
Officers & Consultants
Our experienced professionals, whether acting as portfolio manager, trustee, executor, guardian or advisor, work to realize clients' long-term goals and objectives.
Richardson T. Merriman
New York University, MBA
Rollins College, BA Economics
Mr. Merriman is President, Chief Executive Officer and founder of Pennsylvania Trust.
Mr. Merriman has over 37 years of trust and investment management experience having begun his investment career at Girard Bank (now Mellon) in 1973. While at Girard, Mr. Merriman was Vice President and responsible for managing many of its largest accounts. He next served in a similar capacity at The Glenmede Trust Company where he was a Vice President and Head of Equity Product.
He is a board member and on the Executive Committee of Eastern University, is Chairman of the Nantucket Preservation Trust, and is on the board of Planned Lifetime Assistance Network. Mr. Merriman is an Elder of his church and former President of Trustees and Chair of the Financial and Investment Committees. Professionally, Mr. Merriman is a member of The CFA Institute, The Association for Investment Management and Research, and The Philadelphia Securities Association.
Willard N. Woolbert
Drexel University, MBA
Brown University, AB, History
Mr. Woolbert is Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of Pennsylvania Trust, with responsibility for overseeing investment policy, strategy and security selection.
Mr. Woolbert has over 30 years of experience in money management, having begun his career as a securities analyst at Girard Bank (now Mellon) in 1973. He also served as the Senior Investment Officer at The Bryn Mawr Trust Company and Chief Investment Officer at Industrial Valley Bank. Prior to joining Pennsylvania Trust in 1998, he spent eight years as Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager at PNC Bank managing foundation and endowment portfolios.
Previously, Mr. Woolbert served on the Executive and Investment Committees of the Church Foundation. He is currently on the Vestry of his church and serves on the Finance and Endowment Committees. Professionally, he is a member of The CFA Institute and The CFA Society of Philadelphia.
Pierce Archer
Colby College, BA, Environmental Studies
Mr. Archer is Senior Vice President of Pennsylvania Trust. His principal responsibilities are as a portfolio manager and as a member of the investment team that develops and implements investment policy, strategy and security selection.
Mr. Archer brings over 25 years of experience in the investment management industry where he has been responsible for the management of equity and fixed income portfolios for individual clients and institutions.
Previously he was with U.S. Trust Co. where he was a managing director and responsible for managing over $400 million for the firm’s private clients. Additionally, he participated in the regional equity research and stock selection process and oversaw the purchase of tax exempt municipal bonds for the firm’s clients.
Prior to U.S. Trust Co., Mr. Archer was a co-founder and managing director of Radnor Capital Management, which was merged into U.S. Trust Co. Radnor Capital Management managed over $1 billion for individuals, families, charities and institutions. Before co-founding
Radnor Capital Management, he was Vice President and Portfolio Manager for the Investment Advisory Department of W.H. Newbold’s Son & Co. Inc.
Mr. Archer has been and continues to serve on a number of not-for-profit boards and committees. He is a member of Association for Investment Management and Research, and The CFA Society of Philadelphia.
Nils L. Berglund
University of Denver, MBA
Lafayette College, BA, Economics
Mr. Berglund is Senior Vice President of Pennsylvania Trust. His principal responsibilities are as a portfolio manager and as a member of the investment team that develops and implements investment policy, strategy and security selection.
Mr. Berglund began his investment management career in 1975 as a registered representative. In 1977, he joined Girard Bank's (now Bank of NY Mellon) Trust Department where he served as an equity trader, an investment advisor to outside trust departments and a senior investment officer and portfolio manager. Mr. Berglund subsequently worked at Janney Montgomery Scott and then at Fidelity Bank (now Wachovia) where he was an Assistant Vice President in the Special Accounts Group and co-manager of the firm's Special Equity Fund.
Mr. Berglund serves an Elder in his church and is President of the ZPT Foundation, Inc. and the Tredyffrin Township Library Foundation. Mr. Berglund has been active as a youth soccer coach for his three children, serving for many years on the local soccer club's board. He recently completed a two-year stint as President of the high school’s soccer booster club. Mr. Berglund has served as a member on the Executive Committee of Lafayette College's Alumni Association and as past President of its Philadelphia and Jersey Shore Alumni Associations.
