Biography
of
Diahann
(Wyke) Lassus
In 1985, Diahann W. Lassus co-founded Lassus Wherley, a wealth management
firm with offices in New Providence, New Jersey and Naples, Florida.
Diahann is President of the company.
Diahann has focused on finance since 1970 when she handled accounts
payable for Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Florida while attending college at
night. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from
Florida State University in 1976. In 1977, Diahann earned an MBA
from the University of North Florida. During this period, she worked
as a graduate research assistant and was co-author of a study on the economic
impact of the University of North Florida on the surrounding community.
Experience
After receiving her MBA, Diahann worked for Western Electric until
1984, fine-tuning her skills in assessment, analysis, supervision and planning.
She also developed first applications for new products including site selection,
presentation to customers and process monitoring. Diahann worked for several
AT&T organizations between 1977 and 1984, at one point overseeing annual
sales of $140 million and managing 60 employees. In 1984, she was
AT&T’s Field Operations Manager for the Special Project Olympic Operations
in Los Angeles, creating in eight months the largest temporary telecommuni-cations
network in existence.
Diahann taught Organizational Communication and Corporate Social Responsibility
at the University of New Orleans during the 1978-79 and 1981-82 academic
years. Between 1987 and 1989, Diahann taught at Upsala College and the
College of Saint Elizabeth. She is an accomplished author and lecturer
with articles appearing in newspaper financial columns and other financial-interest
publications. She speaks on financial topics at universities and business
seminars on a regular basis.
Accomplishments
In 1998, President Bill Clinton appointed Diahann to the Retirement
Savings Summit in Washington, D.C. In 1996, New Jersey Governor Christine
Whitman appointed her to the New Sources of Capital Board. In 2000,
New Jersey Speaker of the Assembly, Jack Collins, appointed Diahann to
the Assembly Business Task Force.
Diahann served on the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards,
Board of Governors from 1994-97 and on the Editorial Review Board of the
Journal of Financial Planning.
?In 1995, Diahann was a delegate to the White House Conference on Small
Business, for which she chaired the New Jersey Capital Formation Committee.
Diahann appears regularly on CNBC and is often quoted in many national
publications, including the Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Investor’s
Business Daily.
Diahann served on Corporate and Advisory Boards including FSO Technologies,
Inc., Charles Schwab Institutional and Women's Financial Network at Siebert.
She currently serves on National Advisors Trust Company, FSB, Board of
Directors, the Rothman Institute of Entrepreneurial Studies Advisory Board,
and International Institute of NJ Advisory Board.
Since 1994, Diahann has been a member of the Board of Directors for
the Center for Women's Business Research, (founded as the National Foundation
for Women Business Owners), and is currently serving her second term as
Treasurer of the Board.
Honors
Diahann was named one of Worth Magazine’s Top Financial Advisors an
unprecedented six times, beginning in 1994 with the top-60 list and most
recently the 2004 Most Exclusive 100. She was named among the 120
Best Financial Advisors for Doctors by Medical Economics magazine.
Diahann has been profiled in the Dow Jones Investment Advisor Magazine,
CPA Wealth Provider, the Journal of Financial Planning and Financial Advisor
Magazine.
Diahann was named U.S. Small Business Administration’s 1995 New Jersey
Women in Business Advocate. The following year, she was awarded the
University of North Florida’s Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award.
In 2001 Diahann participated as a speaker in Florida State University’s
Bruning Distinguished Speaker Series. Diahann has been named to the
following in Business News New Jersey:
The Business News 100
Twenty-six Intriguing Women of New Jersey Business
Top Women in Business
Women of Influence 2004
Diahann was elected President of the National Association of Women
Business Owners (NAWBO) from 1998-99 and her service to that organization
and the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners has been recognized
in the following ways:
2004 NJ Gillian Rudd Vanguard Award
1999 First Annual Abigail Adams Award
1996 NAWBO Member of the Year
1995-96 President’s Citation for Commitment
1994-95 President’s Service Award
1993 Nancy C. Righter Service Award
1990 Business Woman of the Year
Professional Affiliations
Diahann’s dedication to her profession and support of the business
community extends well beyond her office walls. In addition to her
affiliation with the National Association of Women Business Owners (Past
President, Treasurer) and the New Jersey Association of Women Business
Owners (State Board of Directors, Past President), she has also served
on the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, 1998 to
2004.
She is a past National Board Member of the Institute of Certified Financial
Planners (now the Financial Planning Association). She is a member
of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the
New Jersey Society of CPAs (NJCPA), the Financial Planning Association
(FPA), the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA),
Executive Women of New Jersey and NJ 300.