Investing for you today - and for your family's tomorrows
Putting your financial assets in someone else's hands is never an easy decision; unless those hands are those of Midwest Trust's associates. With more than $8 billion in trust administration, Midwest Trust is committed to providing fiduciary services, including everything from living trusts to estate settlement - all designed to meet your current needs and those of your family for generations to come.

At Midwest Trust, we offer a varied portfolio of trust services to fit a wide array of customer needs. Whether choosing a living trust or one that goes into affect upon death, we help our clients consolidate investments, protect from estate taxes and probate costs, and keep financial matters private. We also work with our clients to ensure they retain as much, or as little, control over their assets as they choose.

Click to learn more about our team

BRADLEY BERGMAN, President, CEO

EXPERTISE Trust management

EXPERIENCE Founder of Midwest Trust

EDUCATION • BS, Illinois State
• JD, Washburn University

PROFESSIONAL/CIVIC AFFILIATIONS • Certified Financial Planner
• Estate Planning, Society of Kansas City
• Children’s Mercy Hospital, planned giving committee
• Johnson County Community College, “Some Enchanted Evening” chair

CONTACT Email Bradley
(913) 319-0301

BRYAN ALLEE, Vice President, Trust Officer

EXPERTISE Personal trust administration

EXPERIENCE Joined Midwest Trust in 2002, after spending seven years with the Valley View State Bank as their vice president, trust officer, and director of their Personal Trust Services Division.

EDUCATION • BA, William Jewell College, valedictorian
• JD, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law

PROFESSIONAL/CIVIC AFFILIATIONS Musica Vocale, choral ensemble in Kansas City, member

CONTACT Email Bryan
(913) 319-0352

BRAD BEETS, Senior Vice President, Relationship Manager

EXPERTISE Began his career in retirement planning as a record keeper, which, along with his experience in accounting and trusts, has given him the experience, thoroughness, and technical understanding to handle complex plan administration.

EXPERIENCE Joined Midwest Trust in 2000, after serving five years as a vice president with UMB.

EDUCATION BS in Business Administration, University of Kansas

PROFESSIONAL/CIVIC AFFILIATIONS • Village Presbyterian Church, elder trustee
• Salvation Army, advisory board member
• Ozanam Guild, treasurer

CONTACT Email Brad
(913)319-0325

SHELLIE BILLAU, Vice President, Trust Officer

EXPERTISE Personal trust administration

EXPERIENCE Joined Midwest Trust in 1993, after working with US Bank and UMB. All told, Billau holds more than 30 years of personal trust experience.

EDUCATION • Marymount College
• KBA-NBA School of Trust & Financial Planning

PROFESSIONAL/CIVIC AFFILIATIONS • Operation Breakthrough, auction committee member and volunteer
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City, planned giving committee board member
• Alzheimer’s Association, team member and volunteer

CONTACT Email Shellie
(913) 319-0319

DANA BLACKMON, Vice President, Trust Officer

EXPERTISE Personal trust administration

EXPERIENCE 36 years in the trust and investment management business. Prior to joining Midwest Trust, served clients with U.S. Bank for 17 years. She was also the principal of a privately owned trust company and registered investment advisory firm for 12 years.

PROFESSIONAL/CIVIC AFFILIATIONS • Estate Planning Society of Kansas City, member
• The Central Exchange, member

CONTACT Email Dana
(913) 319-0303

ANDREW BROWNE, CFTA, CFP^®, Vice President, Personal Trust Officer

EXPERTISE Specializes in personal trust and IRA administration

EXPERIENCE Brings 25 years of trust experience to his clients, earned as senior vice president at Bank of America and, since 1999, at Midwest Trust.

