Speaker Bios:

Chris Miles,  MSW, LCSW

Chris Miles is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Mental Health Therapist specializing in behavior change and stress management. Chris is an experienced speaker and has provided Motivational Interviewing (MI) training to a wide variety of professionals throughout the U.S. in such fields as healthcare, mental health & social services, education, and financial planning. She is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) and the lead MI trainer for MI Center for Change, LLC. She currently works for HCA Mission Healthcare System in Asheville, N.C. where she facilitates educational classes and provides counseling support to patients in their outpatient pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation programs. Chris lives in Asheville, NC with her husband, two teenagers, and West Highland Terrier, Fenway. She loves to travel to new places with them and meet others from different cultures and backgrounds.

Jim Kantowski, CFP®, CPA

Jim Kantowski is the owner and founder of Curio Wealth, where he also serves as a dedicated advisor. With a professional career spanning three decades, Jim possesses a wealth of experience and knowledge in the financial industry. His credentials include the highly regarded CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation and a Certified Public Accountant certification. With a focus on helping clients who are nearing retirement or who have already entered this phase of life, Jim specializes in ensuring they are on track to reach their personal financial goals and provide peace of mind that they will have the financial resources to last a lifetime. His unique combination—having both a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation and Certified Public Accountant certification—allows him to approach financial planning and investments from a tax perspective, developing clients’ tax-efficient portfolios and strategies to accumulate assets tax efficiently and withdraw strategies to minimize taxes during clients’ lives and for future generations.

Beyond his professional career, Jim’s commitment to giving back to the community shines brightly. He actively participates in coaching youth sports and supports various charitable endeavors that assist people in need or experiencing hardships.

In the coming years, Jim’s vision for Curio is to build a company that provides exceptional financial advice, led by compassion, empathy, and curiosity. Whether in the financial planning world or youth sports, Jim loves being part of a team and coaching and guiding individuals to success. His biggest reward and satisfaction comes from seeing others become successful.

Outside of his professional pursuits, Jim thrives on challenging himself on a daily basis, engaging in outdoor activities such as running, biking, surfing, and hiking.