Our Team

Ray Sclafani

President and Founder

As a leading consultant, coach, keynote speaker, columnist, and educator, Ray Sclafani is leading a unique process in the professional development of financial services professionals. Ray launched ClientWise to help companies build stronger relationships with their clients and use industry trends to their advantage. Ray is formerly the Founder and Managing Director of The Advisor Institute at AllianceBernstein. He was responsible for developing and executing an extensive curriculum of interactive programs designed to help advisors improve their practice and better serve their clients. During his 20-year tenure at AllianceBernstein, Ray served as the National Sales Director for both the Financial Advisor and Financial Institutions Divisions. Ray also served as the Southern Division Sales Director for mutual funds, retirement solutions, college savings plans, separately managed accounts, variable annuities, and offshore products. Earlier in his career, he ranked among AllianceBernstein's top sales professionals for almost a decade. Ray is a member of the International Coach Federation (ICF), where he has participated in The Strategic Coach Program™ for eleven years. He received his BA from Baylor University and a Masters Certification in Neuro-Linguistics from the IANLP. He is also a Genos Emotional Intelligence Certified Practitioner.

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Rebeca Buffaloe

Director of Coaching Solutions

Rebeca Buffaloe has more than a decade of experience coaching and working with financial advisors in business development. Before joining ClientWise, she served as Vice President of Branch Development for Householder Group, one of the largest production groups with AIG Financial Advisors, and owned and operated her own consulting firm. Rebeca's expertise is in marketing strategy, team development and practice management. She has a BA in Rhetoric from the University of California Berkeley. She is also a Genos Emotional Intelligence Certified Practitioner. As Director of Coaching Solutions, she is responsible for the facilitation and success of the coaching program at ClientWise.

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Dan McGouran

Director of New Business Development

Daniel McGouran has more than 15 years of experience within the financial services industry. Before joining ClientWise as Director of New Business Development, he was the Director of Branch Development for LPL Financial, where he was responsible for increasing the LPL footprint in Manhattan, Long Island, Westchester and Southern Connecticut. In addition to his recruiting responsibilities, Dan coached and consulted these advisors concerning industry best practices. Prior to LPL, Dan was Vice President, Regional Manager for AllianceBernstein, and was responsible for all lines of distribution for the Financial Planner Channel in Manhattan and the boroughs of New York City. He began his financial advisory career at Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley. He graduated from Manhattan College with a BS in Organizational Management. He is also a Genos Emotional Intelligence Certified Practitioner.

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Frank Troha

Director of Learning and Development

Frank Troha ranks among today's most qualified instructional designers and performance improvement specialists. He teaches instructional design at Fordham University and has consulted for many leading asset management companies. Frank received a Master's degree in Educational Communications from the State University of New York (Oswego) and a PhD in Adult Education from Commonwealth Open University (Asturias, Spain). He is also a formally trained coach.

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Diane Dolinsky-Pickar

Project Manager

Diane Dolinsky-Pickar started her career as a Research Analyst at First Manhattan Consulting Group, a consultancy serving banks, brokerage and insurance firms, and more recently served as a Program Officer at the Legacy Heritage Fund. As Project Manager at ClientWise, Diane is responsible for coordinating and facilitating all marketing programs and the CRM process. Diane has a BA (Magna Cum Laude) from Harvard/Radcliffe College and an MIA from Columbia University. She is also a member of the American Marketing Association.

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Julie Kukuc

Executive Coaching Program Coordinator

Julie Kukuc brings a strong administrative background to ClientWise. She supports the coaching program by coordinating and facilitating the client integration process.

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Lisa Hanna

Executive Assistant to Ray Sclafani/Team Project Coordinator

A seasoned executive assistant with over 30 years of experience working with major American corporations, Lisa Hanna is an integral part of the ClientWise team. With her hands-on, get it done approach, she helps ClientWise meet the objectives and expectations of our clients.

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Our Team of Coaches

Alicia Bassuk

Executive Coach

Alicia Bassuk has over 15 years' experience as a strategic consultant and executive coach, and specializes in working with industry leaders. She has coached hundreds of C-level executives, helping them achieve their unique goals and objectives. Specific areas of expertise include: strategic planning, tracking important initiatives, anticipating risks and opportunities, considering motivations and responses, managing relationships, improving communications style, and accelerating success.

