The Westcap Mgt. Ltd. executive investment team has more than a century of investment management expertise.
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Grant J. Kook
President/Chief Executive Officer, Director
Grant J. Kook is President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Westcap Mgt. Ltd. Mr. Kook is also President and Chief Executive Officer of Cheung On, an international investor syndicated fund he co-founded in 1989. Mr. Kook has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Ramada Hotels since 1992. Mr. Kook was appointed the Chairman of the Board of Directors for SaskTel in February 2008. He was voted one of Saskatchewan's Men of Influence by Saskatchewan Business Magazine in March 2008 and is a recipient of the Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan. Mr. Kook also sits or has sat on the boards of a number of private and publicly traded companies, the Hong Kong Canada Business Association, Agwest Biotech, and was nominated in 1999 and 2003 for Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Mr. Kook is a Vice President of the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (CVCA), and the Chairman of the Board of the Children's Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan. Mr. Kook was the Vice President of the 2004 Nokia Brier Organization, Sponsorship Chair for the 2006 Vanier Cup, and the Vice President of Sponsorship for the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championships as well as a member of the Minister's Advisory Council on Information Technology. |
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Douglas W. Banzet
Chief Operating Officer, Director
Douglas W. Banzet is the Chief Operating Officer and a director of Westcap Mgt. Ltd. Mr. Banzet has been Director of Finance of Cheung On since 1995. From March 1993 to June 1995, Mr. Banzet was an independent management consultant to a variety of small and medium-sized Saskatchewan businesses. Prior to March 1993, Mr. Banzet held various senior management positions with a number of large Canadian trust companies. Mr. Banzet has over thirty-five years experience in the financial service and asset management fields. His experience includes investment valuations of both private and public businesses, feasibility analysis, risk assessment, commercial loan financing, administration, budgeting, planning and management of large commercial loan portfolios. Mr. Banzet also serves as a director of a number of private Canadian companies involved in life sciences, oil and gas exploration, biotech, value added processing, health care, manufacturing and agriculture. |
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Robert J. Connoly
Chief Financial Officer
Rob Connoly is the Chief Financial Officer with the Manager. Mr. Connoly has more than 17 years of investment management experience with expertise in real estate investment analysis and market research. Prior to joining the Manager in 2003, Mr. Connoly was with Boston Development Corp. from 1996 to 2003 and Summit Development Group from 1992 to 1994 where he identified and evaluated real estate acquisition opportunities. Mr. Connoly has a strong financial background and his experience includes advising TCU Financial Group from 1994 to 1996 to manage the availability of capital funds and the identification of appropriate market instruments for investment. Mr. Connoly's background in financial management also includes the assurance of compliance with regulatory boards. Mr. Connoly holds a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation, and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. He is a member of the Society of Management Accountants of Saskatchewan, the CFA Institute, and the CFA Society of Saskatchewan. Mr. Connoly serves as a director of a number of private Saskatchewan companies involved in real estate development. |
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Wanda Hunchak
Vice President
Wanda Hunchak holds the office of Vice-President with Westcap Mgt. Ltd. Ms. Hunchak has more than a decade of experience investing in Saskatchewan business opportunities. Prior to joining the Manager in 2003, Ms. Hunchak was the manager of client services within the chartered banking system from 1996 to 1998 and a manager of a commercial credit portfolio from 1998 to 2001. In 2001 she joined Saskatchewan Opportunities Corporation (SOCO) as a venture capital investment analyst and later that year became a senior management consultant with one of Canada's largest agricultural consulting firms. Ms. Hunchak holds a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, and is a member of the Society of Management Accountants of Saskatchewan, the CFA Institute, and the CFA Society of Saskatchewan. |
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Jamie B. Schwitzer
Vice President
Jamie Schwitzer holds the office of Vice-President with Westcap Mgt. Ltd. Mr. Schwitzer has nearly 15 years of investment management experience during which he has developed and implemented rigorous and detailed due diligence processes applicable to a wide range of sectors and investment instruments. Prior to joining the Manager, from 2007, Mr. Schwitzer was a partner with Victoria Park Capital, a private equity firm managing a $400-million-plus portfolio of investments. From 2000 – 2007, Mr. Schwitzer was an investment manager with Crown Capital Partners, a specialty finance company involved in subordinated debt, mezzanine and equity financings across life science, manufacturing, retail and oil and gas sectors. His background also includes managing money market and fixed income investments, public equities, currency trading and asset/liability management with Crown Life Insurance Company. Mr. Schwitzer holds a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, and is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Saskatchewan. Mr. Schwitzer also serves as a director of a private Saskatchewan company involved in the technology sector. |
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Bill Burgess
Controller
Mr. Burgess has more than 23 years of financial management experience which includes experience with companies in a large variety of sectors and all sizes; from large public companies to smaller owner-managed businesses. Prior to joining the Manager in 2008, Mr. Burgess was employed as a Controller with three different organizations as well as providing consulting services from 2001 to 2008. Mr. Burgess has over 16 years public practice experience with both a large national firm and a local Saskatchewan firm. Mr. Burgess was a partner with the firm of Orr & Company (predecessor to Virtus Group LLP) for 9 years. Mr. Burgess has dealt with all areas of public practice including extensive experience in taxation, both corporate and personal. Mr. Burgess holds a Chartered Accountant (CA) designation and is a member of the Institutes of Chartered Accountants of both Saskatchewan and Alberta. |
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Tyler Bradley
Investment Manager
Tyler Bradley has 9 years of experience in venture capital and corporate finance in start-up and growth stage companies. Prior to joining the Westcap team in 2007, Mr. Bradley was an Investment Analyst for a seed-stage investment fund from 2005 to 2007, where he was responsible for new investments and portfolio management. Between 2001 and 2005, Tyler Bradley worked in various corporate finance roles with start-up and growth-stage companies. Mr. received his Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Saskatchewan and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) candidate. Tyler Bradley is an active member and Director for the Saskatchewan Young Professionals & Entrepreneurs. |
