In Chicago….a number of years ago….on December 26 a little Polish princess was born (at least that’s what her parents thought and of course they were delighted with their tiny Christmas present).

Darlene grew up in the windy city of Chicago and in 1963 started working at the Northern Trust Bank in Chicago balancing security transactions.  She married the love of her life and best friend “Bernie” in January of 1969 and moved to his home in Tucson. Five months later she went to work for the Southern Arizona Bank (later renamed First Interstate Bank). Darlene worked her way up from doing clerical duties such as data entry of securities related transactions to implementing a follow-up system for investment recommendations for three portfolio managers. During this time she developed a working knowledge of various types of securities.  In 1983 she was promoted to AVP/Private Client Service Administrator.

From 1997 to 2000 she was VP/Private Client Administrator with Norwest/Wells Fargo Bank.  She was responsible for the administration of 80 personal trusts and investment agency accounts. Darlene completed a variety of Trust related classes and held the CTFA (Certified Trust & Financial Advisor) designation.

She left the bank in 2000 and lucky for RFS decided she was not a stay at home person. She was hired immediately as a Client Communications Specialist and was later promoted to Director of Client Communications.  Darlene ensures that our client review appointments are set timely; our client education workshops’ flow smoothly; and works jointly with Cricket on various marketing projects. She will be celebrating her 10th year with RFS in June 2010.

Darlene is also our party and event planner. She loves to shop and does all of the shopping for our events and even our staff lunches. She is like a mother hen around the office making sure that everyone is ok. Everyone adores her and after being around her for any length of time…..you will see why.

Darlene is a past member of the Southern AZ Estate Planning Council and is currently on the Board of Directors for Project H.O.M.E. (Helping Others Manage Effectively) a non-profit organization that was founded by her husband in 1988. Project H.O.M.E acts as a private fiduciary service that works with homeless and mentally ill individuals.  They have offices in Tucson and Phoenix that service approximately 2000 clients.

Darlene and Bernie celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary in January 2010.  (What makes all their anniversaries so special is the fact that everyone said it wouldn’t last!) Although they have no children of their own, they opened their home and their hearts to over 100 children over a twenty year period, including foster children, exchange students from other countries and children in the “Up With People” Organization. 

When the Mt Lemmon fire burned their cabin to the ground, they bought another “get-away” cabin in Pinetop. They try to spend as much time there as their busy lives will allow.

Darlene is also an avid Wildcats fan…..in fact we believe her office could almost qualify as a Wildcats gift shop (not that she would get rid of a thing).

They live in Tucson with their Shih-Tzu’s, the M & M sisters (Millie and Molly).  

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