FPA NCA Practice Management Summit

Dave Thomas, CRPC® is Senior Director, Executive Consultant with Invesco Global Consulting, where he partners with financial professionals throughout the Mid-Atlantic to help them build exceptional businesses, develop high-performing teams, and deliver greater value to their clients and communities. With more than three decades of industry experience, Dave brings deep expertise in leadership development, executive coaching, practice management, and strategic growth. His collaborative and transformational coaching style helps financial professionals move beyond technical excellence to become more effective leaders, communicators, and business owners. He combines strategic thinking, behavioral coaching, and practical execution to help leaders navigate change, strengthen client relationships, build intentional cultures, and create sustainable growth.

Dave joined Invesco through its combination with OppenheimerFunds in 2019, following a career that included serving as a senior advisor consultant with OppenheimerFunds and financial professional roles with Independent Financial Marketing Group’s bank division, Capital Financial Group, and Mutual of New York. He holds the FINRA Series 7 and 63 registrations and the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC®) designation. Dave earned a BBA in Finance and an MBA from James Madison University. He resides in Arlington, Virginia, and is a passionate traveler and self-proclaimed foodie who enjoys discovering new cultures, histories, and cuisines—and is always searching for his next memorable destination and exceptional meal.

Sarah Gershman, CEO

Executive Speech Coach and Presentation Skills Trainer in Washington, D.C.

Sarah has spent the last 15 years coaching global executives in over 50 industries and is the founder and owner of Green Room Speakers. Whether preparing for a keynote address, briefing senior officials or pitching a product, Sarah helps leaders find their core message – and make that message stick. Sarah works with executives in Fortune 50 companies, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

Sarah is a Professor of Communications at the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies where she lectures regularly to students from around the world.

Mike Brinegar is SVP, Integrated Offices at Carson Wealth, where he drives organic growth strategy across the firm's newly acquired and integrated offices. A West Point graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management, Mike brings over three decades of experience in wealth management, sales leadership, and M&A integration.



Before joining Carson Wealth, Mike served as Regional Director at Savant Wealth Management, leading management and recruiting initiatives, and as an RIA M&A Consultant at Osceola Capital, where he advised on mergers and acquisitions within the independent advisory space. Earlier in his career, he was Chief Growth Officer at First Financial Group and held director-level and regional consultant roles at USAA, T. Rowe Price, and Merrill Lynch, giving him deep experience across wirehouse, independent, and RIA channels.