Our Team

Erica Berning, LUTCF, CLF, CLU^®

Senior Partner

A native of Duncannon, Pennsylvania, Erica graduated from Central Michigan University where she received her Business Administration degree in Marketing. Erica joined NYL as an agent in December 2006 and within her first six-months she achieved Executive Council*. By year end 2008, Erica had achieved two Executive Councils* and was promoted to Partner at New York Life – Chicago in January 2009 at the very young age of 24. Erica is the most tenured Partner in the Downtown Sales Office of the New York Life – Chicago and has aspirations of one day running her own General Office as a Managing Partner. She consistently lets her team know that she truly sought out management to lead others and educate them on the endless opportunities that New York Life offers. Erica strives and wants to give her agents and potential agent candidates the career opportunity and high quality of life she has been able to achieve.

Erica and her husband Matt reside in Elmhurst along with daughter Harper and two sons, Matthias Jr. and Gunnar.

Celeste Garrett

Partner

A native of St. Louis, Mo., Celeste graduated from the University of Missouri prior to beginning a career in journalism. Celeste began working at New York Life in 2011, qualifying for Executive Council* twice, winning Life Case Rate Leader and Annuity Champion Elite awards before becoming a Partner in 2014. Celeste and her husband, Bennie, a New York Life financial services professional, live in Hyde Park and have 2 children.

Celeste Garrett is an award-winning former journalist whose 20-year newspaper career included work as a Chicago Tribune editor and Chicago Sun-Times editorial board member.

She also worked at newspapers in St. Louis, Kansas City and Memphis, with assignments that included coverage of Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton, Illinois Gov. George Ryan and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. Celeste is a the daughter of Silas Garrett, an aerospace engineer who developed both the concept and design for the aviation lighting system atop the St. Louis Gateway Arch, and Jean Garrett, a music educator. Away from the office, Celeste and her husband are avid soccer fans and their children are collegiate soccer players. The family also includes three cats, M.J., Stripes, and Puurcy, and two dogs, Blue and Penny.

Brandon Greco

Partner

Brandon Greco is a financial professional with New York Life serving the greater Chicagoland area, with a strong emphasis on leadership, team development, and management.

He is committed to building and supporting high-performing teams while advancing the organization’s mission of long-term financial security for clients and communities. Recognized for his collaborative and people-centered leadership style, Brandon brings strategic insight, discipline, and professionalism to his work.

Outside of his professional responsibilities, he is married with four children and enjoys outdoor activities and active involvement in his community.

Brian P. Curry

Sales Development Manager

A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Brian started his career at New York Life in 2018 in the Constitution General Office. During his three years as an agent, Brian obtained several securities licenses and won numerous awards such as Executive Council*. He proudly represented New York Life as an active member of NAIFA (National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors), a trade organization for insurance professionals and financial advisors.

With the desire of making a broader impact, Brian accepted an invitation to join the management team at Chicago North Shore in October of 2021 as the Sales Development Manager. His role is to develop and retain agents joining New York Life who can help the Chicago community they serve build a more secure financial future.

Brian is a graduate of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania where he studied Finance.

Kirk R. Johnson, MBA, CLU^®, ChFC^®, CLF^®, FLMI, LUTCF

Regional Director of Development

A native of the Chicagoland area, Kirk spent 6 years of his youth in Colombia, South America where he became fluent in Spanish. He attended North Park University prior to beginning a career in Health Insurance Operations while also obtaining his MBA. Kirk entered the financial services industry with New York Life - Chicago in 2001, qualifying for Council* 5 times including President's Council*, before entering management in 2008. After becoming a Development Manager in 2010, Kirk gained experience in 3 diverse offices and was promoted to Director of Development in 2017 and to Regional Director in 2020. During that time, he has helped agents qualify for Council* and consistently been a leader in agent development and retention, being elected to the National Development Manager Advisory Council*. Kirk and his wife Carolyn have resided in Libertyville since 1996 and have 4 boys.

Johnathan "Blake" Worrells

Director of Agency Standards

Johnathan “Blake” Worrells currently serves as Director of Agency Standards for the Chicago North Shore General Office since May 2017. Blake also serves as Director of Agency Standards in the Illinois General Office since August 2022. Prior to this he served as an Agent/Registered Representative for New York Life from June 2012 to March 2016 in the Mississippi General Office. Blake works consistently to increase his knowledge, and he strives to grow as an asset and leader for New York Life.

Wallace Foreman

Corporate Vice President

Wally Foreman began his career in management with New York Life in 1990 and has worked in several office locations across the country (Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Texas and Utah).