Huntington Beach, CA

Evelyn M. Zohlen has served on both the personal and the institutional sides of financial services for 25 years. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas, her Master of Science from the Joint Military Intelligence College, and her Master of Business Administration (with a concentration in Finance/Portfolio Management) from Villanova University. Evelyn was a Relationship Manager at The Vanguard Group in Malvern, PA where she was the trusted advisor for clients with retirement plan assets ranging from $175 million to $500 million.

Evelyn is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) professional and in 2020, served as Chair for the Financial Planning Association (the membership association for CFP® professionals with 23,000 members!). She was an adjunct professor in the Personal Financial Planning Program at the University of California at Irvine and serves on the Advisory Board for the Center for Investment and Wealth Management at UCI. She has served on the Board of Directors for WomanSage, the Board of Directors for the American Poetry Review, and the President’s Council at Immaculata University. Evelyn is a frequent contributor to periodicals such as The Wall Street Journal, The Journal of Financial Planning, USA Today, Investment News, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, Real Simple and Consumer Reports. Prior to entering the financial services profession, Evelyn served as an intelligence officer in the United States Air Force.

Evelyn is married to the fabulous Mark Prendergast who shares her passion for food, wine, running (it counters the food and wine), reading and travel. Her perfect vacation combines great food/wine before and/or after a race while visiting their three terrific kids and their spouses. Good times!

Fun Facts:

• During my service as a US Air Force intelligence officer, I had the thrill of “taking the stick” of an F-16 fighter jet during a nighttime mission.
• I ran a marathon (in costume!) with Mark in Bordeaux, France that included 23 Grand Cru wine tastings along the course.
• My favorite volunteer activity is providing pro bono financial planning for low-income women and their families. I rarely pass up an opportunity to help these ladies.
• I love public speaking—the bigger the crowd, the better! My largest “gig” so far was to an audience of nearly 3,000.

As a Senior Financial Planner, Claire works and lives as a staunch advocate and partner to our clients and the greater community. Claire is originally from Highlands Ranch, CO and spent most of her life in Philadelphia, PA prior to moving to Southern California. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Muhlenberg College with a double major in Finance and English Literature and holds her Master of Science in Taxation from Golden Gate University.

Throughout her career, Claire has worked in both operational and financial planning roles in the financial services profession, allowing her to bring a holistic perspective to those we serve. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Enrolled Agent tax advisor, Claire has discovered a passion for navigating the financial complexities unique to women and their families.

As an avid volunteer, Claire is a board member and programs director for the Orange County chapter of Financial Planning Association. She is also an active member of Orange County Financial Planning Association’s pro bono community.

Fun Facts:

• In 2023 Claire was awarded the honor of being named to InvestmentNews 40 Under 40 list, a program focused on recognizing industry up-and-comers.
• Claire followed in her brother’s footsteps by running Track & Cross Country at Muhlenberg College, where they both still hold records in the men’s & women’s 4×800 meter relays.
• Claire enjoys exploring the world, with her most recent venture taking her to Nairobi, Kenya for a wedding and Safari!

Carol Bobke is a Lead Client Relationship Specialist. As part of the team, she ensures all our clients’ operational needs and requests are handled efficiently, securely, and accurately. She brings decades of customer service and volunteer leadership to her role and particularly enjoys helping clients resolve tough challenges.

She was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, with a short stint in San Antonio, Texas. She received her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Colorado at Boulder. After all those years in the snow and cold, she moved to California for the sun and ocean. She has been an Orange County resident now for almost 30 years.

Carol comes to Apella after 9 years as the Chapter Executive for the Financial Planning Association of Orange County (among the largest and most successful chapters in the nation) and the Financial Planning Association of California. She has a real passion for women’s leadership development and has been active in organizations such as Girl Scouts and Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) with a particular focus on elevating women and girls.

She and her husband, Dan, are big Dodger fans and enjoy spending time with their three terrific adult kids (and a pretty amazing daughter-in-law!).

Fun Facts:

• One year in college, I ran the annual CU Trivia Bowl, the largest non-athletic event on campus. It was a week full of pop culture, smart contestants, and fun times.
• I am our family’s amateur genealogist and family history enthusiast. I can get lost in our family tree for hours on end, and I enjoy meeting distant cousins from across the world.
• If I have a couple of hours to myself, you can usually find me walking the trails near our house listening to a favorite audio book.

Jenny Hendrickson, a Client Relationship Specialist, brings over 20 years of customer service and administrative experience. Her career began at 18 in retail management, where she developed strong customer service skills. She then transitioned to managing a medical front office for over 14 years, discovering her devotion for helping clients through daily interactions and support. Her drive for client care became central to her career, motivating her to constantly improve and make a positive difference in people's lives. Jenny has been married for over 17 years and has two teenage children, she enjoys reading, beachcombing, and theme park hopping.

