NORTHERN VIRGINIA ESTATE PLANNING COUNCIL

Join NVEPC at Season's 52 in Tysons Corner Center on Tuesday, October 28th, from 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM for “Making a Lasting Impact: Client-Centered Charitable Planning.”

This panel discussion will explore how to design charitable giving strategies that reflect each client’s unique values, lived experiences, and vision for impact. Using a case study approach, we will highlight the perspectives of the wealth advisor, estate planning attorney, philanthropic advisor, and client as they work together to shape a comprehensive plan for lifetime and legacy giving.

Participants will learn how to:

• Guide clients in articulating a personal mission and purpose for their philanthropy
• Recognize and address common barriers and bottlenecks in the charitable planning process
• Apply culturally competent strategies to strengthen philanthropic conversations
• Integrate emerging trends with proven planning techniques to maximize client impact

This event is eligible for 1.0 CFP continuing education credit.

Event Parking Information:

We recommend parking in either Garage E and entering the mall near the Coastal Flats sign or parking in the Blue Garage and entering near the Cheesecake Factory sign.  Seasons 52 is located inside the mall across from Coastal Flats and next to Cheesecake Factory.

Panelists:

Ryan Brown, Esq., Arlington Law Group

Since founding Arlington Law Group in 2007, Ryan has worked with a wide array of businesses and individual clients on estate planning, business law and tax planning. Ryan also works with several technology start-up and early stage companies on company governance, private placements of stock and debt, and computer and Internet law.

Ryan has served and continues to serve on the boards of several for-profit and non-profit organizations. Ryan currently serves on the board of the Arlington Virginia Chamber of Commerce, serves on the Advisory Board for the Arlington Corps of the Salvation Army, previously served on the board of the Arlington County Bar Association, and has volunteered for several pro-bono projects in Northern Virginia including Wills for Heroes which provides free wills and estate planning documents to first responders (police, sheriff, fire & paramedics). Ryan regularly gives seminars on estate planning, tax and business law, taught an annual Continuing Legal Education class at George Mason University School of Law for ten years, and occasionally guest lectures at the law school.

Deborah Gandy, Senior Managing Director, Chevy Chase Trust

Deb is responsible for advising clients in the areas of investment management, financial and estate planning, and trust administration. She oversees the delivery of services to clients and coordinates with their legal, accounting and other advisors.

Prior to joining Chevy Chase Trust, Deb was Director and Private Banker at Citi Private Bank. Before that, she was Senior Vice President and Relationship Manager at U.S. Trust Company where she was responsible for business development and client relationship management. Deb has also held positions with Wachovia Bank and Trust and the Royal Bank of Scotland in New York City.

Deb graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She was the prior chair of the board for Lead Virginia and a graduate of the class of 2012. She serves on the board of Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia where she previously served as board chair. She is the past chair of the board of the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce (NVC) and is secretary of the board of the Arlington Community Foundation. She was recently appointed to the board of the VHC Foundation. Deb also serves on the advisory board and the executive committee of the Honors College at George Mason University.

Jennifer Owens, President and CEO, Arlington Community Foundation

Jennifer Owens is President & CEO of the Arlington Community Foundation, a position she assumed in October 2018. Previously, Jenn served as Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer at the Central New York Community Foundation where she held a variety of roles beginning in 2004. Prior to her time in the community foundation field, she spent 7 years on the staff of two private foundations in Washington, DC. 

Jenn holds dual degrees in journalism and political science from American University, a Master of Arts in Strategic Communication and Leadership from Seton Hall University, and a master’s certificate in historic preservation from Goucher College. She has also completed the American College’s Chartered Advisor of Philanthropy certification program and is a certified Legacy Navigator through Celebrations of Life. Jenn actively volunteered and served as co-chair of the finance committee and co-chair of the inaugural ball for the independent mayor elected in 2017 in Syracuse. She is also a 2006 graduate of Leadership Greater Syracuse and has served on a variety of community nonprofit boards of directors. She and her husband reside in Arlington with their two daughters and high-maintenance rescue dog, Steve.  

Moderator:

Christy Cole is the Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer at Arlington Community Foundation. She serves as a trusted partner for donors, professional advisors, and nonprofits. With over 25 years of experience in gift planning and nonprofit fundraising and leadership, she is passionate about connecting resources to important missions and about helping people develop and achieve their philanthropic goals. As a consultant, Christy has advised non-profits on major and planned giving program design and assessment, campaign strategy and implementation, and board development. Christy previously served as the Director of Planned Giving for the United States Naval Academy Foundation and as the Associate Director for Planned Giving and Major Gifts for the AAUW Educational Foundation. She started her career as a trust officer managing relationships with foundation and endowment clients. Christy is active in non-profit leadership serving on the board of Doorways for Women and Families and as the chair of Aspire Afterschool learning’s Board Emeritus. Christy lives in Arlington, Virginia, with her husband, Don, and their three children.

Event sponsors, MAI Capital Management and Arlington Community Foundation.

NVEPC Annual Sponsor: Commonwealth Savers

Registration for this event will close at noon (12PM) ET on Friday, October 24, 2025. 

REQUEST: Should you need to cancel your registration, please email nvepc@ascent-management.com before registration closes.  NVEPC provides food and beverages at events based on registration numbers.  In order to keep costs down for our members, we request that you cancel your registration if you find you are unable to attend.

Registration fees are non-refundable.