Robert A. James Award of Service Excellence for the First 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 first quarter of fiscal year 2026.
Erika Zimmerman
Exceptional Client Service: She goes above and beyond to ensure every client interaction is handled with care and precision. Her proactive approach often resolves issues before they arise, creating a seamless experience for clients and strengthening trust in our firm.
Knowledge Sharing and Team Development: She organizes a monthly luncheon called “Knowledge with EZ” to share best practices and insights with the entire Tuscaloosa, Alabama, office CSAs and trainees. This initiative fosters continuous learning and collaboration, elevating the performance not only of our team but of the entire branch. She is also an active member of the Operations Advisory Group and participates in roundtable zoom meetings to both gather innovative ideas and share her own. Her contributions help with firm-wide implementations and ensure our office remains aligned with strategic goals.
Process Improvement: She identifies opportunities to streamline workflows and shares these improvements across the office, increasing efficiency and enhancing the client experience.
Firm-Wide Engagement: Her willingness to engage beyond her role – whether through committees, knowledge sessions or cross-office collaboration – demonstrates her commitment to advancing both our clients’ interests and the firm’s success
Her dedication, initiative and leadership have a measurable impact on our clients, our team and the firm. She exemplifies what it means to put clients first and consistently delivers results that go far beyond expectations. Her efforts not only improve client satisfaction but also strengthen our office culture and contribute to firm-wide success.
Rhea Stephens
Rhea is the sole support staff member for a branch that includes the largest producer in our complex and one additional financial advisor. She is totally responsible for all client support and branch administrative tasks including billing and ordering supplies. She stays on top of her branch's alerts and has little or no rejected forms. Her attention to detail and commitment to her advisor team and the branch's clients are reflected in her daily work.
At the very end of Rhea's day, she was able to save a client from a scam. Here is a record of the incident in Rhea's own words: "It was 4:15 p.m., and a client walked into our office, motioned me to be quiet and gestured to get her something to write with. Concerned, I handed her a pen and a sticky note. She simply wrote ‘scam?’ and then pulled her cell phone out of her purse. She put the phone call on speaker phone, and I began to listen to the conversation to try to make sense of the situation. I quickly realized the person on the other end of this phone call had convinced her to withdraw $20,000 from her bank account and was instructing her to go to the local FedEx location so that she could send the cash in for ’the fraud investigation.’
I was able to get her to hang up the phone call, and she showed me the messages they had sent to her. They said that they knew her account numbers and the CVV number on her credit card. This information is what convinced her that this truly was the FBI calling. It wasn’t until she had left the bank that she started to question if this person could possibly be a scammer. With the cash in hand and not trusting her own judgement, she said that our team immediately came to mind. She knew that someone would still be at the office, and she could trust us to help her out. That one sentence, ‘I knew I could trust you,’ was the feeling that saved her from losing $20,000 along with her personal banking information."
Rhea's quick thinking and appropriate response saved this client from compromising her bank account, which could have led to further losses on top of the $20,000. The fact that the client’s first thought was that Rhea could help her speaks to the level of trust that this client has in Rhea and Raymond James. Rhea lives by the quote, "It's not what you say, but how you make them feel," and this thoroughly demonstrates that.
Rhea's commitment to putting clients first made it possible for this client to think of Raymond James as a place she could trust to help her in a time of crisis.
Lynne Jackson
Lynne Jackson, senior regulatory analyst, exemplifies our values through her commitment to excellence, innovation and accountability in her day-to-day work. Faced with a highly complex and critical reconciliation process, she demonstrated ownership by taking on a function that required deep technical knowledge and precision. Her ability to learn, document and improve the process reflects a dedication to continuous improvement and integrity.
Raymond James was impacted by the SEC mandate requiring broker/dealers of a certain size to perform daily reserve calculations under SEA Rule 15c3-3. The Operations Control department was tasked with centralizing and onboarding all reserve functions previously completed by various Operations teams, which was a critical initiative to ensure compliance and mitigate regulatory, financial and reputational risks.
Lynne was assigned and took ownership of one of the more complex reserve functions previously managed by the Domestic Clearance team. This reconciliation required validating and comparing balances across three separate systems – PeopleSoft, SIS and Impact – while consolidating data from multiple sources to ensure accurate reporting for the reserve calculation.
Rather than simply learning the process, Lynne transformed it. She leveraged her expertise and advanced Microsoft Excel skills to create a formula-based solution that reduced manual effort and improved accuracy, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
Beyond the immediate process improvement, Lynne’s documentation and proactive approach have created a sustainable model that strengthens operational resilience and supports the firm’s long-term strategy of efficiency. She exemplifies the spirit of innovation and dedication that drives operational excellence. Her ability to transform a complex, manual process into a more streamlined, automated solution not only supports compliance but also strengthens the firm’s technological resilience.
AJ Lukosavich
AJ exemplifies the core values of Raymond James through his integrity, client-first mindset and dedication to excellence. His journey from Quality Assurance to supervisor of Training and Development reflects his adaptability and commitment to continuous improvement. AJ builds strong, collaborative relationships by actively listening and understanding the needs of the teams he supports. His approachable demeanor fosters a culture of respect and inclusion, making him a trusted partner and leader within AMS.
AJ consistently demonstrates a Service 1st mindset, going beyond the scope of his role to support evolving business needs with flexibility and professionalism. He effectively manages competing priorities and frequently shifts focus to meet urgent demands without compromising quality. A recent example is his leadership in the high-profile tax overlay project, where he was entrusted with creating his first advisor-facing training materials. This assignment not only reflects the confidence placed in his capabilities but also showcases his willingness to stretch beyond his core responsibilities to support strategic initiatives. AJ’s proactive approach and commitment to excellence directly contribute to the success of his team and the firm’s broader vision.
AJ has played a pivotal role in elevating associate training within AMS, consistently exceeding expectations through innovative and engaging solutions. His development of video training modules has simplified complex processes for new associates, significantly improving onboarding effectiveness. This has led to increased efficiency, greater accuracy and reduced errors, benefiting AMS, Raymond James, financial advisors and their clients.
His facilitation of the AMS Explorer program deepened associates’ understanding of cross-functional teams, while his comprehensive three-part New Hire program reinforces the importance of each role within AMS and its connection to the firm’s broader mission. AJ is also leading the development of a new training initiative that outlines the lifecycle of an AMS account – an invaluable resource for associates across the department.
Beyond his formal responsibilities, AJ actively supports department events and creates materials that foster engagement and connection among AMS associates. His enthusiasm, creativity and dedication make him an indispensable asset whose contributions directly support the firm’s strategic priorities and culture of excellence.
AJ’s dedication, innovation and unwavering Service 1st mindset have elevated AMS training and collaboration, making a lasting impact on associates, advisors and the broader Raymond James community.