Frederic N. Dittmann, CFA
Williams College, BA, American Civilization
Mr. Dittmann is Senior Vice President of Pennsylvania Trust. His responsibilities are as a portfolio manager and as a member of the investment team that develops and implements investment policy, strategy and security selection. Mr. Dittmann leads the firm's analysis in health care. Mr. Dittmann has over 30 years of experience in the investment management industry including the management of trust accounts, family relationships, endowments and foundations.
He previously was a director and portfolio manager at 1838 Investment Advisors, a firm he served for over 25 years. At 1838 he managed portfolios for individuals and families and also participated in the investment selection process. Previous to his tenure at 1838 he was a portfolio manager in the Trust and Investment Division of U.S. Trust in New York.
Mr. Dittmann attended both the Graduate Business School of New York University and the New York Institute of Finance. He has served on the board of The Academy of Vocal Arts for 26 years, and is Chairman of the Investment Committee of the Merchants Fund of Philadelphia. He also chairs the Finance Committee of the Society of the Episcopal Church for the Advancement of Christianity in Pennsylvania and is on the Alumni Board of Managers of Episcopal Academy. He also co-chairs the Investment Committee of St. Mary’s Church, Ardmore, PA.
JoAnne T. Fredericks, CFA
Drexel University, MBA, Finance
Drexel University, BS, Accounting
Ms. Fredericks is Senior Vice President of Pennsylvania Trust. Her responsibilities are as a portfolio manager and as a member of the investment team that develops and implements investment policy, strategy and security selection.
Ms. Fredericks has over 30 years of experience in many aspects of personal trust and investment management. As Senior Vice President at First Investment Advisors, a division of First Union (now Wachovia), she headed the Family Office Investment Department. Ms. Fredericks was personally responsible for the management of $800 million of discretionary and non-discretionary assets and served as a member of the Equity Process and Regional Stock Selection Committees. At CoreStates Investment Advisers she was Senior Vice President and Managing Director of the Family Wealth Unit and served on the Investment Policy, Portfolio Review and Equity Committees. Prior to the formation of CoreStates Investment Advisers, Ms. Fredericks headed Personal Trust Investments at Philadelphia National Bank and earlier served as Director of Research there.
Ms. Fredericks is a member of the board of The Coriell Institute for Medical Research and The Inglis Foundation. She also serves as a member of the Investment Committee for the Chi Omega Foundation. Professionally, she is a member of The CFA Institute and The CFA Society of Philadelphia.
George C. McFarland Jr., Esq.
Duke University School of Law, JD
Princeton University, BA, American History (cum laude)
Mr. McFarland is Senior Vice President and Director of Trust and Account Administration of Pennsylvania Trust. His responsibilities include overseeing the administration of the company's trusts, estates, guardianships, and investment advisory accounts. In addition, he is a portfolio manager where his duties include investment management and the administration of investment policy, strategy and security selection.
Prior to joining Pennsylvania Trust in 1998, he worked as a trial attorney for 14 years at several prominent Philadelphia area law firms including Saul Ewing and High, Swartz, Roberts & Seidel where he headed the firm’s personal injury group.
Currently, Mr. McFarland serves on the Board of Trustees of The Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church where he is a member of its Investment Committee. He also is President of the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church Foundation. Additionally, Mr. McFarland serves on the Board of Trustees of the St. Andrews Society of Philadelphia Foundation where he is Chairman-Elect of its Scholarship Committee. He is also a member of the Philadelphia Securities Association.
Mr. McFarland is a past member of the Board of The Bryn Mawr Hospital Foundation and was Chairman for three years. He is a past Vice President and Director of The Timothy School, a local school serving the needs of children with autism and pervasive developmental disorders. He also is a past member of the Leadership Council of The Haverford School.
Charles L. Sheppard, II
Lehigh University, BA, Architecture and Urban Studies
Mr. Sheppard is Senior Vice President and Director of Investment Research of Pennsylvania Trust. His principal responsibilities are investment research and portfolio management. He is Chairman of the Investment Committee that develops and implements investment policy, strategy and security selection.
