Meet the seasoned experts dedicated to securing your financial future and building lasting legacies for auto shop owners. Our team, comprised of experienced financial advisors and industry specialists, combines deep industry knowledge with a commitment to personalized service, ensuring every client receives tailored guidance and support. We understand the unique challenges and opportunities within the auto repair sector and are passionate about empowering business owners to achieve their financial goals and realize their long-term vision of success.
Matt DiFrancesco, Owner, is the only Certified Exit Planner™ (CExP™) in the collision industry; currently, there are only 134 CExP™ in the world. Drawing from over three decades of experience working closely with family businesses, Matt has honed his expertise in the financial service industry over 18 years, assisting clients with succession planning and executing successful transitions. Beyond his work, Matt finds joy in various pursuits. He unleashes his creativity by preparing inventive meals and finds relaxation in playing tennis. Giving back to his community is of great importance to Matt, as he volunteers in his parish, supporting Youth Ministry, RCIA, and Financial Counseling initiatives.
Hannah Chalker helps business owners build stronger, more valuable companies through strategic financial and exit planning. As Director of Business Development and Exit Planning Advisor at HighLift Financial, she leads client success and value growth engagements alongside Matt DiFrancesco. A Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) and Certified Value Growth Advisor (CVGA), Hannah brings clarity and structure to every stage of the transition process—helping owners align goals, protect their legacy, and confidently plan their next chapter. When she’s not working with business owners, Hannah enjoys spending time outdoors and staying active. You can often find her on the pickleball court, hiking a local trail, or playing just about any sport that gets her moving. Above all, she loves spending quality time with her family and making the most of life outside the office.
Tyler Allen has been in the Financial Services Industry since 2018. He serves as a Planning and Investment Specialist at Cornerstone Planning Group, focusing on analysis and client implementation strategies.
Tyler earned his Bachelor’s degree in Finance and his Master’s degree in Statistics from Montclair State University.
Out of the office, Tyler loves spending time with his fiancée Wendy and family. Tyler’s passions are food, traveling, and anything sports!
Jessica Kote recently joined the Cornerstone Planning Group team at the beginning of 2024 as a Client Support Specialist. She helps support our clients, serves as the office manager, and also supports the Alpha Team, Cornerstone’s servicing platform for their financial advisors and advisor affiliate teams.
Jessica earned her bachelor’s degrees in business management with a finance concentration from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut.
Out of the office, Jessica will be found in the presence of her friends and family. When she does have to get away, you will find her relaxing on the beach.
Anthony N. DePersio serves as an Advising Support Specialist at Cornerstone Planning Group and brings a unique perspective to his role, blending scientific inquiry with philosophical insight.
Inspired by his father, Anthony P. DePersio, who has dedicated over a decade to helping individuals with their financial planning, Anthony is driven by a dedication to helping others navigate their financial futures. His studies in philosophy have equipped him with a keen understanding of ethics and morals, enabling him to approach client interactions with empathy and discernment.
Anthony values family above all else and strives to integrate his personal values into his professional endeavors. Beyond the office, he enjoys playing basketball and exploring his passion for creative writing.
Laura Gay is the founder of Consolidation Coach, which helps collision center owners obtain the maximum return for their business. In 2024, after realizing the collision space was in dire need of a place to buy, sell or trade all things collision, she developed collisionclassifieds.com. She is also the founder of Collision Consulting of Florida, which provides full in-shop evaluations and services across the U.S. for all aspects of the collision business. her first automotive job was at a new car dealership, where she grew the collision center from $1.5 to $3.5 million in annual sales. After a stint in insurance, she and her former husband bought a body shop and tripled the annual sales in the first 18 months and grew sales to $5.5 million in less than three years. In 2011, she purchased a second shop and boosted sales from $750,000 to $3 million in the first year. In 2015, Laura sold both her shops to Caliber Collision.
Laura doesn’t just work in the collision industry—she’s part of its heartbeat! Whether she’s helping shops thrive or enjoying some well-earned time off, she’s always on the move. You’ll find her making memories with family, friends, and her beloved pups—especially if there’s a race to watch or a boat to jump on. Fast cars, open water, and great company? Now that’s her idea of a good time!
Laura Gay is not affiliated with High Lift Financial
Beth Walker is the founder of the Center for College Solutions, which has been guiding families through the uncertainties of college planning for over a decade. By gathering together experts that address the 12 key areas of successfully planning for getting into, paying for and thriving in college, CCS is a resource for families all over the US to be able to reduce the cost, complexity and confusion regarding all things college.