• Former Chairman and CEO of public company establishes private equity firm
• President of global financial institution grooms EVPs to take over his role
• SVP of global financial institution improves ability to strengthen leadership team
• Managing Partner of hedge fund refines leadership skills and presence
• President of global financial institution discovers how to influence its learning culture
• General Counsel of public service organization learns how to navigate organizational politics
• CIO of global accounting firm leads innovation
• General Counsel of public company improves ability to manage board issues
• Partner of global management consulting firm supports team in becoming trusted advisors to key clients

• BA, Wesleyan University
• MBA, University of Chicago; Chicago Business Fellow
• Member of International Coach Federation (ICF)

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Jonathan Flaks

Executive Coach

Jonathan Flaks has more than 20 years of experience in investor relations, business communication, marketing and sales. Since 1998, he has coached financial professionals and industry leaders. Jonathan specializes in working with individual advisors, advisory firms, executive leaders and wholesalers.

• Senior Currency Strategist VP becomes more involved with clients and news media, achieves greater prominence within the investment bank, and advances to Head of Currency Strategy
• Risk Management VP for hedge fund addresses issues more directly, manages more effectively, recommends creative solutions, and advances to Head of Prime Brokerage Risk Management, NA
• VP navigates corporate politics and adds responsibility while reducing stress by improving delegation and leadership skills
• Co-owner of financial executive search firm focuses on best clients and candidates, doubling income and reaching his million dollar goal
• CEO of rare historic documents trading business boosts revenue and profit by 22% in one year by prioritizing clients and refocusing his leadership style
• CEO of commercial real estate and construction management firm grows profitably from 15 to 75 employees in three years
• Entrepreneurial PR advisor doubles revenue and profit in two years by trading up to higher paying clients and building reliable staff

• BS Electrical Engineering, Cornell University
• Founder and three term President, ICF’s Westchester/Rockland Chapter
• Graduate, Coach University
• Adjunct Professor, New York University
• Team Dimensions Profile Proficient
• DISC and Myers Briggs Proficient
• Genos Emotional Intelligence Certified Practitioner
• Master Certified Coach, International Coach Federation (ICF)

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Leah Grant

Executive Coach

Leah Grant has more than a decade of experience coaching financial professionals and industry leaders. Since 2001, she has taught thousands of coaches worldwide as a Master Leader for CoachU and assisted with updating the school's curriculum. While a student at CoachU, Leah founded and ran the CoachU West Los Angeles Chapter. She was a founding member of the International Coach Federation's Orange County Chapter, where she wore many hats beginning with Program Coordinator and culminating with President. Leah has owned a marketing consulting firm, served as the Vice President of Marketing for a web design and hosting company, and served as Marketing Manager for a direct mail marketer. Leah specializes in working with individual advisors, advisory firms, leaders and wholesalers.

• Financial services VP manages change and rebuilds book after transitioning firms
• Financial services VP builds confidence and creates strategic plan after major market shift
• SVP of bank gains clarity on major promotion opportunity and retirement strategy
• SVP manages and leads their firm through an SEC investigation
• Senior Comptroller reorganizes the department, and gains comfort in training and delegating tasks in order to reduce typical work week from over 65 hours to 45 hours
• Corporate CEO and outside entrepreneur balances and prioritizes competing commitments
• VP of major financial institution improves ability to delegate effectively and focus on next level of business building
• VP of major financial firm learns how to reduce stress after health issue and transitions to similar position in bank
• Senior Financial Advisor develops strategy to pursue higher net worth accounts
• Financial Advisor deals effectively with sexual harassment in the workplace

• BA in Communications, Trinity University
• Certified Graduate and Faculty, CoachU
• Professional Certified Mentor Coach
• DISC Certified
• PIAV Certified
• Qualified Breakthrough to Success Leader
• Genos Emotional Intelligence Certified Practitioner
• Master Certified Coach, International Coach Federation (ICF)

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Chris Holman

Senior Executive Coach

Chris Holman has more than 20 years of experience within the securities industry, and more than 10 years of professional coaching experience. He coaches wholesalers, individual advisors, and advisor teams. He founded Affinity Networking Systems, where he provided customized communication, sales training and coaching for the financial professional. Chris has provided training and coaching services to clients such as AllianceBernstein, Piper Jaffrey, Northwestern Mutual, MassMutual, and Liberty Financial. He was a financial advisor with both EF Hutton and UBS Financial Services, and served as the National Director of Investments with Fortis Advisors, a $10 billion investment manager. Chris' intimate knowledge of the financial services industry helps him guide professionals to develop unique and effective ways for client acquisition.

