Our Team

Over the past 25 years, Dean has earned a reputation as an expert in investigations and mediation. He is a highly recognized figure in professional regulation throughout Canada and the United States. Dean has been awarded for his exceptional skills and abilities and is routinely sought after for speaking engagements, mentoring and training. In addition, Dean has had an equally impressive impact in the sensitive area of workplace harassment and discrimination. Dean is often called upon to develop, co-create, and deliver workshops and educational seminars in the areas of investigation, harassment prevention, communication, and conflict resolution. His passion for inspiring change and developing innovative strategies have led him on his mission to raise awareness and assist others in developing as investigators, conflict resolvers, and leaders. Dean has written a book on investigation essentials, developed several educational videos, which he shares openly on the Benard + Associates YouTube channel, and developed the We’ve Seen a Thing or Two Podcast, that allows him to assist other experts in sharing their knowledge. His eclectic career history prior to starting Benard + Associates, includes positions as a Registered Nurse, Police Officer, and Manager of Investigations. He holds a certificate in Strategic Intervention Coaching and is a Chartered Mediator with the Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of Canada. He received his Diploma in Nursing from Fleming College in Peterborough, his Bachelor of Arts in Health Administration and Ethics from York University, his Master of Laws & Letters from Osgoode Hall Law School, and a post graduate certificate from Cornell University in Diversity and Inclusion.

Brenda’s belief in constant and never-ending improvement is what makes her the ideal operational leader. With nearly two decades of investigation experience in criminal matters, insurance, regulatory, workplace, and human rights investigations, Brenda has a wealth of experience. She has conducted hundreds of regulatory investigations into issues spanning the scope of regulatory concerns such as misconduct, practice issues, incapacity, and registration. Her workplace investigations experience includes matters for small and very large businesses and organizations where she has been instrumental in assisting our clients to bring matters to resolution and make lasting change that enhances people’s workplaces. Brenda holds a certificate in Strategic Intervention Coaching, and uses her skills as a coach as she guides and mentors our investigative staff.  During her career in policing she received several commendations for her investigative work. Brenda also oversees all of our internal quality assurance initiatives, ensuring all of the Benard + Associates team provide consistent and dependable service to our clients.

Stefanie brings to the clients of Benard + Associates a sharp analytical approach and international experience in regulatory investigations. Prior to joining our team, Stefanie was a Senior Case Investigation Officer for the Nursing and Midwifery Council in the United Kingdom. In this role Stefanie conducted investigations concerning various issues such as misconduct, criminal convictions, incapacity / health cases, and competency issues. Stefanie also provided guidance and feedback to junior colleagues on their investigative work. As the Director of Regulatory Solutions, Stefanie oversees all the day to day work of our regulatory investigators, and acts as the main contact for our regulatory clients. She is an important resource for our team, and also ensures policy and procedures on our regulatory work is up to date and staff are well informed of the varying expectations we manage from client to client. On top of all of this Stefanie still carries her own caseload of investigations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Geography and English from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, a Master of Science from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and a Qualification in Investigative Practice from Queen Margaret University in Scotland.

Paul is an experienced HR professional with a background in the manufacturing, logistics, sporting events and non-profit sectors. Paul believes in aligning a tailored workplace conflict resolution solution to each organization’s unique organizational culture. He has assisted workplace parties to manage and resolve a wide range of workplace conflicts in both unionized and non-union workplaces. He has been recognized for his contributions to organizations’ employee and labour relations, policy development, and strategic HR projects. As the Director of Workplace Solutions, Paul oversees all things workplace. He is the main contact for our workplace clients and he is a key resource for our workplace investigators. In addition to his oversight role, Paul carries his own caseload of investigations, mediations, and human resources consulting projects. He has successfully investigated workplace issues related to harassment, health and safety, poisoned workplaces and theft. Paul has worked on some massive projects and assisted many of our clients through difficult challenges. The combination of his human resources background, investigation, and mediation skills have resulted in unique approaches and positive outcomes that have made our clients very happy. Paul holds a BA from the University of Toronto, a Graduate Certificate in HR Management from Sheridan College, and a Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution from the University of Toronto. Paul also holds the Q.Med designation issued by the Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario, and the Workplace Fairness Analyst designation from the Workplace Fairness Institute.      

Ziggy has over 12 years of experience in the investigations industry having worked as a private investigator and insurance investigator, prior to joining the Benard + Associates team in 2015. Ziggy has been conducting regulatory investigations for many of our clients. He is frequently asked for by name due to his ability to take on the most complex regulatory investigations. He is known for his attention to detail and tenacious approach to obtaining the information required. As the Manager of our regulatory investigations group, Ziggy is a key resource of support and guidance for our team, and our clients. His expertise in managing many challenging investigative scenarios is greatly appreciated by our team, and he is always ready and willing to help when needed. Ziggy a go-to person when anything needs to get done, and that reputation among our clients grows a little more every year. He attended the Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, earning a diploma in public and private investigations. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto, majoring in Criminology. Ziggy has also completed courses through the Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) Program.

Vanessa is the newest addition to the team and we are very happy to have her. Vanessa’s background as an administrative assistant and legal assistant allows her to provide the support our investigators require for a variety of things, including report preparation, scheduling, compiling data, and assisting our clients on many administrative issues. In addition, Vanessa handles our accounts payable and receivable, and keeps the office organized on all levels. Vanessa’s role is indispensable to each and every member of the team, and she does it all with a smile and a willingness to do whatever is needed.   

