THE GROVE TEAM
STEPHEN COATES, FOUNDER AND CEO
Stephen founded Grove in 2003 to specialize in incubation and development of entrepreneurial businesses in Canada and abroad. Through Grove, he has founded and served as Chairman or CEO of several public companies and currently serves as advisor to and/or director of both public and private small-cap companies in Canada. Stephen has spent over 20 years in the small-cap and natural resources sectors in Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and elsewhere. He specializes in financial structuring, business development, communications, and market finance, creating successful strategic relationships. Stephen is a graduate of Kings College at the Western University in London, Canada.
SARAH MORRISON, COO & DIRECTOR, ISSUER SERVICES
Sarah Morrison brings Grove her 20+ years of experience in the financial services industry. Throughout her career, Sarah has provided services to numerous publicly listed companies throughout multiple sectors and has been responsible for all aspects of public company administration, compliance reporting, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, as well as financings. Most recently Sarah acted as Managing Director of a securities transfer agency and business solutions firm in Toronto, Canada. Under Sarah’s leadership, the business was transformed into a highly successful operation servicing several hundred public and private issues.
BARRINGTON MILLER, PRESIDENT
Barrington Miller brings more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, most recently serving as the Director of Issuer Engagement at the Canadian Securities Exchange where he was responsible for the retention of listed companies through a variety of marketing efforts. In addition, Mr. Miller was a primary touch point for business development and conducted educational and outreach initiatives both for, and about, the CSE. Prior to joining the Canadian Securities Exchange, Barrington spent nearly a decade working as a professional trader with Dundee Securities and Raymond James in Toronto as well as a commodities trader with Weyerhaeuser and a sugar trader with ED&F Man in New York and Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Barrington is a graduate of Princeton University.
DONNA MCLEAN, DIRECTOR, ACCOUNTING SERVICES
Donna McLean has served as CFO and Controller for numerous publicly traded and private companies, managing financial reporting and controls as well as corporate secretarial admin for established and emerging businesses, operating in a variety of business sectors. She has worked for several mineral exploration companies including Aurania Resources Ltd., Unigold Inc., Signature Resources Ltd., and Avidian Gold Corp.
NICHOLAS KONKIN, DIRECTOR, CAPITAL MARKETS
Nicholas Konkin has extensive business experience with over a decade of developing successful private and public resource and technology start-ups combined with a strong background in wealth management and investor relations spanning resources, technology and medical services sectors. Nicholas has a Bachelor of Commerce degree, majoring in Financial Planning. Prior to joining Grove as Vice President of Corporate Development, Nicholas was Director of Marketing and Communications at Carlisle Goldfields before it was sold to Alamos Gold at 117% premium to the market. Nicholas Konkin is currently a Director of Graycliff Exploration Ltd (CSE: GRAY).
JESSICA RUTT-SLATER, DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS & CLIENT SUPPORT
Jessica Rutt has been with Grove for fifteen years handling financial, administrative, and investor relations functions. Based in the United Kingdom, Jessica manages relationships in the UK and Europe, as well as provides hands-on accounting management to Grove’s clients. Jessica is a graduate of the University of Calgary, proficient in accounting (SAGE and QuickBooks), corporate affairs and communications.
KIRK BROUSE, FOUNDER, OTC ADVISORY
Kirk Brouse has more than 25 years of investor relations and capital markets experience and has successfully cross-listed hundreds of Canadian public companies onto the OTC Markets trading platforms. Kirk intimately understands the various and often complex compliance issues effecting an efficient cross-listing and the needs of issuers to competently market their investment credentials with the confidence of having the best and most effective exposure to retail and institutional investors. Kirk joined Grove in 2021 as part of Grove’s acquisition of OTC Advisory Services, founded in 2017. Kirk continues with Grove’s foreign listing advisory practice and acts as an advisor to clients on all things OTC Markets.
CATHERINE BECKETT, DIRECTOR, CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Catherine Beckett has worked for Grove for over ten years. She started her career in the mineral exploration industry. For the past 20 years Catherine has provided corporate secretarial services, regulatory filings, and administrative support for publicly listed companies on the TSX, CSE and ASX, as well as for private small-cap exploration companies. Catherine’s familiarity with National Instrument and JORC policies in Canada and Australia, respectively, enables her to assist company management in avoiding potential pitfalls of regulatory and corporate filings in a cost-efficient manner. Catherine holds a degree in Geology from the University of Toronto.
HATEM KAWAR, P. ENG, MBA, SENIOR CONTROLLER & CFO
Hatem Kawar has been a controller and/or CFO for several public mining companies in Canada for the past 20 years and acted as a project manager for an industrial minerals operation in Saudi Arabia. In his current role with Grove, Hatem serves as a Financial Controller of several private and public companies and as CFO of two public mining companies. Hatem has a degree in Engineering from the University of Liverpool in the UK as well as MBA in Finance from the Schulich School of Business at York University.
GEOFF KRITZINGER, CA, ACCOUNTING AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Geoff Kritzinger is a Chartered Accountant and former Partner at Shimmerman Penn LLP (2001-2008) where he managed a large audit practice. Since then, through his accounting practice, he has acted for several public and private companies within and outside the resources sectors as both CFO and advisor. Geoff has worked with Grove and Grove’s clients for nearly twelve years, providing both hands-on and supervisory & advisory functions to maintain overhead costs while meeting the rigorous and demanding reporting standards in the current regulatory environments.
HELGA FAIRHURST, CORPORATE SECRETARY
Helga Fairhurst has over 15 years of experience providing corporate administrative and secretarial services to public companies listed on the TSX, TSXV, and CSE within the mining industry. Helga has worked for several mineral exploration companies including U.S. Silver Corporation (now U.S. Silver and Gold Inc.), Carlisle Goldfields Limited, and 55 North Mining Inc.