• High performing team learns how to increase net new assets to $50 million per year
• Regional VP transitions to leadership role
• Regional VP uses human resources more effectively, improving leadership skills with clients and sales team, and increasing retention
• Senior RVP develops and successfully implements a new blueprint for territory management
• Advisor-team identifies a target niche market, and establishes a 6-point marketing plan that focuses on critical activities

• BS, University of Oregon
• Masters Program, George Washington University
• Genos Emotional Intelligence Certified Practitioner
• Member of International Coach Federation (ICF)

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Liz Manibay

Executive Coach

Liz Manibay has more than eight years of experience as a consultant and executive coach. Before joining ClientWise, she worked for UBS Financial Services, where she coached top revenue-producing branch managers and financial advisory teams. Liz teaches executive coaching at Baruch College and has managed her own coaching practice. Her specialty is team and leadership development.

• Leader of national brokerage firm establishes team of professionals to serve advisors
• Independent Registered Investment Advisory firm learns how to operate more profitably, doubling revenue within 12 months
• Director of national brokerage firm boosts performance, far exceeding the critical objectives for performance ratios
• $5 million team employs coach to facilitate a 360 degree analysis to discover gaps in productivity and relationship management
• Four advisors transition to building their independent Registered Investment Advisory firm

• Masters in Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• Pursuing PhD in the same field
• Member of International Coach Federation (ICF)

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Helene Mazur

Executive Coach

Helene Mazur has more than 28 years of experience bringing positive change in many businesses and organizations. She coaches wholesalers, individual advisors and advisor teams. Helene spent more than 20 years in a variety of leadership roles at Merrill Lynch, Dean Witter Reynolds, Bankers Trust Company, and Electronic Data Systems, and was responsible for strategic planning, product management, sales and marketing, and the management of administrative groups and project teams. For the last eight years, she has specialized in business coaching and team facilitation.

• Financial advisor learns how to develop a focused and successful niche in divorce planning
• Brand Manager of financial services firm implements effective marketing and recruiting strategies
• Executive of global operations customer service focused on retirement planning improves their performance
• Executive of insurance agency creates a leadership development program and effects strategic planning to facilitate change
• Accounting firm employs coaching to facilitate strategic planning for the non-profit niche
• Training and development center successfully implements a strategic merger
• Leadership team of a search engine optimization company learns how to collaborate and implement their vision
• Lawyer in mediation law firm focused on management issues gains skills and insight to succeed

• BS in Marketing, State University of New York at Albany
• MBA in Finance, Stern School of Business, New York University
• Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation
• Certified Professional Behavioral Analyst (CPBA)
• Certified Professional Values Analyst (CPVA)
• Graduate of B/Coach and the Strategy Focused Developmental Coaching Program
• DISC Certified
• Genos Emotional Intelligence Certified Practitioner
• Member of International Coach Federation (ICF)

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David Mathew Prior

Executive Coach

David Mathew Prior has been a coach and consultant for more than 12 years, and specializes in coaching industry leaders. Earlier in his career, he served as a Trust and Financial Planning Officer with Chase Bank. David is a coaching faculty member at New York University's School of Continuing and Professional Studies and at the University of Texas-Dallas, where he teaches web-based-platform classes for the Executive and Professional Coach Training Program. A leader in the coaching world, he currently serves as Vice President on the Global Board of Directors of the International Coach Federation (ICF), having completed a 3-year term as Co-Chair of the ICF Ethics and Standards Committee. David has brought Leadership Development Training to international colleagues in Copenhagen, Odessa, Panama, Milan, and Madrid.

• CEO of trading division of leading world bank learns to become a more versatile leader by balancing strategic and operational capabilities
• Director learns how to address under-performance issues of inherited staff and improves ability to get manager's support
• Chief Creative Officer of New York-based entertainment company learns how to foster and inspire creativity and innovation throughout his senior leadership team
• HR VP of energy company discovers how to apply coaching skills to improve key stakeholder initiatives and relationships throughout the organization
• Sales Director of leading telecommunications company improves ability to navigate organizational politics with integrity
• COO of non-profit discovers how to use her Board of Directors as advocate for change in the organization
• Biotech Senior Management team (SVP and VP level) learns to become more collaborative and cross functional as they support each other as "first team"
• Biotech Senior Management team (SVP and VP level) learns to become more collaborative and cross functional as they support each other as "first team"

