Our People

John J. Ryan, Jr. is the President of CISA Trust and has worked for the company since 1993. He has nearly 30 years of experience in advising families on the use of trusts in international estate planning.

He attended Milfield School (1976), obtained a BA from Indiana University (1981), a JD from Pepperdine University (1984), and an LL.M. from Georgetown University (1989). He is an attorney at law admitted in New York and Florida. John was peer-selected to appear in the ALM/Legal Week Private Client Global Elite Directory 2022-2023.

John speaks fluent English, French and Spanish.

J. Rodney Allen has more than 30 years of experience in advising wealthy individuals and their businesses on tax and estate planning and cross-border issues.

Mr. Allen received a BA in English from James Madison University (1979), a JD from the University of Richmond (1985) and an LLM from Oregon University (2011). He is an attorney at law and a member of the Texas Bar.

Edward Lavelle is an experienced trust practitioner, having worked in the industry for over 20 years during which time he has held senior roles internationally in both bank owned and independent trust companies.

Edward is a graduate of the University of Birmingham where he took Law with Business Studies (LLB Hons), a Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP), and is a Committee member of STEP-Geneva.

Alizée Boyer is an experienced trust officer having worked for trust companies in Switzerland for over 10 years.

She received a BA in International Relations from the Institut d’Etudes des Relations Internationales (Paris) and is a graduated TEP (Trust & Estate Practitioner) since 2013.

Alizée speaks fluent English and French and has an intermediate level in Spanish.

Tatiana Altaeva is an experienced trust officer, having worked in international bank and independent trust companies for nearly 20 years.

Tatiana received a Master in Economics from the Saint-Petersburg Mining University, and is a graduated TEP (Trust and Estate Practitioner) since 2007.

Tatiana speaks English, French and Russian.

Karine Burnet is an experienced trust compliance officer having worked for banks and trust companies in Switzerland for nearly 15 years.

She received a Bachelor of law and a post graduate Diploma in law from the University Nice Sophia Antipolis (France) and a Masters Degree in Business Law from Lyon III University (France).

Karine speaks fluent English and French.

Ouafae Ziouani is the Office Manager. She is a graduate of the Ecole de Management des Sciences de l'ingenierie (EMSI), Casablanca, Morocco, and has been with the company for more than 20 years since 1997.

Ouafae speaks English, Spanish, French and Arabic

John J. Ryan, Jr. is the President of CISA Trust and has worked for the company since 1993. He has nearly 30 years of experience in advising families on the use of trusts in international estate planning.

He attended Milfield School (1976), obtained a BA from Indiana University (1981), a JD from Pepperdine University (1984), and an LL.M. from Georgetown University (1989). He is an attorney at law admitted in New York and Florida.

John speaks fluent English, French and Spanish.

Mary A. Akkerman became director of CISA Trust Company (South Dakota) LLC in 2023. She is a partner at Davenport Evans Lawyers in Sioux Falls and practices in estate planning, including dynasty trusts, domestic asset protection trusts, estate and trust administration, guardianships and conservatorships, business and tax planning, estate and gift tax planning, tax appeals, and related litigation. She is skilled at establishing public and private trust companies in South Dakota and regularly works with U.S. and international families and advisors.

Mary is an American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) Fellow. She is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and Sioux Falls Estate Planning Council.

Mary is a graduate of South Dakota State University (B.A., 1994), South Dakota State University (M.A., 1998), and University of South Dakota School of Law (J.D., 2001, with Sterling Honors).

Roy Haberstick joined CISA Trust Company (South Dakota) LLC as a Senior Trust Officer in 2022. He has over 6 years of experience working as a trust officer, administering both foreign and domestic trusts at Trident Trust Company (South Dakota) Inc. and Wells Fargo.

Roy holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Minnesota State University Moorhead (2010), a Juris Doctor degree (JD) from the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law (2015), and the professional designation of Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisory (CTFA) offered by the American Bankers Association (2022).

Roy is a member of the Sioux Falls Estate Planning Committee.

Roy speaks fluent English and Spanish.

Camille Jensen joined CISA Trust Company (South Dakota) LLC in 2018 as a Senior Trust Administrator and became Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in 2021. Camille has many years of trust experience. Before joining CISA Trust, she worked 6 years as a Supervisor in the audit department of a public accounting firm.

