Our Team

As the CEO for Magnolia Wealth Strategies, a MassMutual firm, Rich’s goals are to continue shaping and fulfilling the company’s strategic vision by attracting, developing, and empowering top talent and providing elite support and service to the Magnolia Wealth Strategies team and clients. As one of the oldest firms in the southeast, Magnolia Wealth Strategies has over 100 financial professionals providing customized financial solutions to clients across LA, MS, AL, & the FL panhandle. Rich is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry and Life Sciences with a concentration in Nuclear Engineering. In 2012, he earned his MBA in Finance from The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Renee Goodin Elliott is a Human Resources leader with extensive experience in establishing global HR strategy and the design, development and leadership of programs in all aspects of business. She specializes in executive leadership, strategic planning, change management and leadership development. She holds an MBA in Human Resources and International Business from the University of Kansas and holds certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). Renee sits on the board of directors for the SHRM of Greater Kansas City and is also on the Alumni Advisory Board for Fashion Studies program at Kansas State University. True to her Kansas City roots, she and her family have a competition BBQ team, and she is also a Certified BBQ Judge for the Kansas City BBQ Society. Renee is the aunt of Grant and Grace Goodin, who are currently living with MSD.

Roy Taylor Jr. is a partner at Taylor and Willis CPAs and Advisors, based in New Orleans. He has been married to Heather for over 25 years, and they have two children: Kaelin, who is studying at the University of Louisiana Lafayette, and Roy III, who attends Brother Martin High School. Roy graduated from the University of New Orleans and holds both an active CPA license and the CGMA (Chartered Global Management Accountant) certification. His professional focus includes financial analysis, tax planning, outsourced CFO services, and compliance support for individuals and small to medium-sized businesses. Before transitioning to public accounting, Roy served as Controller and CFO for closely held companies. Outside of his professional life, Roy enjoys cooking, hunting, fishing, and boating with his family. He is also actively involved in the community, serving on the Board of Directors for the Henry Aucoin Foundation, which supports families of pediatric heart patients, and as a member of the supervisory committee for the New Orleans Firemen’s Federal Credit Union.

Eryn has 15+ years of experience in public health nonprofit management and is passionate about making an impact in healthcare philanthropy. She has dedicated her career to research and public health, from the community level to national funding initiatives and loves the energy and enthusiasm derived from working in a mission‐based environment. She served as Mission Director for the Greater Atlanta Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and is now the Vice President of Mission for the Rheumatology Research Foundation.

Growing up in Michigan, Brad has spent the last two decades as a senior management professional leading diverse teams of up to 2,800 employees in twelve countries and across four generational cohorts. He was seventeen years old when a very close family member was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a chronic neuroimmunological disorder that attacks the central nervous system, changing his family’s life forever and making real the everyday struggles a highly invasive disease can have on a person and family. Brad holds a Bachelor of Science degree as a double major in Marketing and Management from Park University and is a graduate of Mississippi State University where he earned his Master’s in Business Administration (MBA). He thrives in challenging environments and enjoys using his operational management experience to navigate teams through complicated and complex problems. He has been an active supporter of several non-profit organizations, volunteering with the Boys & Girls Club of America, Habitat for Humanity, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and local education programs. Brad is the proud father of seven children and has a heart for any cause that serves the most vulnerable and innocent among us. He is a U.S. Air Force veteran having deployed multiple times in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Inherent Resolve and Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

Rochelle Colburn has volunteered with the United MSD Foundation and advocated for the rare disease community for over 6 years. She was introduced to the organization through its founder, Amber Olsen, and has since made several trips to Ocean Springs, MS to participate in fundraising events and to meet families impacted by MSD. She is also the Chief Operating Officer at the Future Caucus, a nonpartisan nonprofit that works directly with millennial and GenZ state and federal lawmakers to bridge the partisan divide and lead a new era of collaborative governance. At Future Caucus, she advises on strategy across Future Caucus’ teams and programs, implements systems and technologies, and manages the organization’s staff, budget, and daily operations. She lives between Western New York and Washington, DC with her husband, Casey, and their 8-year-old daughter, Cecily.

Brandy Brockus is a dedicated leader with a passion for process and technology innovation, and a strong commitment to people. Starting as a Franchise Support Coordinator at Nextaff and quickly advancing to Franchise Performance Manager, she supports Franchisees through advocacy, training, and process improvement. Brandy values authentic leadership and relationship-building, aiming to inspire and empower others to reach their full potential. A lifelong learner committed to growth, Brandy actively volunteers and mentors within her industry, driven by a desire to set a positive example for her daughter. Guided by her values of growth, connection, and impact, she strives to make a meaningful difference both professionally and in her community.

For over 30 years, Michelle coordinated the UCLA Genetics Clinic, providing genetic counseling services to both pediatric and adult populations, including the UCLA Predictive Huntington Disease Testing Program, early onset Alzheimer and genetic neurodegenerative disorders. She is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors, American Society of Human Genetics and Society of Inherited Metabolic Disorder. She taught in the UCLA School of Medicine and in the Fiat Lux series for UCLA undergraduates and is currently an invited guest lecturer in the University of California, Irvine Genetic Counseling Program, Mt. Sinai Genetic Counseling Program, Pierce College and a faculty member of the UCLA Genetic Counseling Program.

Michelle served on the Secretary’s Advisory Committee for Heritable Disorders of Newborns and Children Follow-up and Treatment sub-committee and on the National Society of Genetic Counselors Public Policy Newborn Screening Task Force in 2014.  She was a member of the Western States Regional Genetics Network from 2010-2013. Michelle served on the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics Hearing Loss Guidelines Committee (2013), the American Board of Genetic Counseling Engagement Task Force (2016) and the National Society of Genetic Counselors Conflict of Interest Task Force (2017-2018). She currently serves on the Mt. Sinai Medical Center Genetic Counseling Program Advisory Board, UCLA Genetic Counseling Program Advisory Board and was a member at large of the National Society of Genetic Counselors board of directors (2019-2020). In 2022, Michelle was awarded the NSGC Natalie Weissberger Paul lifetime achievement award.

