Meet our team
Katherine Dunlevie
President and Chief Executive Officer
Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®)
Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA)
Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®)
Katherine oversees strategy, client service and business development while nurturing the distinctive culture focused on people and excellence found within The Family Office.
She is deeply passionate about helping families expand their vision and goals—to think even bigger about what is possible in legacy and wealth building across generations. Katherine sees the cultivation of human capital as crucial to strengthening and sustaining a family’s legacy. To help families identify talents, skills, and abilities across generations, she launched The Center for Family Leadership & Legacy, which provides the tools, information, and formal processes needed to drive desired multi-generational outcomes.
Katherine’s work in the family office industry has been recognized by several organizations and publications, and she was named Outstanding CEO by Family Wealth Report in 2022. Katherine earned a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she graduated with Highest Distinction, and an MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. In addition, she is an Honors Graduate of the Cannon Trust School.
Robert "Rob" L. Persons
Senior Vice President; Director of Advisory Services
Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®)
Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA)
Series 7 and 66 Securities Licenses1
Rob provides financial, estate, and investment advice for clients. He is part of an integrated team committed to understanding a family’s unique goals and developing a comprehensive plan to help achieve those goals. In addition, Rob serves on the firm’s Executive Leadership team, Investment Committee, Asset Allocation Committee, as well as the Investment Review and Administrative Review Committees.
Prior to joining Synovus in 2007, he was a Financial Advisor for Merrill Lynch. Rob received a B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Georgia Terry College of Business.
Michael Sluder
Senior Vice President
Chief Investment Officer
Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®)
Michael leads the investment group managing more than $4 billion in client family assets.
He chairs the firm’s Investment Committee that sets asset allocation strategies and determines the selection of investment managers. Michael has 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. He earned a Master’s in Economics and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Alabama.
Full Bio
Michael B. Clark, II, MBA
Senior Vice President
Chief Operating Officer
Michael leads all aspects of non-client facing functions for The Family Office at Synovus; this includes operations, technology, marketing/PR/ communications, Family Enterprise operations, office administration, financial reporting and budgeting, strategic initiatives, HR, and recruiting.
Michael graduated from Kennesaw State University with an M.B.A., Concentration: Management, and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. He is an active member of the Family Office Exchange.
Walter M. Deriso, III (Walt)
Senior Vice President
Director of Strategic Growth and Family Office Solutions
Walt Deriso has 25 years of experience in serving the banking and wealth management needs of family offices. He works alongside family offices, family businesses, and ultra-high net worth
families to deliver and continuously refine advisory and family office solutions. Prior to returning to Synovus in 2022, Walt was a founding shareholder at Atlantic Capital Bank where he served first as senior vice president of Private Financial Services, and finally as the head of Family Office Banking. Walt began his career at The Synovus Family Office where he served as the director of relationship management.
Walt received his Bachelor of the Arts at Vanderbilt University and his Master of Business Administration from the University of Georgia Terry College of Business.
Jennifer Pratt
Senior Vice President
Director of Strategic Services
Jennifer Pratt is a recognized leader in the family office and wealth management industry and has deep experience in helping families and businesses reach their full potential with an emphasis on preparing the next generation to thrive. She is responsible for the strategic direction and execution of Family Enterprise Services, which comprises wealth consulting and solutions focused on family dynamics, governance, education, business succession planning, and philanthropic initiatives for ultra-high net worth families. Day to day, Jennifer leads the Center for Family Legacy and Leadership, which serves as a resource center providing education, communication, and tools on topics such as wealth sustainability, family engagement, value-based giving, and the stewardship of wealth.
Jennifer earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Administration and Management Information Systems from the University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL.