Michael R. Grinnon, ChFC ®
Managing Partner
Originally from Long Island, New York, Michael graduated from the University of Maryland in 2005. While at UMD, Michael played four years on the men’s basketball team, and holds the distinct title of the only men’s player in UMD history to have won a National Championship and ACC Championship.
Professionally, Michael joined New York Life in November of 2007. His first four years with the company, Michael affiliated with Eagle Strategies and qualified for 4 MDRT** qualifications and 3 President Council qualifications.
Michael joined the management team of Northern Virginia in 2011 and worked hard towards his promotion to Senior Partner in 2014.
Michael and his wife Cynthia then relocated to Dallas, Texas where Michael worked as a Corporate Vice President for the West Central Zone. In 2018, Michael was promoted to Managing Partner of the St. Louis General Office. Under his Leadership, the office grew exponentially in overall production, Agent and Leader headcount, and the addition of 2 new Senior Partners in 2022.
Michael is married to his lovely wife Cynthia who he met while at the University of Maryland. They have three young children: Mikayla, Abigail, and Luke. Michael is active in his church community and enjoys playing, coaching, and watching all types of sports, and hopes to have a single digit golf handicap one day!
Chris Rich, CLU®, ChFC®, CLF®, FSCP®
CVP, Executive Director of Development
Christopher “Chris” Rich is a Corporate Vice President, Executive Director of Development with New York Life’s Orlando General Office, where he leads Training and Development for a leadership team supporting nearly 250 financial professionals. With more than 25 years in financial services—including nearly a decade with Wells Fargo Financial—Chris brings deep experience in leadership development, high-performer coaching, and building scalable onboarding and training systems for growing organizations. He began his New York Life career as an agent in Charleston, SC, before moving into leadership roles in development. Chris holds the CLU®, ChFC®, FSCP®, and CLF® designations from The American College and is passionate about empowering the next generation of financial professionals.
None of Chris’ accomplishments would be possible without the love and support from his wife of almost 30 years, Shireem and his two children, Carson and Sydney. In his spare time, Chris enjoys spending time with his family, playing just about any type of competitive sport or game, spending time outdoors including camping/hunting/fishing and watching movies.
Alexandra M. Carney, CLU®, ChFC®,FSCP®
Director of Development
Alexandra Carney began her career with New York Life in 2013 as an Agent in the Orlando General Office, quickly distinguishing herself as a top performer. She earned Quality Council (2014), Executive Council (2015), and multiple early-career honors, including the Career Success Award, Career Life Producer Award, and Life Foundation Award. She was also the youngest Council member in Orlando General Office history at the time.
In 2015, Alexandra became the youngest woman in New York Life history to achieve management rank when she entered the Associate Partner program. She later advanced to Partner, where she played a key role in developing high-performing agents and driving office growth.
Alexandra was promoted to Development Manager in 2022 and to Director of Development in Fall 2024. She earned her FSCP® designation in 2025, further strengthening her expertise in comprehensive financial planning.
Under her leadership, the Orlando General Office has earned multiple top organizational honors, including the New Organization Total Growth Trophy (2023), as well as both the Senior Vice President’s Trophy and President’s Trophy in 2025. She is also a current member of DMAC and advisory group of Development Managers that support positive change within agency.
In her current role, Alexandra focuses on developing financial professionals, driving production, and building a culture of accountability, consistency, and long-term success.
Alexandra lives in Orlando with her husband Jonathan, their daughter Autumn, their son Jonathan II, and their two dogs. Outside of work, she is an avid distance runner and enjoys spending time with her family.
2014 Quality Council
2015 Executive Council
2014 Career Life Success Award
2014 Career Life Producer Award
2014 Life Foundation Award
Eugenia Hernandez Monteverde
Senior Partner
Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, Eugenia came to the United States in 2012 with the dream of growth, a new career and to be as successful as she was in Venezuela. Through the Kissimmee Chamber of Commerce, Eugenia was introduced to New York Life and the opportunities the company provided. With an academic background in Marketing and Communications and with over 10 years of professional experience in Management, she began her career as an agent in Orlando, FL in March of 2014. As an agent Eugenia qualified for Executive Council* in 2015 and 2016, and then she transitioned to the Associated Partner Program in August 2016.
