Chief Executive Officer

Kevin R. Keller, CAE

Kevin R. Keller is Chief Executive Officer of Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board).

Since joining CFP Board in May of 2007, Mr. Keller has:

• Directed the organization’s move in 2007 from Denver to Washington, DC, and hired 55 staff members
• Established CFP Board as a strong advocate for consumer and investor protection by implementing a fiduciary level of accountability on those individuals who use the CFP® mark in the delivery of financial planning services and working extensively with individuals, as well as firms that employ those individuals, to ensure compliance with those standards – the highest in financial planning
• Built a public policy infrastructure to ensure policy makers understand and appreciate the benefits to the public of a credentialing model built on examination, education, experience and ethics predicated on the fiduciary duty of care – the baseline standards established by CFP Board
• Led the reengineering and implementation of the organization’s disciplinary and enforcement process to increase transparency and accountability by including “public” non-certificant volunteers on hearing panels, with the objective of assuring safeguards for the public and a fair process for certificants

Mr. Keller joined CFP Board in May 2007 after serving 16 years with the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP), a membership organization which provides products, education and training for treasury and corporate finance. At AFP, he held the position of senior vice president and chief operating officer for the prior seven years and managed programs and services for the 16,000-member organization. He led the organization's strategic planning process and enhanced and grew the Certified Treasury Professional credential.

Mr. Keller has held senior staff positions at several associations and earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential in 2000. He holds a B.S. in agriculture and an M.S., both from Ohio State University.

Managing Director, Public Policy & Communications

Marilyn Mohrman-Gillis, Esq.

Marilyn Mohrman-Gillis has been Managing Director of Public Policy &Communications since July 2008.

She develops and oversees CFP Board’s advocacy initiatives to ensure the visibility and credibility of the CFP® certification with legislators, regulators and other policy makers. During her 30-year career in the nation’s capital, Ms. Mohrman-Gillis has built a broad portfolio of advocacy on behalf of the American public for and with regulators and legislators. As Director of Policy and Federal Relations with the National League of Cities (NLC), Ms. Mohrman-Gillis directed policy development, federal advocacy, and grassroots mobilization for the nation’s leading association representing municipalities across the country. She also directed the NLC’s advocacy before Congress and federal agencies on a number of issues, including extensive work with tax and finance policies.

As Vice President for Policy and Legal Affairs and General Counsel for the Association of Public Television Stations, Ms. Mohrman-Gillis had extensive legal and regulatory policy responsibilities, supplemented with a key role in strategic planning for the association, its board and member public television stations. As a supervising attorney in the Federal Communications Commission’s Mass Media Bureau, she managed staff attorneys who were responsible for the development of broadcast and cable rules. She began her career as a litigator in the Washington, DC, office of the law firm Steptoe & Johnson. She has a BA in Psychology from St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, an MSW from Catholic University and a JD from the Columbus School of Law, Catholic University.  She previously served on the Board of Governors for the District of Columbia Bar and was Chair of the Board for the Legal Counsel for the Elderly. 

Managing Director, Professional Standards & Legal

Michael P. Shaw, Esq.

Michael P. Shaw joined CFP Board in August 2007 as Managing Director of Professional Standards and Legal.

He coordinates the Professional Standards department’s investigative and enforcement responsibilities with the adjudicatory function of CFP Board’s Disciplinary and Ethics Commission to ensure that CFP® professionals adhere to the high standards of ethical conduct established in CFP Board’s Standards of Professional Conduct. Mr. Shaw also manages the work of CFP Board’s legal department, oversees the enforcement and protection of the organization’s intellectual property, including its CFP® certification marks, and serves as Corporate Secretary of the organization.

Before joining CFP Board, Mr. Shaw worked at NASD (now known as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or FINRA), where he held positions of progressive responsibility, including an appointment as Senior Counsel in the Office of Regulatory Policy. He also served as Counsel at Monumental Life Insurance Company, a division of AEGON, and is a former Northwestern Mutual® agent. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Marquette University and a law degree from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He is licensed to practice law in the state of Maryland and has earned the designations Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Certified Regulatory Compliance Professional (CRCP). He formerly held the Series 7 securities license, and life and health licenses.

Photo by Jamie Rose

Managing Director, Examinations, Education & Talent

Michele W. Warholic, Esq., CAE

Michele W. Warholic has been Managing Director of Examinations, Education and Talent since September 2009.

In this role, she provides oversight to CFP Board's continuing development of the rigorous CFP® Certification Examination; establishes and upholds educational standards for enhancing the knowledge, skills, and abilities of current and potential CFP® professionals; and leads the acquisition, retention and assignment of the high-performing staff which CFP Board needs for strategic goal attainment. Ms. Warholic was part of the CFP Board transition team for more than a year on projects related to the transition to Washington, DC from Denver and immediately contributed and connected to the CFP Board’s mission.

Ms. Warholic provides extensive experience in the areas of education, examinations and talent management from her past positions as Executive Director of the AAUW - American Association of University Women Educational Foundation, and Leadership and Training Institute; Executive Dean at Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College; Executive Assistant to the President/Chief Personnel Officer at West Virginia Northern Community College; Associate Attorney at Newman, Olson & Kerr; Adjunct Faculty at Hiram College; and various personnel and labor relations management positions at General Motors.

She is a past president of the AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund Board of Directors. Ms. Warholic earned her Certified Association Executive credential, holds a JD from the University of Akron School of Law and holds a BA in Business Management from Hiram College.