Featured Speaker(s)

Canisha Beck

Canisha arrived in Raleigh from Charlotte a year ago when took on her current role as Assistant Branch Manager for two investor centers - Southpoint Mall in Durham and Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh. Her new job keeps her very busy! As she puts it, “From coaching representatives, leading team meetings, focusing on supervisory responsibilities and running a retail office, there is certainly never a dull day.” Canisha has been with Fidelity for almost 13 years, has held every investor center role, and now manages a team of 11 professionals. In 2012 she was named to Fidelity’s inaugural class of branch Voice of Customer Ambassadors--associates who demonstrate passion, leadership and engagement in their efforts to improve the customer experience and help drive improvements and innovations. She was also a participant in the Fidelity Women Ambassadors Summit and serves as an ambassador for women’s investor initiatives.

Congratulations to Canisha on completing her first 5K in November! She is focusing on fitness and nutrition with the support of her family and a Fidelity-provided wellness coach. In addition, she likes to read and volunteers for Junior Achievement, which originally spurred her interest in financial services as a high school participant.

Jennifer Curtis

After graduating from college, Jen worked at a small brokerage firm then decided she’d like to work directly with clients in financial planning. As an Investments Representative in Raleigh, she enjoys meeting a variety of people in different situations and finding the right solutions for them. Jen has also worked on the 401k service, workplace guidance and as a branch Financial Representative. Outside of work, she enjoys spending much of her free time with her two year old daughter and reading, with most of her current material being work-related. She’s also a dedicated yoga practitioner with 10 years of experience. Jen is a Certified Financial Planner and also holds Series 7, 66 and insurance licenses.

Rob Merdes

A native of Charlotte who has been with Fidelity for 21 years, Rob is happy to have been living in his home state for the past nine of them. In 2005, he opened Fidelity’s Durham Investor Center after having held all possible branch positions and being an advisor in the Washington, DC office for five years. Now part of the North Carolina Management Team, Rob began his management career 13 years ago.

Rob’s favorite part of his job is seeing his advisors work with clients to fill their income planning needs for successful retirements. Rob also plays the guitar�"a favorite activity for the past 35 years, coaching his children’s sports teams and golfing. He holds both a Bachelor of Science in Finance and an MBA from Xavier College in Cincinnati.