Michelle provides consultation services to organizations, laboratories and businesses including Invitae. She is Past-President of the Southern California Genetic Counselors, a non-profit organization.

Sophia Grise is the parent of Jaxon Chavez, an MSD angel (3-7-2020-5-5-2024). Sophia is passionate about research for a cure for MSD. Driven by love and loss, she champions research and supports other families facing this rare disease. She actively contributes her insights and expertise to shape the future of this field, ensuring that the voices of those impacted by MSD are heard and considered in all endeavors. She is a Science and PE teacher at Santa Susana High School. She lives with her husband, Craig Chavez, and their son, Maxwell, in California.

Dr. Amanda Haidet-Phillips is the Executive Director, Global Program Team Leader for Sarepta Therapeutics where she leads cross-functional program teams to bring gene therapies from the laboratory to patients with rare, neuromuscular diseases. Prior to Sarepta, Dr. Haidet-Phillips worked in pharma and biotech as part of AveXis and then Novartis Institute for BioMedical Research to help transition gene therapy products from the pre-clinical proof of concept stage in R&D to first-in human trials.

Prior to joining industry, Dr. Haidet-Phillips served as Scientific Portfolio Director for the Muscular Dystrophy Association where she led the strategic management of research grants and investments for motor and peripheral nerve diseases. Dr. Haidet-Phillips completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins University seeking to understand the causes of ALS and develop new therapeutic approaches for the disease. She received her Ph.D from The Ohio State University where she helped to develop gene therapies for neuromuscular disease.

George Loukatos, M.D. is the founder and owner of the AlphaCare Urgent Care network, serving the MS Gulf Coast. He was born and raised on the north shore of Boston and is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. He obtained his doctorate of medicine at Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska, and then completed a combined residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the Tulane University School of Medicine. While at Tulane he served as chief resident and was elected into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honors Society and was named Intern of the Year of Charity Hospital in New Orleans. He began his career as an emergency medicine physician in 2003 and along the way served as medical director of multiple emergency departments as well as regional medical director in the state of Mississippi.

Julie A. Rosner-Lengele is the University Controller at Arcadia University. She has worked at Arcadia for twenty-six years as the Controller for both Arcadia’s international and domestic programs. As Controller, Julie manages all treasury functions, all university audits, all tax preparation and compliance, all university debt, and all university investments. Julie is part of the Strategic Leadership team at the University and also serves on several University Committees. To help other universities, Julie has served as both an accreditation team chair, and peer evaluator for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Prior to joining Arcadia, Julie served as the Accounting Manager at Avitech Diagnostics, Inc., a small start-up biotech company. Early in her career, Julie served as a Staff Accountant at the world renowned Fox Chase Cancer Center. Julie currently serves on the board of Manna on Main Street as its Treasurer and is a member of the board of Pandas International. In the past, Julie served on the board of the North Penn Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants. Julie earned a Masters of Business Administration with a concentration in finance from Thomas Jefferson University and Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from La Salle University.

A graduate of the University of San Francisco School of Law, Sue Rokaw is a California licensed attorney and has enjoyed a legal career in private practice focusing on varied civil legal matters and litigation and as a law school professor. She currently works as in-house counsel managing litigation for a California-based company. A former small business owner, high school teacher, and school library media specialist, Sue graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Rochester in New York with a B.A. in Classics and with honors from Southern Connecticut State University with a Master of Library Science. A longtime member of Rotary International where she has served in various volunteer leadership roles, Sue’s current charitable service includes an overseas Rotary literacy project in South Africa and as a member of several local boards including the Rotary Club of Ocean Springs, MS Gulf Coast Symphony, and Gulf Coast Sailing Foundation.

Jacki Thornburg is the Broker/Owner of EXIT Realty Heart Properties in Ocean Springs. She purchased her EXIT Realty franchise in December 2020 but she started Heart Properties in 2009 and named it in tribute to her father, who passed away with heart disease. In 2018, she bought a dilapidated building on Bienville Boulevard in Ocean Spring, MS, gutted it and rebuilt it and that is where her Real Estate office is now. She was the Public Relations Chairperson for the Ocean Springs Rotary Club in 2021 and she also volunteers for The United MSD Foundation to help raise funds for children with this rare disease. Jacki is a member of the Professional Standards Committee and the Grievance Committee and a Board Member of the Gulf Coast Association of REALTORS®. As a founding member and co-chair for the Birdies for Brian, she helps to raise money to help cure kidney cancer. Jacki has also been involved with The Rapiscan Systems Classic and Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic Ambassador Club, MS Gulf Coast St. Jude Dreamhome, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Women of Achievement Awards Luncheon & Business Expo. Jacki is originally from Michigan where she had a successful real estate and mortgage lending career. She has degrees in Economics and Communication from The University of Toledo in Ohio. She currently lives in Biloxi with her husband Mike.

With 38 years of experience in the investment industry, Angela Wolfe joined Benjamin F. Edwards & Co. in 2016 as a financial advisor and facilitated the opening of our Gulfport, MS office. Outside of work, Angela enjoys spending time with her daughter, Briana Dubaz Pfarrer. Living on the Mississippi coast, She likes to boat, fish, and spend time on the water. In addition, she enjoys cooking, exercising, gardening, and watching sports. Angela is passionate about helping with the United MSD Foundation as she has known sweet Willow since she was born.