CLEVELAND–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#ExitPlanning—Exit Planning Institute® (EPI), the leading authority on exit planning for advisors, business consultants and business owners, announced today the winners of the annual Excellence in Exit Planning Awards. Renee Russo has been selected as the 2026 Peter Christman Exit Planner of the Year for advancing the profession through her dedication to owner education and her involvement in the exit planning community.
The Excellence in Exit Planning Awards were presented at the 2026 Exit Planning Summit, held in Nashville, TN from April 19-21. Named after EPI co-founder Peter Christman, the Exit Planner of the Year award recognizes a Certified Exit Planning Advisor® (CEPA) who is a best-in-class exit planning professional and educates business owners and advisors.
Winner Renee Russo is the founder and CEO of Rise Up Business Coaching Ltd, an advisory business dedicated to helping business owners and entrepreneurs. In 2024, Russo published Ready to Rise, a best-selling book that introduced the Rise Energy Management System to address the exit planning topics most business owners overlook.
Speaking on exit planning, Russo shared, “This work is deeply personal for me. I have lived the experience of being a business owner without clarity on my options or a coordinated advisory team. That journey shaped my belief that every owner deserves better. They deserve a clear path, a proven process, and a team around them who can help them move forward with confidence.”
In addition to the Exit Planner of the Year Award, EPI announced three additional award winners.
- The Thought Leader of the Year was awarded to Todd Yeiter, Director of Life Insurance and Annuity Wholesaling at Thrivent Financial.
- The Member of the Year Award was awarded to Jason “Wally” Waldron, founder of Exitology, a business growth and value acceleration firm focused on maximizing business value and guiding owners through business transition.
- The first ever Chapter of the Year Award was awarded to the Greater Los Angeles Chapter due to its growth and high levels of member engagement over the last 12 months.
“Each year, the exit planning community grows stronger and more sophisticated,” said Scott Snider, President of EPI. “This year’s winners are shaping the future of our profession—setting new standards of excellence and impact. Congratulations to Renee, Todd, Jason and the Greater Los Angeles Chapter on their wins.”
EPI also welcomed new members to its Circle of Excellence: Scott Miller, an original EPI faculty member and founder of Enterprise Services, Inc., Mike Trabert, who launched an owner roundtable series that is still conducted today, Hal Dursema, the first ever CEPA at a major wirehouse who spearheaded the credential at UBS, and Joe Strazzeri, a multi-award-winning CEPA. Additionally, milestone members were honored for 15 years of CEPA membership: Odee Ingersoll, Douglas Dickey, Roy Messing, Jay Simecek, and Craig West.
Previous winners of the Exit Planner of the Year Award include: Joe Seetoo, Amy Wirtz, Joe Strazzeri, Justin Goodbread, Dan Doran, Melisa Silverman, Mike Trabert and Gordon Bell. Learn more about the Excellence in Exit Planning Awards by visiting the EPI website.
About The Exit Planning Institute
Exit Planning Institute (EPI) was formed in 2005 to serve professional business advisors’ educational and resource needs. Its Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) credential program is the most widely endorsed professional exit planning program in the world, providing advisors with the content, tools, and training needed to engage business owners and become their most valued advisors. For more information, visit exit-planning-institute.org.
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