The management team at Fortress Insurance has decades of experience in the insurance and financial industries, ensuring credibility, stability and a solid network of independent insurance brokers and business partners.
Scott is a leader with strong business acumen and well-developed strategic planning skills. Having achieved great success in founding and growing a business, he is driven to use this experience to work with other great business owners, and helping these businesses grow.
Scott founded Western Financial Group Inc. in 1996 and served as CEO until 2014. Wishing to continue to be involved in Western Canadian business he started The Western Investment Company of Canada in 2015. Scott’s passion for business extends to a passion for his country, which he serves as an active Senator of Canada since 2013.
From its headquarters in High River, Alberta, Scott oversaw the building of Western Financial Group through more than 100 acquisitions, and a number of strategic initiatives. Today, Western Financial Group is a diversified financial services organization with more than $1 billion in annual sales. Fourteen-hundred employees provide nearly one million customers with insurance and investment products and services. The company’s network of more than 160 offices stretches across the west from Winnipeg to the pacific coast. On July 1, 2017 Western Financial Group was acquired in a $775 million transaction.
Shafeen has over 15 years of financial services experience, advising clients on mergers and acquisitions and capital raises, as well as risk management and actuarial consulting.
Shafeen was appointed President Fortress Insurance Company in 2019, then CEO in 2021, and is responsible for the strategic and operational performance of the company. He also currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Western Investment Company of Canada where he is responsible for sourcing, executing and managing acquisitions for the company.
Prior to Western, Shafeen worked at UBS Securities Canada and CIBC World Markets in their investment banking departments.
Shafeen started his career at Towers Perrin where he conducted actuarial valuations, risk management reviews and assisted the investment manager due diligence and selection for pension plans and life insurance companies.
He completed his MBA from the Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario and a Bachelors in Actuarial Science from Simon Fraser University. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst Charter holder and an Associate from the Society of Actuaries.
Rosalva has over 15 years of experience in accounting and financial reporting. She started her career at Ernst & Young in the assurance and audit division. She has since held various accounting and financial reporting roles in several industries including transportation and logistics, hospitality, and food distribution services.
Rosalva is a problem-solver who strives to build high energy, positive and results-driven teams. She enjoys developing and mentoring staff and adapts quickly to change. She’s known for always finding the silver lining in any situation and building strong and positive relationships.
Rosalva is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CGA) and has a Bachelor of Accounting degree with a concentration of Finance.
Lisa has over 25 years of experience in the commercial insurance industry and has a proven track record of creating operational excellence and industry leading results.
She’s built considerable expertise in the areas of marketing, business development, operations, and property/casualty/auto underwriting. Her experience on both the broker side and company side of the industry, and in senior and progressive leadership roles, give her the unique ability to understand diverse objectives and challenges. By engaging thoughtfully and deliberately with both internal and external stakeholders, Lisa creates an environment where collaboration, understanding and critical thinking flourish. In this environment, strategy and solutions are best developed, and true partnership gains are realized.
Lisa is passionate about creating engaged, happy, and high functioning teams, and sharing her knowledge and experience to support personal and professional excellence.
She attended the University of Manitoba Bachelor of Education program and is a Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP). She has taught various courses for the Independent Brokers Association of Alberta, Manitoba, and The Insurance Institute of Canada.
During Lesley’s 25-year career, she has worked on the ground in six countries, spanning three continents, and across multiple industries including energy, insurance and finance. Her broad experience includes M&A, capital allocation, post-acquisition integration, post-investment review, project and change management, and risk assessment. She has worked with companies of all sizes, from niche start-ups to multi-national conglomerates.
Lesley started her career with six years at KPMG, predominantly working with small businesses. During that time Lesley earned a Canadian Chartered Accounting designation in Canada. She currently holds an MBA from Queen’s University in Canada and a Certified Public Accounting designation in Illinois, USA. Lesley’s broad experience and common-sense approach to challenges will be invaluable to Fortress as the Company grows.
Michael has over six years in accounting and auditing. He started his auditing career at Pricewaterhouse Coopers before transitioning to RSM Canada. During his public accounting career, Michael audited several public and private companies in the transportation, technology, aviation, retail, hospitality and manufacturing industries. Prior to working in public accounting, Michael was contracted to worked at the Canada Revenue Agency.
As he’s grown in his career, Michael has enjoyed being a coach and mentor to staff to help them progress in their careers. By looking for opportunities for efficiencies, Michael has built strong teams that are effective in meeting timelines while also adapting to changing financial reporting requirements. His relaxed demeanour and communication skills have helped him build lasting relationships.
Michael is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and has a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a concentration in Finance from the University of Calgary.
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