Geoffrey began his working life selling small business telephone equipment just as call centre technologies were being developed. Shortly after, he launched his insurance career at Allstate as an adjuster working in a call centre. Over the next three decades, Geoffrey gained experience working in claims and product distribution for four of CADRI’s five founding member organizations.
As VP Insurance Operations at The Co-operators for the last 15 years, Geoffrey has been a CADRI Board member, committee chair and, most recently, its Vice Chair. Having retired from The Co-operators at the end of 2020, Geoffrey now leads the CADRI Board to advance its members’ interests.
Catherine Allman Vice President & External and Government Relations
Catherine has held senior public affairs roles in the financial services sector in Toronto. Previously, Catherine ran Hawkestone Communications & Public Affairs, a public relations and policy agency advising industry and public agencies. A former journalist, she worked in regulatory affairs in the media business for close to a decade.
Catherine’s volunteerism seeks to improve the quality of life of Canadians – particularly young people – through the nonprofit sector. She is a Board member of the Orillia Centre for Arts + Culture in Orillia, Ontario. She has sat on Boards of Directors in the performing arts; was a member of the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Toronto Grant Review Team for six years, and a cabinet member for YMCA Camp Pine Crest’s 100th-anniversary fundraising campaign.
Ruth and her team have provided association management to CADRI for close to 20 years. As CEO of Base Consulting and Management, Ruth has more than 30 years’ experience in consulting and management to the association world, convention and meeting planning. Ruth participates in several professional associations in these fields and holds various community volunteer roles. Ruth is a graduate of Glendon College at York University in International Relations and French.
Board of Directors
Chair & CEO: Geoffrey Beechey
Vice Chair: Domenic Naccarato, belairdirect
Secretary/Treasurer: Jonathan Bida, Definity Insurance Company
Director at Large: Jeff Castle, Co-operators
Director at Large: Christopher Day, Aviva Canada
Director at Large: Kristen Gill, TD Insurance
Director at Large: Jocelyn Laflamme, Desjardins General Insurance Group
Director at Large: Anushree Prakash, Sonnet Insurance Director at Large: Jason Wang, Allstate
Committee Chairs
REGIONAL COMMITTEES Atlantic: Romi Morning, Co-operators
Ontario: Ryan Stein, Sonnet Insurance Western: Paul Wilkins, belairdirect
TASK FORCES Digital & Emerging Technologies: Michael Kennedy, Desjardins General Insurance Group Licensing: Lee Van Hezewyk, Co-operators Risk Systems: Rachel Gow, Desjardins General Insurance Group
CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF DIRECT RELATIONSHIP INSURERS (CADRI)