EDUCATION BS in Business Administration, University of Kansas

PROFESSIONAL/CIVIC AFFILIATIONS • Volunteer Center of Johnson County, former board member
• Leukemia Society, former golf committee member
• Heart Association of Kansas City, former golf committee member

CONTACT Email Andrew
(816) 329-1595

KURT CLAUSING, Vice President, Trust Officer

EXPERTISE Developed an extensive knowledge of oil and gas law, real estate, probate, and trusts through his work as a practicing attorney and a trust officer.

EXPERIENCE Started in the trust industry in 1996 with UMB, after serving as partner at Hoke and Clausing law firm in Wichita, Kansas, and as in-house counsel for Continental Energy in Garden City, Kansas. He joined Midwest Trust in 2005.

EDUCATION • BA, University of Kansas
• JD, Washburn University
• Cannon Trust School

PROFESSIONAL/CIVIC AFFILIATIONS Estate Planning Society

CONTACT Email Kurt
(913) 319-0386

DEBBIE CORCORAN, Vice President, Trust Officer

EXPERTISE Personal trust administration

EXPERIENCE Joined Midwest Trust in 2006, after serving as a trust officer with Gold Trust (now M&I Wealth Management) and UMB Trust Investments. Debbie has extensive background in retirement planning and IRAs.

EDUCATION BS in Human Resources Management, Friends University

CONTACT Email Debbie
(816) 329-1554

MARK DRAKE, Vice President, Trust Officer

EXPERTISE Personal trust administration

EXPERIENCE Joined Midwest Trust in 1999, after serving for 11 years as a vice president and trust officer at Bank of America.

EDUCATION • BS in Journalism, University of Missouri-Columbia
• JD, University of Missouri-Kansas City
• ABA National Trust School

PROFESSIONAL/CIVIC AFFILIATIONS Missouri Bar Association, member

CONTACT Email Mark
(913) 319-0324

PHIL HEFFLEY, CFP^®, Vice President, Trust Officer

EXPERTISE Focuses on business development with skills in financial planning and private client retirement planning.

EXPERIENCE 27 years in the trust and investment management business. Prior to joining Midwest Trust, Phil's experience includes 20 years with U.S. Bank. 15 years as a presenter for Hallmark Cards at quarterly retirement planning seminars.

EDUCATION • BS in Business Administration, University of Kansas
• BS in Mechanical Engineering, University of Kansas

PROFESSIONAL/CIVIC AFFILIATIONS Estate Planning Society of Kansas City
Catholic Charities Foundation-Kansas City and Saint Joseph Missouri, board member
Catholic Charities-Kansas City and Saint Joseph Missouri, investment committee member

CONTACT Email Phil
(913) 319-0317

PATRICIA GROTHOFF, Vice President, Trust Officer

EXPERTISE Personal trust administration

EXPERIENCE Involved with trust departments since 1973

EDUCATION Lincoln University

CONTACT Email Patricia
(913) 319-0354

LANA HARDING, Vice President, Trust Officer

EXPERTISE Specializes in trust and probate administration.

EXPERIENCE Joined Midwest Trust in 2005, after working for more than 20 years in the personal trust department at UMB.

EDUCATION BS in Business Administration, Rockhurst University
Cannon Trust School

PROFESSIONAL/CIVIC AFFILIATIONS Estate Planning Society of Kansas City, member
Children's Mercy Hospital, planned giving committee
Children's Mercy Hospital, Child Life volunteer

CONTACT Email Lana
(913) 319-0349

MELANIE HOLLAND, Vice President, Trust Officer

EXPERTISE Personal trust administration

EXPERIENCE Worked in trust administration for 29 years at US Bank before joining Midwest Trust in 2009.

EDUCATION A.A., Johnson County Community College

CONTACT Email Melanie
(913) 319-0382

DANIEL LANG, Executive Vice President, Trust Officer

EXPERTISE Specializes in personal trust administration, fiduciary taxation, real estate management, and corporate structures within trust.

EXPERIENCE Joined Midwest Trust in 1988, after serving as vice president with NationsBank and Commerce Bank and as a customer service representative with Kansas City Life Insurance Company.

