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Steve MacLellan
President
Steve grew up in Antigonish and became a successful engineer, working all over the world, but his heart has always been in the Maritimes.
He also always wanted to contribute more and help others - It’s the way he was brought up!
Upon his return to the East Coast, Steve saw that the best way to contribute and build our communities was to change his career, and so he became a financial advisor.
He now owns a value-based financial firm called Design Your Future Financial Services with a strong focus on helping those that help others, by offering holistic financial plans based on his client's vision, values, and goals - not based on products.
Steve MacLellan is www.TheFinancialEngineer.ca - he helps his clients keep, grow, and control what they build instead of giving it away to taxes, fees, loss, and the unknown.
Brandi Hitchens
Secretary
Brandi is a Senior Commercial Account Executive with Jacobi Brien Insurance and Vice President of the Board. She began her insurance career over 25 years ago, with a large Atlantic brokerage in a rural office.
She worked hard to grow a significant personal lines portfolio prior to moving into larger complex commercial accounts in the Halifax region. Jacobi Brien is a locally owned brokerage, with one of the owners residing in Fall River.
Part of her commitment to her clients is providing ongoing support through any challenge, and assist with claims resolution.
More recently, she has been working with some high net worth accounts in the Golf, Realty, Construction and Manufacturing Industries.
Outside of the office, Brandi enjoys reading, and time in the outdoors canoeing or kayaking. She also loves spending time with her friends and family at their summer cottage.
Mathieu Boileau
Treasurer
Mathieu is the current treasurer of FRABA and has been volunteering his time with FRABA for over eight years in various roles on the board. Mathieu is a CPA, CA accountant for the firm MNP LLP and is a part of the firm’s Assurance and Business Advisory Services team where his role is a Senior Manager. Mathieu delivers a range of audit and compliance services to commercial and not-for-profit organizations, including 10 years of external assurance and tax experience.
Mathieu studied at Saint Mary’s University where he received his Bachelor of Commerce and continued on to Atlantic School of Chartered Accountancy where he was certified as a Chartered Accountant (CA) now named Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA).
Jessica Plamondon
Vice President
I started my first business at 19 years old and quickly became familiar with the challenges and rewards of owning & operating a small business! Since then I have worked for small, mid sized and fortune 500 companies in the wine business in both Alberta & BC. I regularly host a ladies wine night where I continue to share my passion and knowledge of the wine industry.
My husband and I relocated our family to Fall River in 2016 and have made this community our forever home. I am a member of the Ash Lee Jefferson PTA and Canadian Progress Club Halifax Citadel chapter. When I’m not volunteering you can usually find me at the hockey rink with my son, or swimming/ biking/ running in the community.
Currently I am a licensed Realtor with Royal Lepage Atlantic, the Pike Group since 2017. We are a small but mighty team of Realtors who are members of the Prestigious Chairman’s Award, or top 1% of Real Estate producers in Canada.
My goal and reason for joining FRABA to is to connect with my local community, support local businesses and help promote one another organically through social media and online channels. Meet like minded people and have some fun!
One of my biggest achievements was crossing the finish line of an Ironman Triathlon event in 2019 and I look forward to competing again soon!
Todd Hann
Board Member
One of FRABA’s newest board members, Todd Hann began his career in the financial services industry over 27 years ago.
With extensive experience in a variety of wealth solutions, Todd has devoted the last two decades to individual and family total financial solutions. He understands that a one-size-fits-all approach is not practical when it involves something as important as your life’s work and savings. He provides a holistic approach to your financial needs including wealth planning, investment management, estate, trust, tax, and planning for retirement and beyond.
As a Wealth Advisor and Portfolio Manager, Todd takes great pride in providing high-quality service and is passionate about helping you achieve your individualized financial goals, so you can feel confident to focus on other important things in life.
Todd resides in Fall River with his wife, Deborah, and their three children. Todd is a firm believer in supporting local whenever possible and he has been an active member of the community as a volunteer coach for LWF Baseball and Bedford Blues hockey for the last 10 years. Although Todd loves to focus on his business, he also understands the importance of finding time to unwind with his family and enjoys getting out to the ball diamonds, traveling, and skiing.
Website: https://toddhann.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddhann/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/toddhann11
Deborah Peddle-Hann
Board Member
Deborah Peddle-Hann is a fitness & wellness specialist, and the proud founder of Journey to Wellness. Opening the doors of her private Fall River studio in 2009, she has been bringing wellness programs, fitness classes, and private training to the community ever since. Deborah is one of the longest-standing fitness experts in our community and you can be sure to see her teaching fitness classes in a parking lot, walking our trails, or paddling across a lake. She has continued to expand her services by reaching people all over the world through her online wellness programs and since 2020, the Virtual Fit Camp.
