Our Team

Brian J. Cleven is CEO of Pillar Wealth Management Co.. Brian has consulting, senior management, capital market, and investment advisory industry experience gained over the past 30 years. Brian’s areas of expertise include investing, diversification/asset allocation, risk management, client education, and financial planning. He is NASAA Series 66 Uniform Combined State Law Exam licensed.

Brian earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. He had previously received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. He is a licensed Professional Engineer (PE).

Brian and his wife Becky live in Sun Prairie, and together they have two married adult children and several grandchildren. Brian enjoys outdoor activities.

William J. Meland founded Pillar Wealth Management Co., an independent fee based management firm, in 2001. Bill has over 25 years of experience in investment management focusing on asset allocation as well as estate planning, asset preservation, and risk management. Bill is passionate about helping people make financial decisions that are congruent with their principles, values and dreams and enjoys the long-term relationships he has with his clients.

Bill attended the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Madison Area Technical College and received an Associate Degree in Finance. Since completing his education, Bill has been continually involved in the insurance and securities fields. He has successfully passed several securities-industry examinations including the FINRA Series 6 Investment Company/Variable Products contracts Limited Representative Exam, NASAA Series 63 Uniform Securities Agent State Law Exam and the Series 66 Uniform Combined State Law Exam. Bill is also licensed as an insurance agent in Wisconsin for life and health insurance.

Bill and his wife, Doreen, live outside New Glarus and have three children. Bill is involved in his church and enjoys most sports, including basketball, football, baseball, and golf. They enjoy traveling, hiking, and other outdoor activities.

Skip has been helping his clients determine, document and achieve their financial goals for over 20 years. He applies his knowledge and experience to help clients become more financially secure, understand and manage risks, and protect their estates. Skip believes in providing the highest quality customer service.

He attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, majoring in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance.

Skip is married to his wife, Brenda, who manages the family’s self-storage business, and they live in rural southwestern Wisconsin. Together, they have two active children who are involved in a variety of team sports. In their free time, Skip and his family love spending time outdoors.

Patrick R. Sturm is an owner and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Pillar Wealth Management Co. Patrick has over 20 years of investment and capital market experience with a focus on understanding client’s values, goals and needs. He has equivalent experience applying in-depth capital market research, investor risk tolerance quantification and analysis, and tax awareness to develop tailored solutions. Patrick has attained the Certified Investment Management Analyst and Certified Private Wealth Advisor designations and graduated from Marquette University with a degree in Finance. He is NASAA Series 66 Uniformed Combined State Law Exam licensed.

Patrick resides in Brookfield and in his free time enjoys playing golf and cheering on the Packers, Brewers, and Marquette Basketball.

Cara R. Wolenec is the Director of Operations of Pillar Wealth Management Co.. She has over ten years of experience in accounting and finance. Cara is NASAA Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination licensed.

Cara attended Madison Area Technical College and then Upper Iowa University and earned her Bachelor Degree in Accounting. She is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the State of Wisconsin.

Cara and her husband, Brian, have two adult children. She enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends. Cara grew up on a farm in the rolling hills of Southwest Wisconsin.