Mr. Sheppard has nearly 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, and has held a variety of positions at firms serving both institutional and private clients. He was previously with NorthStar Asset Management, a wealth management company serving individuals, families, endowments and foundations, where he was responsible for portfolio management, equity strategy and research. Prior to NorthStar, Mr. Sheppard was a Vice President at Credit Suisse First Boston where he was responsible for equity sales and trading for middle market accounts in the Mid Atlantic Region. Before joining Credit Suisse First Boston he was a Managing Director at Deutsche Bank Alex Brown where he headed the Philadelphia Institutional Sales Office.
Mr. Sheppard serves on a number of not-for-profit boards and committees. He is past President of the Highlands Historical Society and is a founder of the Whitemarsh Township Residents Association.
Kenneth R. Brightcliffe
Susquehanna University, BS, Finance
Mr. Brightcliffe is Vice President of Pennsylvania Trust. His primary responsibility is to oversee all aspects of equity and bond trading, including operational interfaces with various custodian organizations.
Mr. Brightcliffe was previously employed by The Glenmede Trust Company in its Equity Operations Department. With 25 years of experience, he is familiar with all aspects of custodian bank operations.
Irwin S. Love, Esq.
University of Pennsylvania Law School, JD
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, BS, Economics
Mr. Love is Senior Vice President and Chief Fiduciary Officer of Pennsylvania Trust. His principal responsibilities involve overview, guidance and direction of the company’s trusts, estates and guardianships. He is Chairman of the Trust Committee as well as Chairman of the Fee and Acceptance Committee.
Mr. Love has over 40 years experience in the area of fiduciary administration. Prior to joining Pennsylvania Trust, he served as Vice President and Chief Fiduciary Officer for CoreStates Bank and was responsible for all fiduciary aspects of family wealth and private client management.
He is a member and past President of the Executive Committee of the Philadelphia Corporate Fiduciaries Association, a member of the Philadelphia Estate Planning Council and a member of the Philadelphia Bar Association and its Probate and Trust Section, having served on its Executive Committee.
Francis R. Grebe, Esq.
University of Michigan, JD
University of Rochester, BA (Phi Beta Kappa)
Mr. Grebe is Senior Vice President of Pennsylvania Trust. He administers trust accounts and has responsibilities in financial and estate planning.
Mr. Grebe has over 50 years of experience in estate and financial planning with major trust companies in Chicago, Rochester, New York City and Philadelphia. While at Girard Bank (now Bank of NY Mellon), he supervised the estate planning of large family complexes, coordinating tax planning, estate conservation, philanthropy and special investment situations. He has also managed the Personal Trust Division of Philadelphia National Bank and was Executive Vice President of U.S. Trust Company of Florida. Most recently he was with Davidson Trust Company, a local trust and investment management company.
Mr. Grebe is a director of The Athenaeum of Philadelphia, Family Services of Montgomery County, PA, and Associated Services for the Blind in Philadelphia. He is also a trustee of The Guthrie Healthcare System in Sayre, PA, and the Meshewa Farm Foundation. Mr. Grebe is admitted to practice law in Michigan, Illinois and New York and is a member of the New York State Bar Association and its Trusts and Estates and Elder Law Committees.
Jean E. Hunt, Esq., CPA
University of Pennsylvania Law School, JD
Villanova University, MTaxation
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, BS, Economics
Ms. Hunt is Senior Vice President of Pennsylvania Trust. She administers trust accounts and has responsibilities in tax and estate planning.
Prior to joining the company, Ms. Hunt served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for The Main Line Trust Company in suburban Philadelphia. She has worked as the tax manager for planning and fiduciary services at Elko, Fischer, McCabe & Rudman, LTD, a regional accounting firm. While practicing law, she served as a consultant for tax and estate planning courses at the American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
Ms. Hunt is a member of the American and Pennsylvania Institutes of Certified Public Accountants and the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Bar Associations. She is admitted to the bar in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Ms. Hunt is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Presbytery of Philadelphia and has undertaken many projects for her church’s Senior Adult Council.
