About Us

Ralph Abbott is the founder and principal manager of Prospera Advisory Group which manages a mortgage fund. Prior to founding Prospera Advisory Group, Mr. Abbott formed Premier Commercial Group, Inc. where he currently serves as President.

During his 20 year banking career, Mr. Abbott has been a commercial underwriter and lender. He has originated over a half a billion dollars of commercial real estate loans and was a top ten producing National Commercial Lender at Lehman Brothers. Mr. Abbott is the author of a best selling book as well as a number of publications on private mortgage investing.

Mr. Brooks is the President and founding Member of the Physicians First Leasing LLC, a specialty finance company providing lease financing for medical equipment.  Mr. Brooks is accountable for the overall performance of Physicians First, including its capital stack, and its overall safety and soundness.  Prior to helping Physicians First, Steve spent 28 years in commercial banking, and 3 years in the private industry.

Mr. Brooks serves on the Central Ohio Metropolitan YMCA Board and the Buckeye Leadership Fellows Advisory Committee. Steve graduated from Albion College in 1989 with a BA (double major in English and Economics & Management), and the Ohio State University in 1994 (MBA in Finance).

Tenesha M. Hartgrove, CPA, EA, CFP®, PFS is a seasoned financial professional with a wealth of expertise in accounting, taxation, and personal financial planning. Currently serving as the Principal at Ncrease Financial Services, she has successfully expanded the firm from its origins as a part-time tax preparation business to a thriving enterprise with a diverse clientele spanning various industries.

As the President of the Columbus Chapter of NABA Inc., Ms. Hartgrove has led initiatives aimed at fostering networking opportunities and professional development for accounting professionals while actively promoting accounting career awareness among high school students. Her role as the Board Treasurer for the Martin Luther King Breakfast Committee Inc. and the Diverse Organization of Firms further demonstrates her dedication to community service and organizational stewardship.

Ms. Hartgrove holds a Masters in Taxation from Capital University Law School, complementing her Bachelor of Science in Finance from Franklin University.

Ms. Bradley is the local government affairs and engagement manager at JobsOhio, a position responsible for leading engagement, outreach, and collaboration with government officials and other key stakeholders. She assists in strategy execution and plays an instrumental role in helping to increase JobsOhio’s visibility and engagement with all stakeholders.

Prior to joining JobsOhio, Ms. Bradley served in various roles in the natural gas utility industry and is a seasoned professional with more than two decades of experience in economic development, public policy, public-private partnerships and government/corporate relations.

Active in the community, she serves on the boards of Columbus-Franklin County Finance Authority, Columbus Chamber of Commerce and Ohio Economic Development Association, Gahanna Community Reinvestment Area Housing Council and Columbus Chamber Governmental Affairs Committee.

Ms. Bradley holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and master’s in business administration from Franklin University.

Dr. Alutto served as The Ohio State University’s Interim President for the 2013-2014 period. Prior to that he served as Executive Vice President and Provost from 2007-2013.

Dr. Alutto specializes in corporate performance, leadership, and Sino-U.S. joint venture activity. He has been a consultant to banks, manufacturing firms, aerospace companies, health care agencies, and educational institutions. In addition, he is a member of a number of corporate boards and has served in leadership capacities for a wide variety of volunteer organizations. He also serves as a nationally based labor arbitrator.

Darci Congrove is the Managing Director of GBQ Partners LLC, Columbus’ largest local public accounting firm. She performs a wide range of tax planning and compliance services, as well as general business consulting, and is a frequent speaker in the community on topics of tax and wealth planning.

Ms. Congrove is a 2003 graduate of Leadership Columbus, was recognized on the Business First Forty Under 40 list in 2002, and was named as one of the twelve Women You Should Know in 2010 by Women for Economic Leadership & Development.

Mr. Jones is a mission-driven financial professional with deep experience across the investment cycle, from origination and underwriting to portfolio management. As a Director at Stonehenge Capital, Mr. Jones focuses on structuring and deploying capital to middle-market companies in underserved communities, with the goal of creating economic impact and job growth. He has led over $130 million in investments across 18 transactions totaling nearly $400 million in value, and played a key role in managing a $25 million rural Ohio revolving loan fund.

Previously, Mr. Jones served as Assistant Vice President at Lancaster Pollard (now Lument), where he oversaw a $1.2 billion transaction pipeline and closed $250 million in agency and public debt transactions for senior living and affordable housing projects. Earlier in his career, he spent six years as Head Pastor at New Hope Presbyterian Church, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, developing leadership and community engagement skills that continue to inform his collaborative approach to finance.

Mr. Jones holds an MBA in Finance and Strategy from The Ohio State University, a Master of Divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary, and a BA from Case Western Reserve University. He also holds Series 79 and Series 52 certifications and brings a unique blend of financial acumen and mission-focused vision to his work.

Mr. Keller is an experienced financial executive with over two decades of leadership in banking and financial services. As the President, CEO, and co-founder of Buckeye State Bank since 2014, he has overseen strategic planning, regulatory compliance, financial performance, and team development. Under his leadership, the bank has seen remarkable growth, with over $40 million raised in equity investments, annual revenue growth exceeding 35%, and asset growth above 32%. He manages a significant bond and derivatives portfolio and has implemented robust audit and compliance systems.

Prior to this role, Mr. Keller led the successful formation and acquisition efforts of Buckeye Nation Interim, Inc., and held executive positions at Kemba Financial Credit Union and The Ohio State Bank, where he led a financial turnaround. He also has foundational experience in bank organization and lending from earlier roles at Rbancshares, Inc. and Commercial Savings Bank. He holds an M.B.A. from Ashland University, a B.S. in Economics from the University of Akron, and is a graduate of the Southwest Graduate School of Banking at SMU. Mr. Keller is also an Accredited Payments Risk Professional.