Patrick Justice serves as a Managing Director of Ellsworth Advisors. Patrick began his career in wealth management in 2010. In 2014, he earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation. Patrick provides comprehensive financial planning to both existing clients and prospective clients. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, he specializes in complex situations, including executive compensation, company stock, succession planning, estate planning, multi-generational planning, trusts, and dissolution of marriages. As a former Chief Compliance Officer, Patrick possesses substantial regulatory experience.
Prior to joining Ellsworth Advisors, Patrick wore many hats during his 10-year career at Demming Financial Services Corp. His main role was to provide financial planning services to clients. During this time, he developed a true specialization in working with high-net-worth clients and complex situations.
Patrick is a graduate of the University of Akron. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Financial Planning. Patrick lives in Green, Ohio, with his wife Heather and their twins, Olivia & Cillian.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization’s initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.
Karen Kaminski serves as a Senior Operations Associate for Ellsworth Advisors. As a Senior Operations Associate, Karen assists in reviewing and optimizing processes. Additionally, she assists the Chief Compliance Officer in creating and reviewing records in accordance with the firm’s policies, procedures, and internal controls.
Karen is a graduate of the Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering. Prior to joining Ellsworth Advisors, she worked in Compliance and Quality Control. She most recently worked in the toy and home goods industry, ensuring that products were designed to protect children’s safety and meet the regulatory requirements of the relevant legislative bodies.
Karen enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, theater, and Ohio State football. Karen lives in Hudson, Ohio, with her husband and is the mother of three adult children.
Michelle Schwab serves as the Chief Compliance Officer of Ellsworth Advisors. Her primary responsibilities include overseeing and managing regulatory compliance issues, designing and implementing internal controls, and creating policies and procedures for the firm. Michelle has spent her entire 26-year career as a securities compliance professional. She holds designations as a Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI); Associate, Insurance Regulatory Compliance (AIRC); and Associate, Customer Service (ACS).
Michelle is a graduate of the University of Montevallo where she received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Prior to joining Ellsworth Advisors, she served as an Associate, Compliance Director at Western International Securities, a full-service independent, dually registered firm headquartered in Pasadena, California.
Michelle is an active volunteer with the Hudson Library and Historical Society through the Friends of the Hudson Library Bookstore. The Friends of the Hudson Library is a non-profit volunteer organization committed to supporting the library. Since 1951, the Friends’ goal has always been the same: “To be a group organized to better the services of the library to the community.” Additionally, she volunteers with the AARP Fraud Prevention Watch Network to educate the community on how to avoid fraud or identity theft.
Outside of the office, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, cultivating a “pollinator paradise” in her yard, and improving her overall health and wellness. Michelle lives in Hudson, Ohio, with her son.
Brett Baskin serves as a Director at Ellsworth Advisors, bringing more than a decade of experience in wealth management. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Brett specializes in retirement savings and income planning for individuals and families, delivering comprehensive, goal-focused financial plans designed to provide clarity and confidence.
In addition to his individual client work, Brett plays a leadership role in the firm’s retirement plan consulting practice. He partners with business owners and organizations to oversee and enhance their corporate retirement plan offerings, including 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, profit-sharing plans, cash balance plans, SIMPLE IRAs, and ESOPs. Over the course of his career, Brett has developed expertise in plan design, fiduciary oversight, and helping employers create meaningful retirement benefits for their teams.
Brett earned his bachelor’s degree in Finance from Ohio State University. He began his career in financial services at Citi and Merrill Lynch, then joined Ellsworth Advisors in 2018.
Beyond his professional work, Brett serves as Chair of the Advisory Board for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Northern Ohio Chapter, supporting research and care initiatives for families impacted by cystic fibrosis. He also chairs the Bruce Baskin Cystic Fibrosis Golf Classic, which has raised more than $3 million for the Foundation in honor of his late father.
Brett lives in Hudson, Ohio, with his wife, Sophia, and their son, Beau. Outside of work, he stays active through golf and CrossFit and enjoys cooking at home.
