Gateway Financial Partners Strengthens Leadership Bench with Strategic Promotions and Key Hires
GLASTONBURY, Conn., July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Gateway Financial Partners announced a series of senior–level promotions and new hires made during the first half of 2025. The moves reinforce the firm's commitment to providing independent financial advisors with robust resources across engagement, operations, marketing, transition, finance, and compliance.
"Our advisors count on us to remove friction, share insights, and help them work toward their growth goals," said David Wood, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer. "By investing in seasoned professionals across every core function, we're scaling our capacity to deliver that promise while staying true to our values of teamwork, integrity, respect, superior client experience, and innovation."
Strengthening New Business Development
- Robb Combs, Director of Advisor Alignment – Leads Gateway's advisor acquisition strategy, ensuring new partners integrate seamlessly and have access to the resources they need from day one.
- Candace Byrnes, Opportunity Architect – Identifies and cultivates strategic growth opportunities, expanding Gateway's reach and fostering collaborative partnerships within the advisor community.
Senior leadership & engagement
- Mike Kitzman has been promoted to Chief Engagement Officer, guiding firmwide advisor–experience initiatives and championing continuous feedback loops.
Transition & operational excellence
- Chris Hartmann, Financial Advisor Transition Specialist, adds depth to Gateway's dedicated transition team, streamlining onboarding for incoming practices.
- Jeremy Ziglar and Linda Gibson, Financial Services & Operations Specialists, bolster day–to–day operational support for advisors.
Data–driven finance
- Josh Bernetzke, Business & Data Analyst, expands the finance department with analytics that inform sound business decisions.
Amplifying brand communications
- Andrea Kathe transitions to the marketing team as Communications & Marketing Specialist, enhancing Gateway's educational outreach and brand voice.
"Every hire is an intentional investment in areas advisors tell us matter most," added Mike Kitzman, Chief Engagement Officer. "Whether it's onboarding a practice, fine–tuning operations, or sourcing new growth opportunities, our expanding team is here to shoulder the workload so advisors can focus on serving their clients."
About Gateway Financial Partners
Gateway Financial Partners empowers independent financial advisors by providing comprehensive leadership, operational, marketing, and technology support. Serving 150+ advisors nationwide, Gateway helps practices scale efficiently and deliver exceptional client service while maintaining autonomy.
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SOURCE Gateway Financial Partners