Robert A. James Award of Service Excellence for the Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2026
Named after our firm’s founder, the Robert A. James Award of Service Excellence program recognizes associates who embody our client-first values and go above and beyond to make meaningful contributions and deliver impactful results.
Congratulations to the following associates who were recently recognized for their exemplary service in the third quarter of fiscal year 2026.
Rebecca Leavy
New Accounts Associate, New Accounts RJA. Memphis, TN
Rebecca exemplifies the qualities recognized by the Robert A. James Award by consistently putting clients first, improving workflow efficiency and ensuring the team is well-equipped to meet the needs of both clients and advisors. She demonstrates integrity by taking ownership, supporting her colleagues, communicating transparently and leading through trust, accountability and action.
Rebecca has consistently gone above and beyond the scope of her role, taking initiative to support the overall success of the team. Most recently, she proactively managed workload coordination and trained additional associates to maintain service levels and strengthen team coverage. She also advocated for her colleagues, helping to foster engagement during periods of heightened pressure. In addition, Rebecca contributed to a process improvement initiative that enhanced long-term efficiency by reducing manual effort.
Rebecca’s proactive leadership and commitment during a challenging period made a meaningful impact on Raymond James and exemplify the values recognized by this award.
Wendy Priest
Lead Analyst, IT Security. Denver, CO.
As a highly trusted cross-functional partner, Wendy has played a critical role in complex, high-visibility initiatives, helping teams navigate challenging implementations, network cutovers and production changes with confidence. Through her leadership on key projects, technical expertise and proactive problem-solving, she has helped reduce risk, improve system stability and drive successful outcomes.
Wendy is widely recognized for her calm, methodical approach under pressure, often dedicating significant time and effort to troubleshooting complex issues and supporting her colleagues' success. Her unwavering commitment during critical incidents has been instrumental in maintaining operational continuity and minimizing disruption.
Wendy’s expertise, ownership and dedication to delivering results have had a direct and lasting impact on operational resilience, modernization efforts and the overall success of the teams she supports. Her contributions consistently reflect a strong commitment to excellence and make her highly deserving of recognition.
Johanna Rusz
Sr. Business Technical Analyst, RJ Insurance Group. St. Petersburg, FL.
Steve Curley
Licensing Care Specialist, RJ Insurance Group. St. Petersburg, FL.
Steve and Johanna have consistently demonstrated a level of commitment and ownership that far exceeds the expectations of their roles. Their work supporting the development of business requirements for IT has been instrumental to one of the most significant modernization efforts the department has undertaken. Rather than simply documenting requirements, they took a strategic and highly engaged approach, serving as a critical bridge between business needs and technical execution.
What sets Steve and Johanna apart is their ability to think beyond standard processes. They contributed countless innovative ideas and practical solutions that were essential in navigating challenges throughout the transition. Their proactive engagement helped resolve roadblocks quickly, maintain project momentum and support the successful delivery of key objectives.
In addition to their technical and strategic contributions, Steve and Johanna consistently exemplified a strong commitment to service. They are known for their collaborative spirit, willingness to support others and dedication to ensuring that all stakeholders remained informed and aligned. Rather than limiting themselves to their defined responsibilities, they took initiative to support the broader success of the team and organization. Their commitment often extended beyond normal working hours, including evenings and weekends, to ensure critical milestones were achieved.
The impact of Steve and Johanna’s contributions has been both meaningful and enduring. Their efforts have played a significant role in the success of this transformational initiative and will continue to deliver value to the organization for years to come.