Our Team
Joseph H. Spano, Sr.
President and CEO
Joe entered the Insurance and Financial Services Industry in 1983.
Mr. Spano is a Life Member of the Million Dollar Round Table. He has qualified for the prestigious award for 25 years, earning 15 "Court of the Table" qualifications. Mr. Spano is the only 4-time "Top of the Table" Million Dollar Round Table member in the State of West Virginia, the highest achievement in the financial services industry for production and ethics.
Joe has finished as the #1 top producing advisor for three different companies, namely CitiStreet (a Citigroup and State Street joint retirement conglomerate), MetLife, and AIG, out of over 165,000 advisors, and won numerous industry and company awards in his 41-year career.
Joe has published articles with Plan Sponsor and Barron's, and his vision for Mergers and Acquisitions has been used worldwide. Joe is the Author of the book "The Informed Fed." This book highlights every aspect of federal benefits available to Federal Employees.
Sarah E. Porter, MBA
Executive Vice President
Sarah entered the Financial world in 1996 as a Trust Officer at one of America's largest Bank holding companies, and She was awarded the Community Banker's Award. In 2001, Sarah joined the Financial Services Industry with Merrill Lynch & Company, quickly becoming one of the firm's leading Financial Advisors.
Sarah then joined Baird & Associates, one of the world's largest consulting firms, handling accounts such as Enterprise Rental, Smucker’s, and Form Swift.
In 2020, Sarah returned to her native West Virginia, joining Patriot Institutional Consulting in 2023 as the Executive Vice President. Sarah runs the day-to-day operations and works directly with Federal agencies.
Susan E. Smith,
Vice President of Marketing
Susan began her career as a high school teacher, teaching basic business and history. She was then named Vice-principal before moving on to the financial services industry as an agent with Prudential Insurance of America.
Susan was a fast starter, being named "Rookie of the Year" in her first year in the business. In 1997, she left Prudential to take a management position with Guardian Life, where she managed a staff of 34 agents. Susan specialized in Disability Insurance for high-net-worth clients. After retiring in 2019, Patriot was fortunate to gain her vast knowledge in the Insurance marketplace.
Terri R. Spano,
BSN, RN, CCDI Director of Government Contracting and bid/award management
Terri, after 38 years in nursing and hospital management, joined Patriot in 2023 with a wealth of knowledge in the medical field. She now brings the firm the detailed skills of managing our consulting team proposals and contacts, offering her nationwide bid assistance from the smallest City plans to the Entire Federal enterprise.
Terri, after graduating from Marshall University Magna Cum Laude, has one Son and 4 grand Children. She is the backbone of the firm.
Erica Blake
Vice President of Federal Employee Education
Erica, joined Federal Employee Retirement services as a backgrownd in Practical Nursing. She has extensive knowledge in Federal employees full benefit package. She specializes inSocial Security, Medicare parts A, B, and D, including Med Sups. She is veryinformed in Medicare part C ( Medicare advantage plans) and can help employees decide which is best for them or whether to keep their /federal Health Insurance offered by Your federal benefit plan. She covers FERS and how to calculate, annd when it is possible for you to enter into retirement, she is very knowledgeable in FEGLI, and the pricing plans that go with it. Erica continues her education and is enrolled in the FRC classes at this time. she plans to have her designation in the near future.
Danielle St. Clair
Director of Medicare and Federal Benefit Programs Social Security Specialist, Federal Benefits Consultant
Danielle started in the Insurance and Financial Services industry in 2018. She has devoted much of her career to the Medicare division of the Federal government and now specializes in all parts of Medicare and the complex decisions people have to make, and guides them into the best possible plans to benefit their individual needs.
Danielle is an expert in designing the right plan to go along with or replace Federal Employee Health Insurance.
She knows part A, B, D, G and N, and also plan C (Medicare Advantage plans) Danielle is the mother of 2 and an avid tennis player, she is also a partner of Insurance Solutions of KY, which she specializes in group Health, Life, Dental and Vision Plans. Danielle is also a partner with Insurance Soulutions of Kentucky, where she monitors Employer benefit plans and Medicare plans.
Joseph H. Spano, Jr.
Attorney At Law - Institutional & Governmental Consultant
Joey Spano is a husband and father of two boys, and two dogs. He is a managing partner at Pritt & Spano PLLC. Before starting the firm, he was a senior assistant prosecuting attorney in Kanawha County. Mr. Spano graduated from George Washington High School in Charleston, Concord University in Athens, WV, and WVU Law School. At Concord, he was a captain of the football team and an all conference linebacker. He is currently a candidate for Charleston City Counsel. When he's away from the office, Mr. Spano enjoys participating in all our beautiful state has to offer. In Charleston, he enjoys coaching youth sports, boating, and hiking. He also enjoys riding ATVs, fishing, hunting, and shooting while at his family farm in Ravenswood. Prior to founding Pritt and Spano, PLLC, Mr. Spano practiced with the Office of the Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney for several years. He prosecuted criminals in numerous misdemeanor and felony trials. Mr. Spano worked in Magistrate Court trying over 100 misdemeanor bench trials, with many of those being DUI’s. Mr. Spano also represented the State for the first year of the Kanawha County Domestic Violence Pilot Court, where he prosecuted domestic violence and gained much experience in Kanawha County Family Court. Mr. Spano’s numerous years in Circuit Court he covered numerous felony trials, plea agreements, probation, and home confinement violations and expungement hearings. As a prosecuting attorney, Mr. Spano has tried hundreds of misdemeanor and felony trials gaining an unprecedented amount of court room experience. Mr. Spano has experience in criminal law, family law, and DUI representation. He is also skilled in civil law, in which he has worked on wrongful death, mesothelioma, federal 1983 and car injury cases. Mr. Spano works with many of the top plaintiff’s firms throughout Charleston.
Joseph, is our onsite Attorney that supervises the RFP process and makes sure the bids are legal and within the laws of the State of West Virginia and subsequent states of issue.
Nikki R Paterno
Federal Retirement Analyst
Nikki, has over 14 years in the Investment world beginning her career with Smith Barney ( Morgan Stanley ), as a financial advisor, then moving to Wells Fargo Financial Services as Assistant Branch Manager. Nikki brings a wealth of Knowledge to our team, as she has extensive knowledge of th eThrift Savings plan, its funds and how they are managed. Nikki has won numerous industry awards, and holds an MBA from Penn State University.
Nikki and her husband Anthony reside in Pittsburgh PA, have 2 boys age 17 and 15, they enjoy sports, camping, boating and spending time with family.
Nikki has earned the Platnum Club with 3 different companies, namely F & G Life, American Equity Investment, and Delaware Life. Nikki met Mr. Spano at her Uncle Sam's home, one of Mr Spano's fraternity brothers.
William J. Skiles
Federal Retirement Analyst
Billy Skiles started his long career 37 years ago in Plano, Texas as an agent with John Hancock Financial, and after 13 years as a top producer and manager, then being promoted to General Agent. Billy then took a Vice-President of Sales for the western Division for Ohio National Financial in Cincinnati, OH. After returning home to Texas and a brief retirement Billy has been in the federal employee market for the past 4 years. Billy and his wife Sue have 4 grown Children, and spend time with their 8 grandchildren. Billy met Mr. Spano, while at Ohio National some 28 years ago, when Mr. Spano was the top producer and General Agent for Ohio National.
