Staff Biographies
Michael Gibney B.Th., CFP
President, Senior Relationship Manager
As President, Michael provides vision and strategic direction for the firm and is a Senior Relationship Manager. He provides counsel to clients by coordinating his expertise with that of his teammates. Michael also serves in the development of relationships with those Covenant seeks to serve.
Michael is passionate about helping people live their lives on purpose. He has been in the financial industry since 1987 and through his experience has recognized that financial issues must be addressed holistically in order to be truly effective. Prior to opening Covenant Planning Group in 2000, Michael was head of estate planning at the western Canadian office of a multinational financial company where he recruited and trained financial professionals.
A B.C. native, Michael has a Bachelor of Theology degree, and is a Certified Financial Planner. He lives in Surrey with his wife Tanja and their four children.
Glenn Murray BA (Econ), CFA
General Manager, Chief Compliance Officer
Glenn is the General Manager of Covenant Planning Group and the President/Chief Compliance Officer of its two subsidiaries Covenant Financial Inc. and Covenant Capital Management Inc.
With over thirteen years in the investment industry Glenn has had the opportunity to work in various roles such as trading, equity analysis, and management. His varied experience and education are applied to the overall management of the business along with specific oversight and work with clients.
Glenn graduated from the University of Toronto with a double Specialist in Economics and Political Science. In addition to the completion of many investment industry courses he earned his CFA Charter in 1999. More recently he has been studying for his certificates in Family Business Advising and Family Wealth Advising through the Family Firm Institute. Glenn is a member of the CFA Institute and the Family Firm Institute.
He lived and worked in Ontario prior to moving to BC with his wife Beth, in 2002. They have since been blessed with three sons.
Neil Harker
Transition Strategist
As a natural planner, strategist and implementer, Neil works closely with Covenant clients to assist them in the family business transition process. Neil leverages his business and philanthropic experience to help Covenant clients pursue their life and family business transition goals with intention and purpose. He is a certified Birkman Method consultant.
Neil has over 30 years experience as a teacher, builder, entrepreneur and business strategist, having worked in senior management roles within major Canadian corporations in the areas of sales, marketing and strategic planning.
Complementing his business career, Neil has utilized his business acumen and skills to assist non-profit and faith-based organizations in the area of philanthropic development.
Neil lives in Surrey with his wife, Maggie, and their two daughters, Gillian & Sydney.
Maria Dawes BBA, CFP, CIM
Investment and Planning Associate
Maria's role includes the client care and security trading for Covenant's investment counsel firm, Covenant Capital Management Inc. She also works closely with Philippe in the development of financial and estate plans for the clients of Covenant Planning Group.
Maria was raised in Abbotsford, B.C., and graduated from Trinity Western University in 2001 with a bachelor degree in Business Administration. While still in school, she was employed as an administrator for a mortgage brokerage and financial services firm, and upon graduation she was immediately able to put her degree into practice as a President's Intern in TWU's Finance Department. In 2002, Maria joined Covenant Planning Group.
In 2006, Maria completed her Certified Financial Planning designation and in 2007, her Certified Investment Manager designation. She is excited to use her education accomplishments and experience to influence and assist people in the area of biblical stewardship.
Having grown up with seven brothers, she is now married to Colin and is once again living in Abbotsford.
Philippe Straforelli BSc, CA
Senior Estate and Financial Planner, Controller
Philippe is a key figure in all financial aspects of Covenant Planning Group, both internally and externally. He provides financial and estate planning counsel to clients of Covenant, provides all accounting and financial reporting to the Covenant group of companies, and is a part of the overall management team of Covenant.
Philippe graduated from Simon Fraser University with a degree in biochemistry and was a recipient of the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award. From 1997 to 1999 he articled with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Vancouver, providing audit, tax and accounting services to public and owner-managed businesses and their owners. Philippe then completed his articling with Michael d'Abadie & Company in Langley, focusing his consulting services primarily on owner-managed businesses. During this time he obtained his Chartered Accountant designation and in 2001, he joined Covenant. Philippe holds his mutual fund and insurance licenses and has completed the two-year Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountant in-depth tax course.
Philippe's most impressive designation, however, is as a father of four children. He and his wife Rebecca live in Langley and are very involved in their local church where Philippe serves on the church leadership team, is an usher, Sunday School ministry volunteer and home group leader.
Mark Brandsma BBA, CFP
Senior Relationship Manager, Estate and Financial Planner
As a Senior Relationship Manager, Mark enjoys coordinating his knowledge with that of his teammates to deliver excellent counsel to the client families he serves. In building trust through relationship and by clear communication of Covenant's value proposition, Mark also brings new clients to the firm.
Mark attended Trinity Western University (TWU) and in 1996, completed a Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) with a minor in Political Science. During that time, Mark was a key member of the varsity soccer team for four seasons and enjoyed representing TWU in Model United Nations Conferences.
Mark began his financial planning career in 1997 by working for an independent firm and building his own practice. He earned the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation in 2002 and in 2004, accepted a position with Covenant Planning Group.
Mark and his wife, Tammy, live in Abbotsford and have three wonderful children. Mark maintains a connection with TWU on a volunteer basis, both through the Alumni Association and as a member of the Board of Governors.
Stephen Smith CIM, FCSI
Senior Client Manager
Stephen serves as Compliance Officer for Covenant Financial Inc., portfolio advisor for Covenant Capital Management Inc. and works with Glenn continuously developing Covenant's investment policies and strategies.
Stephen was born in England and spent his childhood on the Isle of Man. He entered the finance industry in 1985 and held a variety of trading and administrative positions in offshore financial institutions, culminating in a senior management role with Axa International where he focused on Unit Trust (Mutual Fund) product development. He moved to British Columbia in 1991 and served as Vice President with Continental Futures before joining Michael Gibney at Performance Financial and in private practice until June 2000, when Michael founded the Covenant Group and Stephen began directing the asset management services.
In February 2002, Stephen left the company to serve as a Project Manager with an international aid agency implementing programs to change the outcome for orphaned children in Russia and central Asia. He returned to the Covenant Group in January 2004.
Stephen holds the Canadian Investment Manager designation, is a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute, a Fellow of the British Institute of Management, and has completed numerous investment and portfolio management courses. He sits on the board of two charitable organizations that work with orphaned children.
Stephen's wife, Sue, is a former critical care nurse and now a full-time mother and home school teacher to their three children. They live in Cloverdale and are active in their local church.
Clair Wirtz
Executive Assistant
Clair is Executive Assistant to Michael. Her responsibilities include managing Michael's schedule, organizing travel arrangements, administrative support and client care.
In the course of her education, Clair obtained a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Geography from the University College of the Fraser Valley. She then carried on to work as an Office Manager for a custom home storage company for almost two years, and in 2007, joined the team at Covenant Planning Group.
Originally from South Africa, Clair now lives in the Lower Mainland. She is involved with her church's worship and multimedia teams. Clair enjoys reading, playing soccer, listening to music and spending time with her family and friends.