Camille received her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting from the University of South Dakota and is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive). She is also a member of the Sioux Falls Estate Planning Council.

Beau Sullivan joined CISA Trust Company (South Dakota) LLC in January 2021 as Trust Administrator. Prior to joining CISA Trust, he was an adjunct at the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law where he taught Critical Legal Skills.

Beau attended the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law and Beacom School of Business where he received his JD and MBA. Beau was an associate editor for the South Dakota Law Review. He is also a member of the South Dakota Trust Association and the Sioux Falls Estate Planning Council. Beau is licensed to practice law in the State of Iowa.

Jose Luis Neri joined CISA LatAm as a Senior Wealth Planning Advisor in 2022. He has over 15 years of experience as an attorney and specializes in international tax planning, both for companies and (U)HNW Latin American families.

Jose Luis obtained a Law Degree from the Universidad de Monterrey, México (2006), a Master of Laws in Taxation from the Universidad de Deusto in Bilbao, Spain (2010), and an LL.M. in International Taxation from the University of Florida (2013).

Jose Luis speaks fluent English and Spanish.

Stefania Spagnolo joined CISA LatAm as an Associate Wealth Planning Advisor in 2022.

She obtained a bachelor of Business Administration from Universidad Nacional del Nordeste (Argentina) and is a Florida certified paralegal with over 10 years of experience in Immigration Law.

Stefania also obtained a Professional Certificate from Google in Project Management.

Stefania speaks fluent English and Spanish.

John J. Ryan, Jr. is the President of CISA Trust and has worked for the company since 1993. He has nearly 30 years of experience in advising families on the use of trusts in international estate planning.

He attended Milfield School (1976), obtained a BA from Indiana University (1981), a JD from Pepperdine University (1984), and an LL.M. from Georgetown University (1989). He is an attorney at law admitted in New York and Florida. John was peer-selected to appear in the ALM/Legal Week Private Client Global Elite Directory 2022-2023.

John speaks fluent English, French and Spanish.

Cecilia Denis joined CISA in 2006 as a Trust Officer in the Swiss office and became Managing Director of CISA Trust Company (BVI) Ltd. in 2015. She is an experienced trust practitioner, having worked in the industry for twenty years in Jersey, Switzerland, and the BVI.

Cecilia has a Master’s Degree in Economics and Social Studies from the University of Nantes, France. She holds STEP’s diploma in International Trust Management and ICA’s international diploma in Governance, Risk and Compliance. Cecilia is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estates Practitioner (TEP) (2008), and a full member of the International Compliance Association (MICA) (2018).

Cecilia speaks fluent French and English.

Kay Reddy became non-executive director of CISA Trust Company (BVI) Ltd in 2022. Kay is an experienced trust practitioner, having worked in the industry for over 35 years during which time she has acted as Director of regulated entities in Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands and Nevis. She moved to the British Virgin Islands in 1987 to work in the audit field and later established Barclays Private Bank and Trust (BVI) Limited. Kay served as Managing Director and Compliance Officer to the Hauteville Group of regulated Trust, Fund and Insurance Management subsidiaries for over 20 years.

Kay is a graduate of Warwick University where she received a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree in Mathematics, Operations Research, Statistics and Economics. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, a Business and Finance Professional and a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (TEP).

Donica Powell joined CISA Trust Company (BVI) Ltd. in 2017 as a Corporate Administrator. She has an experience in the financial service industry of nearly 15 years during which she has been performing company administration duties.

Donica holds a diploma in professional Secretary and Paralegal Studies. She is currently studying to obtain the Certificate and Diploma in International Trust Management from the Society of Trust and Estates Practitioners (STEP).

Albertina Septus joined CISA Trust Company (BVI) Ltd in 2021 as a Corporate Administrator. She has been managing client relationships at various levels over the past 5 years.

Albertina completed her associate degree with double majors in Business Administration and Accounting, along with a Certificate of Achievement in Supervisory Management from the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College in the BVI. She also holds a Diploma in Financial Crime Prevention from the International Compliance Association. Besides being a dedicated professional, she volunteers time to serve the community through the local affiliate of a global civic organization.