We would like to introduce you to your 2026 Banff School Committee. These individuals have been donating their time to put together one heck of an amazing school for 2026.

Scott Grant

CLU, QAFP, EPC
2025 School Chair

Scott Grant has been in the industry for 25 years with Ridge Planning Group Inc. and has benefited and grown from his attendance at the Banff School. He has enjoyed volunteering at the Banff School each year and particularly this year in his role as School Chair. Scott is a Qualifying and Life Member of MDRT.

Tami Romanchuk

CFP, CLU
Past Chair/Faculty Chair

Tami has been a volunteer since her first year of attendance in 2006. She has served on multiple chairs for the school since getting involved with the board. Tami volunteers because the school has been an amazing resource of knowledge and friendships over the years and she loves being able to help the momentum continue.

For more information on Tami, you can find her full bio here.

David Lord

CPA, CMA, CFP
Treasurer

David Lord is a CPA, CMA, CFP whose practice Red Seal Financial Ltd. is run in partnership with Dawn Vader, CFP. After attending the Advocis Banff School as a delegate for 5 years, David was recruited to the organizing committee in 2018 as the Chair of Marketing. In 2021 he took on a Board role as the Treasurer. David believes in giving back and is also an active volunteer for Junior Achievement where he delivers financial literacy education to school-aged children in the public school system. For more information on Dave, please see his full bio here.

Company website click here.

LinkedIn page click here.

Jason Desaulniers

CFP, CLU, CIM, CHS
Director

Jason has been attending Banff School since 2016, and was honoured to be invited to join the Committee as Sponsorship Chair for 2023’s Banff School. He has been an Advocis member since 2000, and has served as President of Advocis Edmonton’s Board, in addition to other roles there over the years.

Jason owns and operates Excalibur Executive Planning Inc and BP Group Solutions; and in his spare time can often be found running the trails, climbing mountains or competing in endurance races wherever they may be found.

Carolyn Melnychuk

CFP
Registration Chair

Carolyn has been attending Banff School faithfully since 2013. She started volunteering in 2015 and is honoured to be the 2024 Registration Chair. The knowledge, experiences & relationships keep bringing her back year after year.

Company website click here.

Koren Scott

Koren Scott brings over 20 years of experience providing executive support, governance leadership, and professional communications across corporate, government, and agency environments. As a trusted advisor and behind-the-scenes organizer, she is known for her ingenuity, calm efficiency, and commitment to seamless operations. She enjoys contributing to meaningful work that brings people together and creates lasting impact.

Koren is passionate about maintaining the Banff School’s tradition of excellence through strong administration, clear communication, and an unwavering focus on collaboration and professionalism.

Incoming School Administrator

Melanie Galka

Apprentice Registration Chair

I stumbled into the insurance world over 20 years ago after overhearing a conversation that sparked my curiosity about finance—and I’ve never looked back. What’s kept me here are the stories: those that show how powerful protection can be, and those that remind me what it means when it’s not there. Starting as an advisor and later spending a decade as the Disability Insurance wholesaler at RBC Insurance, I’ve seen just how much advisors can impact the trajectory of a family’s life. Now, as Director of Business Development for Southern Alberta at PPI, my goal is simple: to be the partner advisors didn’t know they needed—elevating their practice, partnering with them to move their business forward, and supporting their continued growth.

Brenda Dreissigacker

Brenda began volunteering on the Advocis Banff School Committee in 2008.

She then served as: Registration Chair – 2010 – 2013, Chair – 2014 & 2015, & Past Chair – 2016 & 2017

Brenda also served as the National Schools Chair from 2016 to 2020.

In the fall of 2018, Brenda retired from full time work with IA Financial Group and was offered the part time position of Administrator for the school. She loves her role as it keeps her connected to long time friends and former business associates within the industry!

LinkedIn page click here.

School Administrator

Dominique Plettell

PFA, Technology Chair

Dom first attended the Banff School in 2018 with his Father Donald Plettell who was a past Chair for Banff School.

He has been in the business for 10 years, and as the new Technology Chair, Dom plans to utilize his past experience working sound and light boards with rock bands. He also volunteers with the Advocis Calgary Chapter as the director of the Lethbridge area. Having recently taken over his father’s business, Dom aspires to provide the same level of expertise that his father Donald did for many years in the past.

Outside of the office, Dom spends his free time enjoying nature, and his passion for music.

Annal Prakesh

Sponsor Chair

Annal joined the insurance industry in 2013 and has been working as Business Development Executive for MGA’s since entering the industry. He works with Financial advisors to help grow/maintain their business with a focus on Compliance and also has a strong focus on growing the MGA business in Northern Alberta. Annal volunteers for both the local Advocis chapter in Edmonton and volunteers for the Advocis Banff School chapter as Sponsor Chair. In his free time, he love’s spending time with his family, playing sports and watching the Edmonton Oilers. He loves personal growth and development which is why he attends Banff School every year.

Jesse Vu

Marketing Chair

As the principal advisor at Exceedia Consulting Ltd, Jesse’s practice focuses primarily on helping middle-income families and self-employed blue collar trades get organized, find money and learn how to make better financial decisions. Because of her social work background and past career with the the provincial government, one of her passion projects is helping families access the disability tax credit - something so many people have struggled to apply for. By integrating this service into her practice, it is not uncommon for Jesse to find over twenty thousand dollars in missed refunds and benefits for families.

Jesse values investing in the community through her volunteer efforts with Immigrant Services Calgary. Jesse was the 2018 Finext Conference Recipient for Innovator in Finance for use of fintech in the integration and delivery of financial services. Jesse has been nominated for the 2019 Womanition Entrepreneur of the Year, as well as 2020 Top 100 People in Finance.

School Committee