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Greg Braat
BSc , QAFP™
Financial Advisor*
Mutual Fund Investment Specialist**
Greg was raised on a farm near the town of Bow Island in Southern Alberta. After high school he obtained a Diploma in Agricultural Technology from Lethbridge Community College and a Bachelor of Science / Agricultural Economics degree from the University of Alberta. Following university Greg worked at TD Bank, United Farmers of Alberta, and ATB Financial in various roles related to agriculture with his last position being Branch Manager for ATB Financial in Lacombe, Alberta. It was at this juncture Greg sought out the opportunity of owning his own business and was successful in securing a position with Gary Rosenow Agency (a direct writing Agent for The Co-operators) in 2007. Upon Gary Rosenow’s retirement in 2010, Greg took on the Agency and renamed it Battle River Insurance Ltd. Greg maintains his General Insurance License; Life, Accident & Sickness License; Mutual Fund License; Elder Planning Counselor Designation, and Qualified Associate Financial Planner Designation. Greg and his family reside in Ponoka, where he is a strong community advocate, participating in, and contributing to, the community on many levels. Greg is proud of his background in the agriculture industry and lives by the values you would expect of a proud Albertan.
Location
Ponoka
Email
Brynn Braat
Associate Financial Advisor
Brynn has been with Co-operators since June 2015. Working part-time from 2017 – 2021, Brynn attended Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, BC where she obtained a Bachelor of Tourism Management degree. Brynn has been back with us full time since October 2021, and since then has increased her knowledge by getting her Life, Accident & Sickness License making her one of our Associate Financial Advisors. Specializing in our life, home, and auto products, Brynn looks forward to meeting with her clients to discuss their financial goals and insurance needs. In her off time, Brynn enjoys travelling and spending as much time as possible with her friends and family.
Location
Ponoka
Email
Jess Taekema
Associate Insurance Advisor
Jess has been with Co-operators since April of 2023 specializing in billing and, most recently, auto Insurance. Having a background in customer service Jess understands the importance of first impressions. She believes success is found in giving each client that walks through the door the attention and time they need to feel confident in the work we do here. Out of the office, she enjoys spending time with her husband and kids. In the winter she gets to juggle her time watching the kids play volleyball or football. During the summer, if she isn’t paddle boarding at the lake with family and friends, you’ll be able to catch her at the baseball diamond where she plays slo pitch with her husband.
Location
Ponoka
Email
Laura Hamell
Associate Insurance Advisor
Laura started her insurance career on the broker side of the business before joining Co-Operators in September 2022. She enjoys getting to know the ins and outs of local businesses and ensuring their operations are fully protected in her role as a Commercial Insurance Advisor. Laura has lived in Alberta since 2009 and is excited to raise her family in such a wonderful small-town atmosphere.
Location
Ponoka
Email
Luke Sperber
PFA™ , QAFP™
Associate Financial Advisor*
Mutual Fund Investment Specialist**
Luke has been with The Co-operators since September 2016. Prior to The Co-operators, he served six and a half years as a Med Tech in the Canadian Forces. His passion is helping people, and with his career as an Associate Financial Advisor, that passion is still realized. He specializes in wholistic financial planning, helping clients protect what’s most important, and to guide and advise them with comprehensive reports for all their financial needs. Luke has achieved his Professional Financial Advisor and Qualified Associate Financial Planner Designations and is currently working towards his Certified Financial Planner Designation. In his spare time, he is an avid golfer and hockey enthusiast (Go Sabres!). He was born and raised in Ponoka and plans to do the same for his young son and family.
Location
Ponoka
Email
Sara Dennis
Associate Insurance Advisor
Sara has been with the Co-operators since May 2013 when she moved to Ponoka from Nova Scotia. Sara specializes in home and auto insurance and takes pride in connecting with our clients both personally as well as professionally. Sara’s goal at the Co-operators is ensuring our clients are adequately protected and they understand the coverage their policies provide. In her spare time, she participates in bowling league, slow pitch, and enjoys spending quality time with her family.
Location
Ponoka
Email
Tim Ten Brinke
Associate Insurance Advisor I
Tim has been with the Co-operators since January 2023. Prior to joining our team, he was a journeyman carpenter, who renovated and built homes and farm structures for Albertans. Prior to that he served four years as a Med Tech in the Canadian Forces. Tim has always enjoyed working with farmers, both as a carpenter and now as a farm insurance advisor. His goal at the Co-operators is to protect each farmer’s assets accurately, build good relationships with clients, and to protect their farming operations and families. In his spare time, he performs in an 80’s cover band, and is attempting to learn how to golf. Tim is proud of his Dutch heritage and enjoys working in Ponoka because it reminds him of the small town of Dunnville, Ontario where he grew up.
Location
Ponoka
Email*Offering insurance products underwritten by Co-operators General Insurance Company and Co-operators Life Insurance Company.
**Offering mutual funds through Co-operators Financial Investment Services.