Breaking Down Diversity & Inclusion with Champions of Equality Panel

Fred Makonnen joined Equitable’s Group Retirement team in 2013 as Regional Vice President responsible for market growth in the central region.  In 2016, he was appointed as Divisional Vice President, to broaden Equitable’s national focus in the Tax-Exempt Retirement Plan Market. Within this role, Fred heads up a dedicated National sales team responsible for new business development and sales opportunities.

Prior to joining Equitable, Fred spent 12 years in various senior sales management positions within ING/Voya including Vice President of institutional sales responsible for large group acquisitions in the health, education, and government space. In addition, Fred spent time at ING/Voya as Head of the African American Multi-cultural Sales & Marketing, responsible for developing in-language and in-culture education and communication materials for underserved markets.

Fred received a B.A. in marketing and communications from the University of Connecticut and currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio with his wife and two daughters.

Brandy is a respected leader in the financial services industry and community. After graduating from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, she began her career with Equitable Advisors. During that time, she helped develop the Retirement Benefits Group in Texas. The group focused on the financial needs of educators and ascended to the #1 RBG Branch within Equitable Advisors. Additionally, her first two years, she was named the Dallas RBG Associate of the Year and received the Fast Start Award. She went on to build a personal practice of over 2,000 clients, led the partnership with one of the largest school districts in the state, and closed the largest 457 application case in Texas history.

In 2014, she decided to pursue leadership and become a District Manager with Equitable. She led nationally by achieving the #2 TSM Development Award in Hiring and Development in 2015, maintaining high new advisor development, being selected as an Emerging Leader 2016-2018, chosen to speak for several company and industry conferences, and was chosen to lead as a member of the Diversity Field Advisory council. Most importantly, she’s had the pleasure of mentoring many advisors on her team, and many advisors across the company. Brandy’s success and leadership throughout her career led her to be appointed Executive Vice President over Equitable Advisors Mid-America Branch in 2020. She and her business partner are responsible for overseeing offices in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky.

Personally, Brandy has always been involved in her community. She is a mentor, an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and served as the Development Chair for the SMU Black Alumni Association, where she was awarded the History Makers Award. Additionally, her faith is the cornerstone of her life. She is married, and they have a beautiful and intelligent 4 year old daughter, and a fun-loving pup. She and her family reside in the Cleveland, Ohio area.

Janice Allen has been the Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Trotwood-Madison City School District for the last eight years.  Prior to that, she worked for Dayton Public Schools for 20 years, the last eight years as the Assistant Treasurer. She is actively involved in OASBO serving this year as the Chair of Volunteers and the President of the local Miami Valley chapter.  She is a sports enthusiast and loves watching basketball, football and track. She has two sons Sean and Evan and a daughter-in-law, Tia.  Her claim to fame is that she was born one of a set of triplets, identical sister and fraternal brother.

Michelle Tomallo is Chief People Officer and Co-Founder at FIT Technologies, a managed IT firm providing a range of services from helpdesk to field support to network design and strategic technology consultation. FIT’s staff of 110 employees serves as the technology team and IT partner for mid-sized companies, non-profits, and K-12 schools across Ohio and in 20 other states nationwide.

Outside of her responsibilities at FIT, Michelle has been involved for over a decade with Plexus, the LGBTQ and Allied Chamber of Commerce, acting as the volunteer Executive Director and now serving on the Board. Michelle is on the board of her neighborhood community development corporation in downtown Cleveland, on the Greater Cleveland Partnership Equity & Inclusion board, and on an integrated arts education nonprofit, Progressive Arts Alliance. Michelle speaks both regionally and nationally on economic equity, diversity and inclusion, and leadership.

When not social distancing during a Pandemic, Michelle attends many arts, advocacy and cultural events, incorporates her commitment to fitness by participating in charitable running and bike races, and is an avid leader of a community garden.