Trust Services Team

Andrea joined the trust department at MidWestOne Bank in 2012 after receiving her B.S. from University of Wisconsin-Platteville.  She focuses in the areas of Trust Management & Administration and Estate Planning.  She has privilege of helping clients meet financial goals and assisting them with estate planning needs.  She is an active member of the Tri-State Estate Planners & Young Professionals of Dubuque.  Outside of work she enjoys spending time with family, golfing, traveling, and playing euchre.

Beth Legue is Vice President, Trust Officer, for Eastern Iowa and is based in Iowa City. Beth has been in the trust industry since 2013 and holds a J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law. Beth enjoys takes great care to establish a smooth transfer of wealth between generations for her clients. She focuses in the areas Trust Management, Estate Planning, Wealth Management and Estate Administration.  Beth is a lifelong resident of Johnson County with strong family ties across Iowa so she understands Iowan integrity and prudence.  When at home with her children Beth enjoys crafting and cooking for her friends and family—for her, nothing communicates affection like a homemade meal!  Beth has volunteered for a number of organizations and currently serves on the board of TRAIL of Johnson County and the Muscatine Welfare Association.

Brian D. Hunt, V.P. & Trust Operations Manager.  Brian has been involved in the trust arena for over 30 years and holds a Certified Securities Operations Professional (CSOP) designation with the Institute of Certified Bankers.   He has worked for a number of large banking organizations including HSBC, M&T Bank, and Regions and joined MidWestOne in 2009.  Brian holds both a B.S. and an M.B.A. from Canisius College in Buffalo, New York.  He has volunteered with a number of community organizations including the Workplace Learning Connection, the Preucil School of Music, Habitat for Humanity, and the Knights of Columbus.

Brian McCleary is a Trust and Investment Officer based in the Dubuque, IA office.  Brian’s 20 years of investment and planning experience helps clients set and achieve financial goals.  Brian works clients from a variety of back grounds including medical professionals, attorneys, C-suite executives, and many others with a need for financial planning and guidance.  He was born and raised in Muscatine, IA and relocated to Dubuque in 2000 with his wife Joan.  They have two children and a myriad of pets.  They enjoy traveling, hiking and attending their kids’ events.  Brian also enjoys coaching and playing golf.

Dennis J Mitchell joined the Trust Department at MidWestOne Bank in November 2014.  He was previously in private practice as an attorney and partner at Meardon, Sueppel & Downer P.L.C. in Iowa City for more than fourteen years.  In addition to his law degree, Dennis has an undergraduate degree in Economics. Dennis holds the CTFA (Certified Trust Financial Advisor) designation from the ABA.

Elizabeth Burke joined the MidWestOne Bank Trust Department in 2005. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa and is currently working toward earning her Certified Trust Operations Professional (CTOP) designation. Elizabeth is part of the Trust Administration team and is a leader of the Trust Operations team. She and her husband, Jeremiah, live in Iowa City with their three children (Lola, Lucy and Liam) and they own several rental properties, managed under House of Burke, LLC

Jason Sartori is a Trust & Investment Officer based in Dubuque.  He has been in the Retirement and Investment industry for over 18 years. He has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from University of Missouri-St. Louis and an M.B.A from University of Dubuque.  Jason currently volunteers on the board of the Dubuque Youth Hockey Association.

As Portfolio Manager, John McClain is responsible for coordinating Investment strategies and products for client accounts. He conducts research activities related to Equity and Fixed Income securities and manager due diligence on outside mutual funds and ETF’s. He is heavily involved with the development of the asset allocation strategy used for client accounts and investment products. John has over 30 years of investment experience including investment research and portfolio management. He has experience managing individual accounts, non-profits and foundation accounts. He spent many years as a Portfolio Manager for the Principal Financial Group, managing Principal's small and mid-cap separate accounts and retail mutual funds. He also was the Investment Officer for the University of Iowa Foundation. John graduated from the University of Iowa with a BBA in Economics and received his MBA in Finance from the University of Indiana.  

