When vice president and trust officer Jan Miller joined Caldwell Trust Company on January 1, 2001, the company was undergoing the orderly transition that co-founders Roland G. Caldwell and his son, R. G. “Kelly” Caldwell Jr. had planned. Roland would be retiring in the next year or so and Kelly would pick up the reins.
Kelly was pleased with the existing staff—in fact, they’re almost all still here—but he anticipated growth and wanted to expand. “I was the first member Kelly hired for his team,” Jan says. She loves the trust business and had worked at Southeast Trust since 1978. There she met Lloyd E. “Leo” O’Meara, the man who would become her mentor. Leo later left Southeast for First National Bank of Venice, where he met Roland, a consultant to the bank. The two joined with a few other experienced professionals to found Caldwell Trust Company.
Jan resigned from Southeast—and the banking industry—in 1988 because she wasn’t comfortable with the move by banks to sell products to clients. She became a development officer for not-forprofit organizations.
In 1996 Leo invited Jan to “come and see what Caldwell is building.” He introduced her to Kelly and told her, “This is where you belong.” Jan and Kelly met then and several times thereafter. Jan was impressed, among other reasons, with Caldwell’s refusal to sell products, its independence and its family feeling, but the timing was never right for her to leave her current position. Still, she missed the trust business. Finally, in 2001, she was able to make the move.
When Jan joined Caldwell, Roland was still president and CEO. Working with him were trust officers Kelly Caldwell, Leo O’Meara and H. Lee Thacker, Jr. Although Leo passed away in 2003, the other three remain with Caldwell and have been joined by seven more trust officers for a total of 10.
Jan moved to Caldwell’s Sarasota office in Palmer Ranch in 2002. In 2009 she oversaw the move to the downtown office, which she heads. In 2011, Caldwell established four committees to guide its growth. Jan chairs the New Business Development Committee.
She brought her love for the not-for-profits with her and has continued to serve them—notably The Florida Center and Tidewell Hospice—by heading their committees and chairing their boards.
Outside of work she and her husband, Mote Marine scientist Jim Culter, care for their two golden retrievers. Jan also loves to cook and she and Jim benefit from their shared interest in gardening, even growing their own vegetables.
“It’s hard to believe I’ve been here for 12 years,” Jan says. “Caldwell is everything Leo promised me and more. This is my final job!”
To reach Jan, email jan@ctrust.com or phone 941.926.9336.
About Caldwelll Trust
Caldwell Trust Company is an independent trust company with offices in Venice and Sarasota, Florida. The company offers a full range of fiduciary services to individuals, including services as trustee, custodian, investment adviser, financial manager and personal representative. Additionally, Caldwell manages 401(k) and 403(b) qualified retirement plans for employers.
