Deborah Lavinsky, financial advisor with Securus Financial Group, Inc., has been named director to lead Central Phoenix Women.

New advisers for the organization are Hillary P. Gagnon, Esq. a partner with Jennings, Haug & Cunningham, L.L.P.; and Meghan Mulligan an accountant with On the Money, LLC. The three new leaders were introduced at the May monthly meeting at The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix and will serve for 12 months.

Lavinsky has over three decades of experience in the personal finance, wealth management, and philanthropic fields.  She has extensive experience working effectively with professionals, pre-retirees, women in transition and business owners on retirement income planning, estate planning, business succession planning and long-term care.  She serves as a non-public arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., (FINRA). A respected national speaker and author, a financial literacy advocate, and lifelong volunteer, she can often be found teaching financial literacy courses, fundraising for genetic research, or promoting a women’s leadership program.  Prior to her career in financial services, Deborah performed as principal flutist in numerous symphony orchestras in the United States and Europe. She holds the FINRA Series 7 and 66 licenses and AZ, CA, FL, OH and UT life insurance licenses. She is an Investment Advisor Representative and has earned the Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS) designation through the College for Financial Planning.  Lavisky is a passionate Pilates practitioner, triathlete, knitter, and golfer as well as a devoted wife to her husband Arthur, mother of two grown children and one energetic Yorkie.

Hillary Gagnon’s practice emphasizes estate planning and probate, as well as commercial litigation.  Particularly, Ms. Gagnon’s estate planning work consists of assisting clients develop and prepare a personalized estate plan appropriate for their individual and family needs.  An estate plan may include, among other things a will, revocable living trusts, special needs trust for a disabled child or family member, irrevocable trust, life insurance trust, estate tax planning, power of attorney, health care power of attorney, and living will.  Ms. Gagnon’s trial and litigation experience includes commercial disputes, collections, employment and labor law, liability and insurance defense and construction law.  A graduate of Wheaton College (B.S. 1994) and Suffolk University Law School (J.D. 1997), she joined the Firm in 2000 and became a partner in 2005.

Meghan Mulligan empowers individuals and business owners by helping them gain control of their financial record keeping. With seven years of experience and a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Accounting, she brings the knowledge of accounting principles and comprehensive experience to the table when assisting people across numerous business fields. By helping her clients take control and manage their bookkeeping she reduces stress and helps her clients feel more secure in their monetary based decisions. Meghan has a passion for helping diagnose and correct business and personal financials left in any state. She specializes in “fixing” QuickBooks files that may be giving the business owners and their staff problems. When not working, Meghan volunteers with the Thunderbird High School girls’ soccer program and enjoys chasing after her young son.

Central Phoenix Women is an organization for women who have established themselves professionally and demonstrated commitment to the community. Members are individuals who wish to enhance their leadership by connecting with like-minded women to share information, ideas, contacts and opportunities. They value relationships that enhance their business, social and community endeavors.

More information and an invitation are available at www.centralphoenixwomen.org. Reservations are required.