The Trust Company is proud to announce the promotion of Katie Seay, CFP®, CTFA, CRC® to serve as President and Director of Wealth Management effective January 1, 2024. 

Mark Knackendoffel, J.D., founded the company with the help of a group of Manhattan area investors in 1992 and has since served as the President & CEO. As part of a long-term succession plan, Katie will assume additional duties as President and continue her oversight of wealth management in this position. Mark will continue to serve as CEO for the forseeable future. 

Katie began her career at The Trust Company in 2012 as the Director of Financial Planning after relocating to Manhattan from Atlanta, Georgia. She graduated from the University of Georgia in 2009 with a B.S. in Family Financial Planning and then joined The Ayco Company, L.P., the financial planning division of Goldman Sachs, where she served as a Senior Financial Planner. In 2012, Katie and her husband, Dr. Martin Seay, moved to Manhattan where he joined the faculty of the KSU Personal Financial Planning program. She has been serving clients of The Trust Company for eleven years and led the financial planning team for nine years until she was promoted to Chief Fiduciary Officer in 2023. 

Katie’s promotion reflects not only her exceptional dedication and contributions to the company and its clients, but also the careful planning by the Board of Directors of The Trust Company to ensure a seamless leadership transition. 

Katie has consistently demonstrated strong leadership, innovative thinking, and a deep understanding of all aspects of the wealth management business. She has shown a continuous commitment to building relationships, developing colleagues, and collaborating with other leaders to help guide the company’s continued growth and pursuit of excellence. 

In her new role as President & Director of Wealth Management, Katie will work closely with the CEO, the Executive Leadership Team, and the Board of Directors to ensure the continued growth and prosperity of The Trust Company. While she will continue advising a small group of clients, she will also lead the delivery of wealth management services, including financial planning, investment management, retirement plan administration, trust and estate services, and further elevating the firm’s collaborative and client-centric culture. 

Katie’s promotion is a recognition of her outstanding achievements but is also a testament to the company’s commitment to cultivating talent within the organization. The Trust Company strongly believes in providing opportunities for growth and development for our dedicated team members, and Katie’s promotion exemplifies the possibilities that exist within our company for those who consistently demonstrate excellence and dedication.