The R.K. Schaaf Associates Team

Leslie Kearns
PRESIDENT / CEO / SR. ADMINISTRATOR
Leslie Kearns is a principal for the firm of R.K. Schaaf Associates, Inc., and also serves as its President. As a qualified plan consultant, she has been actively involved in the retirement benefits industry since 1979.

She is a member of several industry related organizations including, The ESOP Association (TEA), the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO), the National Institute of Pension Administrators (NIPA) and the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA). Leslie currently serves as one of the limited number of professionals on TEA’s Administrative Committee.

Leslie speaks frequently on ESOPs and third-party administration issues. She has authored several published articles in local and national newsletters, and also has the honor of authoring a chapter of TEA’s Administration Handbook. Leslie is highly regarded as an expert in ESOP administration.

Wendy Lankes
VICE-PRESIDENT / COO / SR. ADMINISTRATOR
Wendy Lankes is a principal for the firm of R.K. Schaaf Associates, Inc., and also serves as its Vice President. As a qualified plan consultant, she has been actively involved in the retirement benefits industry since 1985.

In addition to being a member of several industry related organizations, Wendy currently serves as a member of the steering committee of the California Chapter of TEA, and as one of the limited number of professionals on TEA’s Administrative Committee. She is also currently the Secretary for the Los Angeles Chapter of NIPA.

Wendy speaks frequently on ESOPs and third-party administration issues. In addition to speaking at employee ownership conferences and seminars on a national level, Wendy also provides employee orientations for clients. She has authored several published articles in local and national newsletters, and is highly regarded as an expert in ESOP administration.

Wendy is also a graduate of the University of Phoenix with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

Deanna Peters
CORPORATE SECRETARY / SR. ADMINISTRATOR
Deanna Peters is a principal for the firm of R.K. Schaaf Associates, Inc., and also serves as its Secretary and Human Resources manager. As a qualified plan consultant, she has been actively involved in the retirement benefits industry since 1991. Deanna’s ESOP knowledge includes the entire life of an ESOP from inception through termination. Over the course of her career, Deanna has assisted clients in all aspects of qualified plans.

Deanna is a member of The ESOP Association (TEA) and the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Institute of Pension Administrators (NIPA). Deanna is also a graduate of California State University, Northridge with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology.

Brandt Brereton
PRINCIPAL / DIRECTOR
Brandt Brereton is a principal for the firm of R.K. Schaaf Associates, Inc. and serves on its Board of Directors. As an investment banker, he has advised on dozens of corporate finance transactions, including ESOP transactions, over the last 25 years.

Brandt heads his own investment bank, Brereton, Hanley & Co., Inc. as well as his valuation firm, ESOP Valuation Group, LLC. He is a FINRA Registered Securities Principal, a Candidate to Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA), a licensed California Real Estate Broker and a member of the American Merger & Acquisition Advisors Association. He is also a graduate of San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business – Finance.

Susan M. Ledingham
SR. ADMINISTRATOR
Susan has been immersed in the qualified plan recordkeeping and consulting industry, focusing primarily on the unique technical aspects of employee stock ownership plans, for over 35 years. Sue’s depth of knowledge starts with the preliminary feasibility analysis necessary to determine whether an ESOP is the right vehicle for an employer, and carries through the entire life of an ESOP, to plan termination and final distributions. Over the course of her career, Sue has also been responsible for training both in-house employees and her clients regarding the working mechanics and technical aspects of qualified plans. She has successfully completed the ASPPA program on 401(k) administration to obtain her QKA designation.

Sue is a long-time member, and past-chair, of The ESOP Association’s Advisory Committee on Administration, a national Committee providing administrative guidance to ESOP companies. She played a significant role in the development, publication and update of The ESOP Association’s ESOP Administration Handbook. Sue also has authored numerous informative articles on ESOP administration for The ESOP Association’s monthly newsletter.

Joyce Nishizawa-Witherspoon
SR. ADMINISTRATOR
Joyce Nishizawa-Witherspoon has been a member of the R.K.Schaaf Associates, Inc. team since 1995. Joyce is considered the forensic specialist of the firm. When new clients come to RKS from another firm, she is an expert at rooting through prior years’ administration, identifying problems and providing solutions for new clients to get and keep their ESOP in compliance.