TEAM: TEAMWORK



Pamela Bartlett
Pamela Bartlett is the Owner/Director of Fun at Pinot's Palette in Naperville. She serves as the owner, marketer, and operator of the paint-and-sip franchise, utilizing her networking, business management, people, and leadership skills. Bartlett's franchise has received a number of awards, including Naperville Magazine's Best of Naperville, Glancer Magazine's Reader's Choice Award for Customer Service, and several Pinot's Palette's Golden Brush Awards for top sales. Pinot's Palette prides itself on giving back to the community by hosting and donating to fundraisers. Prior to owning Pinot's Palette, Bartlett spent more than 25 years working in a business environment with experience in marketing, sales, database management, and social event management.

Mary Degner
Mary Degner is the founder of MJ Degner Photography, based in Naperville, IL. A professional photographer who is passionate about creating impactful natural light portraits, landscapes, and nature, her interest in photography began in high school when she started capturing images on family vacations. She continued to pursue photography as an avid hobbyist while growing her corporate event management career. After experiencing a reduction in demand for corporate event management due to Covid, Mary decided to take the leap and open her own photography business in 2020. Coming from a very entrepreneurial family background, she was more than familiar with the positives and challenges of managing a small business. But, by combining her corporate business and client services experience as a solid base with her love of photography, the journey has been rewarding and enjoyable. MJ Degner Photography prides itself on providing professional portraits for some of the most important events in her clients’ life: Senior Portraits (high school and college), legacy Family Portraits, Maternity Portraits, Engagement/Couples Portraits, and small Personal Events. In addition, the studio offers Headshot Sessions for both corporate and creative professionals, as well as a variety of corporate projects, including seminars, conferences, and client appreciation events. Her sessions are personalized, fun, and relaxed; she makes it a priority to listen to and understand her client’s needs and ideas. She then crafts the tailored experience, and walks her client through all of their session details from beginning to end, making the process as easy and carefree for them as possible. In addition to portraiture, Mary loves creating landscape and nature fine art images that are vibrant and dramatic. Each fine art image is created with the purpose of intimately connecting the viewer to her image’s subject - whether it be a majestic mountain range or the close-up of a vivid floral - inspiring enjoyment and reflection. Conveniently, her fine art is available for purchase directly through her website. MJ Degner Photography also offers commissioned fine art projects to enhance a home and/or business environment. Travel, Nature, Life: her business tagline signifies how all of her images are meant to convey a story, and to inspire and transport the observer into a joyful frame of mind.

Jason Frano
"I love to help others reach the goals that they never thought were possible. Leading others to persevere is what drives me" - Jason Frano
As the Managing Director for the Naperville office, Jason is responsible for the growth and development of his financial advisors and teams. In addition to this, he runs his own personal financial advising practice.
Jason joined Northwestern Mutual in 2014 after several years in sales for Toyota Corporation. During his first few years with our firm, he quickly rose to success, becoming "rookie of the year" during his first year, and quickly surpassing many sales milestones. He ranked among the top 50 new advisors throughout the nation in his first few years.
Because of his extensive sales and leadership background, Jason became a leader in his office almost immediately. He was first a College Unit Director for our internship team. After that, he transitioned into a Field Director role, where he developed and led teams of advisors in their first five years.
Throughout his tenure at Northwestern Mutual Chicagoland, Jason has led teams and counseled advisors while building a successful financial advising practice of his own. He is consistently pushing to reach the next level for himself and his teams.
In January of 2020, he became the Managing Director in Naperville.
Jason leads all advisor production, recruiting efforts, and our internship program for the Naperville office.
As a leader, Jason enjoys serving others and watching them reach success. He is passionate about leading growth and always pushing toward success within his teams. Jason is dedicated to holding his teams to the same standards as he holds himself to.
Frano and his wife, Janet, live in Lombard with their two sons Ryan and Chase. Jason enjoys running marathons and coaching his son's basketball and baseball games.

Angela Lucania
Proud to be in the insurance and financial services industry since 1992. My knowledge and client experiences assist in creating customized programs. My goal is to educate and empower my clients with understandable options to take control of protecting and growing their assets. I focus on relationship building and individualized protection. Protect your Auto, Business, Home, Health, Retirement and Life with the Angela A. Lucania Agency.

Allan Noworul
Allan is a Bank Manager for BMO. He works with small business owners to help with their cash flow, payment processing, and online treasury services. BMO is boldly growing the good, in business and in life, by assisting their communities on matters related to all things banking, retirement planning, lending solutions, and business management. Allan has over 20 years of experience in the banking environment. Allan attended Benet Academy as well as the University of Illinois. Allan spends his summers golfing and working in his garden, where he makes various hot sauces, crushed spices, and pasta sauce. In the wintertime, he spends his time at the bowling alley, still in search of that elusive 300. Allan grew up in the Naperville Area and currently lives in Plainfield with his wife Jennifer.

Alexis Rago
Alexis Skigen Rago, the Big Kahuna at Marketing Mana LLC, coaches established small business owners to feel empowered with their marketing strategy and create powerful connections with their ideal clients. Immersive-style collaborative sessions address marketing goals, business core values, mission statements, vision, branding, customer segmentation, messaging, SMART goals, strategic marketing plans, action plans, and more. Unforgettable Introductions: Attract Your Dream Clients and Network Fearlessly is an online course for small business owners who want to network with confidence and clarity to build relationships that are meaningful to your business. The Work On Your Business Retreat provides an intense getaway to create marketing strategies in 3 days with a small group of business owners.
Alexis brings 25+ years of marketing expertise, working with companies of all sizes in various industries (33 and counting), including technology, eCommerce, retail, legal, financial solutions, insurance, real estate, health & wellness, coaching, and more. Alexis earned her MBA from the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan (Go Blue!).
Alexis enjoys showing up for herself so she can provide value to others, giving her dog belly rubs, traveling, exercising, cooking healthy foods, eating chocolate that’s worth it, and being a boy mom, daughter, friend, and volunteer. She wants to move back to her childhood home, Hawaii, so she can enjoy the outdoors all year without a winter coat.




Marci Szopinski
I have been in the mortgage industry for over twenty years. I have seen the ups and the downs of this industry and one thing I learned is, no matter what, communication and customer service are the key to happy clients.
Getting a home loan has many steps, and some of them can appear to be tedious or overwhelming. My goal is to make the process as simple and user friendly as possible. I do this by implementing new technologies to upload your application and documents in a safe and secure manner. I also make sure every person associated with the loan transaction knows where we are at every step of the way.
People have many choices when it comes to obtaining financing these days. Clients and agents choose to work with me and my team at Key Mortgage Services because I over communicate and deliver AMAZING customer service, products and rates.
I am a graduate of DePaul University, longtime Northside of Chicago resident who now resides in Plainfield, devoted Auntie, weekend chef and step mom to 3 amazing boys.
I promise to always work hard for you and put the warm personal touch into your mortgage process.