Mark Prendergast has over 40 years of experience in tax, estate and financial planning. He started his career in 1979 at Ernst & Whinney and then joined Price Waterhouse in 1982 and acquired his Certified Financial Planner™ designation in 1988. He regularly teaches on income tax, estate and divorce topics at professional conferences (FPA, NAPFA, CalCPA, WealthCounsel, Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts).

Mark served on the national Board of Directors for the Financial Planning Association from 2011-2013, and currently serves on the Advisory Board for The Center for Investment and Wealth Management at UCI. His service for the Financial Planning Association includes board positions and committee work for two local chapters, and at the regional, state and national levels. He serves on the Editorial Review Board for the Journal of Financial Planning (2002-current).

Over his career, Mark has served many roles in non-profit organizations, including the Board of Directors for New Life for Girls (women’s recovery home), The Birthing Center (birthing advocacy group), Valley Christian Center (church), and Fresno New Connections (a substance abuse clinic). He currently provides pro bono financial planning thru Savvy Ladies which provides free financial literacy. In 2022, Mark received the prestigious Heart of Financial Planning award which recognizes individuals who have made contributions to the financial planning community and/or the public.

Mark is married to Evelyn Zohlen, and they truly enjoy life’s adventures together from work-to-travel-to-Disney and beyond! They miss their three adult children and three grandchildren who live too far away for their pleasure.

Fun Facts:

• I’ve run 20+ marathons, including Boston in 2005 and Bhutan in 2017.
• Evelyn and I have climbed Mt. Whitney, Mt. Fuji, and Mt. Kilimanjaro as well as numerous peaks in the Southern California mountains. Mt. Everest Base Camp is on our 2024 calendar.
• I competed in international Frisbee disc competitions when I was in college.
• In 1976, I rode my bicycle from Boulder to Minneapolis with my best friend Luke. Later that summer, we hopped a freight train in Texarkana and ended up in Kansas City.
• In 2021, I hiked the 211-mile John Muir Trail with my lifelong friend, Jim. As Jimmy would regularly say, “You can’t drive your car and see sights like this!”

Audrey graduated from Biola University’s Torrey Honors program with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a Minor in Financial Planning. Audrey grew up in Southern California and was raised in Ventura County. While at Biola, Audrey was involved with the Financial Planning Association’s student leadership and advocated for financial literacy on campus. She also spent time connecting with students at Dorsey High School in Los Angeles teaching important financial practices. These opportunities to serve on her college campus and at the high school sparked her desire to equip others to make wise financial decisions. While earning her undergraduate degree, Audrey spent nearly 2.5 years working with two CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® practitioners who mentored her in the dynamics of client relationships and advice. Since joining Apella in 2023, Audrey has passed the CFP® exam and became a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional. She loves the relational aspect of financial planning, as well as the analytical problem-solving required. Audrey is an intentional individual, committed to learning and building strong relationships. She is especially passionate about empowering women to take control of their financial future and believes that financial literacy is one of the keys to independence, security, and achieving your life goals. Whether it's budgeting, investing, or planning for major milestones, she provides personalized guidance to help individuals (like you!) make informed decisions. Her mission is to break down complex financial concepts into practical, actionable steps so you can build wealth and have peace of mind. No matter where you are on your financial journey, she’d be honored to support and guide you every step of the way.

Fun facts: 

• I took a gap year before attending Biola and lived in Kauai, before traveling to the Philippines and Cambodia for a mission trip. This time was followed by a semester in Italy. I love experiencing new cultures and exploring our world, so far, I’ve been to 13 countries and counting.
• I have 3 younger sisters! I consider them my built-in best friends, and I treasure our time together.
• I find cooking and baking to be therapeutic. My most challenging endeavor was 18+ hour croissants (I'll stick to sourdough).

Aidan Green is the newest addition to the team, working in the role of Resident Financial Planner. He is eager to dive in and learn all he can at Apella and hopes to serve each of this firm’s clients with clarity, consistency, and care.

Aidan was born and raised in Pasadena, CA and is so grateful to live in such a beautiful state. Most of his spare time is spent outside in the sunshine! His favorite location in the world is Moonlight Beach in Encinitas: the best beach to walk, ride waves, and see the sunset.

He attended Biola University and where he received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Financial Planning. In that program, he learned the basics of the financial planning process and the important impact it has on people’s lives. He helped run the Financial Planning Club there for 2 years to equip financial planning students to grow in their profession and get connected with career opportunities. He also helped create the Kingdom Financial Coaching Center: a group of trained financial planning students who help other students learn about their finances as they transition to adulthood. Currently, he is continuing his education by working toward a Masters in Pastoral Care and Counseling at Talbot Theological Seminary. His heart is summarized well in this quote: “If anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything.”

Fun Facts:

• I have won first prize ribbons from the LA County Fair for photography.
• I write music and play the guitar, piano, and most recently the mandolin.
• I have been known to boogieboard at the beach for hours on end.
• My family and I found a kitten alone in the hills above Altadena the Saturday before Christmas 2015. His name is Quinn and has been part of our household ever since!