Alumni Award Recipients
Stephen Ciepiela
Zia Award, 2011
All business owners – from the owner of the small corner store to industry giants like Steve Jobs -- get to a point where, for one reason or another, they want to hand over the reins of their company to someone else. That’s when they often say: “Now what?”
A good answer to that question would be: call Stephen Ciepiela.
Co-founder and now President of Charles Stephen and Co. Incorporated, Steve is the “go to” guy for expert counsel on transition planning, retirement planning, and investment advice. During his 30-plus years in business, Steve has created many proprietary processes to ease life’s important transitions. His Strategic Blueprint Formula helps clients achieve financial independence and attain their goals. And Steve’s Retirement Planning Optimization Process helps clients with retirement and transition planning.
Smart strategies and financial expertise -- Steve has them. But, perhaps more importantly in his line of business, he has a way with people. One of Steve’s associates says he’s the ultimate people person, one of those “never met a stranger” types. He instinctively knows when to be serious and when to use humor and he’s just got a good touch. And that’s critical when you’re advising someone on what to do with their future and life savings.
Steve’s roots stretch back to Chicago’s South Side where he grew up. He received an undergraduate education at the United States Air Force Academy before earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UNM. But, he wasn’t done learning. Throughout his career Steve has continued to earn additional accreditations. Now he has a whole alphabet soup after his name for all the designations he’s earned including Certified Financial Planner, Accredited Investment Fiduciary, and Certified Retirement Counselor.
Adding to his accolades, Money Magazine named Steve one of the top 200 financial planners in America by his peers. It’s not just his industry and clients that benefit from Steve’s talents and enthusiasm. Our community and university does too.
Steve gives back to his alma mater by sharing his enthusiasm and expertise with the UNM Lettermen’s Association and the UNM Alumni Association, having served as President to both. He has also dedicated considerable time and energy to Roadrunner Food Bank and serves on the food banks’ board of directors.
His good work and charitable spirit hasn’t gone unnoticed. Steve earned the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce Good Neighbor Award – given for service to the community. Here at UNM we recognize a caring, talented, and dedicated alum when we see one too. Steve, for your work in helping others envision a secure future and helping the UNM Alumni Association do the same, we want to add one more much deserved recognition to your list: UNM’s 2011 Zia Award. Congratulations, Steve!
