Seattle Finance Collective

jamie wagner

board Chair

Jamie Wagner is an Associate at Goldman Sachs in Seattle. Working in Private Wealth Management, Jamie and her team specialize in creating comprehensive wealth management plans for ultra-high net worth individuals and families, as well as select institutions, including foundations and endowments.

A native to the Pacific Northwest, Jamie graduated cum laude from the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business with a double concentration in Finance and Information Systems.

Jamie lives in downtown Seattle and outside of work can be found frequenting Pike Place Market and Olympic Sculpture Park.

Zane Carmean

Treasurer & Finance CO-Chair

Zane Carmean’s focus is on quantitative research and data analysis in the private markets. In his capacity as Lead Quantitative Research Analyst within PitchBook’s Institutional Research Group, he oversees a team of analysts developing new tools for PitchBook clients and authoring research reports covering broad topics across private markets. He helped in launching PitchBook’s Quantitative Perspectives series, a report-style that provides a fully data-driven narrative of the current and future state of private markets. He also built PitchBook’s proprietary limited partner portfolio forecasting tools, helping institutional investors manage their capital allocation decisions.

Prior to PitchBook, he was a Senior Associate on the Strategic Research team at Green Street Advisors where he conducted much of the research and analytics behind the firm’s macro-themed reports in the commercial real estate industry. Zane has a master’s in finance from Bocconi University and bachelor’s degrees in finance and economics from Loyola University Chicago.

Robin ARNOLD

FINANCE co-Chair

Robin Arnold is a Director in the Transaction Advisory Services practice at RSM, where he specializes in providing business and financial due diligence support to private equity and strategic buyers and sellers. With over a decade of experience, Robin has a deep background in mergers and acquisitions and financial analysis. Before joining RSM, he worked at EY within both the Strategy & Transactions and Assurance practices across New York, Chicago, and Seattle.

Robin earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Business Administration from the University of Southern California. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in both California and Washington.

Outside of work, Robin enjoys spending time with his family in the mountains, engaging in activities such as mountain biking, hiking, and snowboarding.

Joshua Chao

Governance co-Chair

Joshua Chao is a Senior Associate, Life Sciences at The Forest Road Company, where he is responsible for conducting due diligence, driving deal flow, and performing portfolio management for the firm’s flagship life sciences venture investing platform. Forest Road is a next-generation merchant bank that operates investment and advisory platforms while also being an active investor on a principal basis.

Prior to joining Forest Road, he was a Senior Associate at SVB Capital’s Arterial Life Sciences Fund, the venture arm of Silicon Valley Bank. Previous roles include research and investment advisory roles at PitchBook, Blackstone LaunchPad, and Flagship Pioneering.

Joshua holds a B.S.E. in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering and a Ph.D. in Regenerative Medicine from the National University of Ireland, Galway. Performed in conjunction with cell therapy startup Orbsen Therapeutics, his doctoral dissertation focused on the role of fibroblast activation protein-selected stromal cells in the context of limb ischemia and muscle cachexia.

Edward Gay

Secretary & Governance co-Chair

Edward R. Gay is a Commercial Relationship Manager with Washington Federal Bank. A graduate of Eastern Michigan University, Edward currently lives in Central District Seattle and has lived in Seattle since 2009. At WaFd, he works with Middle Market sized businesses as a C&I lender, and manages credit and treasury relationships for the greater Puget Sound.

Outside of his professional career, Edward is on the Board of Directors of the Pike Place Market Foundation, where he works on development and donor engagement. Previously, Edward was the president of The Arc of King County’s board of directors for two years, and a board member and officer for nine. The Arc of King County is the regional chapter of a national organization (The Arc) that supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, advocating with and for I/DD civil rights and providing community support. He is also a graduate of Leadership Tomorrow Seattle (2017), and member of The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle as well as the Association for Corporate Growth. In his spare time, Edward enjoys running, hosting events, college football, and is a film aficionado.

Ces Espiritu

Programming & Partnerships co-Chair

Ces Espiritu is a seasoned finance professional with more than a decade of experience. She currently works as an Account Executive at Tableau + Salesforce, where she sells technology solutions to Large Commercial Banks and Lenders. She has a strong background in financial data from her prior roles developing new business for PitchBook and working with Asset Managers, Investment Banks, and Exchanges for Russell Indexes. Ces began her career at Parametric Portfolio Associates.

Ces serves as the Board Treasurer of Dress for Success Seattle, and is part of the Investment Committee of YWCA – Seattle/King/Snohomish. She was awarded the 2019 Puget Sound Journal Women of Influence Scholarship. Ces completed both her degrees (Finance and MBA) from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington.

She enjoys visiting art museums, watching ballet and theater productions, learning new recipes, and spending time with her young daughter.

Ryan Flores

Membership Co-Chair

Ryan Flores is the Vice President and Regional Executive for U.S. Bank’s Capital Equipment Finance group which serves clients in the Commercial and Corporate space. Specializing in Aircraft, Marine, and Technology assets, Ryan oversees all Equipment Finance and Lease activity for Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Hawaii, Alaska, and Canada.

Prior to joining U.S. Bank, Ryan served as the Vice President and Commercial Banking Equipment Finance Officer for KeyBank’s Middle Market teams in Seattle, Portland, and Cleveland. Ryan holds his MBA from Louisiana State University and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Marketing from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Ryan is a Colorado native but has called Seattle his home for the past 10 years. He currently serves as Secretary of the Board for Washington DECA, a non-profit which supports ongoing education for High School Students. He serves on the Leadership Committee for ACG’s Y-20 Program and a member of the Seattle Finance Collective. Ryan is also a Mentor for his alma mater, the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business, and a CrossFit Coach at a local affiliate.

Anthony Clay

Fundraising CO-Chair

Anthony Clay is an Associate at Freestone Capital, an independent wealth management firm headquartered in Seattle. Anthony and his team provide their clients with a personalized experience to manage the complexities of their wealth and help them achieve their financial goals. A graduate of the University of Washington, he developed a passion for advising clients during his time spent as an analyst within the UW Investment Group.

Prior to his career in wealth management, Anthony served seven years in the U.S. Navy where he was promoted to the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class. During enlistment, he maintained and repaired the avionics systems of the E2-D Advanced Hawkeye and the SH-60 Seahawk. Anthony was based out of San Diego, CA, and Norfolk, VA where he deployed to the Mediterranean Sea, the Middle East, the Atlantic Ocean, and north of the Arctic Circle.

Originally from California, Anthony has called Seattle home since 2019 and currently resides in Ballard while working Downtown. In his spare time, he enjoys sipping on craft cocktails, setting personal records at his local gym, and exploring the greater outdoors of the Pacific Northwest.

CARA LEWALLEN

FUNDRAISING CO-Chair

Cara Lewallen is a Director of Business Development at Connor Group, a specialized professional services firm that assists financial executives with their most complex and significant matters, including financial accounting and operations, IPO and M&A services, digital solutions, and managed services. In her role, Cara connects with the local business community and ecosystem partners to expand Connor Group's brand and network in the Pacific Northwest.

Originally from California, Cara moved to Texas for college, attending Trinity University. Shortly after graduation, she began her career with UPS in San Antonio, holding various roles in Marketing and Business Planning. Over the years, she relocated to Dallas and ultimately Seattle with the company. After leaving UPS, Cara pivoted to the professional services industry, joining EY, where she ran the local Entrepreneur Of The Year program and supported Partners in go-to-market activities.

On a personal note, Cara lives in Normandy Park with her family and enjoys playing tennis, as well as weekend outings to Woodinville.