At Xcelerate, we believe growth is a skill you can build. People, Process, and Persistence are the secret ingredients that make it stick.

Mary Deatherage

President/Founder

  • Mary Deatherage is founder of Xcelerate Growth Partners LLC, a training platform for wealth advisors and investment professionals. She previously led a 12 person team at Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management, serving high‑net‑worth families, foundations, and pension plans with comprehensive wealth and investment strategies. A former teacher and CPA with Coopers & Lybrand, Mary joined Morgan Stanley in 1986 and has earned repeated recognition from Barron’s and Forbes, including Barron’s “Hall of Fame Advisor” and multiple top‑advisor rankings. She was also honored as a “MAKER: Women Who Make America” in 2014.

    Mary is a proud board member of The Hunger Project, Partnership Schools, and Continuing Creative Education.

Tara Forrest

COO

  • Tara Forrest has over 25 years of experience in the Financial Services industry, with roles in Product Management, Advisory businesses, Business Development, Risk and Branch Operations. She spent most of her career at Morgan Stanley and also worked at Wells Fargo as well as Barings Asset Management.

    She has a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from California State University Fullerton and an MBA from Bryant University in Rhode Island. In addition, she has obtained several FINRA licenses over the course of her career.

    Tara is originally from Massachusetts and currently resides in North Carolina. In her free time she is found enjoying time hiking or on her boat on Lake Hickory with her canine companion.

Jim Tracy

Senior Advisor

  • Jim Tracy is a well-respected industry professional with many previous successes in wealth management.

    Jim Tracy was a Managing Director and a Senior Advisor to Morgan Stanley Wealth Management for many years.  He has a 38-year history with the firm and has been instrumental in leading, building, and driving results in many key initiatives.

    Jim started his career as a Financial Advisor and achieved success at many levels of field leadership as a Branch Manager and then as a Regional Director. His background has helped him gain a unique perspective and deep understanding of both individual and institutional client needs, and the significant importance of the advisor/client relationship.

    In 2005, Morgan Stanley appointed Jim as Head of the industry leading Consulting Group Managed Account business and the Institutional Consulting business, now known as Graystone Consulting.  Under Jim’s leadership, the Consulting Group has become the leading advisory program in the industry with over $2 trillion in assets.  In addition, his team has created substantial innovation and enhancements that paved the way for significant practice management improvements and efficiencies.

    Jim has been recognized many times by his peers across the industry.  In 2018 he received the Pioneer Award from the Managed Money Institute (MMI) and also served as Chairman of the Board of Governors.  Jim has authored many articles, presentations, and keynote speeches on industry trends and innovation in the financial services industry. His forward thinking about the future financial advisor has helped prepare many advisors to be on the leading edge of change.

    Jim and his wife, Joey, live in Powell, Ohio.  They have 3 children, Lauren, JJ and Jamison.

    Jim has also developed a strong reputation for giving back, mentoring others, driving leadership in diversity and inclusion initiatives, and as a culture carrier for Morgan Stanley. One of Jim’s proudest moments in his career was being selected as one of the first male members of MAKERS in recognition of his advocacy, support, and development of professional women in wealth management.

Robert B. Seaberg, PhD

Visiting Faculty

  • Spanning a career of forty years in financial services, “Dr. Bob,” as he is known in the industry, began as a financial advisor and then moved into strategic marketing directorships.

    He has spent nearly two decades with Citi Smith Barney and Morgan Stanley as a Managing Director in charge of Wealth Advisory Solutions. He pioneered the use of regional wealth planning centers, helped develop an industry-leading HNW and UHNW training and designation program for select advisors (Family Wealth Advisor) and established the Philanthropy program. 

Jane Hanson

Communications Coach

  • Emmy Award-winning television journalist and communications coach Jane Hanson has dedicated over 30 years to helping people master the art of communication. Her distinguished career began as a reporter and anchor for NBC New York, and today she continues her impact as a media, presentation and executive presence coach and Forbes contributor, where she focuses on business, leadership, and transition. 

    Jane continues to serve as a sought-after speaker, interviewer, panel moderator, and podcaster, sharing her expertise on topics ranging from healthcare and science to pop culture, finance, and religion.

Krista Sheets

Team Learning Specialist

  • As President of both Competitive Edge, Inc., and Paragon Resources, Inc., Krista leads with a unique methodology, involving ongoing research and curation of the most impactful, scientifically-backed assessments available.

    She has worked with Fortune 500 clients, Wall Street firms, and hundreds of teams in all stages of development to build results-driven solutions.

Melissa Furman

Inter-Generational Specialist

  • Dr. Melissa Furman has a rich academic background in business, counseling, and psychology and her true passion lies within workforce, leadership, and professional development.

    This passion led her to launch Career Potential, a speaking, consulting, training, and coaching organization. Melissa combines her credentials, 20 years of leadership experience, and witty personality for a unique style that drives genuine connections with her audiences and clients.

Melissa Cokely

Lead Learning Experience Designer

  • Melissa Cokely is a learning and development strategist at ELB Learning. She has over 20 years of experience designing and delivering learning programs that align business goals with meaningful skill development. She has led end-to-end learning initiatives across corporate and higher education settings, including needs analysis, program design, facilitation, and evaluation.

    Her work focuses on leadership development, human skills, financial literacy, and AI-enabled learning. With a strong background in stakeholder collaboration and team leadership, Melissa brings a creative, analytical, learner-centered approach to building impactful, engaging development experiences.