CERTIKA FINANCIAL GROUP - Key Persons
Al began his career in insurance in 1977 as Sales Manager with Canada Life one of Canada's largest insurance providers. In 1993 he merged his insurance practice with the newly incorporated Crain & Schooley Financial Corp. Al became Vice President and Director of the corporation with a focus on Employee Benefits, Financial/Estate Planning, Investments, Mutual Funds, Life Insurance, Critical Illness, Group RSP's and TFSA's. In 2013 the business was sold to Johnson Insurance, a large Home and Auto insurer, located in Newfoundland. After 3 years the business was purchased back and we now operate as Certika Financial Group.
With 39 years in the insurance industry, Al has extensive experience and an impressive knowledge of Employee Benefits and Wealth Management planning. Using a task-oriented approach to business challenges and active pursuit of important, measurable results has earned him a reputation for trust and integrity among his clients and peers. He also believes that giving back to the community he serves is important and has given his time as a member of the Board of Directors of the Kemptville District Hospital. In the past, he has held Director's positions on the Ottawa Lung Association and the United Way of Ottawa/Carleton. He is currently Vice President of the St. Lawrence-Rideau ADVOCIS an insurance industry advocacy association.
James has been working in the Insurance industry since 2007. As part of the family-owned business, James works as our Business Manager and is responsible for a smooth operation of the Communications Department, Client Management, and overall Back Office operations. It is his role to keep the lines of communications open between our Sales Team, our Clients, and our Corporate Insurance Partners.
James was a past board member of Advocis (The Financial Advisors Association of Canada) and is very active in his community.
When he has spare time, James likes to spend as much of it with his wife Stephanie and young daughter Gemma. James is also an avid collector of Star Wars memorabilia.
Kim lives in Carleton Place with her husband Alex. She started with Crain & Schooley Financial now Certika Financial Group Ltd in 2003, in the home & auto insurance side of the business. In 2008, she was transferred to the Financial (Employee Benefits, Life Insurance & Wealth Management) department as an Administration & Financial Services Assistant, where she has the responsibility of completing the accounting, tracking and recording the income for all the Financial Advisors in the company.
Kim loves to volunteer and she spends her spare time sitting on the Board of Directors for Springer Rescue of Ontario (SRO), a breed-specific dog rescue. Prior to that, she spent 3 years as a Volunteer Responder with Victim Services of Lanark County. When she is not volunteering, she likes to spend time with her family, babysitting her three grandchildren, kayaking, running and working in her gardens.
Norma had worked as a Senior Finance Officer for Carleton University for over 40 years before retiring and coming to work for the family-owned business with her administrative and accounting skills. In her spare time, she enjoys working in the gardens, home renovations, outdoor activities and spending time with family and friends.
Tyler grew up and went to school in the Hamilton area. From his early childhood Tyler worked in his family business, which fueled a passion to one day own his own business. While attending school Tyler played Minor and Junior Hockey in the Hamilton Burlington area where he later achieved a hockey scholarship in Boston, MA.
While schooling in Boston he completed his BA in Business Management and a minor in communications. After completing college Tyler pursued a professional career in hockey with teams in Canada, USA and England. By growing up in a team environment Tyler gained many valuable skills that translated into his schooling, professional hockey career and now the insurance industry. Tyler is very passionate with a great belief in doing what is right for his clients to improve their situations and set them up for success.