Our Team
Our Administration and Consulting Team includes:
Jack McAteer - Chairman of the Board
Jack has been actively involved in the Employee Benefits (marketing, underwriting, consulting and administration) Industry since 1953. He was first employed by Physicians' Services Incorporated, which was Ontario's largest non-profit Prepaid Medical Services Plan sponsored by the Ontario Medical Association.
Jack joined William M. Mercer Limited, Toronto Office, as Consultant and Manager, Industry Wide Benefits. This Department specialized in Consulting/Actuarial and Administration Services for Multi-Employer Benefit Trust Funds.
Jack formed J. J. McAteer & Associates Incorporated and Employee Benefit Plan Services Limited in 1979. Almost all of Mercer's Clients, who were about to be cancelled due to a change in Mercer's Business Strategy, joined McAteer's and most have remained with the Companies to this day.
Jack is a strong supporter of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and at past Canadian Conferences has been a Speaker, Moderator and Panellist. He was a Member of the Canadian Board from 1984 to 1986. On January 1, 1987 Jack was the first Canadian to be appointed to the Foundation's Administrators' Committee.
Jack served as President until June 2006. He is now Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Susan Bird, B.A., CEBS - President
Susan graduated with her B.A. in Economics (Dean's List) from York University in 1981. She is one of 988 Canadians to achieve the Canadian CEBS designation. Susan was the first Canadian to achieve the Fellowship status of the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists.
Susan earned her HIA (American Health Insurance Associate) designation in 1990.
Susan has been a Speaker, Moderator and Panellist at past Canadian and American Conferences of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. She has spoken on such topics as:
- Fraud
- Cost-Containment in Health Plans
- Automation of Administration Systems
- Investment Manager Selection and Monitoring
- Substance Abuse Treatment
- Benefit Plan Communications
- Trustee and Plan Governance Issues
- Plan Administration
- Benchmarking Service Standards
- Fund Governance
Susan has also been engaged by Clients to speak at their Industry Conferences and many Pre-Retirement Seminars.
She is the Past Chair of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans' Canadian Education Committee and Past Chair of the Canadian Board. Commencing in 2008, she is an Advisory Director to the Canadian Board.
Susan became President of the McAteer Group of Companies June 1, 2006.
Richard McAteer - Vice President
Richard joined Employee Benefit Plan Services Limited in 1987. Richard has held key positions within the Firm; developing its clients and providing first rate service strategies. He has contributed to building J.J. McAteer & Associates and Employee Benefit Plan Services to the successful companies that they are today.
Throughout Richard's years of dedicated service he has developed a thorough knowledge of benefit design, claims payment services, disability management, pension administration and accounting. His expertise in the administration of health and welfare and pension benefits defined his position as Manager of our newest branch office in Edmonton, Alberta, where he manages the Benefits Office of one of the strongest unions in Canada.
Jessica Chan, B.A., C.G.A. – Manager of Trust Fund Accounting
Jessica graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, majoring in Economics.
Jessica achieved the designation of Certified General Accountant (C.G.A.) in 2003.
Jessica joined Employee Benefit Plan Services Limited in 2008. She brought with her 8 years of in-depth expertise in auditing and other accounting related duties.
Jessica is responsible for the management of the Trust Fund Accounting Department. In this role, she oversees the daily operations, generates financial statements, conducts accounting data analysis and leads all audit engagements. She introduces continuous improvement in accounting processes.
Before joining us, Jessica had enjoyed success in her managerial role with a national retail chain as well as in the not-for-profit industry.
Carolyn Flagel, M.Sc., RPA - Consultant
Carolyn joined J.J. McAteer & Associates in 2006. Carolyn earned her Master of Science degree in Mathematics from McMaster University. She has earned her RPA (Registered Pension Associate) designation within the CEBS program.
As a pension specialist, Carolyn brings over twenty-five years of in-depth pension, programming and administration expertise from the pension consulting industry. She has also been involved with quality assurance and testing for a software development company specializing in pension administration systems. This involved the writing and executing of several test plans, suites and test cases. She has also had high level responsibilities for analyzing software driven initiatives. Carolyn has also worked in the actuarial department being responsible for performing calculations and valuations of pension plans.