Chris Ameen serves as a Senior Vice President of Ellsworth Advisors. He provides wealth management and financial planning to individuals and families. Chris is also active in business development. In addition, Chris works with business owners, trustees, and other fiduciaries servicing corporate retirement plans. In this capacity, he takes a lead role in onboarding new retirement plan participants and providing employee education.
Prior to joining Ellsworth Advisors, Chris was a financial advisor at AXA Advisors, now Equitable, the world’s second-largest financial services firm by revenue. While at AXA, Chris worked with teachers, police, and firefighters, analyzing their pensions and retirement benefits and taking a holistic approach to their individual retirement needs.
Chris is a graduate of Baldwin Wallace University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. During his time at Baldwin Wallace, Chris was a four-year letterman on the men’s basketball team and twice earned all-conference academic honors. He also earned a master’s degree in Special Education from North Dakota State University. Prior to joining the financial services industry, Chris served as a teaching assistant, specializing in helping children and young adults with moderate to intensive Autism Spectrum Disorder acclimate to their surroundings.
Chris serves on the Cooper Foundation Board as Director of Foundation Relations and is also a Member of the One Step Ahead Ohio (OSAO) Board. The Cooper Foundation supports children and young adults with disabilities by helping provide funding for therapy and adaptive equipment, giving them the opportunity to reach their full potential. OSAO focuses on creating meaningful, long-term impacts within local communities.
Chris lives in Medina, Ohio, with his wife, Emily, and their three children, CJ, Charlotte, and Cooper. Outside of work and community involvement, he enjoys playing golf and basketball, cheering on the Cleveland Browns, and spending time with family and friends.
John Dugan joined Ellsworth Advisors in 2019 and serves as a Senior Vice President, with a focus on portfolio management. In this capacity, John leads the firm’s trading desk, where he manages both fixed income and equity portfolios.
John is a graduate of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Finance with a concentration in Accounting. After graduation, John traveled and lived in Aspen, Colorado, for a year. He then began his career with SAMCO Capital on the sales and trading desk in Dallas, Texas. Founded in 1987, SAMCO Capital is a privately held, employee-owned broker/dealer specializing in public finance, fixed income sales & trading, tax-free fixed income underwriting, and investment banking. John spent five years at SAMCO as a Fixed Income Institutional Salesman, developing business and providing fixed income services to banks, wealth managers, and insurance companies.
John resides in Charleston, South Carolina, with his wife. Outside the office, he enjoys watching all sports, any outdoor activities involving water, mountains, or golf, as well as reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Kelly Orris is an Associate Advisor with Ellsworth Advisors. She is primarily responsible for providing wealth management and comprehensive financial planning services to both existing and prospective clients. Kelly also takes an active role in business development and supports the firm’s retirement plan consulting practice.
Prior to joining Ellsworth Advisors, Kelly served as a Research Analyst for a small private wealth company in Cleveland, Ohio. In that capacity, she conducted extensive research on US and emerging market companies and served as a liaison between the Vietnam and home office. She also owned a Gymboree Play and Music franchise for several years, wearing many hats as the owner.
Kelly earned a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Kent State University. She grew up in Rocky River, Ohio, and currently lives in Westlake, Ohio. In her spare time, Kelly enjoys spending time with her family and friends, yoga, and traveling. She is a passionate supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Colleen Shafer serves as a Senior Administrative Assistant at Ellsworth Advisors. In this capacity, she is a prominent face of the firm and the primary point of contact for clients. Her responsibilities include managing communications between clients and the investment team, onboarding new clients, processing account changes, and overseeing asset transfers and wires.
Colleen is a passionate advocate for many local animal rescue centers, where she has rescued and found forever homes for over 40 animals over the past 10 years. She is a graduate of Kent State University with an associate’s degree in Environmental Technology. When Colleen is not spending time with her family, you can find her at the movies or with a good book. Colleen currently resides in Green, Ohio, with her two rescue animals.