With more than 15 years of experience supporting executives and entrepreneurs, Cari brings a calm presence and the ability to create order from complexity as she provides high-level support to Andy Dropkin, CD Wealth’s Chief Investment Officer.
Known for her organization and her skills as a project coordinator, Cari was drawn to the firm because of its culture of respect and its focus on teamwork. Even during her first interactions with leadership, she saw how intentionally the company fosters gratitude, communication and integrity — qualities that resonated with her immediately.
“I’ve seen it since the first day here,” she says. “We share gratitude every morning with our wins, and then weekly gratitude for each other.
“Respect is how we treat each other and our clients, and after lots of experiences, I realize that that’s a huge deal.”
Before joining CD Wealth, Cari worked at Stronghold Investment Management as Executive Assistant to the Managing Partner and previously held a number of operations and executive support roles, including organizing her father’s trucking business and working directly for a serial entrepreneur who ran seven companies from a one-room office. Those experiences taught her how to manage competing priorities, anticipate needs, and thrive in fast-moving environments.
Before that chapter in her career, Cari was an English professor at Collin College, NCTC and Dallas College, where she taught writing, rhetoric and literature. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of North Texas and spent a memorable period of time studying abroad at the University of Glasgow in Scotland.
As a “military brat,” Cari spent her childhood on the move, with stops in Missouri, San Francisco, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, and North Texas. She credits that experience with shaping her independence, adaptability, and ability to read a room — skills that come in handy in her work supporting senior executives.
Outside the office, Cari enjoys spending time with her family, cheering on her two nephews, and unwinding with a good mystery novel. On Saturdays in the fall, you’ll find her paying close attention to the college football landscape, particularly her two favorite teams — conference rivals Oklahoma and Texas A&M, both of which have strong family ties.
Education: University of North Texas — Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature/Letters, History, and Political Science; Master’s in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies