Delaware Financial Educators Council: About, Mission, Advisory Board
The Delaware Financial Educators Council℠ is committed to helping people across the state gain access to financial education programming that helps them work toward financial wellness. To this end, we provide complimentary resources, advocacy campaigns, and local personal support to build scalable financial wellness initiatives.
The mission of the Delaware Financial Educators Council℠ is to build sustainable, scalable economic empowerment programs that have a real impact on people’s lives at the community level.
Delaware & Regional Advisory Board
The Delaware Financial Educators Council Advisory Board members come from diverse backgrounds, yet share one similar goal – to help push the financial wellness movement forward. Board members serve in a variety of roles to support the Leadership Team to develop leading educational resources, expand our business, and create positive social change.
Founding Members
Autumn Green
Founder of My Stewardship Journey
Matthew Mellett
Personal Finance Educator and Author
Amy Faber
Vice President and Treasurer Duquesne University
Mideast Regional Advisory Board Members
Robert Kinzer
Retired Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Community Affairs
Andrew Lendnal
Financial Wellness Expert, Banking and Financial Services Executive, Bestselling Author and Speaker
Ramona Jones
Financial Planner, Chesterfield County, VA
Donna Cirillo
Founder, Smart Money Changes Everything, MBA, APFI℠, CFEI®
Dr. Mario DiFiore
Dr., Professor, and Senior Assistant Dean at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business
State Chapter Details & Affiliation with National Council
The Delaware Financial Educators Council℠ is a chapter of the National Financial Educators Council®. The National chapter is well-qualified to support our initiatives here across the state of Delaware. They bring:
Accreditation
As an IACET Accredited Provider, the NFEC offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard.
Social Impact
As a Certified B Corporation, the NFEC meets the highest standards for socially responsible commerce, using the power of business to build more sustainable economies.
Standards
The NFEC set industry standards for the financial education industry and materials are developed with the highest educational outcomes in mind.
Autumn Green
Founder of My Stewardship Journey
Autumn Green, founder of financial leadership organization My Stewardship Journey, holds two Masters degrees: a Masters of Teaching and Secondary Education from Relay Graduate School of Education (2017) and a Masters of Education from Wilmington University (2015). Green also is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs Black in Business Program, a Jobs for the Future Innovative Finance Semi-Finalist, and a member of the Pete DuPont Freedom Foundation E3 Program. Her past experience includes teaching Mathematics in charter schools, Assistant Professor and Director of Residency for Relay Graduate School of Education, and leadership coaching for college students with Braven.
Autumn Green founded My Stewardship Journey, a financial leadership development company for early- to mid-career professionals, in 2022. Having grown up watching her family lose an inheritance and live paycheck to paycheck, Autumn began her own financial journey with a negative net worth. In less than seven years, she grew her net worth by over half a million dollars – not just by earning more, but by developing the financial leadership skills she now teaches others. Drawing on a decade-long career in education leadership and adult learning, Autumn is inspired by the legacy of her grandmother – whose efforts to build generational wealth were never realized. Today she empowers clients to cultivate healthier relationships with money, combining financial knowledge with engaging, educational methods to help them achieve their economic goals and increase their net worths.
Autumn Green subscribes to the belief that people don’t need more workshops or financial literacy – they need better systems. In other words, she says, learning about money is not the same as learning how you work with money. Her mission is to help early to mid-career professionals lead and build personal finance systems for their lives, so life doesn’t steal their future.
Matthew Mellett
Personal Finance Educator and Author
Matthew Mellett is a Personal Finance Educator and Author with extensive knowledge and experience in financial education, curriculum development, and one-on-one coaching. He holds a BS in Engineering from Lehigh University; an MS in Personal Financial Planning from The College for Financial Planning; and a graduate Certificate in Principles of Finance from Harvard University. He is credentialed as a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and Chartered Life Underwriter through The American College of Financial Services. On the volunteer side, Mellett has been involved as a Subject Matter Expert for the National Financial Educators Council’s United for Financial Literacy Advocacy Committee since 2026. He also has donated time to the First Command Educational Foundation and the University of Chicago Financial Education Initiative.
Matthew is author of several personal finance books, including Go Simple: The Playbook to Financial Security, Dog Ear Publishing, 2013; Capture Your Wealth, Dog Ear Publishing, 2015; and Grow Your Money Protect Your Wealth, Luminare Press, 2024. He was presented with the Admiral William F. Halsey Award for Leadership by the U.S. Navy. Both The Authors Show and local cable TV have featured Mellett talking about his books and the growing need for personal finance education across the nation.
In 2013 Matthew Mellett founded his current enterprise, The Saucon Creek Institute for Financial Literacy. This organization has a stated mission to increase people’s knowledge of personal finance concepts and improve personal finance decision-making. They work toward that goal through research, collaboration, curriculum development, and tailored one-on-one coaching. Matthew’s primary focus at the institute is engaging with young workers who are beginning their financial journeys, providing them with tools and knowledge to build strong foundations that support their futures.
As a member of the DFEC Advisory Board, Matthew Mellett plans to apply his passion and extensive knowledge of personal finance to improve financial curricula serving students in Delaware and across the U.S.
Amy Faber
Vice President and Treasurer Duquesne University
Amy Faber joined Duquesne University in 2016 as the University’s first-ever Treasurer. In her current role at Duquesne, Associate Vice President and Treasurer, Ms. Faber is responsible for banking relationships, cash management, investments, debt, treasury and merchant services, including PCI DSS compliance. Prior to joining Duquesne, she worked from 2005-2016 at Carnegie Mellon University in various roles, including Assistant Treasurer.
Amy oversees the Shared Services and Auxiliary Services functions of the University. She also supports the Budget Committee, Retirement Committee, Audit and Finance Committee, and Investment Committee of the Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Carlow University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in accounting with a minor in business administration. In addition to earning her Certified Treasury Professional designation in 2010, Ms. Faber also completed the Institute for Educational Management course at the Harvard Institutes for Higher Education in 2019 and at the Carnegie Mellon Leadership Academy in 2010.
Robert Kinzer
Retired Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Community Affairs
Robert Kinzer retired from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in 2017 after 31 years of service. He served as a Senior Community Affairs Specialist for the FDIC in his final two years. He traveled throughout the United States teaching and promoting financial education and economic inclusion to state legislators, education administrators, teachers, and consumers. The majority of Mr. Kinzer’s years at the FDIC were served as a Senior Financial Management Analyst, in which role he produced the corporation’s monthly and quarterly financials to be distributed to the FDIC Chairman and Board, Executives and Managers, Congress, and the public.
Mr. Kinzer has received the FDIC Chairman’s Nancy K. Rector Award for public service. He is a Senior Fellow with the Partnership for Public Service and a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Mr. Kinzer is a native of Washington, D.C. and a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School. He attended Penn State University and Texas A&I University, and received his undergraduate degree in Sociology and Anthropology from the University of the District of Columbia. After attending college, Mr. Kinzer played professional basketball in England and Scotland for five years.
Andrew Lendnal
Financial Wellness Expert, Banking and Financial Services Executive, Bestselling Author and Speaker
Hailing from New Zealand, Financial Wellness Expert, Banking and Financial Services Executive Andrew Lendnal has made Washington D.C. his home, where he lives with his wife and three daughters. A distinguished alumnus, Andrew holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Science from Victoria University of Wellington, as well as an MBA from Massey University. Alongside these academic accolades, he also attained the Series 7 and Series 63 financial certifications. With over two decades in the industry, Advisory Board Member Andrew Lendnal has made an indelible mark in the financial wellness arena. More than just a financial expert, he’s fervently passionate about guiding individuals toward financial stability and independence. Holding the Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI®) designation through the NFEC, Andrew’s dedication has positioned him at the forefront of the workplace financial wellness movement and its related communities.
Bestselling Author and Speaker for Financial Wellness: Andrew Lendnal
Andrew Lendnal is an internationally bestselling author who has written seven books simplifying intricate financial concepts for readers of all backgrounds. Titles such as ‘Gold Start’, ‘Budget Wise Dollar Rich’, and ‘Catalyst’ have received global recognition. Moreover, his children’s series, ‘Money $mart’, paves the way for the financial literacy of future generations. Beyond Australasia, Andrew’s influence in the media landscape has expanded, with regular appearances on ‘Good Morning’ and authorship of authoritative columns cementing his reputation as a trusted financial voice in the U.S.
Recognized worldwide as a compelling speaker, Andrew skillfully blends education with engagement, captivating the attention of audiences globally. While serving pivotal roles in esteemed firms like Morgan Stanley, KeyCorp, and Morningstar Inc., Andrew has meticulously devised and navigated financial wellness strategies that resonate with employees predominantly at Fortune 500 companies. In 2020, his significant contributions were spotlighted when a New York Times journalist named him one of the top five leaders championing financial wellness in the workplace. Andrew remains committed to his mission: guiding the path toward financial enlightenment and empowerment.
Ramona Jones
Financial Planner, Chesterfield County, VA
Ramona Jones is a U.S. Navy Veteran who retired after 21 years of dedicated service. She earned a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and a Master’s in Healthcare Management from American InterContinental University; a Certificate in Financial Planning from Liberty University; and Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute. Jones is a “How Money Works” Educator through “Wealthwave”; a licensed insurance agent for the states of VA, FL, SC, and GA; and a Notary Official for the state of Virginia.
Ramona’s over two-decade career gave her a deep understanding of financial systems through business relationships with the three credit bureaus, management of million-dollar budgets, facilitating various financial consortiums, and developing financial management processes for several agencies. In 2023 she founded Jeunibe Financial Advisory, an enterprise specializing in holistic planning strategies and tailored financial solutions that guide individuals and their families toward financial independence.
