Our Team

Mark began working with investments while earning his Bachelors of Science degree in Economics from Cal Poly Tech. He started his career in 1985 as an investment broker with Dean Witter Reynolds.  During his 30-year career, he has worked with major national firms and regional independent firms where he developed the vision and investment philosophies now employed through Black Oak Investment Counsel which he established in 2006.

“To control risk, large firms rely on 50- and 100-year averages to create many of their static investment models. Unfortunately, no matter how detailed these models they don’t predict the future. Actively managing money for clients so they may preserve and grow their wealth has a lot more to do with the next 3- to 5-years than it does with the past 50.”

Mark and his wife have two daughters and they enjoy gathering with friends, good wines and traveling together. 

Cindy (Crawford) Riley grew up in the Nebraska panhandle. 

After graduating high school she spent more than 7 years in U.S.  Army Intelligence.  She traveled extensively supporting various commands during that time. Following her honorable discharge, Cindy completed her nursing degree in 1991.

Cindy joined Mark in 2002 and has more than 21 years of experience serving clients. Cindy and her husband, Karl, have three children. She enjoys cooking and traveling with family and close friends.

Carson found interest in investing early in life when his 4-H checks were put into mutual funds. Looking at the statements and seeing the values fluctuate had him interested in learning more. He graduated with a Finance major and Economics minor from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. His career began in 2013 at Mutual of Omaha working with both investments and insurance. In April 2022 Carson joined the Black Oak office.

Carson and his wife, Ali, have two children, Collins and Archer. Their kids and dog, Bo, keep them very busy. When they have spare time, they enjoy spending it with their families, going to the farm, or doing house projects.