CAGFO
Board of Directors
as of November 2023
CAGFO Executive Committee
CAGFO President
Paul Wills, CPA CMA, Director, Municipal Finance, Nova Scotia Department of Finance and Treasury Board
On December 1, 2022, Paul became the Director, Municipal Finance when the Nova Scotia Municipal Finance Corporation was dissolved and rolled into the Department of Finance and Treasury Board. Before the dissolution of the Corporation, he was the CEO of the Corporation. Prior to this, he was a Municipal Advisor with Municipal Affairs with the Province of Nova Scotia and was in this roll since September 2008. In 2007, he started his provincial career as the Manager, Municipal Finance with the same department. He graduated from Saint Mary’s University in 1987 and obtained his Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation in 1994. Paul spent the first ten years of his career working in the private sector at various organizations ranging from small family run organizations up to international corporations before moving into municipal government. His first experience with municipal government was with the County of Kings where he was employed as the Chief Accountant for eight years. From there, he moved to the Town of New Glasgow in the role of Director of Corporate Services for two years before accepting the Manager’s position with the Province.
Paul is the past chair of the Tangible Capital Asset Committee for Nova Scotia, as well, represented the Province on the National Tangible Capital Asset Committee. He is also the past chair of the Financial Reporting and Accounting Manual Committee.
CAGFO Executive Committee
CAGFO Vice President
Elana Wentzell, CPA CMA, Director of Finance/Municipal Treasurer, Municipality of the District of Lunenburg
Elana is currently the Director Finance for the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg (MODL). She has 22 years of experience in public sector finance, having worked as a Junior Accountant for MODL and both Accountant and Finance Director for the Town of Lunenburg. As well, she had a six-year foray in the Lumber Industry serving as a Corporate Controller from 2000-2006.
She is a member of the Education Committee for the Association of Municipal Administrators -Nova Scotia and has also served on the Financial Reporting and Accounting Manual Committee for the Provincial Department of Municipal Affairs.
Elana has other volunteer experience as past Treasurer for her local church, teaching Sunday School, directing the Sunday School youth choir, and coaching her eldest daughter’s curling team. She is currently a charter member and Treasurer for Seaside A Cappella, a chapter of Harmony Inc which an international organization of women singers who sing in the barbershop style. As an empty-nester, singing and performing with the chorus has become more than just a hobby.
CAGFO Executive Committee
CAGFO Treasurer
Wes Anderson, Manager, Financial and Treasury Services, Mississauga, ON
Wes Anderson is the Manager of Financial and Treasury Services at the City, where he oversees the banking, cash management, payroll, payables, investment portfolio and accounting needs for Canada’s 6th largest City. Wes is accountable for the City’s financial accounting and reporting needs, financial controls, overseeing all payments to employees and vendors, commodity and income tax compliance, and management of treasury services including debt, banking and investments.
Previously, Wes was the Lean Program Manager at the City, where he led the largest Lean transformation in Canadian municipal government, solving complex problems, working across multiple industries, and engaging staff from the front line to executives in building a culture of continuous improvement. The thousands of improvements through the City of Mississauga’s Lean Program have saved and avoided over $10 million in Wes’ time building the Lean Program. Prior to that, Wes managed the Operational Planning team for the City’s Parks and Forestry Division, overseeing financial and business analysis; he also started his full time career as a Business Advisor.
Wes has a degree in Economics and Finance from York University, is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, certified in Project Management (PMP) and Programme Management (MSP), and is currently completing his CPA designation.
CAGFO Executive Committee
CAGFO Secretary
Seema Deol, Business Analyst, Corporate Accounting, Reporting, and Policy Branch, City of Edmonton
Seema works as a Business Analyst with the City of Edmonton in the Corporate Accounting, Reporting, and Policy Branch.
Corporate Accounting, Reporting & Policy section is dedicated to providing quality service and controls, which oversees accounting activities, financial reporting, ensures compliance, and provides business process improvement efforts. Seema’s experience includes implementation of financial systems, business process improvement, financial analysis, and implementing recommendations to improve financial services and ensuring controls. In addition, Seema is a member of the Financial Services Joint Health and Safety Committee and Workplace Learning.
Director at Large
Jamie Black, President, F.H. Black & Company Incorporated
Jamie Black is President of F. H. Black & Company Incorporated. For the last 20 years, he has consulted and trained finance officers, auditors & accountants in government, higher education, and corporations throughout Canada and the US. His work focuses on increasing efficiency & effectiveness through the implementation of technology & best practices to ensure that finance departments do more with less, do it better than it was done before and do it in less time.
Director at Large
Ratan Grewal, CGA CPA
Ratan is a CGA, CPA and has over 20 years of experience in Finance, with the last 12 years focused in the public sector. During his time at the City of Burnaby he has been in a leadership role in transforming the operating & capital budgeting and reporting processes. He is also actively involved in Asset Management, Carbon Pricing, Housing initiatives and financial systems. The City of Burnaby is the 3rd largest City in British Columbia, with a population of 249,125. There are four vibrant town centres and large districts for technology, business and education. Burnaby’s citizens live in a broad range of neighbourhoods served by an outstanding park system and innovative civic facilities.
Director at Large
Lorrie Schmalenberg, CPA CGA
Lorrie has over 25 years’ experience in the public sector and believes government finance officers play a crucial role in providing trust, credibility and transparency to our stakeholders through excellence in all we do from budgeting, reporting, financial management, financial systems, and through the audit/assurance and regulatory functions. With a passion for people, she believes leadership is a top priority and doesn’t require a title.
Director at Large
Kelly Strueby, BCom MA
Kelly Strueby has 30 years of experience in the public sector. She is currently Director, Office of the Budget and Deputy Treasurer for the Regional Municipality of York, where she leads the team responsible for the Region’s operating and capital budgets. She also worked for the Toronto Transit Commission and the Provinces of Ontario and Saskatchewan, as well as in the telecommunications industry. Kelly believes that collaboration and knowledge sharing and can help address the challenges facing the government finance sector. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Saskatchewan and a Master of Arts in Economics from Queen’s University. In her spare time, Kelly enjoys exploring nature through photography.
Director at Large
Jason Turnbull, CPA CMA, Senior Financial Business Partner, City of Saskatoon, SK
Having worked in various industry jobs in Alberta during the early years of his CPA, CMA designation, Jason found himself moving to the City of Saskatoon in 2004 where his career in municipal government began. Working with such a diverse corporation such as the City has allowed Jason to be exposed to all levels of budgeting and dealing with various committee’s and City Council.
Director at Large
Tanis Yanchishyn, CPA CA, Manager of Taxation and Financial Services, Assessment and Taxation, City of Winnipeg
Tanis is currently the Manager of Taxation and Financial Services with the City of Winnipeg’s Assessment and Taxation Department. She has worked in public municipal finance for the past 17 years holding various financial roles at the City of Winnipeg. She has worked in and/or supported multiple different departments in the Controllership role gaining experience in many different issues facing municipalities. In addition to her new role at Assessment and Taxation, her experience includes supporting Winnipeg Transit, Corporate Finance, being the finance lead for the Emergency Operations Centre, among various other roles and projects. Tanis is also a volunteer reviewer for the Government Finance Officers Association Canadian Award for Financial Reporting. Tanis is dedicated to mentoring junior financial professionals to prepare them for future leadership roles.
Advisor
Penny Bruin, Retired