FAIRFIELD, IA – August 23, 2024 – Cambridge is pleased to recognize independent financial professionals Judi Griffin, Larry Qvistgaard, and Rocco Scarsella, and home office associates Jason Conner and Cindy Lowe as the 2024 Spirit of Cambridge Award honorees. Each year, Cambridge associates vote to select two associates and three financial professionals they feel truly embody the heart of Cambridge to receive the award. As part of the recognition for their contribution to culture, values, and service, Cambridge makes a donation on their behalf to a charity of their choice.

Financial Professional Recipients

Judi Griffin is CEO of Griffin Financial Services Group, located in Clayton, Missouri. She has been with Cambridge for 13 years and has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Griffin selected the St. Louis Zoo – Camp KangaZoo scholarship program as her charity of choice. The St. Louis Zoo – Camp KangaZoo is dedicated to bringing wildlife and people together by offering free admission to the public, allowing everyone the opportunity to experience the wonder of its exhibits. 

Cambridge and Griffin Financial Services Group are not affiliated.

Larry Qvistgaard is President and Chief Operating Officer of Duncan Advisor Resources, located in Irwin, Pennsylvania. He has been with Cambridge for 11 years and has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. Qvistgaard selected the Dementia Society of America as his charity of choice. Dementia Society of America provides programs that bring education, local resources, and life enrichment to individuals and families impacted by dementia.

Cambridge and Duncan Advisor Resources and its subsidiaries are separate entities.

Rocco Scarsella is President and Founder of Retirement & Wealth Strategies, located in Farmington Hills, Michigan. He has been with Cambridge for 16 years and has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. Scarsella selected the Institute of Gerontology at Wayne State University as his charity of choice. The Institute of Gerontology at Wayne State University focuses on research, advanced pre-doctoral and post-doctoral student training, community outreach, and continuing education for health care providers.

Cambridge and Retirement and Wealth Strategies are not affiliated. 

Associate Recipients

Jason Conner is Senior Director of Specialized Services and has been with Cambridge for 10 years. Conner selected the Husome Strong Foundation as his charity of choice. Headquartered in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the Husome Strong Foundation is committed to helping the amputee community through peer support, education, advocacy and financial assistance.

Cindy Lowe is Director, Executive Board Liaison and has been with Cambridge for 25 years. Lowe selected the Fairfield Public Library Foundation as her charity of choice. Located in Fairfield, Iowa, the mission of the Fairfield Public Library Foundation is to provide access to programs, materials and resources that celebrate diversity, stimulate the imagination and encourage lifelong learning.

About Cambridge
Cambridge is a financial solutions firm focused on serving independent financial professionals and their clients while preserving its internal control. Cambridge offers a broad range of choices for independent financial professionals regarding solutions for advice, growth, technology, and independence. Cambridge’s national reach includes: Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. – a large corporate RIA; and Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. – an independent broker-dealer, member FINRA/SIPC, that is among the largest internally controlled independent broker-dealers in the country. Learn more at JoinCambridge.com.

Contact: Jeff Wulf, Senior Vice President, Cambridge: jeff.wulf@cir2.com or 800-777-6080

About the Spirit of Cambridge Award

The Spirit of Cambridge Award is given annually to independent financial professionals and associates who are dedicated to service while reflecting Cambridge’s core values of integrity, commitment, flexibility, and kindness. Each year, Cambridge home office associates select three financial professionals and two associates from a pool of outstanding candidates who have been affiliated with Cambridge for at least 10 years. The awards are presented during Ignite, Cambridge’s annual national conference, along with a donation by Cambridge to a qualified charity of each recipient’s choice to further honor their spirit and dedication to their clients, Cambridge, and the industry.

The Spirit of Cambridge awards began in 2012 to recognize quality financial professionals reflecting the Cambridge spirit, and thousands of dollars have been donated in their honor to charities across the country. Given their dedication to their clients, Cambridge, and the financial services industry, this is a well-deserved award for each honoree. Spirit of Cambridge honorees to date include:

2023 Spirit of Cambridge honorees: Kay Black, Morae Metcalf, Regina Quirk, Josh Schwartz, Traci Shughart
2022 Spirit of Cambridge honorees: Kristen Hafner, David Nelson, Jen Schaefer
2021 Spirit of Cambridge honorees: Dawn Baker, John Fenwick, and Kim Gaxiola
2020 Spirit of Cambridge honorees: Denny Gustin-Piazza, Jimmy Williams, and Shane Westhoelter
2019 Spirit of Cambridge honorees: Parker Consaul, Steve James, and Wanda Delgado
2018 Spirit of Cambridge honorees: Kay Knuth, Michael Curtis, and Monte Ferguson
2017 Spirit of Cambridge honorees: David Wheat, Ed Kohlhepp, Jr., and Jim Regitz
2016 Spirit of Cambridge honorees: Ed Kohlhepp, Sr., Ray Castaldi, and Scott Marshall
2015 Spirit of Cambridge honorees: Cheryl Patterson, Mark Mitchell, and Steve Przewlocki
2014 Spirit of Cambridge honorees: John Rathbun, Karl Elsass, and Tom Bode
2013 Spirit of Cambridge honorees: Bryan Kelly, Gerry Steffes, and Tim Shmidl
2012 Spirit of Cambridge honorees: Gary Wargo, Lisa Heath, and Robert Pugliese