Meet Our Team

 

Dennis Meeches

Dennis Meeches

Chair of the Board of Directors

  • Served as both Chief and Council member of the Long Plain Government for 26 years. Under his leadership, Long Plain garnered national attention for its governance and corporate vision.
  • Instrumental in the economic growth of Long Plain through its Arrowhead Development Corporation. Long Plain has won numerous economic awards locally, provincially, and nationally under his leadership.
  • Now retired from politics, he is the current President of the Tribal Council Investment Group (TCIG) and Chair of the Board of Indigeno Travel.
  • As the former Treaty 1 Spokesperson, and President of the Treaty One Development Corporation, Dennis’ major accomplishment was to secure Naawi-Oodena, formerly known as Kapyong Barracks, which will become the largest urban reserve in Canada.
  • Dennis Meeches is also an accomplished recording artist and is well known throughout the powwow trail as an old-style grass dancer & singer.

Chris Maxfield

Founder & VP of Business Development

  • Devoted 25 years to providing pension & benefits to First Nations communities, always through Indigenous-owned entities, two of which he started.
  • Created Canada’s largest and only First Nations-owned institutional low-fee pension plan through Morneau Shepell.
  • A founder of TIPI Insurance Partners LP, Canada’s largest, First Nations-owned insurance company.

Charlene Phillips

Founder

  • Diverse background in banking, administration and customer service.
  • Administrative Assistant and Partner to husband Darrell Phillips’ First Nations consulting firm, Little Black Bear & Associates.
  • Of Métis ancestry from Manitoba.
  • Proud mother of seven and grandmother.

Phil Sproul

Advisor

  • 35 Years of senior leadership in the travel industry in airline, wholesale and retail
  • Successfully acquired Red Label Vacations DBA as Travelbrands, redtag.ca and itravel2000.com
  • Previous Co Chair of H.I.S. Canada Holdings Inc. A division of H.I.S. Co LTD located in Japan
  • Former CEO of H.I.S. Merit Travel, a full-service travel agency offering loyalty, corporate and leisure services
  • President of Kensington Tours. One of Canada’s largest luxury travel providers. 
  • President of Travel Professionals International, Canada’s largest independent travel agency.
  • Vice President Sales and Customer Experience at Air Canada Vacations. 
  • Fifteen years of leadership in Canadian Airlines and American Airlines in Canada.

Ian Kalinowsky

CFO

  • Built high net worth wealth management firm with offices in Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver. Sold to employees and purchased Great Canadian Travel Group (GCTG) in 2014.
  • GCTG awarded from National Geographic 2015 “Top 50 Tours of a Lifetime” list.
  • GCTG awarded “2016 Fastest Growing” travel company in North America by Ensemble (out of 1000 agencies).
  • 2019 Lux Travel Magazine awarded GCTG “Best Outbound Tour Provider –Western Canada”.

Daryl Silver

Director of the Board

  • Built a leading travel agency, Continental Travel Group, recognized across Canada.
  • Continental is a top tier agency with all major airlines in the region.
  • Merger and acquisition experience with 15 past agencies.
  • Continental has over 1,000 corporate travel clients in Canada & the US.
  • Maintained stability and longevity with clients, companies and staff.

Pearl McCallum

Vice President of Operations

  • Over 20 years in the travel industry, including management of Ensemble Travel Group’s top Canadian agency 2011
  • Oversaw operations of 6 branch offices
  • Well experienced in working with independent advisors
  • Certified coach and trainer with the John Maxwell Group, specializing in Diversity & Inclusion.

Jeff Butler

Director of the Board

  • CFO of Tribal Councils Investment Group of Manitoba.
  • A Chartered Accountant with over 35 years experience in public accounting, consulting and manufacturing and wholesale industries
  • Recently returned to industry after a number of years in the IT field
  • Responsibilities at TCIG include acquisitions, financial and tax planning and compliance and investments

Rob Campbell

Strategic Advisor

  • Through a career spanning 30 years Rob has held senior posts within Government, Corporate and Aboriginal sectors.
  • Mr. Campbell has been recognized by the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business as one of the “Top 50 Executives in Canada” award winners.
  • Committee Member to the Assembly of First Nations Economic Experts.
  • National Director of Aboriginal Affairs and Economic Advisor to the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB).
  • A member of Norway House Cree Nation, Kinosao Sipihk.

Cherie Brant

Legal Counsel & Strategic Advisor

  • Completed the first 100% First-Nation-owned wind power project in Ontario 
  • Lead Counsel for all Ontario First Nations for Hydro One privatization transactions
  • Lead Counsel to Ontario Chiefs-in-Assembly creating Ontario First Nation Sovereign wealth LP
  • LexpertZenith Award for women’s contributions in law in 2017
  • One of Lexpert’s “Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40” in 2012
  • A Mohawk from Mohawks of the Bay in Quinte and Ojibway from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Indian Reserve

Jessica Dumas

Director of the Board

  • President of Jessica Dumas Coaching and Training.
  • Professional certified Coach helping women speak their truth with clarity and confidence.
  • Facilitator in Indigenous Awareness and champions the TRC’s Calls to Action.
  • Served as Chairperson of the Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce and the first Indigenous Female Chairperson of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce (2019-2020) and continues to sit on numerous committees and boards at the executive level.
  • Recipient of the Manitoba 150 Women Trailblazer award from the Nellie McClung Foundation for 2021.
  • A member of the Keeseekoowenin Ojibway First Nation.