2026 President’s Dinner Sets Stage for The College’s Second Century

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA – August 13, 2026 – The President’s Dinner is The College’s premier annual celebration, recognizing institutional achievements and honoring distinguished leaders in the financial services profession.

The occasion also expresses gratitude to The College’s most dedicated and generous donors and partners, whose commitment has been instrumental in supporting The College’s continued impact and success.  

“Every year, our President’s Dinner gives us the opportunity to reflect on our successes over the previous 12 months and look forward to the New Year that awaits,” said George Nichols III, CAP®, president and CEO of The American College of Financial Services. “This year, we also prepare for our organization’s second century as the gold standard in providing financial education that professionals need at every stage of their careers to advance the industry and serve their clients better. The honorees we will recognize at the 2026 President’s Dinner share our commitment to lifelong learning and benefiting society and will continue to partner with us at the dawn of our next century.”  

Accolades which will be given out at this year’s President’s Dinner include:

Huebner Gold Medal

Presented annually since 1975, The College’s Solomon S. Huebner Gold Medal — named for the financial services, education, and insurance pioneer who founded The College in 1927 — is the highest honor bestowed by the organization. Recipients are leaders and supporters who have advanced The College’s mission in significant ways.  

This year’s honoree is Leon L. Levy, CLU®, RHU®, founder and senior lead advisor at Leon L. Levy & Associates in Philadelphia. For nearly 50 years, his firm has helped families and businesses with comprehensive financial reviews, retirement income solutions, and critical illness protection. He has been a keen supporter of The College for many years, funding the publication of books such as Charitable Gifts of Noncash Assets, published by The College for professionals seeking the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) designation.  

President’s Award

Conferred by The College’s president and CEO, recipients are recognized for their leadership and for their generosity as benefactors and volunteers.

This year’s nominee is Edward Deutschlander, CLU®, CLF®, CEO of North Star Resource Group of Minneapolis. He first joined North Star Resource Group in 1993 right out of college, and has worked in roles as an advisor, recruiter, and executive, giving him a multi-faceted industry perspective.  

Soldier-Citizen Award

The College’s Soldier-Citizen Award honors military personnel for exceptional leadership, community service, and selfless dedication.  

This year’s honoree is Gen. Darren W. McDew, commander, U.S. Transportation Command (“USTRANSCOM”) at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. USTRANSCOM is the single manager for global air, land, and sea transportation for the U.S. Department of Defense. Gen. McDew has served in a variety of roles, including Air Force aide to the president, and vice director for strategic plans and policy for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He served in the Air Force during the Kosovo Campaign and the Global War on Terrorism and has been inducted into the Boys and Girls Club of America Alumni Hall of Fame.  

Alumni Hall of Fame

The College’s Alumni Hall of Fame was established in 2005 to recognize graduates who embody what The College stands for: integrity, professionalism, volunteerism, and dedication to education.

This year’s honoree is Kevin E. Baldwin, CLU®, ChFC®, CAP®, managing director of B&L Financial Architects of Amston, Connecticut. He has over 45 years of experience in the financial services industry and is past president of The College’s Alumni Board of Advisors. Baldwin has also served on the national board of the Society of Financial Services Professionals.  

Women Working in Wealth^SM Award

This award showcases and celebrates women who advance women in financial services through mentorship, sponsorship, and advocacy. Recipients have contributed to removing obstacles, creating allies, and executing novel solutions in service to growing gender parity.

This year’s nominee is Cynthia Arocho, RICP®, director of business strategies at Audible Wealth in Jacksonville, Florida. She has more than 15 years of financial services experience, having begun her career at Goldman Sachs and later breaking records at Northwestern Mutual. Arocho is a Million-Dollar Round Table qualifier, an honor reserved for the industry’s most accomplished financial professionals.  

NextGen Financial Services Professional Award

This honor was established in 2016 to honor a select group of young professionals under age 40 who have made a significant impact on the financial services industry. Recipients have demonstrated outstanding performance and leadership in their careers and a desire to give back to their communities.

This year’s nominee is Matthew Mellusi, MSFP, CFP®, RICP®, EA, financial planner and advisor at Cary Stamp & Co. in Jupiter, Florida. He works with the firm’s financial advisors every day to help solve financial difficulties for clients and strengthen advisor/client relationships.  

Second Century Society

The Second Century Society recognizes The College’s most generous benefactors who have made lifetime gifts totaling $1 million or more.

This year’s inductees are the Feldman family, recognizing three generations of leadership, service, and philanthropy. Beginning with Ben Feldman, CLU®, and continuing through Marvin H. Feldman, CLU®, ChFC®, A. Richard Feldman, CLU®, ChFC®, MBA, and Wendy Feldman, CLU®, ChFC®, CASL®, CLTC®, the family has made an enduring impact on the financial services profession while demonstrating a longstanding commitment to The College's mission. The family’s connection to the profession continues today through Wendy’s ongoing work and that of her son-in-law, Elias Slover, who carries forward the tradition of service. Their extraordinary generosity, including Ben Feldman's transformational planned gift, has helped strengthen The College and support the education of future financial professionals.

To learn more about this year’s award recipients, please visit https://www.theamericancollege.edu/about-the-college/award-recipients. To learn more about attending the President’s Dinner, contact Carol Parlin Prushan, senior vice president of Advancement and Alumni Relations, at 610-526-1389 or carol.prushan@theamericancollege.edu.

For more information, contact:

Sarah Tremallo
908-967-0381 | americancollege@jconnelly.com

Jared Trexler
610-526-1268 | jared.trexler@theamericancollege.edu

About The American College of Financial Services  

The American College of Financial Services is the nation’s largest nonprofit and accredited educational institution devoted to financial services professionals. Nearly one in five advisors or agents is an alum of The College. The College offers a learning platform that includes professional designation, certification, and degree programs and encompasses early-career foundational knowledge as well as deep, specialized education in tax, retirement income, philanthropy, risk management, and more with the highest-quality combination of rigor and relevance. The College’s faculty represents the foremost thought leaders in the financial services industry. Its educational programs, research, and events offer professionals the opportunity to expand earnings, deepen relationships, and deliver improved client outcomes.

Explore our website to discover all the ways to gain expertise for every stage.