Rene Quercia is SVP, Broker Channel at HomeEquity Bank, the provider of the CHIP Reverse Mortgage. He is on a mission to grow the Broker channel and unlock the potential of the CHIP Reverse Mortgage as an integral part of every Broker’s product lineup serving Canadians 55+. 

Prior to this he spent over 35 years in various bank executive roles, 10 of them in the Mortgage division of TD bank, where he was responsible for leading national sales teams of over 1,000 Mortgage Specialists and the Mortgage Broker channel. Combined these teams accounted for over two-thirds of all new mortgage originations at TD. In that time, he transformed the distribution model through the broker channel, re-engineering processes, engaging a 3rd party operator and building out market share through key relationships.  

An experienced financial services executive, Rene has a proven history of building successful businesses, developing people and delivering exceptional results across a national footprint. He is an authentic and inspirational leader who attracts diverse talent and nurtures an inclusive culture in creating engaged and highly effective teams.  

Rene lives in Oakville with his wife and is passionate about giving back to the community. 

 

Grant Armstrong has built a distinguished 20year career in the mortgage industry, driven by a commitment to excellence and a deep focus on delivering value to clients, broker partners, and organizations. His experience spans sales and senior leadership roles within two of Canada’s Big Five banks, giving him broad insight into both traditional and specialized lending environments.  

After nearly six years leading the origination and distribution of a major alternative lender, Grant joined Wealth One Bank in 2026 to develop and lead its National Mortgage team. A champion of technology, innovation, and organizational development, he has consistently focused on strengthening broker relationships and advancing the alternative lending landscape in Canada.  

Grant now serves as Vice-President & Chief Credit Officer at Wealth One Bank. In this role, he oversees all business units supporting the acquisition, underwriting, and origination of residential and commercial mortgage products nationwide. He is responsible for ensuring consistent, highquality service delivery and operational excellence across every aspect of the Bank’s mortgage lending activities.  

 

Jake Bannister brings over eight years of experience in residential and commercial lending. He joined Glasslake Funding at its inception in 2023 and quickly became a driving force behind the brand’s launch and broker network growth in Ontario. In 2024, Jake moved west to lead Glasslake’s strategic expansion into B.C. and Alberta. He now oversees their presence across Western Canada, working closely with brokers to get deals done and deliver results clients can count on.

With a background in Junior A hockey and an OHL draft pick under his belt, Jake brings a competitive edge and a steady, team-first approach to everything he does. He’s known for being thoughtful, dedicated, responsive, and clear—even when deals get complex. Off the clock, you’ll find him on the golf course—still chasing excellence, still showing up with consistency.

Norman Holmes, Vice President/Managing Director, Drake Financial

As Vice President and Managing Director, Norm holds a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Leadership, an STI Designation and an Accredited Mortgage Professional designation and a diploma in Financial Planning.

Norm has over 20 years of supervisory and Senior Managerial experience with numerous financial institutions including Household Finance and Trust.

Michael has worked at Equitable Bank for nearly 20 years and is currently Vice President of Residential Lending, leading strategy and operations for the personal lending department. In his role, he presently oversees residential mortgage adjudication and funding (conventional and default insured), third party originations, product & strategy as well as the EQ Mortgage Servies team who manages Equitable’s residential mortgage portfolio including renewals.

Michael graduated from the Alberta School of Business (U of A) with a Bachelor of Commerce and holds an MBA from Queens University.  In addition, Michael was an active board member with Mortgage Professionals Canada for 8 years and served as Chair in 2018/2019.

Michael has two children (Madison & Owen) and is a dedicated minor hockey coach and recreational golfer

As a former managing broker and REALTOR®, Trevor Koot’s nearly two decades in organized real estate gives him hands-on expertise in understanding the profession’s needs.

Before stepping in as CEO at the BC Real Estate Association, he served as CEO of Kamloops and District Real Estate Association for four years and Kootenay Association of REALTORS® for three before successfully merging the two into the Association of Interior REALTORS®.

Trevor’s leadership in the real estate sector began long before his CEO career when he was Chair of the Saskatchewan Real Estate Commission for five years. He played a key role in redrafting provincial real estate regulations during his tenure. Trevor also served two years as Chair of the Governance Committee at the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials.

He holds multiple degrees, from a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and a minor in Mathematics through the University of Saskatchewan to a Master of Business Administration degree through Royal Roads University. Trevor is adding to his extensive education through his current pursuit of completing a Master of Laws degree at York University.

Dan MacDonald is the Co-Founder and CEO of Ownwell, a tech platform that helps mortgage brokers turn dormant client databases into a consistent source of repeat business and referrals. By delivering automated, personalized homeowner insights, Ownwell helps brokers stay top-of-mind, trigger timely mortgage conversations, and capture more lifetime value from every client. 

Previously, Dan was Chief Product Officer at Lendesk, where he led the development of its Lender Network and the integration of Lender Spotlight and Finmo. 

Kristina brings more than two decades of experience in underwriting and sales, joining First National in 2004 and becoming a sales leader in 2019. Her deep knowledge of the British Columbia market, combined with her underwriting background, allows her to assess deals from every angle and deliver practical, wellinformed solutions for brokers. Known for her proactive communication and commitment to client success, Kristina provides valuable insight into the market forces, valuation dynamics, and lending realities shaping Western Canada today.

As VP of Product at Lendesk, Lucy leads our product team and AI solutions, shaping the strategy and execution behind the products our customers rely on every day. She’s driven by curiosity, collaboration, and a commitment to building impactful, intelligent experiences.