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Lucy Li
Investment Analyst
Ms. Li graduated from Edwards School of Business, University of Saskatchewan in 2010 with a Master of Science in Finance Degree. During her Master's program, she acheived excellent academic performance, was a teaching assistant for several undergraduate courses, and co-authored academic publications, one of which was presented at The American Accounting Association 2009 Annual Meeting and Conference. Ms. Li also worked as a data library assistant at the Data and GIS Library Services at University of Saskatchewan, gaining considerable knowledge about various databases. Ms. Li also holds a Bachelor of Economics Degree with distinction from Renmin University of China, where she majored in credit management in the College of Finance and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) candidate. Ms. Li speaks both English and Mandarin Chinese fluently. |
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Brenda Gessner
Executive Assistant
Ms. Gessner has been with Westcap Mgt. Ltd. since its inception and is responsible for the overall administrative management of the office of the President as well as the lead liaison with the Fund's Board of Directors and sub-committees. Ms. Gessner has over 20 years of office management and administrative experience in the financial and information technology sectors. |
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Raeleen Mann
Communications Director
Ms. Mann joined the Westcap team in 2005 and is responsible for a broad range of communication efforts. She is involved in the development, management and implementation of various shareholder and community initiatives for the Funds. As well, contributes to the execution of other Westcap programs. Ms. Mann holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Marketing with distinction from the University of Saskatchewan. |
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Christine Culbert
Director of Client Relations
Ms. Culbert started her career in the finance industry in 1998. Prior to joining the Fund, Ms. Culbert was with Rice Financial, where she held 2 positions within the company. Ms. Culbert was an Advisor Relations Manager for Saskatchewan and the western part of Manitoba as well as the Regional Compliance Officer for Saskatchewan. Ms. Culbert is responsible for creating, establishing and maintaining relationships with registered representatives in respect to the Fund. She also provides regular updates of the Fund and creates overall awareness to the registered representatives and their client bases through presentations and seminars. |
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Virgil Cairns
Payroll Investment Plan Coordinator
Bio Coming Soon. |
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Laural DeBusschere
Client Relations and Investment Support
Ms. DeBusschere holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance with great distinction from the University of Saskatchewan. Before joining the manager, she was employed as a Consultant with Banda Marketing Group, where she gained experience assisting companies in making strategic business decisions. She participates in organizations and events such as SYPE and Saskatoon's Urban Playground community development group and is active in the Fund's community involvement.
Ms. DeBusschere provides support to senior management, assisting with financial analysis and due diligence for the Fund's investments. She is also involved in client relations, fielding requests from shareholders and financial advisors. |
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Beth Guillou
Client Relations and Financial Support
Ms. Guillou holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Saskatchewan. Prior to joining the team she spent over 2 years gaining investment related experience in the mutual fund industry with a focus on Administration as well as Compliance.
Ms. Guillou is responsible for client relations, fielding requests from shareholders and financial advisors as well as office administration. In addition to this, she also provides ongoing support to the senior investment team mainly focusing on the financial aspect of operations. |
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Jacklyn Sveinbjornson
Office Administrator
Ms. Sveinbjornson joined the manager in 2010 and is responsible for office reception and front end office adminitstration, providing support to all members of the team. She holds a Business Administration Diploma from Saskatoon Busines College and has over 4 years of customer service experience. |
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| Westcap's Business Ready Investment Development Gateway (BRIDG) Program |
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Vern Bachiu
Manager
Vern Bachiu is a member of Westcap's Business Ready Investment Development Gateway (BRIDG) program. BRIDG has been established to assist First Nations and Métis communities to establish development corporations with the goal of creating community wealth. BRIDG helps communities establish good governance in these corporations and helps equip them with the business infrastructure and capacity with which to undertake business developments and investment. Vern has over 30 years of experience working with First Nations - 20 years with the Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC) and 10 years with the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies. While with MLTC, Vern was a senior member of the team that established successful business investments in forestry, aviation, hospitality, and other sectors. Vern has been a director of West Wind Aviation, MLTC Northern Trucking, Polar Oil, Meadow Lake OSB, and MLTC-Ceres Fertilizer. He subscribes to the nation building approach identified by the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development as an appropriate approach to First Nations and Metis communities developing good governance. Vern has a Master of Education degree from the University of Saskatchewan. |
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Julie Wriston
Aboriginal Development Officer
Julie Ann Wriston joined the BRIDG team in August 2009, and is the communications conduit between BRIDG and First Nation and Métis communities. Julie brings a high degree of communications and consultation experience and expertise to the BRIDG team. A graduate of the SIAST Business Communications program with distinction, and a psychology major from the University of Saskatchewan, Julie's primary responsibility is to ensure that all critical information, direction and reporting are shared at the "speed of business." Julie is the lead for all event planning, time management for the BRIDG team, and facilitates in partnership development with the nine BRIDG communities, potential investors and industry leaders. As the former Director of Communications for the Métis Nation – Saskatchewan, Julie is experienced in strategic planning and has gained a high degree of understanding of effective governance structures and the importance of information sharing and inclusion at the community level. Julie is dedicated to the BRIDG program and is a strong believer in developing business and prosperity throughout the First Nation and Métis community, leading to positive growth for all of Saskatchewan. |
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