Honoring Our Most Loyal Supporters

The American College of Financial Services is committed to delivering the highest-quality applied education to the professionals entrusted with the public’s financial well-being. The annual President’s Dinner highlights new and exciting developments at The College, while recognizing the generous supporters, including President’s Circle and Legacy Society members, whose contributions help drive our mission forward.

Awards Presentation

Each year, the President’s Dinner features a series of award presentations recognizing financial services leaders whose passion and commitment make a meaningful impact on The College and financial services profession.

Congratulations to this year’s recipients:

Huebner Gold Medal: Randall H. Harbert, CLU^®

Randall (Rand) H. Harbert, is an accomplished business leader, executive coach, and lifelong learner with a distinguished career in marketing, sales, and agency leadership spanning more than three decades.

Harbert’s career includes leadership roles at H.J. Heinz, Marion Merrell Dow, and State Farm, where he served as executive vice president and chief agency, sales, and marketing officer from 2011 to 2022. He led the transformation of the State Farm brand, revitalizing the “Like a Good Neighbor” campaign and reintroducing “Jake from State Farm,” earning national recognition including Ad Age’s 2020 Marketer of the Year.

Today, Harbert mentors executives, serves on multiple boards, and has long supported The College as a trustee, advisory council member, and donor. The College honors him with the Solomon S. Huebner Gold Medal for his lifetime of achievement and service.

President’s Award: Thomas H. Harris, CLU^®, ChFC^®, FLMI 

Tom Harris is the recently retired president of life insurance and annuities for The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company. He was appointed to this role in 2022 after serving as executive vice president and chief distribution officer since 2013. In these roles, Harris oversaw life insurance and annuity product development, marketing, servicing, and Penn Mutual’s national distribution channels, including 1847Financial, Independence Financial Network, and Strategic Alliances.

With a career spanning more than 40 years in distribution leadership, Harris previously served as senior vice president of Prudential Select Brokerage, driving life insurance sales through independent producers. He remains actively engaged in the industry as a member of Finseca, the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI), Women in Insurance and Financial Services (WIFS), and the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA). Harris also serves on the advisory council for the Center for Military and Veterans Affairs at The American College of Financial Services, sharing his expertise and supporting the next generation of financial professionals.

Alumni Hall of Fame: Rodger Johnson, CLU^®, ChFC^®, CAP^®, CFP^®, MSFS, RICP^®  

A native East Texan, Rodger Johnson has been a leader in the financial services profession since 1978. A lifelong advocate for continuing education, he has facilitated CAP® classes in Tyler and Dallas, Texas, helping more than 250 business leaders and clients deepen their understanding of philanthropy. His passion lies in guiding clients through The Bigger Conversations™, transformative dialogues that make technical planning strategic and personal, while inspiring bold thinking, purposeful action, and new possibilities.

In addition to serving clients, Johnson is a nationally recognized speaker on estate and business succession planning. Committed to giving back, he serves as president of the New York Life Advisory Board of Directors, vice chairman of the American College’s President’s Advisory Board, and vice chairman of advancement for The East Texas Crisis Center. 

The College proudly inducts Rodger Johnson into the Alumni Hall of Fame, honoring his lifetime of service, leadership, and dedication to advancing the financial services profession.

Second Century Society:  John J. Rocco, MSFS, CLU^® (posthumously)

John J. Rocco, exemplified a lifelong commitment to service, integrity, and leadership. He dedicated 69 years of his career to New York Life Insurance Company and founded the Rocco Insurance & Financial Group, helping thousands of individuals and families secure their financial futures through expert guidance and care.

A respected leader in the financial services profession, Rocco earned his Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) designation and, at age 63, his Master of Science in Financial Services (MSFS) from The American College of Financial Services. He maintained a lasting relationship with The College, supporting initiatives such as the 21st Century, One Person, and Invest in the Future campaigns, and serving as Alumni Council Emeritus and Foundation Board Trustee Emeritus. His contributions were recognized through numerous accolades, including Life and Qualifying Membership in the Million Dollar Round Table and The College’s President’s Award in 2009.

Rocco passed peacefully on March 22, 2025, and is deeply missed by all who knew him. His impact endures through his work, friendships, family, and generosity. The College is proud to carry on the legacy of John J. Rocco and is honored to induct him posthumously into the Second Century Society.

Women Working in Wealth^℠: Michele Matchett Godfrey MBA, ChFC^®, AFC^®

Michele Matchett Godfrey is a transformative leader with a distinguished record of enhancing financial health across military, corporate, and banking sectors. As business development manager for higher education initiatives at JPMorgan Chase, she leads strategic partnerships and programs that assess and advance financial health solutions for students, faculty, and staff across diverse communities. A recognized subject matter expert, Godfrey aligns programming, shares best practices, and addresses economic stability challenges.

Her commitment extends nationally and locally through nonprofit and policy organizations, including the Financial Literacy Education Commission (FLEC), Project REACH, NEFE, and the Financial Health Network. A certified Accredited Financial Counselor® (AFC®), she previously managed financial literacy and career programs for Marine Corps Community Services, served as a community affairs specialist at the FDIC, and directed financial readiness programs for the U.S. Army Garrison. She also mentors military spouses, helping them navigate personal and professional goals. Godfrey’s work reflects a career dedicated to financial empowerment, education, and lasting societal impact.

NextGen Financial Services Professional Award: Aaron Gose, ChFC^®, FSCP^®, RICP^®, WMCP^® & Mariana Llamas, CFP^®

Aaron Gose is the principal financial advisor at Engineer’s Financial Group LLC, specializing in clients in the engineering market. He studied civil engineering and finance at the University of Colorado, Denver, and spent nearly six years as a HUNCH Engineer with NASA and as a civil engineer with the Mile High Flood District. His love for problem-solving led him to a career in finance in 2021. Gose holds multiple designations from The American College of Financial Services and is FINRA Series 6, 7, 63, and 65 licensed. In his free time, he serves as a firefighter with Snohomish County Fire District #5, holding Firefighter 1 and Hazmat certifications.

Mariana Llamas is an associate financial planner at Brio Financial Group with over eight years of experience helping non-traditional individuals and families align their financial plans with their life goals. A first-generation Mexican immigrant, she brings cultural fluency and empathy to her work, empowering clients and peers through financial education and community engagement. Llamas has led financial literacy workshops for underserved communities, mentored first-generation college students, and advised industry leaders on inclusive hiring. She served two years on The American College of Financial Services’ NextGen Task Force and actively fosters connection and development within the profession, driving meaningful change and promoting equity in financial planning.

Venue

A sophisticated staple of Center City, Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center is located in Philadelphia’s tallest building, complete with unobstructed city views, luxury hotel rooms, and access to conference and event spaces. Guests were treated in high style as The College celebrated the accomplishments of distinguished honorees.

The President

President and CEO of The College George Nichols III, CAP®, presided over the 2025 President’s Dinner. He reflected on a transformative year while looking ahead to the future, including The College’s 100th anniversary in 2027. George acknowledged the leading volunteers, donors, and friends whose support makes The College’s work possible. He reminded guests that the phrase “Don’t let the old man in” takes on new meaning as we approach our centennial, emphasizing that we are as young as we feel. It was an inspiring evening, reminding all in attendance that The Future is Now.

More From The College

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