Deborah has been very active in the community and has three children in our local schools - her oldest just graduating from Lockview in 2022. She has volunteered her time with many of her children’s sports over the years including soccer, gymnastics, baseball, and volleyball. An avid hiker and backpacker, she recently organized and lead the Nova Scotia Walk Day event in Fall River. Deb firmly believes in supporting local businesses whenever possible and loves stopping to talk to everyone (according to her children!)
Deborah has been an active member of FRABA since joining in 2014 and is looking forward to building FRABA’s exposure in the community as a board member. Make sure to honk and wave when you see her out changing the FRABA signs!
In past years, Deborah has been a board member for Fall River Fury Volleyball Club as Communications Manager and the Nova Scotia Gym Owners Association as Secretary. Deborah also loves to write and is the Content Coordinator for both the Bedford Living and Fall River Living magazines.
Deborah fell in love with Fall River and the surrounding communities the day she moved in and is incredibly grateful for the support she has received from families and businesses over the years. She plans to continue sharing her passion and expertise to help you live your healthiest and best life and is excited for what the future holds.
Website: www.journey2wellness.ca
Instagram: www.instagram.com/journey2wellness.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/journey2wellness
Jennifer Rideout
Board Member
I have been helping clients live a life of significance since 2008.
How?
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By helping clients make smart decisions about their money
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Protecting their assets from creditors, divorce, etc.
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Tax planning
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Taking care of their loved ones
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Maximizing estate & charitable gifts
Through investment, tax, estate, & insurance planning.
When I'm not in the office, I enjoy spending time with my family. I'm a proud mother of two amazing daughters, Sadie & Grace, and an avid runner who loves cooking, fitness, and travel.
You may also find me helping with Keloose or at WJCC – Supporting the community is so important. We can make positive changes with numbers!
If you do not have a solid Financial Plan or would like a second opinion, please reach out!
Jennifer Rideout, Wealth Advisor, Assante Capital Management Ltd.
CI| Assante - Sustainable Wealth Family Office
201-5548 Kaye St. Halifax, NS B3K 1Y5
https://advisor.assante.com/sustainable-wealth-family-office/
Assante Capital Management Ltd. is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada.
Insurance products and services are provided through Assante Estate and Insurance Services Inc.
Julianno Scaglione
Board Member
Julianno Scaglione, CD, is the owner-operator of My Own Path, Health and Wellness Inc. and Veteran Ambassador for CannaConnect NS veteran clinic and wellness lounge. Julianno is a 21-year Veteran of the Canadian Army and has a passion for helping others achieve a balanced lifestyle through physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual fitness.
Julianno is a certified personal trainer and Reiki practitioner. He has been actively engaged in fitness since 2006 when first started with Fitness New Brunswick. He has trained many people over the years as a military instructor, helping other soldiers prepare for physically demanding courses, privately, with groups he has organized such as a veteran’s group and bodybuilding team, and now with clients at My Own Path, Health and Wellness Inc.
Charity and giving back is an important part of Julianno’s work as he believes that giving back brings balance to business. Building community and strong networks is a personal mission in order to lessen the division that seems to be creeping into Canada.
The My Own Path mantras are “Suffer, Learn, Grow, Repeat” ™ and “Be The Tree” ™ if you want to learn what this means reach out to:
Email: Julianno.fit@gmail.com
Instagram: Myownpath_hw
Facebook: My Own Path, Health and Wellness Inc.
Anna-Marie Hubbard
Board Member
Anna-Marie is the founder and owner of Copia HR, a talent acquisition and talent management firm located in Bedford. She founded Copia HR with the belief that every small and mid-sized business should have access to human resources
support to help them compete, engage and retain top talent to growth their business.
Inclusive, enthusiastic, lifelong learner and community volunteer, Anna-Marie is a graduate of the University of Waterloo, and is a Certified Leadership & Inclusion Trainer, Change Management Consultant, and Human Resources Professional.
Copia HR is a Halifax Business Award, Small Business of the Year Nominee. She attributes this honor to her amazing, energetic, accessible, team, whose holistic approach accelerates results and brings out the best in people.
https://copiaprofessionals.com/
Nicola Wood
Board Member
Nicola grew up in Bedford and moved to Vancouver in 1997 to start her insurance career. After 16 years, they decided to move back and raise their two sons in Fall River, who are now at Lockview High School in grades 9 and 12. To reacquaint herself to the community she became an active volunteer with FRABA 8 years ago. As a Board member she was Secretary of Communications for 4 years and active on several Committees. She resigned in 2020-21 but has returned as a Board member in 2022-23.
As an Employee Benefits Advisor, Nicola has over 24 years of experience. She has partnered with the major group benefits insurers and third party providers. Nicola takes an approach that expands well beyond the typical benefits models that are used by the Industry. Her standing in the benefits community and flexibility enables to bring costs containment measures and innovative solutions. Whether you’re a Business Owner or Executive Director looking for a group benefits or a pension plan, Nicola can tailor a plan that works for you.