Leadership
We are committed to delivering results and keeping your trust.
Brenda Junior
CHIEF Operating OFFICER
“Some succeed because they are destined to, but most succeed because they are determined to” – Henry Van Dyke
Brenda comes to Trajan Wealth with a background in the medical field. Brenda received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and graduated Cum Laude from Chamberlain University and inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society. She worked as a Neuro Nurse at Banner University Medical Center for several years before deciding to pursue higher education. Brenda graduated Suma Cum Laude and received her Postgraduate degree from Chamberlain University with a Master of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
After careful consideration, she decided to apply her extensive management skills to the family financial business. Brenda maintains her nursing license. She is also a former volunteer at Hospice of the Valley and brings professionalism and attention to detail to every project.
Brenda met her husband Jeff while serving in the Marine Corps; they have two children together, Conner and Bree. In her spare time, Brenda enjoys spending time with family and friends. She enjoys watching football, playing golf, and recently enjoying fishing as a pastime.
Udayan Mitra, CFA
CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER
“Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.”
– Bill Gates
Udayan Mitra, CFA, comes to Trajan Wealth with over two decades of experience in the investment management industry. He has held positions as a proprietary trader, senior portfolio manager, Investment Director, and CIO across institutional investment management firms, pension funds, and several large, institutional-class family offices. His specialties include equity and fixed income analysis, derivative markets, alternative investments, asset allocation, and macro-level investment decision making.
Udayan has managed investment portfolios on a long-only basis against benchmark indexes as well as on an absolute return basis to generate uncorrelated excess returns. Udayan also has developed innovative asset allocation frameworks to optimize risk-adjusted returns, as well as derivative overlay strategies to mitigate unanticipated downside risk.
Udayan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the London School of Economics and an MBA in Finance from Rice University. He is also a CFA charter holder. A keen student of the financial markets and a firm believer in long-term investing, Udayan enjoys immersing himself in Bloomberg, researching ongoing developments across the global capital markets. He also enjoys presenting at industry conferences. On the lighter side of life, Udayan is an ardent soccer aficionado and enjoys fine wine, music, and international travel.
Sterling E. Russell, CFA
DIRECTOR OF FIXED INCOME
“One of the things that brings me the most satisfaction is seeing our clients reach their financial goals and feeling like I have made a contribution to that success.”
Sterling comes to Trajan Wealth with over three decades of experience in the financial services industry. Sterling has held positions as an analyst, portfolio manager, CIO and Director of Fixed Income. Sterling’s specialties include equity and fixed income analysis, security selection and macro level investment decision making, Sterling has managed investment portfolios for individuals and institutions including $multi-billion portfolios of fixed income, equity and alternative investments. In addition, Sterling has developed and executed trading and hedging strategies for money center banks in Asia, Europe and North America using interest rate futures & options.
Sterling earned a BA in Political Science and an MS in Economics from Brigham Young University and completed Post graduate studies in Economics at The University of Virginia. Sterling is a CFA charter holder. When not immersed in the financial markets Sterling can often be found on his bicycle.
Shane McGreevy
CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER
“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” – Warren Buffet
Shane comes to Trajan Wealth with over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. His background includes experience in the following areas: Compliance, operations, performance, pricing, product development, registered products, and private funds.
Most recently Shane was at Northern Trust Asset Management (NTAM) where he managed the Valuations Oversight Team and was Chair of the Pricing & Valuations Committee – With oversight of all registered products within NTAM. Prior to moving to Arizona, Shane lived in New York where he worked at a boutique structured credit registered investment advisor.
Shane earned a BS in Economics from the University of Minnesota. When Shane is not in the office, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, boating and occasionally golfing.
Tami Hampshire
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
“Our job is to connect to people, to interact with them in a way that leaves them better than we found them…” – Seth Godin
Tami is a seasoned marketing professional with management, media buying, account and event management and sales training in her background. Tami was Director of Sports Marketing for both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins. She has managed sales and marketing teams and been instrumental in the development of several businesses. Tami was featured in Forbes magazine as a Premier Woman in Business in the December 2010 issue.
In her free time, Tami enjoys gardening, hiking and spending time with friends and family.
Ianina Semtchina
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
“Relationships are the only thing that matters in business and in life.”
– Jerry Weintraub
Ianina was born in Belarus and immigrated to the United States with her parents when she was a teenager. She was immediately enrolled into High School with almost no knowledge of English and proceeded to graduate from ASU with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance Magna Cum Laude. She joined Trajan Wealth when it was a small boutique firm and feels proud to have witnessed the tremendous growth as part of the team. Ianina takes pride in her team operating with utmost integrity, efficiency, and courtesy, ensuring that our clients experience exceptional service.
Ianina is fluent in English and Russian. In her free time, she loves spending time with her husband Russ, their beautiful and smart daughter Evelina, her parents and friends. Ianina also enjoys traveling the world and absorbing new places and cultures. Travel broadens the mind.
Andrea Avila
DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES
“A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.” – Rosalynn Carter
Andrea has over 15 years experience in leadership and human resource roles. She has a background in talent management, organizational design, change management, employee engagement, leadership and employee development, project management, and employee relations.
Most recently, Andrea worked with Honeywell International, Inc. as the Human Resources Site Leader for their Aerospace Headquarters and Repair and Overhaul facility in Phoenix, AZ. She also served as the HR Site Leader for Honeywell’s Contract Manufacturing Operations Center in Tucson, AZ, supporting approximately 2000 employees between both locations. Andrea holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Innovative Leadership. She is also a certified Human Resources Professional through HRCI and SHRM.
In her free time, Andrea enjoys spending time with family, reading, traveling, and supporting Arizona sports teams.