Ryan Spence leads the mortgage broker channel for Filogix and for many years has helped mortgage brokers across the country in their technology evolution.  A past chair of the Alberta Mortgage Brokers Association, Ryan has for many years sat at the intersection between technology and education, providing training and support for Filogix’s Expert software and advice to the many participants of the mortgage ecosystem as they look to achieve their greatest success.  

Jared Stanley, Senior Director of Originations, Neighbourhood Holdings 

Entering the mortgage industry in 2008, I’ve navigated a landscape of profound transformations. At Neighbourhood Holdings, I’ve constantly embraced changes, spearheading the creation of innovative processes and strategies that have driven us to $2 billion in volume by April 2025. 

Embracing advanced technology has been pivotal in our approach. Leading a team of dedicated professionals, our mantra emerged: "What gets measured gets managed." This has driven our success in underwriting complex files, process automation, and product development. Committed to elevating the alternative lending industry, we are setting new standards by leveraging AI and advanced technology.  

 

Imran is a national leader in the Canadian mortgage industry with two decades of experience working alongside brokers and industry partners currently, the Director of National Sales and Marketing at National Bank’s Optimum Mortgage. In his role, he is focused on developing and empowering high-performing teams, strengthening broker relationships, and consistently elevating the broker experience while supporting growth in the alternative lending space.

Previously, Imran held senior roles at Sagen, where he helped drive strong performance in Western Canada while contributing to industry initiatives focused on innovation and housing affordability. Outside of work, he has served on the National Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity Canada and Habitat for Humanity Edmonton, supporting affordable housing and stronger communities.

Paul started his career in 1991 and in the past 35 years has held senior banking positions, has been a national brand leader, and most recently founded Haystax Financial Inc. Paul and Haystax are laser focused on delivering proven systems, advanced support, and customers to franchisees and brokers in the Haystax network.

Susan Thomas is the Vice President of Sales at Haventree Bank, leading a high-performing team of sales professionals dedicated to the mortgage broker channel. With over 35 years of extensive experience in the financial industry, Susan possesses a wealth of knowledge and expertise.

Starting her career in retail banking, Susan honed her skills in branch management, investments, and financial planning before moving to the broker side. As Executive Vice President, she pioneered groundbreaking segmentation strategies.

Throughout her career and beyond her professional accomplishments, Susan has demonstrated a strong commitment to professional development, industry advocacy, and community engagement. 

Ryan White, Regional Sales Director, MCAN Financial 

With an extensive background spanning over 15 years in business development, Ryan has established himself as a highly experienced and knowledgeable leader in the Southwestern Ontario market. As the lead BDM for this growing region, he has built enduring partnerships and friendships through his unwavering dedication to relationship building and the continuous development of industry expertise.    

Ryan's commitment to fostering collaboration and open communication allows him to assist brokers in securing the best possible deals for their clients. His exceptional work ethic and passion for going above and beyond have inspired the #Hometeam to follow in his footsteps.    

Residing in London, ON, Ryan is also an outdoor enthusiast. When not immersed in resolving complex files or meeting with broker partners, he can be found enjoying his time snowmobiling, ATV riding, or fishing.   

Tanya Woods leads Government and Regulatory Affairs for Questrade Financial Group, a successful private Canadian company with $85B+ AUA and a portfolio of leading companies offering innovative banking, financial, home, lending, services online to help clients become much more financially successful and secure. Tanya is a dynamic and specialized technology, regulatory, and trade lawyer, former trade negotiator, and technology policy expert.  She advises governments and companies on digital trade, open finance and fintech issues, intellectual property, sustainability and resiliency, cybersecurity policy and global enforcement, digital literacy, and emerging technologies. Woods has served in Advisory, Board and C-suite legal and business roles successfully advancing the commercial and regulatory agendas of technology companies for 20 years, including Microsoft, Nintendo, Interac, and BCE Inc. Woods also launched and led Canada's first blockchain and digital assets trade association, served as General Counsel & Corporate Secretary to launch Canada’s first digital asset miner on NASDAQ, supported the development of the first global charity-led algorithmic (AI) literacy program, and sat on the Board of Canada’s first publicly traded 4D “metaverse” studio. Tanya’s leadership and contributions have been recognized by the Government of Canada, IT World, the Obama Foundation, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and Toastmasters International, amongst others.

Erica Ma has been a dedicated leader in the Canadian mortgage industry for over 15 years. Currently serving as Area Vice President for British Columbia with TMG The Mortgage Group and as a board director with Mortgage Professionals Canada (MPC), Erica is a passionate advocate for industry growth and innovation. 

She finds it incredibly rewarding to support brokers by fostering lifelong relationships, providing training, and mentoring new professionals. Helping brokers grow their businesses and achieve their goals fuels her dedication to shaping the future of the industry. 

Recognized as a CMP Woman of Influence in both 2022 and 2024, Erica remains committed to empowering others while balancing her professional success and family life. 

 

Dean Larson is a driving force behind the growth and agent success at Tango Financial. With a strong background in mortgage strategy, mortgage lending, capital solutions, entrepreneurship, and operational leadership, he has helped lead Tango Financial to one of the largest groups of mortgage professionals in Canada.  Known for his integrity, responsiveness, and a people first approach, he is committed to providing the best infrastructure and environment for mortgage agents, while building long-term relationships rooted in trust and transparency.