Lauren has been a licensed private investigator for over 14 years, and has specialized in locating people of interest, conducting background checks, and researching corporations and their activities. As an accomplished senior investigator, Lauren has also managed other investigators, overseeing their work and providing them with support and guidance. Lauren has also conducted undercover investigations and surveillance to assist her clients in getting the information they need. Lauren is a prolific regulatory investigator, having completed an exemplary number of investigations while still providing the support to all of our clients and our investigators on locate and background work. On top of being a great investigator, Lauren is also a good photographer, and the evidence is in the profile pictures of our team! Lauren graduated from Carleton University, with an Honours Bachelor of Arts majoring in criminology and criminal justice, and she has a post graduate certificate in advanced investigations and enforcement.

Avon is an experienced Senior HR Business Partner, and HR professional, across several industries and multiple business units of a multinational insurance company. He has a long history working as a member of the senior management team of a very large employee benefits provider.

He is recognised for contributions through mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring and other large scale change leadership initiatives involving the attraction and retention of key and critical employees and functions. 

Drawing on his wealth of experience, Avon has managed numerous complaint mediations in area of professional regulation through his innovative strategies and superior conflict resolution skills. Regulators from across Canada have applauded Avon’s work and consistently ask for him to assist them with complaints matters.

In addition, Avon has also successfully conducted numerous workplace interventions for our private and public sector clients, including transportation organizations, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities.  He has assisted with issues of one to one workplace conflict matters including team dynamics, and interpersonal conflict and harassment.  His unique background in human resources, business management, and employee benefits, allows him to bring creative solutions to various employee and team workplace conflicts and issues.

Avon holds several university certificates in change, and change leadership, finance for the non-financial manager, and several alternative dispute resolution certificates.  He is a licensed private investigator and holds a Group Benefits Associate (GBA) designation from IFEBP (International Federation of Employee Benefits Plans) and Dalhousie University.  On top of his work at Benard + Associates, he currently is a Director on the Board of a mutual property and casualty insurer in Ontario.

Valerie brings to Benard + Associates her keen analytical, problem solving, and report writing skills that she has acquired both through her educational journey, and her experience in the fields of regulation and education. Most recently Valerie was the Director of Student Development overseeing the academic progress of over 150 students across three facilities. Valerie has been involved in professional regulation working in the areas of credentialing and exams. She has investigated the full range of investigative matters since joining Benard + Associates, and has developed her skill and knowledge in these investigations to the point where any matter that comes through our doors can be competently and skillfully managed by Valerie.  Valerie graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Honours Bio-Medical Science from the University of Guelph and has been acquiring additional skills through the completion of various investigation courses.

Tracey has been involved in professional regulation for over fourteen years as an investigator and and manager of professional conduct for one of the largest health regulators in Manitoba. She has handled investigations related to competence, impaired practice, abuse, drug diversion and tampering, and conduct unbecoming, to name a few. Tracey brings a wide range of skills and competencies to her work and holds a certificates in various areas including mediation, National Certified Investigator/Inspector Training through CLEAR, psychological safety in the workplace, and Indigenous cultural safety training. She also holds a bachelor of Nursing from Athabasca University. On top of her work in regulation and in particular the professional conduct field, Tracey  has made contributions to the field of regulation at a broader level, having served on the CLEAR Annual Conference Planning Sub Committee– Compliance, Discipline and Enforcement Stream, and the CLEAR NCIT Committee responsible for reviewing and revising training program content and resources. Tracey primarily serves our Manitoba clients.  

Julie was a police officer for approximately 18 years and had attained the rank of Sergeant before making the decision to leave policing to pursue a different path in investigations. Her exemplary career included assignments to three different criminal investigative units, where she investigated sexual assaults and major crime matters such as homicides, sudden deaths and various violent crimes. Julie has twice been part of an investigative team (2015 & 2019) that received the Award of Excellence in Criminal Investigation.  In two instances, her work producing warrants in investigations facilitated search measures that had previously never been used in prosecuted criminal investigations, changing aspects of investigative work and search warrant applications in the Province. Julie has received a vast amount of training in a variety of approaches to interviewing, including trauma informed interviewing and interviewing children and vulnerable people. Julie does both regulatory and workplace investigations for our clients, and her ability shift between these two investigative roles so smoothly is a further testament to her skills and abilities. Julie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Guelph and graduated top of her class from the Ontario Police College.

Madelyn (AKA Maddie) coordinates all of our business development activities. She is a client relations liaison, assists in the development of marketing materials, is actively engaged in sales, and is a key contributor to our educational programs through the design and development of learning materials. Maddie is all about developing new ways to meet client needs, and she works closely with our senior management advising on and implementing new initiatives. Maddie graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey with a BSc in Business Management & Leadership and a Master of Business Administration in Leadership & Managing Innovation. 

Miri is a certified international mediator with a background in public policy and human rights. She has previously worked with governments and NGOs on community and consensus-building, and was recently involved in interviewing and assisting victims of terror and mass crime abroad in navigating conflict with service institutions. This work informed a published paper with the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime. Miri’s mediation and conflict resolution specialties are in narrative and identity-focused mediation and conflict transformation, with an emphasis on restoring individuals’ unique needs to foster long-lasting resilience. Miri has also studied group facilitation and has experience in community mediation. She also has experience working with cross-cultural parties and navigating issues of gender and race. Miri is a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia in comparative religion, and a Master of Arts (magna cum laude) from Tel Aviv University in Public Policy, Conflict Resolution and Mediation.

Sophia is a Registered Practical Nurse who has who has experience managing a team of nurses that gather essential information related to clients’ ability to return to work after injuries. As part of this role she assesses a number of factors and information to assist her in making decisions on workers’ ability to return to work. In addition to determining return to work, Sophia also investigates workers’ accommodation requests to determine whether such requests are legitimate and reasonable. Prior to this role she worked as a nurse in the long term care setting. Sophia holds a practical nursing diploma from Conestoga College, and a certificate in general arts and sciences, also from Conestoga College.