Carolyn has participated in several successful system conversions including conversion of manual pension systems onto customized computerized administration systems. Carolyn has been responsible for gathering client requirements and writing specifications for a number of clients. She was relied on by clients for solutions to existing problems and enhancements to their current system.
Carolyn is recognized as a senior professional knowledgeable in pension administration who has extensive practical experience to provide added value to team members as well as practical advice to the senior management team.
Carolyn has also attended a Quality System Internal Auditing course and has acted as an auditor as part of the ISO process.
Colin Gupta - Consultant
Colin Gupta joined J.J. McAteer & Associates in 2009. Colin has over 22 years of experience in the Group Insurance industry, having worked for, and with several Canadian Insurers and Benefits Consultants in delivering extensive technical expertise, creative benefits solutions and overall benefits program management to a wide array of group benefits plan sponsors in the private and public sectors. For over 12 years, Colin was a Senior Group Underwriting Consultant with group insurers including The Prudential Insurance Company of America, London Life, Great-West Life and Manulife Financial. Colin has also performed in Technical Consulting, Account Executive and Senior Benefits Consulting roles with William M. Mercer Limited and others.
Colin attended the University of Toronto’s Scarborough College majoring in Commerce and Economics. He also obtained his HIA (Health Insurance Association of America) designation in 1989 and is presently working towards his CEBS designation.
Colin strengthens our team providing expertise in a variety of benefits consulting and underwriting services.
Jim Hillhouse, FCIA - Consulting Actuary
Jim graduated from Glasgow University with an Honours Bachelor of Science Degree, specializing in Mathematics and Physics.
Jim qualified as a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries in 1970.
Jim joined Tomenson Alexander as an Actuarial Consultant in 1973. During his nine years with this Firm, Jim was Assistant Vice-President, Vice-President, Executive Vice-President and President.
Jim joined Reed Stenhouse Associates as a Senior Vice-President in 1983.
In 1987 Jim formed his own Company, Pensac Associates, which provides Pension and Actuarial Consulting Services.
Jim has been associated with J. J. McAteer & Associates since 1992.
Tara Seebaran, B.A., C.G. A. – Manager of Corporate Services
Tara joined Employee Benefit Plan Services in 2008. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree, an Honours Diploma in Business Administration and achieved the designation of Certified General Accountant (C.G.A.) in 2001.
Tara is responsible for the managing of Corporate Services which includes overseeing the finance, human resources and payroll functions, along with other components of day to day operations.
Before joining us, Tara had been responsible for managing finance departments both in the health care industry and the not-for-profit industry with a focus on financial reporting and analysis.
Before joining us in 1991, Ippy was well established in the Insurance Industry with a major carrier.
Brad St. Clair, B.Sc., FLMI - Consultant & Executive Administrator
Brad graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Science Degree, majoring in Psychology.
Brad is a Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI) with a specialization in Group Insurance. He holds a Certificate from the Health Insurance Association of America.
Brad joined J.J. McAteer & Associates in 1987. He has over 35 years experience in the Employee Benefits Industry, including Underwriting with one of Canada's largest Insurers and as a Benefits Technician at a major Employee Benefits Consulting House.
Brad provides high level Consulting and Administration Services.
Rob joined Employee Benefit Plan Services Limited in 1986. Throughout the past 20 years, many clients have benefited from the knowledge and experience he has attained from working on the many facets of Multi-Employer Plan administration.
Rob provides services such as Pension benefit administration, including individual information sessions for retiring members, and analysis and implementation of Health Benefit and Supplementary Unemployment Benefit claims processing. Rob also provides database management solutions with regard to the receiving, maintenance, transmitting and formatting of electronic information.
Rob is a graduate of the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) Program jointly sponsored by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and Dalhousie University. Through successful completion of the continuing educational requirements, he also holds Fellowship status with the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Plan Specialists.