Beth Walker is not affiliated with High Lift Financial
Charis Santillie is a Fulfillment & Life Transition Coach and host of the Charis Your Life® podcast. She is also a speaker, Certified Fearless Living® Coach, Certified Fearless Trainer, and Positive Intelligence® Trainer and has been an entrepreneur for over twenty years. A hot air balloon accident when Charis was nineteen left her Dad paralyzed with a broken neck and led her Mom to become an alcoholic. Charis managed her internal crisis by staying ridiculously busy. She now helps high achievers live life with passion, clarity, and purpose as they navigate life’s seasons.
Fulfillment & Life Transition Coach
Kate Seastone specializes in advanced planning for business owners and key employees using non-qualified solutions to supplement and augment their businesses and lifestyle plans. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and an MBA who established Simplicit Financial in 2009.
Kate Seastone is not affiliated with High Lift Financial
Jennifer Patterson is a pioneer in cross-border personal finance and founder of Patterson Partners Ltd., an independent financial advisory firm specializing in cross-border tax and financial planning for families with U.S. connections. Jennifer has advised clients from around the world whose net worth ranged from negative six figures to tens of millions across multiple countries and currencies. You can meet Jennifer at crossborderliving.com.
Jennifer Patterson is not affiliated with High Lift Financial
Eileen Graham is an elder care advisor who assists the individual, family member or referral source in finding the best solutions for their loved ones as well remain professional and caring in the entire process. With 20 years’ experience in the long-term care industry, she can assist you in finding benefits and services you may be entitled to, help you find in-home care, and to help you in the moving process if you require an assisted living, independent living, personal care home or memory care communities.
Eileen Graham is not affiliated with High Lift Financial
Melissa R. Eckroth, MS provides masters level counseling to individuals, couples and families dealing with life transitions that impact their overall wellbeing and desire for stress-free living. Transitions may include job change, divorce, empty nest, physical illness, injury and aging. Melissa offers a confidential, safe environment that is client-focused and walks with you on a path to healing and more peaceful living. Melissa offers confidential, client-focused counseling and will walk with you on a path to healing and more peaceful living.
Melissa R. Eckroth is not affiliated with High Lift Financial
Terry Deitz has over 20 years in sales and marketing management and he specializes in providing organizations training for their sales organizations and in the development of marketing programs to grow their businesses. His experience in the broadcasting industry has given him the opportunity to develop marketing campaigns for a wide variety of businesses.
Terry Deitz is not affiliated with High Lift Financial
Micki Woods’ professional journey began over 15 years ago when she dove into the auto body industry and purchased Casa de Cadillac Body Shop. Being in the 1% of female auto body shop owners provided many challenges but also many learning experiences. She was honored to have veterans in the industry take her under their wing while the rest of the industry shook their heads when she chose to use atypical methods to revamp and grow her business’ gross profit to levels it had never seen.
Since that time Micki has gone independent and created her own marketing agency to dial in those marketing tools specifically for the auto collision industry. Micki and her team have created outside-of-the-box ideas and techniques that have been PROVEN to work in the auto body industry. As Micki Woods Marketing’s team brings consistent success to their auto body shop clients across the country, their notoriety grows like wildfire.
Micki Woods is not affiliated with High Lift Financial
For over 25 years Britt Schroeter has helped individuals, families and partnerships diversify their business holdings through franchise ownership. She will help you sort through the myriad of options and help you find the best match based on a systematic, logic based, financially-focused approach. Her services are free, as she is paid by the franchisors for helping to identify appropriate talent. Britt holds a degree in Education and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University and has spent her entire career as a franchise owner, franchise executive, and franchise consultant.
Britt Schroeter is not affiliated with High Lift Financial
For over 25 years Britt Schroeter has helped individuals, families and partnerships diversify their business holdings through franchise ownership. She will help you sort through the myriad of options and help you find the best match based on a systematic, logic based, financially-focused approach. Her services are free, as she is paid by the franchisors for helping to identify appropriate talent. Britt holds a degree in Education and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University and has spent her entire career as a franchise owner, franchise executive, and franchise consultant.
Britt Schroeter is not affiliated with High Lift Financial
American Insurance Marketing opened their doors in 1979, founded by Joe Fortunato. The original focus of the agency was primarily on Medicare, Supplemental plans, and group health plans, with some additional business generation via Annuity and Life insurance policies. Over the years the business has continued to grow in reputation, adding group health coverage with all major and regional carriers, including UPMC, Highmark, Empower3, Geisinger, United, Aetna, and Cigna. To date, American Insurance Marketinag manages health benefits for hundreds of companies and thousands of lives across Pennsylvania.
The Health Insurance Place is not affiliated with High Lift Financial
