Advisory Council
Our advisors’ varied experiences inform the operations of Forest Systems.
Doug Fritz
Doug Fritz, the esteemed co-founder and CEO of F2 Strategy, boasts an impressive history in WealthTech management consulting, having previously shined as the CTO of First Republic. His unparalleled expertise lies in guiding sophisticated RIA, wealth, bank/trust, and family office enterprises towards enhanced technical prowess. Drawing from F2 Strategy’s exclusive research on technology leadership outsourcing, Doug and his team present strategies that promise tangible results. Beyond his leadership roles, he is an acknowledged figure in the industry, often taking center stage as a speaker and judge at renowned forums like In|Vest, American Banker, and Financial Times.
Annette Nellen
Annette Nellen, a respected CPA and attorney in California, is a professor and Program Director of the Master of Science in Taxation at San José State University. Engaged with the AICPA, ABA, and California Lawyers Association, she frequently shares insights on tax policy, high-tech tax issues, and cryptocurrency taxation. She has co-authored four textbooks in the Southwestern Federal Taxation series from Cengage. With previous roles at the IRS and Ernst & Young, her academic credentials include a BS from CSU, Northridge, an MBA from Pepperdine, and a JD from Loyola Law School.
Elizabeth “Liz” Brigham
Elizabeth “Liz” Brigham boasts a rich background in leadership, tech product management, and marketing. Her portfolio spans roles at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, Jive Software, Timshel, and as Head of Product at Morningstar Direct and Reporting Solutions, where she steered US commercial product development and market strategy. Now, she champions innovation as the Director of the Jay Hurt Hub for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Davidson College, serving both the college and the coworking community. Liz earned her BA in English, cum laude, from Davidson College and an MBA, with Distinction, from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.
Ed Ipser
Edward A. Ipser, Jr., PhD, serves as the President of IpserLab (www.ipserlab.com), a renowned startup foundry. His entrepreneurial journey includes founding MarketFusion, where he secured $23M in venture capital, and establishing SVASE (Silicon Valley Association of Software Entrepreneurs) in 1996. SVASE later merged into SVForum, becoming a leading entrepreneurial organization in Silicon Valley. Edward holds a PhD in CSCI from USC and has been instrumental in founding, co-founding, joining, and advising various startups.
Rex Salisbury
Rex Salisbury stands at the forefront of fintech innovation as the founding partner of Cambrian Ventures, an early-stage fintech fund and community hub designed for the industry’s trailblazers. Before spearheading Cambrian, he played a pivotal role as a founding member of the Andreessen Horowitz fintech team. Rex’s rich tapestry of experience includes product and engineering leadership roles at Checkr and Sindeo, and he cut his teeth in the finance world with investment banking at Merrill Lynch. Academically, he boasts a BA in Economics & History from Davidson College and has enriched his knowledge at esteemed institutions like The London School of Economics (LSE) and Université François in Rabelais.
Wade E. Stevens
Wade E. Stevens is the seasoned managing partner of Eugene Lewis & Associates, a specialized public accounting firm in California. Since joining the firm in 1998, Wade has amassed over 27 years of experience in the realm of public accounting. The firm, renowned for its tailored approach, delivers tax, accounting, and audit services, mainly catering to affluent individuals and their associated businesses, foundations, trusts, and estates. Notably, Eugene Lewis & Associates excels in detailed accounting for client investments, encompassing significant stakes in private equities and marketable securities.