also served as the Managing Director in the Athens office since 2019. Sam holds three advanced planning designations, including the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, which is the standard of excellence in financial planning. Sam and his team strive to help their clients achieve the goals that are most important to them as efficiently as possible. Businesses, families, and individuals who hire him to be their planner can expect a judgment-free environment. He aims to provide the best possible experience for his clients. Sam is married to Sarah, and they have two sons. He enjoys golfing, hunting, fishing, and UGA sports.
Shannon Wiley
Managing Director
Shannon embarked on her journey with Northwestern Mutual in the summer of 2004, taking on various roles. In 2019 under the guidance of Dwaan Black, she spent nearly a year building and launching a District. Shannon is deeply grateful for the belief and partnership of her Managing Partner, which ultimately led her to become a Managing Director.
Andy Sorrells
CFP®, ChFC®
Growth and Development Director
Andy was born and raised in Grayson, Georgia, and attended the University of Georgia for his undergraduate degree. He also holds a Masters Degree from Liberty University. Andy joined Northwestern Mutual in November 2021. He worked in finance and operations before joining our firm and has held roles as a Chief Financial Officer and President before becoming a financial advisor. He currently serves as a Growth and Development Director and assists new financial advisors in growing their practices. Andy and his wife Ashley live in Oconee County and have a daughter (Bradlee Rae). In his spare time, you can find him cheering on the Dawgs or playing golf.
Jordan Thompson
J.D.
Growth and Development Director
With a JD from Samford Law & an Army Officer Commission from the University of Alabama; Jordan works with business executives, attorneys, veterans, athletes, & more. In addition to being a Financial Advisor, he is a Growth Development Director, coaching new financial representatives toward success. He enjoys spending time with his wife & two dogs, as well as networking via community engagement.
Sabina Khoja
Growth and Development Director
Sabina joined Northwestern Mutual as a College Financial Representative while attending Augusta University. She has since been promoted to a College Unit Director, and now Growth and Development Director. Sabina is excited to continue her work and passions on the Leadership Team at the firm’s new Sugarloaf expansion, in her hometown of Gwinnett County. While the majority of her time is focused on her clients, she also has a passion for leadership with both college students and career changers. In her free time, Sabina enjoys spending time with her family, exploring Atlanta, and sitting on the board of her alumnae Greek organization, Zeta Tau Alpha.
Marcus Alford
Financial Advisor
Marcus grew up in Watkinsville, GA and has been in the financial services industry ever since graduating from Morehouse College in 2015. He currently serves as an Army Officer in the Georgia National Guard, and lives in the Bethlehem area with his wife Camaryn, daughter Kennedy and sons MJ & Malachi . Marcus helps his clients develop comprehensive financial plans to meet their goals.
Michael Watson
CLTC®
Financial Advisor
Mike specializes in working with driven, successful professionals looking for financial education, a comprehensive plan, and a long-term relationship. My team and I focus on tax efficiency and wealth preservation to help people build a strong financial foundation for their lives.