Justin Parker is Vice President, Trust Officer, for the Minnesota and Wisconsin Regions of MidWestOne Bank and is based in Golden Valley, Minnesota. With finance and law degrees, Justin is a Certified Financial Planner® and an experienced wealth planner with a demonstrated history of advising high net worth clients on wealth protection and transfer strategies. Justin has directly advised a gamut of professionals, including C-suite executives, business owners, physicians, college professors, teachers, farmers, and many others with a focus on estate planning, tax, and trust. Growing up in an extremely close, large extended family, he learned the importance of accountability and honesty. His greatest professional joy is uncovering and explaining issues that clients are unaware and providing solutions that solve these issues while fulfilling their lifestyle, legacy, and charitable goals. Born and raised in beautiful Guttenberg, Iowa, Justin and his wife, Ashley, relocated to the Twin Cities in 2016. They have three sons, Noah, Micah, and Archer, and two white Labrador retrievers, Niley and Arrow. In the warmer months, they can be found boating on the Mississippi River in Northeast Iowa or exploring the hiking trails in Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. In the colder months, if not sledding with the boys in the backyard, you can find Justin hunting, ice fishing, or working on his craft as a homebrewer. My Mantra/ My goal “When advising my clients, I stick to my unwavering belief to always acting in their best interests.”  

Kevin J. Mote has been in the bank trust and brokerage industry for 25 years.  He has spent much of his time counseling customers about their investments, retirement plans, and estate plans.  He took over the Trust Department’s property management role 5 years ago and spends most of his time managing our customers' commercial, residential, and farm properties.  He has a BA in Finance from the University of Northern Iowa.  He lives in Mt. Vernon with his wife of 31 years, Patty, and they have two sons.

I began my banking career in May 1984 all of which has been dedicated to the Trust Department. I have learned a lot from my co-workers, past and present about estate planning and trust services. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family.

Kirk started with MidWestOne Bank in 2019 and has been working in the industry for nearly 30 years.  Kirk holds a Juris Doctor from the University of South Dakota School of Law and earned his undergraduate degree from Iowa State University.  He is a licensed attorney in the State of Iowa, holds the Certified Trust and Financial Advisor designation (CTFA) issued by the ABA and is a trained mediator. He is based in Dubuque, Iowa and responsible for the planning, direction, organization and evaluation of initiatives in the Dubuque market.  Kirk is a strong believer in acting with integrity and holds himself to high standards. He assists with fiduciary matters arising throughout the bank’s footprint and has extensive experience in handling complex matters. Over the years, Kirk has been involved with many community organizations and boards. He is currently a member of the Dubuque County Bar Association, Iowa Bar Association and Iowa Academy of Trust and Estate Counsel, an invitation only membership which is limited to 250 Iowa attorneys. He has one daughter, and she is currently studying for her master’s degree in Glasgow, Scotland.  Kirk is an avid hiker and walker, and typically logs 550 miles a year. He is an adventurer and enjoys domestic and international travel.

Kong is an investment professional with over twenty years of portfolio management, investment risk, and securities analysis experience. He constructs investment management solutions, and provides portfolio and investment risk oversight for bank clientele. Kong received his BBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with dual concentrations in Finance and Risk Management and obtained his MS in quantitative finance from DePaul University. Prior to joining MidWestOne in 2021, he held investment leadership and portfolio management roles at various asset management firms including; Columbia Threadneedle Asset Management, Allianz Investment Management, and the University of Wisconsin Foundation. Kong is passionate about the capital markets and has also taught finance and investments courses at the university level.

Lia Lovelace has been in the trust and banking industry for over 25 years.  She is responsible for the administration area of Trust Services, as well as trust, estate and agency account management.  Lia is a graduate of the University of Iowa and is a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor.  She has been with MidWestOne Bank since October 1987.