Larry H. Lehrfeld
Drexel University, BS, Business Administration
Mr. Lehrfeld is Senior Vice President in charge of tax administration for Pennsylvania Trust. He has responsibility for all individual and trust tax return preparation as well as the administration of the company's Individual Retirement Accounts. In addition, Mr. Lehrfeld is responsible for the preparation of tax returns for private foundations.
Mr. Lehrfeld began his career with Provident National Bank and Fidelity Bank for a combined total of six years. For 16 years prior to joining Pennsylvania Trust, he was a member of the tax department of the Philadelphia law firm of Dechert, LLP.
J. William Widing, III, Esq.
Duke University School of Law, JD
Williams College, BA (Phi Beta Kappa)
Mr. Widing is Senior Vice President of Pennsylvania Trust. He administers estate, trust and guardian accounts, with a focus on special needs individuals. In addition, he has responsibilities in estate and financial planning.
Mr. Widing has over 25 years of experience in estate planning with major national and regional law firms, most recently 18 years at the firm of Stevens & Lee, P.C., where Mr. Widing had been a shareholder in the firm’s Trusts and Estates Group since 1991. In his practice, Mr. Widing planned and administered the estates of high net worth individuals. Mr. Widing also has extensive experience in the creation, operation and funding of tax-exempt charitable organizations and funding vehicles.
Mr. Widing is currently a director of the Mommy’s Light Lives On Fund, the Arthur Judson Foundation, Camphill Soltane, and the Berks County Community Foundation. He is a past Board Chair of the American Red Cross, Berks County Chapter.
Mr. Widing is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania and Florida. He is a member of the American, Pennsylvania, Florida and Berks County (Pennsylvania) Bar Associations.
Carolyn L. Wyeth
Villanova University, MTaxation
Denison University, BA, English Literature
Ms. Wyeth is Senior Vice President of Pennsylvania Trust. She administers trust, estate, investment advisory and other accounts.
Ms. Wyeth was previously with The Bryn Mawr Trust Company where she worked for 13 years in trust administration. Ms. Wyeth is a Trustee of her church and also serves on its Outreach Committee. She is a member of the Emergency Aid Board.
Debra S. Tongue
St. Joseph’s University, Associates Degree
Philadelphia Institute, Paralegal Certification
Ms. Tongue is Vice President of Pennsylvania Trust. She administers trust, estate and guardianship accounts.
Prior to joining the company, Ms. Tongue served as a Senior Trust Officer for Davidson Trust Company in suburban Philadelphia and as a trust officer at Wachovia Bank, N.A. in their Administrative Support Unit. Ms. Tongue also had a twenty-four year career at PNC Bank in their Trust Real Estate Department.
Ms. Tongue is a member of the Philadelphia Estate Planning Council. She is currently enrolled in a study program to become a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor.
In her spare time she enjoys volunteering in soup kitchens to help the homeless.
Karen H. Harr
Pennsylvania State University, BA
Mrs. Harr is a Senior Trust Officer of Pennsylvania Trust. Her responsibilities include assisting with the administration of trusts, estates, and investment advisory accounts. She also provides support to the operations department.
Mrs. Harr began her career as a client service manager for SEI Corporation. Prior to joining Pennsylvania Trust, she worked for The Main Line Trust Company for 18 years in the areas of trust administration, taxes, and operations.
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William H. Haines, IV
Boston University, BS, Business Administration
Mr. Haines is Senior Vice President and Director of Client Services for Pennsylvania Trust.
Mr. Haines brings over 35 years of financial services industry experience both as a consultant to the industry and as a principal for an investment organization. Most recently, he was a managing director for FMS Group, a global sales and marketing organization operating exclusively in the financial services industry with expertise in the investment management and wealth management segments. Prior to consulting to the industry, he was a managing director and member of the Executive Committee of W.H. Newbold's Son & Co. Inc., a regional full service investment organization.
Mr. Haines currently serves on the board of Historic Philadelphia, Inc., Turning Points for Children, Peter’s Place and the Philadelphia Estate Planning Council. Additionally, he serves on the Planned Giving Councils of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Abington Memorial Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and The Philadelphia Zoo. He is a member of the Philadelphia Orchestra’s Corporate Partners Program, the Arts and Business Council of Greater Philadelphia and the Chester County Estate Planning Council. He has served on the boards of Chestnut Hill Academy and Germantown Hospital.