Eugenia graduated as a Partner in April 2017 and in her first year as a Partner she achieved the View from the Top and Partner Commitment Awards and won the Latino Recruiting Challenge 2017. In 2018, she also achieved the View from the Top and Partner Commitment Awards for outstanding performance on Recruiting and was the Partner of The Year at the Orlando General Office. In September 2019, Eugenia made another important achievement and was promoted to Senior Partner.
Eugenia lives with her husband German, her little son Martin, and her parents and brother in the South Orlando area. Out of the office, Eugenia enjoys the time with her family and her dog Lola. She likes to go the movies, the beach, travelling and reading.
- 2015 Executive Council*
- 2016 Executive Council*
- 2017 View from the Top – Partner
- 2017 Partner Commitment Award
- 2017 Latino Recruiting Challenge
- 2018 View from the Top – Partner
- 2018 Partner Commitment Award
- 2018 Partner of the Year Orlando General Office
- 2019 Senior Partner
Minh Troung
Senior Partner
Minh was born and raised in Vietnam. He graduated from the Teaching Training School/University of Saigon in 1982. Minh had escaped Vietnam to Malaysia for the chance of freedom. He escaped Vietnam by boat in November of 1987.
He settled in the United States in December of 1988 seeking new opportunities. In April of 1998, he joined the New York Life family at the San Fransisco General Office. Minh qualified council every year, the highest being President Council*.
In 2004 Minh moved to Orlando and joined the Orlando General Office. In 2008 Minh was promoted to Partner of Orlando General Office. He ranked Top 50 Partners in the Company for 4 consecutive years (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015), and Partner of the Year of Orlando General Office in 2013, 2014, and 2015.
In 2016 he was promoted to Senior Partner and qualified for the Round Table in 2016, 2017, and 2019.
Minh is married to Thuy Tran. He is living with his wife and his three sons: Bryan, Benjamin, and Benedict.
Minh’s Motto: “Believe in yourself!”.
Hobby: Fishing.
Jesus Barnfield
Senior Partner
Jesus Barnfield joined New York Life in 2018 after seven successful years in the automotive industry. As a Financial Professional, he quickly distinguished himself through his dedication to helping clients and earned numerous accolades, including the Career Success Award, Life Producer Award, Million Dollar Mainstay Master designation, and Executive Council recognition.
In 2019, Jesus was promoted to Partner, where he built and developed high-performing teams while continuing to achieve outstanding results. His leadership and commitment to excellence earned him the Partner Commitment Award, multiple View From The Top Awards, Top 50 Partner honors in 2024 and 2025, and the prestigious Partner of the Year Award in both 2024 and 2025.
In recognition of his continued success and impact, Jesus was promoted to Senior Partner in 2026.
Awards & Recognition
Career Success Award
Life Producer Award
Million Dollar Mainstay Master
Executive Council*
Partner Commitment Award (2021)
View From The Top Award Winner (2021, 2023, 2024, 2025)
Top 50 Partner (2024, 2025)
Partner of the Year (2024, 2025)
Senior Partner Promotion (2026)
Alejandro Garib
Partner
Originally hailing from the sun-kissed shores of the Dominican Republic, Alejandro made the bold journey to Florida with dreams and determination in tow. Drawn by the reputation and promise of the University of Central Florida (UCF), he pursued and successfully earned a bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management.
For over two decades, Alejandro dedicated himself to the hospitality industry, harnessing the vibrant ethos of his Caribbean roots and seamlessly integrating them with the global standards of his profession. His vast experience in the industry equipped him with a unique blend of interpersonal skills, management expertise, and a keen sense of customer service.
In a pivotal move in 2021, Alejandro embraced a new challenge and joined the prestigious ranks of New York Life. This transition, though distinct from his previous roles, showcases his adaptability and pursuit of excellence in every endeavor.
Outside of his professional life, Alejandro is a dedicated family man. He cherishes moments spent with his wife and children, ensuring they form the cornerstone of his daily life. A fervent golfer, he often takes to the greens, drawing parallels between the game's patience and strategy to life itself. Furthermore, Alejandro is an enthusiast for all outdoor activities, finding solace and energy in the embrace of nature.
