Our Team at Morgan Stanley Traverse City Branch

About Damian Lockhart

Damian collaborates with clients to design and execute personalized wealth management plans that can evolve with their goals. With nearly two decades of experience in the financial industry, he provides honest, consistent guidance by combining his advisory experience with the tools and resources of Morgan Stanley.
A native of Antrim County, Damian earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Grand Valley State University and later earned the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation through the College of Financial Planning.

Beyond the office, Damian is committed to community involvement. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation, where he supports philanthropic efforts across five counties. Since moving back to Northern Michigan in 2015, he’s also enjoyed coaching his sons’ basketball teams. Damian lives in the area with his wife Jill and their three boys: Kane, Lincoln, and Cruz.
Securities Agent: AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, HI, IL, IN, MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NY, OH, PA, TX, VA, WA, WI; Investment Advisor Representative; BM/Supervisor; General Securities Representative
NMLS#: 535442

About Joseph V. Portera

Joseph Portera is a Private Banker serving Morgan Stanley Wealth Management offices in Michigan.

Private Bankers partner with Financial Advisors to develop a specialized approach for managing clients’ cash flow, liquidity and financing needs, leveraging our comprehensive suite of cash management and lending solutions.

Joseph began his career in financial services in 2002 and joined Morgan Stanley in 2018. Prior to joining the firm, he served as a Commercial Lender and Market Director at JPMorgan Chase.

Joseph is a graduate of the Haworth College of Business at Western Michigan University where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, and Keller Graduate School of Business where he received a Master’s in Business Administration in Finance & Accounting.

Joseph and his family currently reside in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Outside of the office, he enjoys martial arts, skiing, tennis, and spending time with his family.

NMLS#: 1260889

About Sally A. Cholewka

Sally A. Cholewka, CFP® is a Vice President and Financial Planning Director serving Morgan Stanley’s Wealth Management offices in Southeast Michigan. She is responsible for helping Financial Advisors with their clients' and prospects' financial planning needs.

Sally began her career in Financial Services in 2010 and joined Morgan Stanley in 2021. Prior to her current position, she worked as Director of Financial Planning for a group of independent financial advisors affiliated with LPL Financial. Her role for over the last decade has been to facilitate retirement income planning, tax aware positioning and estate & legacy conversations.

Sally has held her Certified Financial Planner® designation since 2017. A graduate from the University of Iowa, she proudly identifies as a “Midwesterner”, having lived or worked in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan. She currently lives in Shelby Township, MI with her husband and daughter. Outside of work, Sally enjoys vacationing with her family, boating, and volunteering with the SIFMA Foundation’s “InvestWrite” national writing competition for elementary age children.

About Mamta Shah

Mamta Shah is the Trust Specialist based in Chicago, covering the Midwest Region. Morgan Stanley provides a full array of personal and institutional trust services to high net worth clients of the firm. Mamta’s responsibilities include educating Financial Advisors and their clients on the open architecture trust service model and helping them identify opportunities to leverage the trust partners on the platform.

Before joining Trust Services in 2010, she was the Wealth Analyst with the Chicago based Wealth Planning Center at Morgan Stanley. Mamta was responsible for providing information and education on a full range of income and estate tax topics and concerns.

Prior to joining the Planning Center team in 2006, Mamta was Vice President of an Independent Investment Advisory Firm. She worked closely with the clients of the firm on a variety of financial planning and investment advisory services.

Mamta obtained her bachelor’s degree from Babson College with a major in Finance/Entrepreneurship. Mamta is a licensed CPA and holds a CFP® designation, She has been in the financial services industry since 1999. She is Series 7, 63, 65 and life/health insurance licensed. She is a member of the AICPA and the Illinois CPA Society. She lives in Chicago with her family.

Interested in a Career at Morgan Stanley?

Financial Advisors

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management grants Financial Advisors access to global resources and capabilities that will take your business to the next level—and provide confidence to your clients.

Experienced Professionals

Leverage your talent, hone your skills and build a career at Morgan Stanley, where our goal is always to deliver first-class business in a first-class way.

Branch Address

300 East Front St
Ste 300
Traverse City, MI 49684
US
Branch:
(231) 941-7200(231) 941-7200
Toll-Free:
(800) 530-9979(800) 530-9979
Fax:
(231) 421-6949(231) 421-6949
1When Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors (collectively, “Morgan Stanley”) provide “investment advice” regarding a retirement or welfare benefit plan account, an individual retirement account or a Coverdell education savings account (“Retirement Account”), Morgan Stanley is a “fiduciary” as those terms are defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and/or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), as applicable. When Morgan Stanley provides investment education, takes orders on an unsolicited basis or otherwise does not provide “investment advice”, Morgan Stanley will not be considered a “fiduciary” under ERISA and/or the Code. For more information regarding Morgan Stanley’s role with respect to a Retirement Account, please visit www.morganstanley.com/disclosures/dol. Tax laws are complex and subject to change. Morgan Stanley does not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals are encouraged to consult their tax and legal advisors (a) before establishing a Retirement Account, and (b) regarding any potential tax, ERISA and related consequences of any investments or other transactions made with respect to a Retirement Account. Individuals should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and other legal matters.

For more information, please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Client Relationship Summary.

Back to top



2Tax laws are complex and are subject to change. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals should always check with their tax or legal advisor before engaging in any transaction involving 529 Plans, Education Savings Accounts and other tax-advantaged investments.

Back to top



3Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.

Back to top



4Alternative Investments are speculative and include a high degree of risk. An investor could lose all or a substantial amount of his/her investment. Alternative investments are appropriate only for qualified, long-term investors who are willing to forgo liquidity and put capital at risk for an indefinite period of time.

Back to top



5Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.

Back to top



6The returns on a portfolio consisting primarily of sustainable investments may be lower or higher than a portfolio that is more diversified or where decisions are based solely on investment considerations. Because sustainability criteria exclude some investments, investors may not be able to take advantage of the same opportunities or market trends as investors that do not use such criteria. Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss in a declining financial market.

Back to top



7Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and other legal matters.

Back to top



8Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and other legal matters.

Back to top



9Tax laws are complex and are subject to change. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals should always check with their tax or legal advisor before engaging in any transaction involving 529 Plans, Education Savings Accounts and other tax-advantaged investments.

Back to top



10Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC is a registered Broker/Dealer, Member SIPC, and not a bank. Where appropriate, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC has entered into arrangements with banks and other third parties to assist in offering certain banking related products and services.

Investment, insurance and annuity products offered through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC are: NOT FDIC INSURED | MAY LOSE VALUE | NOT BANK GUARANTEED | NOT A BANK DEPOSIT | NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY

Back to top



11Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC is a registered Broker/Dealer, Member SIPC, and not a bank. Where appropriate, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC has entered into arrangements with banks and other third parties to assist in offering certain banking related products and services.

Investment, insurance and annuity products offered through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC are: NOT FDIC INSURED | MAY LOSE VALUE | NOT BANK GUARANTEED | NOT A BANK DEPOSIT | NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY

Back to top



Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversifying its workforce (M/F/Disability/Vet).

The investments and products listed may not be appropriate for all investors. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC recommends that investors independently evaluate particular investments or products, and encourages investors to seek the advice of a Financial Advisor or Private Wealth Advisor. The appropriateness of a particular investment or product will depend upon an investor's individual circumstances and objectives.

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a business of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC.

© 2025 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC.

Awards Disclosures | Morgan Stanley
CRC 4665150 (08/2025)