Radclyffe F. “Mike” Thompson
National Graduate Trust School
University of Pennsylvania, BA, Political Science
Mr. Thompson is Senior Vice President, Business Development of Pennsylvania Trust, specializing in trust sales.
He has over 27 years of experience in new business development and estate planning at Pennsylvania Trust and in the trust divisions of The Bryn Mawr Trust Company and Provident National Bank.
A Certified Financial Planner, Mr. Thompson is on the board of the Presser Foundation, The Singing City Choir and Saunders House Nursing Home where he is Chairman of the Development Committee. He is also treasurer of The Free Quaker Society and is on the Stewardship Committee for the Church of the Redeemer, Bryn Mawr. He is a member of the Philadelphia Estate Planning Council, the Planned Giving Council of Greater Philadelphia and the Greater Philadelphia Committee for Leave A Legacy®. Mr. Thompson served as an officer in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star medal.
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Lee J. Anderson, CFA
Drexel University, MBA
LaSalle University, BS, Finance
Mr. Anderson is Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Pennsylvania Trust. He is responsible for the systems and software on the company’s IT network and manages the company’s core operations.
He is a member of the Investment Committee responsible for security analysis and recommendations as well as investment performance analysis.
Mr. Anderson has over 15 years of investment experience, having begun his investment career at independence Capital Management, Inc. While at Independence Capital, Mr. Anderson assumed responsibility for the statistical analysis of investment portfolios and the stock selection universe. In 1991, Mr. Anderson joined the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company where he served as a Senior Investment Consultant and also a Vice President of the Penn Series Funds, Inc.
Mr. Anderson earned his Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 2002 and is a member of The CFA Institute and The CFA Society of Philadelphia.
Mrs. Ruggio is Vice President for Pennsylvania Trust. She has over 15 years experience in the financial services industry. Her primary responsibility is to manage the trust operations of Pennsylvania Trust with the sub-custodian and to oversee the orderly flow of information to clients.
Mrs. Ruggio was previously employed at the University of Pennsylvania where she worked with alumni and brokerage firms to organize gifts of stock.
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Barbara S. Wood, CPA
Drexel University, BS, Accounting
Mrs. Wood is Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Pennsylvania Trust. Additionally, she serves as Chief Compliance Officer of The Penn Series Funds and as Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Compliance Officer of Independence Capital Management, Inc., an institutional money management firm.
Mrs. Wood has over 30 years of financial accounting experience, having begun her career at Deloitte, Haskins & Sells in 1974, where she was a manager in the Philadelphia office and handled a wide variety of auditing engagements. From 1985 through 1989, Mrs. Wood was Senior Vice President and Treasurer of Meritor Group Investments Corporation as well as treasurer of its family of mutual funds.
In addition to being a Certified Public Accountant, Mrs. Wood is registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (formerly National Association of Securities Dealers) as a financial and operations principal. She is an active member of the Investment Company Institute's Accounting/Treasurers and Chief Compliance Officers Committees and a frequent speaker at its annual mutual funds conference. She is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
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Kevin R. Fisher
Ohio University, BS, Mathematics
Mr. Fisher is Senior Technology Consultant for Pennsylvania Trust and has been part of the technical staff since 1990. He has over 25 years of information systems experience in the financial services community.
Mr. Fisher's technical background and work experience include a variety of technical lead, project management and IT consultant positions in the Delaware Valley.
Donald E. Lewin
Massachusetts Institution of Technology, SM and PhD
Lehigh University, BS, ME
Mr. Lewin is chief principal of Lewin Associates, a management consulting firm, founded in 1975. He provides various statistical analyses regarding quantitative models to assist The Pennsylvania Trust Company’s investment decision processes, particularly in regard to stock selection. He has been retained by The Pennsylvania Trust Company as a consultant since 1988.
Mr. Lewin has worked for various companies on a wide variety of manufacturing and non-manufacturing problems and/or projects. In the investment industry he functioned as Research Director for Zacks Investment Research and was responsible for various areas including data consistency standards and database management and for the Zacks Indicator.
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