Our Team

Advisor

Bruce Dzieza, CFP®

CEO, Partner

Bruce founded Willow Creek Financial Services, Inc. in order to provide wealth management in an unbiased, cost effective manner. Bruce has been in practice since 1984 and has an extensive background in all aspects of financial planning, and a particular expertise in asset management and real estate. In 2007 Bruce was recognized as one of Barron’s Top 100 Independent Financial Advisers nationwide. The listing was compiled by financial-industry consultant R.J. Shook and is based on each adviser's assets under management, his or her contribution to the firm's revenues and profits, and indications of service quality. Per Barron’s: “This ranking…highlights many of the most prominent men and women in the field.” He has been widely quoted in local business press including the Press Democrat, NorthBay Biz and the San Francisco Chronicle.

As a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Bruce devotes much of his time working with clients on their overall life goals. With Bruce, clients determine what money means in their lives and how they can effectively use their wealth to bring their goals to fruition. Bruce heads up Willow Creek's investment committee taking the lead in researching new investment vehicles and in determining the asset allocation strategies that the firm uses in constructing portfolios.

Charitable giving is an important part of Bruce's practice. Working with the entire team at Willow Creek Financial Services, Bruce is able to counsel clients on the most prudent and effective way in which they can meet their charitable intent. Bruce is an active volunteer on many advisory boards dealing with issues around children, teens, environment and the arts.

Bruce and his wife Susan have a son, Emmett, who graduated from the University of Southern California and has a successful career as a freelance motion graphic designer and animator. Bruce and Susan are avid hikers, travelers, and music lovers.  Bruce enjoys working out, playing his guitar and spending time in his garden.

Advisor

Jason Gittins, CFP®

Partner

Jason is a partner and corporate Secretary at Willow Creek Financial Services. Jason joined Willow Creek Financial Services, Inc. in 1996 as an intern while enrolled at Sonoma State University. After receiving his bachelors degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance, Jason accepted a full-time position with Willow Creek Financial Services.

Jason works with Willow Creek's clients to achieve their financial goals. He enjoys helping clients understand the investment process and how it can affect their financial future. He also serves on the Food for Thought investment committee and the corporate council for Sixth Street Playhouse. Jason earned his Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation in 2000.

Jason is a life long Sonoma county resident and currently lives in Santa Rosa. While away from the office Jason enjoys spending time with his wife Tiffany, and daughters Charley and Sydney.

Advisor

Heather Cleland, CFP®

CCO, Partner

Heather is a partner at Willow Creek Financial, as well as the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer. Prior to joining WCFS she was the controller for West County’s Palm Drive Hospital. Heather graduated from Humboldt State University in 1993 with a degree in business administration. She received the Award for Excellence as the outstanding business student in her graduating class. She completed the rigorous certified financial planning program and earned her CFP® mark in 2000.

Heather is one of Willow Creek’s senior financial planners. WCFS considers the pairing of comprehensive financial planning with disciplined asset management an important key to our clients reaching their lifetime goals. Heather’s experience, sensitivity, common sense and passion have helped her clients recognize those goals and implement a stress-free personal wealth strategy.

When not working, Heather enjoys being outdoors and participating in sports whenever possible. She holds her black belt in Taekwondo and is an avid soccer player. She also loves volleyball, softball, hiking, tennis, golf and snowboarding.

Advisor

Teresa Mitchell, CFP®

Teresa joined Willow Creek Financial Services, Inc. in September 2001. She assumed many roles over the ensuing years most recently working as a paraplanner preparing comprehensive financial plans for WCFS clientele. She passed the rigorous education, examination, experience and ethics requirements and obtained her Certified Financial Planner CFP® certification in January 2008.

Speaking with potential Willow Creek clients is one of Teresa’s key responsibilities. She also enjoys the extensive interaction and comprehensive financial plan presentation to existing clients. Teresa serves as Willow Creek’s assistant compliance officer and maintains the company Website.

Teresa graduated from UC Davis and TCU with a BFA in Theater Arts. She worked as a small business financial manager before attending the California Culinary Academy and opening her own restaurant in San Francisco's South-of-Market area. Teresa’s entrepreneurial experience continued into the internet venue where she worked as product production manager for gourmet food & cookware online purveyor Tavolo.com. In addition to cooking, Teresa enjoys gardening, learning "something new" and taking training & agility classes with her retriever/chow puppy, Honey.

Advisor

Mark Keating, CFP®

Mark joined Willow Creek Financial Services in January 2008 as a financial advisor, focusing his efforts on portfolio management and financial planning. Mark has been in the financial services industry since 2000, most recently as an investment officer with Exchange Bank’s Wealth Management division and as a NASDAQ institutional equity trader with Wells Fargo Securities in San Francisco.