Leon Kearse
Partner
Leon joined New York Life in 2021 and brings over a decade of experience in Financial Services, along with a distinguished 16-year career in the United States Army. Within just three months at New York Life, Leon achieved the Experience Agent of the Year award, quickly transitioning into management shortly thereafter.
With a Bachelor’s degree in Science and Mathematics, Leon applies a strong analytical approach to solving complex challenges. Their unique blend of military discipline and financial expertise has helped them excel in developing strategic solutions and driving success for both clients and teams.
Jesus Lopez
Partner
Originally from North Bergen NJ, Jesus A. Lopez studied Music Merchandising at Hofstra University in Long Island and Graduated with his Bachelor's Degree in Music Therapy from Marywood University. During his time as a Music Therapist, he worked with many populations including substance abuse, early onset Alzheimer's and dementia, children with ASD and in state hospitals, but finished his music therapy career working in Hospice. In 2019 he was promoted to Business Development Consultant within the company he was working for and soon after found the opportunity with New York Life because he wanted to make an impact on people's lives at an earlier stage from a financial standpoint.
During his time at The Orlando General Office of New York Life, Jesus has achieved Executive Council* in his first two years and became the youngest Partner currently on the management team. He was also recognized with the Career Success Award, Career Life Producer Award, Career Life Achiever Award, and the Life Foundation Award in his first year as an Agent before transitioning into the Associate Partner program in 2023. Jesus A. Lopez graduated to a full Partner position in July of 2023 with the aspiration of becoming a Managing Partner one day.
2021 Executive Council*
2022 Executive Council*
2020 Career Success Award
2021 Career Life Producer Award
2021 Career Life Achiever Award
2021 Life Foundation Award
Brandon Wasson
Partner
Brandon Wasson, a Florida native, studied Finance and Leadership Studies at the University of South Florida. During his time at USF, Brandon was an executive board member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. After graduating with his bachelor's degree in 2007 he quickly started his career in Financial Services. He began his career at AIG Financial Network as an agent and was promoted to Agency Director in 2010. Brandon has received numerous awards during his illustrious career thus far. The honor grad of his incoming NYL 2016 class, Brandon began his New York Life career as an agent before transitioning to Partner in October 2016. His hobbies are fishing, golf, and hanging out with his Boston terrier, Bella. When he heads down south to visit home he gets to enjoy time with his niece Alyvia and nephew Zakary.
Anthony Bordenga
Partner
Anthony Bordenga is a proud first-generational American, with his family coming over from Villalba, Sicily. He graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2015. Before graduating, he started as an Intern with New York Life in 2014. Within a little over a year, he started as a full-time agent after graduating. In Less than 2 years, in August of 2017, he became a Partner.
Anthony is married to Tasha Bordenga who is a Wedding Planner in Orlando. Both love traveling and experiencing all life has to offer.
Anthony is also very active as a UCF Alumni Member and works closely with the students to help develop the next generation of Leaders and Advisors.
Over the years, he has achieved several accomplishments:
2015 Career Life Success Award
2016 Career Life Producer Award
2016 Career Life Achiever Award
2016 Executive Council*
2016 Life Foundation Award
2017 Executive Council*
Carlos Anderson
Partner
Carlos is originally from Caracas, Venezuela, and came to the United States of America in May 2003. He has an extensive academic background in Business Administration, Marketing, and Finance with over 25 years of experience. After 14 years in the Hospitality Industry, he began his career in New York in July 2017. As an agent, he won the following awards.
2017 Career Life Success Award
2018 Career Life Achiever Award
2018 Executive Council*
2018 Life Protector Award
2019 New Org Agent of the Year (Orlando General Office)
2019 Premier Executive Council*
In 2019, he became a member of the Million Dollar Round Table** (MDRT). He decided to transition
to management and went through the 6-month intensive program and became a Partner in
October 2020.
Carlos is married with two children. He loves spending time with his family, traveling, and being
outdoors.
Tracy Cepino
Partner
Tracy began her career with New York Life as an Agent in July of 2020, in the St. Louis General Office. As an Agent in her first year, she received the Career Success Award, Executive Council, Annuity Elite and was honored to be New York Life’s Beacon Agent Spotlight in November 2021. In the middle of her second year, Tracy transferred to the Orlando General Office where she again received her Second Executive Council and Annuity Elite Award before transitioning to the Partner Role.
