Advisory Service

Jeremy Blair - Senior Advisor

Jeremy Blair joined Catalyst Strategic Solutions when it was Southwest Corporate Investment Services in 2007. He worked in the ALM department as a senior ALM analyst until 2009, when he joined the advisory department.

Before joining Strategic Solutions, Jeremy managed liquidity, interest rate, and credit risk for residential loan pools and securitizations of mortgage-backed securities at NationStar Mortgage. Earlier in his career, Jeremy supervised European middle office operations for the EuroArb international hedge fund group.

Jeremy received a bachelor's degree in business administration in finance and a master's degree in business administration in strategic management from the University of North Texas.

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Steven Houle, CFA - Senior Advisor

Steven Houle joined Catalyst Strategic Solutions when it was Southwest Corporate Investment Services' advisory department in 2006 and works with credit union clients on strategic financial and investment management endeavors.

Previously, Steven worked at Concentra Financial, where he was responsible for managing the investment and derivative portfolios of client financial institutions and credit unions in Western Canada. His other key roles included analyzing simulation results and key performance indicators of client credit unions and recommending appropriate strategies while considering the balance sheet positions and the economic environment.

Steven graduated from the University of Regina in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. In January 2006, Steven was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Designation.

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Kay Howard - Investment Operations Specialist

Makebah (Kay) Howard has been with Catalyst Strategic Solutions/Southwest Corporate Investment Services since October 2000. In her current position, she is responsible for managing the securities safekeeping process for credit unions including establishing new accounts and entering securities purchases, sales and transfers into or out of safekeeping.

Prior to joining Strategic Solutions, Kay maintained government institutional accounts and clients for a large life insurance company and served as a customer service representative for a discount brokerage firm.

Kay has a bachelor's degree in government from the University of Texas, a bachelor's degree in information technology from DeVry University, and a master's degree in corporate finance from the University of Dallas. She is a member of the Financial Management Association.

Mike McGinnis - Director of Investment Sales

As the Director/Investment Sales for Catalyst Strategic Solutions, Mike McGinnis coordinates the marketing and sales functions of all Strategic Solutions investment services products. When Mike joined Southwest Corporate Investment Services in 2004, he brought 12 years of investment experience with him, seven of which were in the credit union industry. Throughout his time within the credit union movement, he has served in numerous capacities and maintains relationships with credit unions throughout the nation.

Mike holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Southeastern Louisiana University, a master's degree in accounting from the University of Texas at Dallas, and has both FINRA Series 7 and 63 licenses.

Contact Mike McGinnis

Casey Peterson - Senior Advisor

Casey Peterson has been with the advisory service since July 2000. In his current position with Catalyst Strategic Solutions, Casey assists credit unions with comprehensive financial management, including ALM analysis, investment portfolio analysis and strategic planning.

 Prior to joining Southwest Corporate Investment Services, Casey spent 10 years managing investment portfolios for community banks and a commercial bank holding company.

Casey graduated from Angelo State University in 1991 with a bachelor's degree in business administration in finance. He serves as a member of the board of directors for the North Texas Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Rob Sosebee - Financial Analyst

Rob Sosebee joined Catalyst Strategic Solutions in 2011 as a financial analyst. For the past four years, Rob has worked as a corporate tax accountant, specializing in the valuation and financial reporting of business property, plant and equipment. He graduated from Baylor University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance.

Rob teams with the advisors as a financial analyst in providing investment accounting reporting, analyzing market and industry data, and portfolio simulation.

Brian Turner - Director and Chief Strategist

Brian Turner joined Catalyst Strategic Solutions when it was Southwest Corporate Investment Services in 1999. Brian has two decades of senior financial management experience in the financial services industry. In his position as director of advisory services, Brian manages the daily operations and strategic direction of advisory services and works directly with a number of credit unions on their strategic investment and financial management endeavors. The combined assets of those credit unions are more than $9.5 billion with investment dollars in excess of $3.5 billion.

Before joining Catalyst, Brian was chief financial officer of Empire Financial Corporation, a Dallas-based investment firm, where he directed acquisitions and investment banking activities. Prior to that, he was senior vice president of funds management and investments for the Central Bank affiliate of First Commerce Corporation of New Orleans, Louisiana. At Central Bank, Brian directed investments, funds management, and asset/liability management for the $8 billion commercial bank.

Earlier in his career, Brian served as senior vice president - treasurer of Bluebonnet Savings Bank, Dallas, a $3.5 billion thrift association, where he directed investments, funds management, and strategic ALM. At Bluebonnet, Brian worked to combine 11 thrifts and assisted in three additional acquisitions to form one of the highest performing financial institutions in the state.

Brian was on the regulatory task force responsible for the development of interest rate risk guidelines utilized in current interest rate risk and investment management for commercial banks, thrifts, and credit unions.

Brian received an undergraduate degree from Oklahoma State University and did his graduate studies at the University of Tulsa. He is a member of the National Financial Manager's Society and a graduate of a number of financial industry and economic institutes. He also is a graduate of the Covey Leadership Institute and is a frequent speaker on various economic and credit union issues.

Zane Wilson - Vice President of Investment Solutions

Zane Wilson joined Catalyst when it was Southwest Corporate in 1988. As the vice president/investment services for Catalyst's subsidiary, Catalyst Strategic Solutions, Zane is responsible for the overall operations of the Investment Services division, which includes the advisory service, asset/liability management services, brokerage services, CD brokerage, and the security custody function of Strategic Solutions. Additionally, Wilson oversees the management of the Investment Sales function in bringing in new accounts for Catalyst and new clients to Strategic Solutions. He is also responsible for product development and pricing.

Zane has more than 20 years of credit union investment experience — he was the first Investment Services advisor when the advisory service was created in 1988. Wilson was responsible for advising members, as well as assisting in the development and execution of Catalyst's investment strategies. Wilson worked as a portfolio manager for Catalyst's various portfolios, while also advising credit unions on their balance sheets, policies, and investment portfolios.

Zane's experience at Catalyst and Strategic Solutions includes creating structured products marketed to credit unions, hedging open structured-product positions, issuing $400 million in commercial paper, and matching funds off with floating-rate asset-backed securities and mortgage-backed securities.

Prior to joining Southwest Corporate, Zane was investment portfolio manager for Nowlin Savings Association. He managed the investment portfolio and served as asset/liability management director.

Zane received bachelor's and master's degrees in finance, both from the University of North Texas. He holds NASD Series 7, 24 and 63 licenses. He teaches funds management and investment classes at the CUNA Southwest Management School.