• BA, University of Vermont
• MBA in International Business, Thunderbird School of Global Management
• AOS, American Academy of Dramatic Arts
• Master Certified Coach, International Coach Federation (ICF)
• Coaching Faculty, Columbia University, New York University, University of Texas at Dallas
• CPCC (Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, Coaches Training Institute)
• Certified in 360 Feedback instruments: Booth, MDLI (Multiple Domain Leadership Instrument)
• DISC Certified
• PIAV Certified
• Vice President, International Coach Federation (ICF) Global Board of Directors
• Co-Chair, ICF Ethics and Standards Committee
• Member of Applied Improvisation Network

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Mark Riesenberg

Executive Coach

Mark Riesenberg has more than 20 years of executive coaching experience in the financial industry, and coaches wholesalers, individual advisors, and advisor teams. He specializes in the development of organizational skills, territory management, and focus. Mark began his career in human development with Southland Corporation and is an active member in Business Networking International. He is a public speaker and has delivered many training and coaching workshops to large financial services organizations.

• CEO of large broker-dealer organization increases focus and improves organizational skills
• Top producing advisor of large independent broker-dealer effectively manages efficiencies and triples revenue
• Independent Registered Investment Advisor improves communication skills, doubling revenue within three years
• Sales Manager of a global investment firm improves focus, organizational and accountability systems personally, and for advisor team
• Branch Manager from major insurance company learns techniques to strengthen strategies and systems for increased productivity and recruitment, resulting in almost 50% increase in recruits and attaining the distinction of Top Revenue-Producing Branch in the country
• Publisher and six regional sales managers of an internationally renowned weekly publication turns around declining market share, growing its share of a highly competitive market from 30% to 35% over six months

• BA in Economics, Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus
• Certified instructor of meditation
• Member of Toastmasters International
• Member of Business Networking International (BNI)
• Genos Emotional Intelligence Certified Practitioner
• Member of International Coach Federation (ICF)

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Dr. Steve Weiner

Executive Coach

Dr. Steve Weiner has over 20 years of experience as an executive coach, consultant and trainer. With Merrill Lynch, he helped originate the Teams Consulting Group that assisted Financial Advisors in growing their practices, and consulted hundreds of successful Financial Advisors around the U.S. and the world. He transitioned to the Leadership Development Group at Merrill Lynch, where he was the point person for developing and coaching all Branch Office Leaders – producing and non-producing managers. He also made his mark as an executive speechwriter and wrote for top executives in the Private Client organization. Steve specializes in coaching individual advisors, advisor firms and teams. With a background in clinical psychology, he focuses on managing change and transition, delivering dynamic presentations, managing key relationships, improving approach and style, career management and becoming a more effective leader.

• Senior branch leader improves management style and communication skills in order to acquire higher level leadership position
• President of Swiss Bank performs successful change management for internal team
• Hedge Fund Manager improves career management skills and develops professional stability
• VP of Training for financial services company learns how to effectively coach employees through major downsizing transition
• Million dollar producing manager improves recruiting, retention and organizational culture, in addition to developing brand identity, thereby increasing revenue
• Senior VP of major pharmaceutical company creates a corporate wellness program to assist working parents in developing parenting skills
• HR Manager of media company improves communication among team members

• BA in Psychology, Muhlenberg College
• MA in Counseling, University of Denver
• Psy.D, University of Denver, Clinical Psychology
• Myers Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI) Certified Practitioner
• Kolbe and DISC Proficient
• Genos Emotional Intelligence Certified Practitioner
• Member of International Coach Federation (ICF)

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Mitch York

Executive Coach

Mitch York has more than 25 years experience in business management and leadership development. He specializes in coaching advisors, advisors in transition, and wholesalers. He has served as President of Lending Tree, Inc., where he helped prepare the company for a successful IPO, as well as holding senior executive positions with other growth-oriented companies.

• CEO of financial services firm builds organizational infrastructure to accommodate rapid growth
• Genos Emotional Intelligence Certified Practitioner
• SVP of financial services firm transitions to an independently run practice
• SVP of a worldwide equity trading firm improves communications with management team
• SVP of worldwide firm discovers how to increase productivity and develops team accountability skills
• CEO of e-commerce company promotes more effective work results through achieving work/life balance

• MBA, Columbia University Graduate School of Business
• BA with Honors, Northwestern University
• Graduate, CoachU
• Genos Emotional Intelligence Certified Practitioner
• Member of International Coach Federation (ICF)

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All our coaches are accredited by the International Coach Federation and abide by the ICF Code of Ethics.