Stephen's background is in accounting, having qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1991. He has controller experience, along with many years of experience working with small business clients in several progressive accounting firms.
Steve recognized that many of his clients looked to their accounting firm for service support beyond traditional accounting and so started seek solutions in 2003.
A few years ago, Steve decided that working side-by-side with engineers and scientists was an interesting way of helping clients improve their working capital, so he spearheaded the development of the company's SR&ED tax credit claim process.
In his neverending drive to look for ways to extend service to our clients, Stephen works with many of the company's longer-term clients, leading a multi-disciplinary team who providing a customized bundle of services on a client-by-client basis.
In his not-so-quiet moments, Steve can be found patrolling the shores of 'Sag Lake' either in a kayak, fishing boat or with the whole family on the boat known to everyone as the Queen Mary.
Zaida's background, like many of us here at Seek Solutions, covers more than one discipline. While she does have over eight years' experience in public accounting, several years ago Zaida decided to expand her client service horizons by starting a human resource consulting service. While working with clients, she continued to advance her training and graduated from the Conestoga College Human Resources Program in 2004 and received her CHRP designation in 2007.
Perhaps the most intriguing and refreshing element of working with Zaida is her ability to link together business strategy, human resources, and an understanding of the underlying numbers.
It also helps a lot that Zaida is energized by working with entrepreneurial organizations and helping them to develop internal processes for growth. Of course, what else would you expect from someone who is an avid long-distance runner and a bit of a world traveler, all the while on the search for the perfect pair of designer shoes?
Brendan is a graduate of McMaster University’s Engineering Physics program, which takes a multidisciplinary approach covering areas such as electrical, mechanical and materials engineering as well as chemistry, quantum mechanics and IT. This broad foundation has been instrumental in Brendan’s success as an SR&ED Advisor for the past 8 years and has allowed him to help clients across a wide spectrum of sectors, including automotive, manufacturing, controls engineering, software, tool & die, and food production, to name a few. Regardless of industry, Brendan’s technical background and passion for learning allows him to quickly and thoroughly understand his clients’ fundamental technology and evaluate their research and development activity as it applies to the SR&ED program.
Prior to his career in SR&ED, Brendan spent several years in the IT sector, ultimately developing support manuals, online help guides and internal training materials. This experience allowed him to hone his technical communication and writing skills much to the benefit of his current client base, whether he is liaising with clients’ technical staff or composing SR&ED technical submission documents.
When not in the office Brendan can usually be found on a stage somewhere in the world with a bass guitar in hand. He is also an obsessive news junkie and avid reader of fiction and philosophy.
At a very young age Angela learned how to work the cash register and count back change
at her father’s flower shop in Ottawa. She learned to ask for a receipt at the post office, the
importance of a bank deposit, and how hard it can be to call clients who owe on account.
Prior to joining Seek Solutions, Angela worked for many year in Vancouver for a privately own
group of companies were she held various managerial and controllership positions. In Vancouver
she studied Psychology at Langara College and Accounting at the British Columbia Institute of
Technology (BCIT).
Upon returning to Ontario she worked independently supporting local businesses with their
software setup, training, and ongoing bookkeeping issues. Angela specializes in modifying
bookkeeping data that is in a state of disarray and fine tuning it into a working set of records that
can be used for financial reporting. More recently Angela worked for a local accounting firm
primarily as a bookkeeper but also assisted with review and compilations for small and mid-size
corporations.
Angela is passionate about accounting and believes in the Holistic approach that Seek Solutions
offers. She loves working in the trenches with clients in order to help their business grow.
Having lived and worked in Cambridge most of her life, Nicola is proud to call Hespeler her home.
With a background in manufacturing, she obtained her diploma in Travel and Tourism from Mohawk College and quickly found herself planning travel. From extensive around the world luxury vacations to
meeting the needs of her corporate clients, she enjoyed the preparation involved in making that next trip extra special. Together with her call centre experience, this gave her a solid foundation in
administration and customer service.
After the arrival of her two children, she opened a successful home-based daycare. This provided her
insight into the day-to-day challenges and rewards of owning a small business. As her children grew, she
decided to make a transition and work outside of the home.
She found the Seek family working in the reception area as an Administrative Assistant. She
enjoys the daily activities involved with this business, as she is able to bring to the position her extensive
customer service skills and learn a few new ones, while having the enjoyment of being busy in her role.
When she’s not at the office, she takes pleasure in spending time with her family as she and her
husband try to juggle homework, appointments, play dates, taekwondo and ballet lessons. She still tries
to fit some travel time in there too. A lover of the outdoors, she likes camping and enjoying all Ontario
has to offer. As long as there are no bears!