Mark is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, which gives him background in taxation, retirement planning, insurance, and estate planning. Additionally, he is a licensed investment advisor representative through the National Association of Securities Dealers. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Santa Clara University.

Mark lives in Windsor with his wife, Camille, and sons, Jack, Sam and James. In his spare time, Mark enjoys traveling, basketball and many outdoor activities such as surfing, golf, mountain biking and camping.

Advisor

Dave O'Rourke

Dave uses over thirty years of business and investing experience to help clients develop and maintain a holistic financial plan specifically built for their unique situation. Clients rely on Dave’s broad knowledge of money and markets, his insights in the field of behavioral finance and his strong interpersonal skills.

Dave’s career in investment management began when he joined Dean Witter & Co. shortly after earning his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from UC Berkeley in 1977. During his career, Dave has worked for Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., myCFO, Inc., and the San Francisco boutique Hoefer & Arnett, Inc. Dave has published white papers on a wide variety of subjects germane to investors.

In addition to his 11 years as a fee-only financial advisor, Dave also has extensive experience as an entrepreneur, including leading a Marin County banking software start up to a position of dominance in its market niche and an eventual merger with a NASDAQ listed firm in 1994.

Dave has lived in Sonoma or Marin County since 1981. He is a board member of the Sixth Street Playhouse and sits on the Sonoma Mountain Business Cluster’s Board of Mentors, an organization focused on the growth and development of sustainable new businesses in Sonoma County. Dave also has a seat on the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce’s Steering Committee and Leadership Santa Rosa Alumni Association’s Board of Directors. Dave is a member of the Sonoma County Alliance and a proud graduate of LSR XXV.

Dave is married to Christine and is the father of five sons. When not working, Dave enjoys golf, tennis, hiking, gardening and travelling.

Portfolio Administration

Kelly Noonan, CFO

Partner

Kelly is a partner, as well as Willow Creek Financial’s Chief Financial Officer. She has worked for Willow Creek Financial Services, Inc. since 1993. She puts her extensive background in computer programming to use designing and maintaining Willow Creek Financial's various databases. She also reviews your portfolio to be sure it is in balance with your portfolio model and prepares the investment reports you receive every quarter.

Kelly's personal time is devoted to her husband Todd and daughters, Gianna and Kerianne. Her daughters keep her busy with their many activities, including basketball and rodeo. Kelly is a travel buff, and she and her family enjoy taking many vacations together.

Portfolio Administration

Ginny Folwell

Portfolio Administrator

Ginny joined WCFS in July, 2005 as a portfolio administrator. Her past experience includes jobs in the securities industry, commercial real estate management and the financial planning profession. Originally from New York, she graduated from Connecticut College in 1969 with a degree in English.

She lives in San Rafael, where she spends time maintaining her rose garden, hanging out with her cat, enjoying the outdoors, and reading.

Support Staff

Patti Dedrick

Administrative Assistant

Patti joined Willow Creek Financial in March of 2004. She brings with her over 30 years experience in the Stock Transfer business providing a full spectrum of shareholder services. After an early retirement from Wells Fargo, Patti worked as an administrative assistant for two Financial Planning firms in Santa Rosa. Her duties covered a wide range of responsibilities to include daily interaction with clients, custodians, mutual fund companies and transfer agents.

Patti lives in Petaluma has two sons and four grandchildren ranging in the ages of 7-24. When not at work she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, quilting and gardening.

Support Staff

Sheryl Harrigan

Administrative Assistant

Before joining Willow Creek as an administrative assistant in October, 1999, Sheryl has had several positions as an administrative assistant over the past 20 years, most recently in the health care industry. Originally from Fresno, California, Sheryl moved to Sonoma County in 1987. She obtained her business administration degree at Heald Business College in Fresno.

Sheryl has been married to Kevin, a real estate appraiser, for 18 years. They have two vivacious daughters, Molly and Meghan, who are dedicated soccer players and musicians, and a yellow lab named Max. When she's away from Willow Creek, Sheryl enjoys photographing her girls at soccer games, Giants baseball, camping and textile arts.

Support Staff

Nancy Spallino

Administrative Assistant

Nancy has worked for Willow Creek Financial Services since 2003. She has several duties, and in addition to advisor support she serves as the Willow Creek receptionist on Fridays. Prior to working for Willow Creek, she managed the Beauty Connection in Santa Rosa for several years and before that was an administrative office assistant at P.C. Sacchi’s car dealership in Arcata.

Nancy is married and has three children. When she isn’t at one of her children’s soccer, football, baseball, wrestling or basketball games she enjoys spending her time playing soccer, running (slowly), going to her property in Trinity County or just hanging out with family and friends.