Our Staff & Board

Scroll down to get to know our mission and the folks that make it happen.

Our Mission

The ACE Fiduciary Group, A Non-Profit Corporation. We complete the circle of care for solo agers, "orphan" elders and dependent special needs adults.  We are poised to handle SNT and Dynasty Trusts.

As a group of experienced professionals we are dedicated to offering hope to those who's family members cannot serve as a private trustee, agent, conservator or estate administrator. We are building an organization to offer a continnuum of care with accountability, compassion and excellence.

About Us

  • Our Founder, Loren Emmanuel has logged over 10,000 hours to become an expert in this field.
  • Fiduciary Officers and staff take ongoing education courses relevant to the responsibilities of estate management, brain functioning, conservatorship, trusts, and related topics.
  • We are trained to understand undue influence and protect against elder financial abuse.
  • We fully comply with fiduciary licensing requirements and state laws.
  • We offer expertise in situations with blended families, small business management, property management, and legacy trusts.
  • We offer a fair, unbiased alternative to laying an unequal burden on family or friends
  • A Trustee is legally required to follow your decisions as written in your trust documents as well as the laws of the State of California and the Uniform Prudent Investor Act.
  • Our team excels in court requirements, court accountings, business receiverships and conservator appointments.

The ACE Board of Directors

Abbey Dykhouse
Abbey
Dykhouse
Member
Elder Care Manager, LCSW
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Loren A. Emmanuel
Secretary
Executive Director, Licensed Fiduciary, MBA
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Ashley
Block
Member
LCSW
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Ira
Hillyer
Member
JD, Fiduciary Consultant
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Juan
Kelly
Treasurer
Retired Actuary

ACE Fiduciary Officers

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Loren “Elle” A. Emmanuel (formerly Loren R. Acuña)
Founder, MBA, Certified Professional Licensed Fiduciary
Since 2001, Loren has applied her financial management skills to handling estates. This includes handling estate transfers, probates, trust distributions, charitable trusts, bankruptcies, and conservatorships with a total valuation of well over $100 million. She has earned her 10,000 hours and become one of the most experienced private fiduciaries in California.

Loren began her career in financial services after graduating from UC Berkeley, California. Working within the negotiated mortgage transactions industry, she learned risk assessment and best financial management practices while at various financial institutions, including Citicorp Investment Bank.

In 1992, she earned her master’s in business administration from the University of Southern California. Soon thereafter, she gained the practical skills of small business management as a consultant to start-up business and as the Treasurer for the law firm Acuña & Casas, P.C.

Loren enjoys collaborating with and getting know other professionals in the area through her involvement in such groups as the John Muir Philanthropic Advisory Group, The Conversation Project Steering Committee, PROVISORS, Trusted Advisors & Professional Services (TAPs) and other networking opportunities.

Meet the ACE Staff

Loren “Elle” A. Emmanuel (formerly Loren R. Acuña)

ACE Executive Director
Loren is thrilled to blend her professional experience in a boutique estate planning firm together with her financial management background in her work as a fiduciary. Her goal is to grow  ACE into a firm that is known throughout California as the "go to" resource for highly qualified professionals working within the estate, probate, and fiduciary field.As a member of The Professional Fiduciary Association of California, an affiliate member of the Contra Costa County Bar, and National Guardian Association, Loren regularly teaches and presents to fiduciaries, attorneys, tax professionals, investment advisors and family member trustees on a variety of topics. Take a look here for a list of recent topics.
Ekene Ikeme

Ekene Ikeme

ACE Accounting Admin
Ekene is a dedicated professional who brings a strong work ethic, sharp analytical skills and genuine enthusiasm to the accounting profession. He recently earned his master's degree in accounting. His background includes more than 10 years as a journalist and a short stint as a nursing assistant. He applies the same attention to detail he developed in his previous roles to ACE. When he is not working, he likes to enjoy a long hike or watching his favorite team the San Francisco 49ers.
Katelyn Wilson Professional

Katelyn Wilson

ACE Care Specialist
Katelyn is the ACE Care Specialist. With her LVN Field Nurse experience and 10+ years in a variety of professional roles at assisted living communities, we are thrilled to have Katelyn join our team. Her focus will be in the communities and homes providing wellness checks and updates, along with follow-up for assigned cases. Katelyn is a dedicated professional and brings the experience of Director of Assisted Living, Resident Care Director, and caregiver in a variety of situations, including dementia care. She loves to interact with our clients while bouncing her newest bundle of joy on her knee. You will see more about her soon.
Team Picture

ACE Staff 2025

Christina Paulson

Christina Paulson

ACE Office Manager
Christina is a compassionate, organized and effective professional. She has previously worked for the Contra Costa County as an Accounting Clerk while working towards her B.A. in Accounting.  She began working with us in 2023 as our Concierge. She continues to prove her planning and organizational skills through her enthusiasm for our mission and work on our outreach events. She has earned a promotion to Office Manager and will continue to assist in helping you connect with the right team member.  Her passion to provide support and training to our gowing staff is invaluable. Plus, she likes coffee too 🙂
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Heather Latiolais

Independent Contractor - Accounting Specialist
Jessica Garcia

Jessica Garcia

Independent Contractor - Social Media Specialist
ACE Staff 2023

Victoria Greenleaf

Volunteer Ambassador - ACE Cheerleader
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Jennifer Winship
Fiduciary Officer
Jennifer has been a licensed professional fiduciary since 2015 and her license as an LCSW since 2003. She brings a significant level of experience in behavior health issues and special needs services. She has her own private practice and she works with ACE on special cases. Her practice focus helps ACE when we need the perspective of a social worker in our cases. You can learn more about her at https://fullcirclefiduciary.com/about-us/.
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Zavira Blas
Case Manager
Announcing Zavira's new role with ACE. Zavira has recently been promoted to Case Manager. In celebration of this season, Zavira wants to encourage everyone to VOTE. She is backing up the Concierge Role while she learns the details of Case Manager and search for a new Concierge. She brings a level of determination, grit and most importantly, kindness to her new role. She has a high attention to detail. Her background working with vulnerable populations (including seniors and families in stressful medical situations) mirrors the empathy and discretion required to support clients navigating estates, trusts, and elder care.

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