After graduating from UNI, I started my career in the retirement industry. In 2007, I join the Trust Department at the bank where I evolved from Administration, to Sales, followed by Finance and now fulfilling the Operations role. I enjoy serving as a board member for Mt. Pleasant Home and as a member of the Future Leadership Committee for Greater Dubuque Development Corporation. I reside in Peosta with my remarkable husband and three children.

Neil A. Joss  Neil is responsible for investment selection and management for the Trust Services Department client portfolios. He graduated from the University of Iowa, and received his MBA from the University of Iowa, and joined MidWestOne Bank in 2015. He has nearly 15 years of fixed income and real estate investment experience, holding positions with increasing responsibility at Aegon Asset Management, including 8 years managing asset portfolios. Previous experience also includes trading mortgage back securities.

Ryan joined MidWestOne in 2007 and is Vice President of Business Development for the Trust Department.  He is responsible for new business strategy and the supervision of Trust Officers.  He has a B.A. in Business Management from Simpson College and an M.B.A. from Clarke College.  Ryan currently volunteers on the boards of Linwood Cemetery and the Dubuque Racing Association.

Sandra Morrow joined the Trust Department at MidWestOne in April 2013.  She holds a J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law and is a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor.  She works in the administration area of Trust Services, as well as trust, estate and agency account management.

Sarah Jecklin began her banking career in 1993 with Hawkeye Bank in Dubuque, and joined American Trust & Savings Bank (now MidWestOne) in August 1999. Sarah joined the Trust Department in 2000 where she has worked since then. Sarah works in Trust Administration where she assists with trust, estate, agency and IRA accounts. She enjoys working with clients and being able to help them with a wide variety of needs. She is a lifelong resident of Dubuque County with a large extended family.

Sean Wenham is First Vice President, Regional Trust Manager, for the Minnesota and Wisconsin Regions of MidWestOne Bank and is based in Golden Valley, Minnesota.  Sean is a career wealth-management professional with over 20 years of experience leading specialized teams to meet the unique financials needs of individuals, families, foundations, and businesses.  Sean believes the success of any professional relationship lies in sharing a clear understanding of values, goals, and objectives; and in engaging dialog supported by a systematic process for delivering personalized information and results.  Personal Minnesota has been Sean’s home for almost 20 years, and he embraces the amazing outdoor life that the Upper Midwest provides.  He and his family can often be found walking the dog on the local trails or hiking and camping the state parks all year long‒yes, all year.  Sean was raised in the seaside town of Duxbury on the south shore of Massachusetts.  He and his older brother grew up on the beach in the summer and played sports, especially ice hockey, the rest of the year.  Sean was fortunate to earn an undergraduate degree while playing varsity ice hockey for Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  His Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science and Public Policy has fueled a lifelong commitment to appreciating and advocating for our natural resources. My Mantra/ My goal “I believe in bringing an adventurous spirit into everything he does and uses daily practices to reinforce his core values which include fitness, nature, learning, authenticity, mindfulness, and acceptance.”  

Thais Winkleblack began her career as a community banker with MidWestOne Bank in 1998.  She helped to create the Private Banking Department at MidWestOne Bank in 2005.  Her work in wealth management often focuses on the practicalities of financial planning and the complexities of family relationships, and how to bring continuity to these two important facets of our lives.  She excels at project management and uses her expertise to help individuals and organizations identify their goals and create a plan to meet them.  She is a graduate of the Iowa School of Banking and the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado; she holds a B.A. in Russian from Grinnell College. She is passionate about the community in which she lives and works and is involved in a number of area organizations.  Some highlights of her community engagement are: Past President of the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council, Past President of the Iowa City Noon Rotary Club, Past Chair of Women Build (Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity) for two consecutive years, and a founding member of the Executive Council of 5224Good--a learning and giving circle in Johnson County.

Valerie joined the trust department in May of 2014. She enjoys helping clients with their IRA and trust needs. She grew up in Dubuque where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Clarke University in 2009. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and traveling to places that offer a great view of the mountains or ocean.