Prior to her career with New York Life, Tracy spent 8 years in the Fitness Industry working in management throughout clubs in St. Louis and spent 5 years coaching Lacrosse collegiately, with her last stint at Millsaps College. While there, she was the Tri-Coach of the Year in the SCAC in 2012. In her spare time, Tracy enjoys spending time with her family, especially her Golden Retriever Frank.
Rosanna Rodriguez
Partner
Rosanna Rodriguez is one of the first to travel to US in her family from Santiago Dominican Republic. She graduated with a bachelors in finance from Monroe College in 2013 in New York. Being the first in her family to graduate from college became one of her biggest accomplishments. She started her career with New York Life in June 2018. She got promoted to the office's Latino Market as a Manager in Jan 2021. Helping people is one of her biggest passions.
Rosanna is married to Randy Rodriguez who also became an agent shortly after they got married. Both love traveling and experiencing all that life has to offer.
Rosanna is involved in her community and likes to volunteer in organizations such as New Hope for Kids and Volunteering to feed needed families.
Over the years, she has achieved several accomplishments for outstanding sale achievements:
- 2018 Career Life Success Award
- 2018 Career Life Producer Award
- 2019 Career Life Achiever Award
- 2019 Life Foundation Award
- 2019 Executive Council*
Rosa Santos
Partner
Rosa Santos is currently a Partner at New York Life after successfully completing her Accelerated Path to Management program requirements and achieving Executive Council*. Prior to coming to New York Life, Rosa was making magic as a Sous Chef at Walt Disney World for the past 12 years; in which she also managed food cost and labor within Hollywood Studios. She is a proud graduate of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts and holds a bachelor’s degree. Rosa aspires to be one of the top partners at the company while building an elite team of financial professionals to help empower financial literacy in the community. Aside from work, Rosa loves to be involved with her children as much as possible, travelling and having new adventures.
Wei Yu Su
Partner
Wei-Yu Su, originally from Taipei, Taiwan, joined New York Life in 2023. Within just over a year as an agent, he earned Executive Council* status before transitioning into a management role. He holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Information Systems. Prior to his career at New York Life, Wei-Yu accumulated diverse experience as a Tennis Club Owner/Director/Investor, Solutions Engineer, University Special Instructor, and coach for NCAA National Championship tennis teams.
Wei-Yu is married to his wonderful wife, Tomoko, whom he met in Hawaii, and they have two children, Ethan and Erica. He remains actively involved in the tennis community, helping many student-athletes secure college tennis scholarships.
Nicholas DiGianivittorio, Jr., MA
Partner
Nicholas DiGianivittorio, Jr., originally joined New York Life in 2023 after operating and being in private practice as a Mental Health Counselor for 5 years. In that short amount of time, Nicholas qualified for Executive Council,* earned top awards and recognition and pivoted into a management role. He holds a Bachelor's in Psychology, a Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and certifications in Sports Psychology & Industrial Organizational Psychology. Along with his career, Nicholas played collegiate lacrosse and worked his way up to the semi-professional ranks with the Orlando Rockets, whom he is still playing for.
Nicholas is married to his wife, Rachael, whom he met in college and they have a wonderful son, Dakota, and golden doodle, Ellie, who he says are his biggest inspirations for success. He remains active in the Winter Park and Lake Mary communities as well as his local lacrosse community as well.
Gavin McGuckin
Associate Partner
Gavin McGuckin joined New York Life in 2023, bringing a background shaped by high-level athletics and leadership. Originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, he competed as a Division I lacrosse athlete and represented the Welsh National Lacrosse Team. These experiences helped develop his competitive drive, discipline, and team-first mindset, principles that continue to guide his work within New York Life and his commitment to long-term client relationships.
Since joining the firm, Gavin has developed a deep appreciation for New York Life’s culture, values, and commitment to excellence. His contributions have been recognized through multiple firm and industry honors, including two Executive Council qualifications, First Year Agent of the Year, a Life All Star Award, and qualified for the 2024 MDRT. He currently resides in Lake Mary, where he enjoys giving back by coaching lacrosse, cheering on Detroit and University of Michigan teams, and spending time with his dog, Sky.
