As the eldest child of The Trust Company’s founder and CEO Mark Knackendoffel, Ellen is honored to play a role in the future of the company she grew up with. As Business Development Officer, she is excited to further connect with the community she loves, and to engage with leaders in Manhattan as well as our branch office locations.

“It’s a great feeling to know that I can influence people to discover a path toward reaching their goals and achieving financial peace of mind.”

Ellen earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Kansas State University, with dual majors in Finance and Accounting and a Certificate of Integrated Investment Management. She focused her early career on accounting and most recently served as University-wide Development Officer for the KSU Foundation.

Ellen’s claim to fame is that as a high school senior, her golf team won the Kansas state title. She now welcomes all opportunities to get to know people on the local courses. Ellen loves to travel, and she and her siblings still plan to hold their parents to a contractual agreement for a family trip to Europe that was signed when the kids were all young.

Ellen is a stockholder of The Trust Company.