Participating on the VFEC Advisory Board helps Ramona Jones advance her passion for helping others – particularly as they strive to build financial confidence, establish financial security, and achieve their financial goals. She has worked with individuals and families from all backgrounds and appreciates the unique challenges faced by underserved communities who lack appropriate financial education resources. Jones places high value on the power of financial literacy and the impact it can have to improve people’s lives.
Donna Cirillo
Founder, Smart Money Changes Everything, MBA, APFI℠, CFEI®
With a strong financial services management foundation, Advisory Board Member Donna Cirillo has transitioned from her former professional and educational background to delivering top-quality, customized, engaging, and high-impact financial education programming and content. As a Financial Services Professional turned Financial Educator, Donna is committed to empowering individuals with the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to take control of their financial futures.
As founder of her financial education website and blog, Smart Money Changes Everything, Donna is dedicated to inspiring, motivating, and transforming financial lives. She has earned credentials from the National Financial Educators Council as an Accredited Personal Finance Instructor (APFI℠), Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI®), and Certified Financial Literacy Professional (CFLP℠). These qualifications, along with her previous top-level experience in bank management and training, uniquely position Donna as a key contributing member of the New York Financial Educators Council Advisory Board.
Teaching, Inspiring, and Motivating Learners toward Financial Wellness
After earning her B.S. in Finance from St. John’s University, New York, Donna entered a Management Training Program at the prestigious wealth management bank, U.S. Trust. She later assumed Bank Officer management and training roles at U.S. Trust and J.P. Morgan Chase while pursuing her MBA. During this time, she recognized a pressing need for financial literacy, particularly evident among bank customers and employees. Driven by a passion for bridging this knowledge gap, Donna spearheaded comprehensive financial product and concept training initiatives, significantly enhancing the capabilities of the call center department to successfully handle over one million inbound calls annually. The training not only elevated the department’s level of service, but also made profound transformations in the employees’ professional and personal lives. Motivated by the training’s success, Donna pursued accreditation as a financial educator from the National Financial Educators Council, earning her Accredited Personal Finance Instructor (APFI℠), Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI®), and Certified Financial Literacy Professional (CFLP℠) credentials.
Donna has designed and delivered customized financial education for diverse audiences, including corporate employees, recent graduates, young women transitioning out of foster care, college-bound high school girls, and those navigating significant life changes like divorce or widowhood. Demonstrating her commitment to promoting financial literacy from an early age, Donna has delivered financial education to public and parochial elementary and middle school students in the New York City area, both independently and in collaboration with Junior Achievement. Additionally, Donna currently serves her community as a member of the Board of Trustees of a parochial academy in Queens, New York.
Donna believes financial education is so much more than solely providing financial knowledge. With the right instruction, inspiration, and motivation, learners can make positive behavior changes and improve their financial mindset to gain the confidence, personal growth, direction, and resiliency they need for financial transformation.
Dr. Mario DiFiore
Dr., Professor, and Senior Assistant Dean at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business
Advisory Board Member Mario J. DiFiore, PhD – professor, dean, journalist, and consultant – is Senior Assistant Dean and Director at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business in New York. A member of the Finance and Business Economics faculty since 2001, Dr. DiFiore serves as Chairman of the Investment Committee of the ESG Student Management Investment Fund, an experiential learning opportunity for students in the graduate division to manage approximately 1,000,000 of the University’s Endowment.
A five-time award winner for teaching excellence and innovation, Dr. DiFiore leads the Gabelli School’s financial wellness initiatives. He also serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Financial Compliance, an internationally peer-reviewed journal devoted to best practices in the field of compliance. DiFiore’s rich career and experiential background underlies his contributions to the New York Financial Educators Council’s Advisory Board.
Global Proficiency in Financial Research, Monetary Policy, and Macroeconomics: Mario J. DiFiore
Dr. DiFiore has had an extensive career on Wall Street and in the banking industry. Prior to joining Fordham, Dr. DiFiore was Global Head of Compliance Training at Deutsche Bank AG for nearly 10 years; Deputy Director of the Ten Squared LLP hedge fund in Greenwich, CT; Global Head of Continuing Education at Prudential Securities; and Assistant Director of New York University’s (NYU) Finance Division in the School of Professional and Continuing Studies.
Dr. DiFiore began his career at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York where he worked for about a dozen years in the research and statistics, international affairs, and public information areas. In fact, as the Fed’s Senior Representative for International Relations, Dr. DiFiore regularly met with and discussed issues relating to monetary policy, macroeconomics, and Fed policy with central bankers from across the globe. Dr. DiFiore ended his Federal Reserve career as Assistant Director of Public Information, where he led the group responsible for all financial and economic data releases for the weekly Fed press conferences.
Dr. DiFiore also serves as an international consultant, providing extensive training and consulting in financial compliance, economics, financial markets, and other areas in the finance and economics sphere. He has taught in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and North and South America. He holds a BA, summa cum laude, in Economics from Fordham University; an MBA also from Fordham; and a PhD in Financial Economics from the NEOMA Business School in Paris, France.