David Kerner
Associate Partner
David Kerner is an Associate Partner with New York Life, where he is dedicated to helping individuals, families, and business owners develop comprehensive financial strategies designed to protect what matters most and build long-term financial confidence. By taking a personalized approach to financial planning, David helps clients navigate retirement planning, wealth accumulation, protection strategies, estate planning, and business succession needs.
As a leader within New York Life, David is equally passionate about developing the next generation of financial professionals. He recruits, mentors, and coaches talented individuals who are committed to building rewarding careers while making a meaningful impact in the lives of their clients. His leadership philosophy is rooted in integrity, professional development, and a commitment to excellence.
Drawing upon New York Life's tradition of financial strength and stability, David works to build lasting relationships based on trust, education, and personalized service. He believes every client deserves a thoughtful strategy tailored to their unique goals, values, and vision for the future.
Whether helping families create financial security, assisting business owners with strategic planning, or guiding financial professionals toward career success, David is committed to helping others achieve confidence and clarity in their financial journey.
Based in Maitland, Florida, David proudly serves clients and advisors throughout Central Florida and beyond.
Pedro Viggiano
Associate Partner
Born in Brazil and raised by a single mother, Pedro Viggiano's story is one of resilience, determination, and believing that every challenge presents an opportunity for growth. As a child, his dream was to become a professional soccer player, a passion that taught him discipline, teamwork, and the value of consistently working toward a goal.
Before moving to the United States, Pedro studied Business Administration in Brazil. At 21, he made the life-changing decision to start over in a new country, arriving in Massachusetts before relocating to New York City. There, he built a successful career in the fashion and hospitality industries, where he discovered his passion for connecting with people, delivering exceptional service, and developing meaningful relationships.
Although soccer will always be his first love, living in the United States introduced Pedro to another passion; American football. Today, he proudly divides his sports loyalty between soccer and football and has become a devoted New England Patriots fan, embracing the competitive spirit and teamwork that both sports represent.
Entrepreneurship has also been a defining part of Pedro's journey. In 2011, he returned to Brazil to open and operate his own restaurants, gaining firsthand experience in business ownership, leadership, and building teams. Those experiences shaped his people-first leadership style and reinforced his belief that great businesses are built by investing in great people. In 2014, Pedro returned to the United States with a renewed vision for his future.
Today, as an Associate Partner with New York Life, he is passionate about identifying, developing, and mentoring the next generation of financial professionals. He is committed to building a culture centered on integrity, accountability, continuous growth, and servant leadership, where individuals are empowered to build rewarding careers while making a meaningful impact on the lives of the families they serve.
Outside of work, Pedro's greatest source of pride is his family. He and his wife, Francini, are the proud parents of two daughters, Laura and Antonella. Whether spending time with family and friends, traveling, watching soccer, or cheering on the Patriots during football season, Pedro believes life is about creating meaningful experiences, building lasting relationships, and leaving a legacy that extends far beyond business.
Thi Long An Tran, PhD
Associate Partner
Born in Vietnam, An built a strong academic foundation through consistent hard work and perseverance. She earned straight A’s, secured dual university scholarships, and completed a Ph.D.—experiences that continue to inform her leadership style, emphasizing preparation, disciplined execution, and a thoughtful, long-term perspective.
Before joining New York Life in 2024, An spent six years studying and working in the oil and gas industry, followed by a role with Bitrix24, a Top 10 CRM software recognized by Forbes Advisor. These roles deepened her expertise in complex systems, technology, strategic planning, and relationship management. She also holds securities licenses and is fluent in Vietnamese and Russian, bringing a global, multicultural perspective to leadership and client engagement.
Driven by a strong belief in the power of insurance and financial services to create financial security and long-term freedom, An is committed to building a world-class team. She focuses on developing advisors through disciplined planning, consistent prospecting, strong relationships, and meaningful community impact.
Outside of work, An enjoys flower arranging and golfing. She lives with her husband, Sergey, and her son, Boris. She is also actively involved in her community, including teaching Vietnamese language classes to children.
Awards and Recognition
2025 Executive Council*
2025 Life Success Award
2025 Life Producer Award
2025 Life Achiever Award
2025 Life Foundation Award
*Awarded by New York Life Insurance Company for outstanding sales achievements. Council is an annual company recognition program based on agent production from July 1- June 30.
MDRT is recognized throughout the industry as the standard of excellence in life insurance sales performance.