EDUCATION • BS, Business Administration, University of Colorado
• MBA, University of Missouri-Kansas City

PROFESSIONAL/CIVIC AFFILIATIONS Planned Gift Council of Children’s Mercy Hospital, board member

CONTACT Email Daniel
(816) 329-1594

CHUCK MIKKELSEN, Vice President, Trust Officer

EXPERTISE Specializes in personal trust administration and tax planning.

EXPERIENCE Joined Midwest Trust in 2005, after serving a sum total of nearly 25 years as vice president and trust officer at Community Bank, Citizen Bank & Trust, and First Trust & Savings Bank.

EDUCATION BS in Business Administration, MA in Economics, JD, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

PROFESSIONAL/CIVIC AFFILIATIONS Mensa International, member

CONTACT Email Chuck
(913) 319-0353

JEANINE MORTON, CFTA, Vice President, Trust Administrator

EXPERTISE Carries broad experience in banking, auditing, regulatory compliance, trust operation, and personal trust administration.

EXPERIENCE Joined Midwest Trust in 2001, after serving in various roles at First National Bank of Olathe and Lawrence National Bank. Jeanine is a certified trust and financial planner with more than 20 years of experience.

EDUCATION • BS in Education, with highest distinction, University of Kansas
• AIB Foundations of Banking Degree, Cannon Financial Institute

PROFESSIONAL/CIVIC AFFILIATIONS • Gateway West, LLC, treasurer
• Douglas County Estate Planning Council, member
• Lawrence Civic Choir, past board member and treasurer

CONTACT Email Jeanine
(913) 791-9137

JAMES O'SULLIVAN, President, Valley View Financial Group Trust Company

EXPERTISE Trust and estate planning

EXPERIENCE Has more than 20 years’ experience in trust and estate business.

EDUCATION • BA, University of Missouri, Columbia
• JD, University of Kansas

PROFESSIONAL/CIVIC AFFILIATIONS • Appointed to the Kansas State Banking Board as chairman (2008 & 2010) by Governer Kathleen Sebelius
• Kansas and Missouri Bar Associations

CONTACT Email James
(913) 319-0351

CAROLYN RIGSBY, CFP^®, Vice President, Trust Officer

EXPERTISE Specializes in personal trust, corporate trust, and operations.

EXPERIENCE Has more than 20 years of experience in trusts and financial planning, first with First City Bank of Corpus Christi and later US Bank and First Financial Trust Company in Albuquerque. Carolyn joined Midwest Trust in 1995.

EDUCATION Emporia State University

CONTACT Email Carolyn
(913) 319-0306

EILEEN SULLIVAN, Vice President, Trust Officer

EXPERTISE Personal trust administration

EXPERIENCE Joined Midwest Trust in 2004, after a distinguished career in estate planning and trusts with EBK Trust Company, Overland Park State Bank, and Boatman’s Bank. Eileen is a certified employer benefit specialist

EDUCATION • BA, Trinity College, Washington, D.C.
• JD, University of Missouri School of Law
• Certified Employer Benefit Specialist (CEBS)

PROFESSIONAL/CIVIC AFFILIATIONS • Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas City, member
• Rockhurst University, honorary director
• Estate Planning Society of Kansas City, member
• Estate Planning Symposium Committee, board member
• Missouri Bar Association, member


CONTACT Email Eileen
(913) 319-0327

DAVID YOST, Executive Vice President, Personal Trust Manager

EXPERTISE Trust management

EXPERIENCE Joined Midwest Trust in 2007, bringing with him 18 years experience in trust and investment strategies at Bank of America.

EDUCATION BA, JD, University of Missouri-Kansas City

PROFESSIONAL/CIVIC AFFILIATIONS • University of Missouri-Kansas City, trustee
• University of Missouri-Kansas City Athletic Foundation, chair
• Synergy, board member
• Northland Alternative Services Program, board member

CONTACT Email David
(913) 319-0367