Our Board
Liucija Smaizyte Wright - President
Liucija is a First Vice President and Financial Advisor on the SteelCrest Wealth Management Group at Morgan Stanley. A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, she focuses on creating and presenting personalized wealth planning solutions by building long-term relationships with clients to help them achieve their financial goals. She loves people and loves working with clients to help them paint a picture of their financial opportunities and expectations. She first interned with Morgan Stanley in 2014 and returned in 2016 as a Wealth Advisor Associate. She joined the team in August 2018. In 2019, she earned her CFP® designation after successfully completing comprehensive financial planning coursework and having met experience and ethical requirements.
Originally from Lithuania, Liucija came to the United States on a full athletic scholarship to play tennis at the University of Texas at Arlington. She transferred to University of Montevallo in 2013, where she helped the tennis team reach Peach Belt Conference championship for the first time in the school’s history. Liucija graduated magna cum laude, and first in her class, at the University of Montevallo earning Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance, and minors in MIS and Pre-Law. While at Montevallo, she earned the Academic Achievement Award, was on the President’s List, a Gold Scholar, and one of twelve students selected as a Montevallo Master two years in a row. In 2022, she earned MBA degree.
When she was 14 years old, she represented the Lithuanian tennis team at the Junior Olympics, and at age 16, she was ranked the number one tennis player in Lithuania. However, having grown up in a family that struggled financially, she had to work very hard to achieve her goals. Thus, she is very passionate about helping her clients to achieve their personal goals and dreams and be financially independent. She focuses on helping clients with financial planning to help them live successful and happier lives by working to increase their comfort level, and helping to preserve things that they treasure in life.
Liucija is on the boards of multiple organizations including Alabama Women in Business, Alabama Economics Club and GirlSpring. She is multilingual, fluent in English, Russian, and Lithuanian. She and her husband, Steven, live in Vestavia Hills with their adopted dog Cooper. Liucija is honored to serve as the 2023 president.
CFP Board owns the marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ in the U.S.
CRC5858127 9/23
Katelyn Foote - Secretary
Katelyn is a design researcher passionate about the intersecting institutions and informal interactions that make up the social life of a city. At Quire Consulting, she uses human-centered design to help organizations solve problems, find consensus, and move forward. Katelyn has worked with non-profit organizations in Birmingham and across Alabama providing a range of services, and has also held positions in small local businesses focused on hospitality.
Katelyn is part of the Greater Birmingham Ministries program The Exchange, and volunteers as a researcher and writer for their Election Guide. She hosts a podcast with international colleagues and friends exploring women’s work in cities and urban design called "What Would Jane Do". Katelyn holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and social entrepreneurship from Samford University (Birmingham, AL) and a master’s degree in urban strategies and design from The University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University (Edinburgh, Scotland).
Jessica Harrison - VP Communications
Jessica Harrison, RN is a single mom & the proud owner of PolyC's Premium PCOS. She helps women all over the world reach their health goals, naturally. Last year, she helped 500 women conceive despite the struggles of PCOS. PolyC's is an all natural, vegan supplement to help balance hormones so you can feel your best.
Astrid Jerez Carreño - Social Media
Astrid is a passionate plant lover and entrepreneur who found her calling in greenery! She graduated from Los Andes University with a degree in Social Communication in 2024. Originally from Venezuela, she made a bold move to the U.S. at just 19 years old in 2021. Before that, she kicked off her love for plants by selling succulent cuttings in tuna cans—a fun and unique business she started back in 2020.
After a journey of self-discovery in a new country, Astrid reconnected with her love for plants and, in February 2024, launched her own interiorscaping and plant care business. She’s been on a mission ever since to help commercial and residential clients keep their green spaces thriving. She also loves building a vibrant plant community in Birmingham, where she hosts hands-on workshops like Kokedama and Desert Terrariums.
When she's not surrounded by plants, Astrid enjoys biking around town, practicing yoga, hanging out with her chickens, dog, and cat, strumming her ukulele, and trying her hand at any form of art that catches her eye.
