Our Staff
One of the most unique experiences you will have at Prout Financial Design is the interaction with our staff. You will meet with Dennis, yet have access to the entire staff for support and added guidance. Their diverse experiences and desire to share knowledge will give you the confidence you need to move forward.
Administrative Staff
Melissa Ingwersen
Director of Administration
Ext 109 | Email Melissa
With an intense love for all people, Melissa brings her extreme organizational skills, extensive background in management and customer service to Prout Financial Design. Melissa enjoys meeting new people and making sure the experience they have is a memorable one. Melissa’s big heart, bright smile and ability to make people feel at ease enables her to tackle any hurdle that comes her way. In her free time Melissa enjoys early morning workouts, good food and spending time with friends and family.
Bethany Shier
Director of Marketing
Beth brings her deep passion for building business and relationships to our firm. Her intuition and ability to connect are woven throughout her work. Beth oversees brand management, community relations, events, communications, education, and anything else that needs attention. In her spare time, Beth can be found enjoying her favorite things: her children, laughter, new adventures, music, or a good book.
Judy Suszek
Client Relations
Judy is a retired finance director who dedicated her professional career to providing financial management for charitable organizations. Working to further the causes of an agency’s mission and provide financial stability to worthy non-profits presented her with invaluable lessens in giving of one’s talents, the importance of sharing compassion, and the impact of effective social change efforts. She brings with her a seasoned understanding of, and appreciation for respectful communication styles, healthy work relationships, positive community connections, and a steadfast attention to detail.
Since relocating to the Traverse City area to live closer to family in 2023, Judy has been enthusiastically exploring the hiking trails, waterfronts, art and music scenes, and eateries of beautiful northwest Michigan.
Judy revels in fun family activities with her children and grandchildren and enjoys traveling, reading, seasonal eats, and cat snuggles. She prefers sunrises over sunsets, long walks in the woods over gym workouts, good books over good movies, and insists on not celebrating Christmas until after Thanksgiving has been given its proper due.
Client Experience Staff
Theresa Barton
Data Specialist
Theresa Barton is Prout’s off-site data wiz! She runs everything from database processing, portfolio monitoring to client support. Theresa has an extensive background in client account maintenance and is stellar at supporting the growing client base with her passion of data entry and analytics. She is our behind-the-scenes daily support for the entire operation and firmly believes there isn’t anything an Excel spreadsheet can’t help solve. Theresa enjoys spending her spare time with her nieces and nephew, seeing live music, and traveling with her hubby.
Kathleen Loup
Director of Client Accounts
With diversified experience and education in legal, finance and customer service, Kathleen brings a well-rounded and detailed approach to our Client Services team. Kathleen firmly believes in learning something new every single day, which drives her ability to problem solve and think outside of the box. Kathleen was born and raised in Traverse City. When she’s not working, you can find her on a lakeshore rock hunting with her two children.
Keegan Maleski
Client Service Representative
Keegan grew up in Leelanau County before moving to the Grand Rapids area to attend Grand Valley State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in advertising and public Relations. His academic background reflects a clear dedication to effective communication, both in delivering accurate information and in fostering strong, trust-based relationships.
Outside of work, Keegan enjoys staying informed about major global events and emerging stories. His commitment to continuous learning and awareness not only fuels his personal interests but also enhances his professional effectiveness. By bringing curiosity, thoughtful communication, and a relationship-focused mindset to his role, Keegan strengthens his ability to support colleagues and serve clients with insight and reliability.
Dalton Michael
Client Service Representative
With extensive experience in team environments, Dalton strives to provide the upmost service to everyone involved here at Prout Financial Design. With a bachelor's degree in finance, he is dedicated to learning and helping clients with important details. When Dalton’s not in the office he spends time coaching youth soccer, and spending time with his family.
Nick VanRyswyk
Client Service Representative
Nicked moved to Traverse City with his wife in 2021 and has called it home ever since. Happily married and a proud dog owner, Nick enjoys life both in and out of the office! When not at work, you'll find him snorkeling in the lake or playing pickleball, making the most of the beautiful Michigan outdoors. Nick brings the same energy and enthusiasm to his work as he does to his hobbies, always striving for excellence in everything he takes on.