ANN NGUYEN, ISSUER ACCOUNTING
A graduate from the University of Toulon with a degree in Finance and the Business Administration Accounting program at George Brown College, Ann Nguyen brings her knowledge and expertise to Grove and our clients as a member of the Accounting and Finance team. Ann manages clients’ financial administration, banking, payroll and complex bookkeeping and reconciliation.
REBECCA HUDSON, CPA, CA, CFO & CONTROLLER
Rebecca Hudson is an accomplished accountant and former Chief Financial Officer of several publicly traded resource companies. Rebecca brings to Grove a significant depth of knowledge in financial reporting, internal policies & controls, and IFRS compliance, as well as experience with cross-border, multi-geographical teams. Rebecca thrives working with, and leading, cross-functional accounting teams both within the resources sectors and with more entrepreneurial enterprises. Rebecca is also fluent in Spanish, adding to Grove’s ability to fully serve our Latin American clients.
IGOR ZONENSCHEIN, MANAGER, COMPLIANCE
Igor has 11 years of international experience in corporate governance, compliance, and corporate administrative and secretarial services to public companies. Igor has a degree in International Business Law and a Postgraduate Certificate Diploma in Business Management at the University of Toronto. Igor is currently pursuing an LLM at Osgoode Hall Law School (York University) and serves as Corporate Secretary for multiple Grove clients.
NAMRATA MALHOTRA, MANAGER, CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
HANG PHAN, ISSUER ACCOUNTING
After moving to Canada from Vietnam where she started her journey in accounting and bookkeeping working for a company that provided third-party administration to mutual funds, Hang Phan completed an advanced certificate diploma program in Business Administration, specializing in Accounting, at George Brown College. Hang successfully completed several internships in the bookkeeping and office administration positions before joining Grove as a full-time accounting associate.
PARTHA VANGAL, CONTROLLER
Partha Vangal, a Chartered Accountant from India, worked for several years there before moving to Canada where he continued his career in accounting at EI DuPont Canada and Norcast Castings Company Ltd, managing their daily banking activities, accounts payable, and assisting internal audit efforts. In 2007, Partha joined Dundee Corporation where he worked as a portfolio and corporate accountant for more than a decade prior to joining Grove. At Dundee, he managed financial disclosures, monitored cash flow activities, and ensured compliance with the internal and international reporting standards. Partha assists with Grove’s client accounting activities and is a financial controller for several public entities. Partha has completed Canadian Securities Course.
IRYNA ZHELIASKO, MANAGER, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS
A professional linguist by background with a degree in English and Spanish, Iryna Zheliasko has started her career as a communications specialist, writer and editor, moving on to the capital markets arena after completing her postgraduate certificate diplomas in Public and Government Relations. Before joining Grove, she spent several years working as IR and corporate communications manager for multiple public companies in diverse industries with operations in North America and beyond. Iryna oversees content creation and communications strategy for Grove and several of its clients as well as takes care of shareholder relations and investment industry outreach.
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CLIENT COMMUNICATIONS & ADMIN
Jamie joins us with over 5 years of experience in the hospitality and administrative industry. Jamie holds an undergraduate degree in Media, Information and Technoculture as well as in Museum and Curatorial Studies from Western University. Her communication and people skills along with extensive strategic planning capabilities allow Jamie to support Grove’s various departments with administrative needs.
DIPESH BAJGAIN, BOOKKEEPER, ACCOUNTING SERVICES
Dipesh is a Junior Accountant from Nepal where he has experience of bookkeeping in private sector. He has a background in accounting from Seneca College. He joins the Grove team to assist our clients who use Grove for their Accounting and CFO services.
ANNIKA FAIRHURST, CLIENT COMMUNICATIONS
Annika Fairhurst is a communications assistant with a background in research and data entry. Annika holds a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and History from Wilfrid Laurier University.
AMRIT KAUR, BOOKKEEPER, ACCOUNTING SERVICES
Amrit Kaur, a bookkeeper with a strong foundation in accounting and bookkeeping, brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to our team at Grove. After completing her bachelor of commerce from India, she earned a graduate certificate in Professional Accounting Practice from Humber College.
During her academic tenure, Amrit demonstrated her dedication to honing her skills through hands-on experience, completing a rigorous four-month internship at a local CPA firm.
DANIELLE CAVALCANTE, MANAGER, AGM CONNECT
Danielle joins Grove with 15 years’ experience in the securities transfer agency business. During this time, she has helped issuers successfully execute numerous AGM’s for both public and private companies, in Canada and the US. Danielle’s vast knowledge of securities regulations along with the experience of executing AGM’s makes her a great asset to AGM Connect and the Grove team.
FAROOQ AKHTER, CPA, CA, CFO
Farooq Akhter is a finance executive with a formidable track record in finance leadership, restructurings, cross border M&As, IFRS reporting, ERP implementations and taxation compliance. Farooq has served as a CFO and VP Finance of several mid-market publicly traded and private companies in healthcare and hospitality sectors. His unique proposition is the ability to serve as a strategic partner for business where he drives value by robust financial planning, cash flow management, cost saving & revenue maximizing initiatives and operational finance improvements.
With around two decades of experience under his belt, he started his journey in finance from PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) where he provided assurance and advisory services to various publicly-traded and private companies mainly in the Oil & Gas and CPG sectors.
MARK LOUGH, MBA, DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC AFFAIRS
Mark strives to add to Grove’s talented team – as a dynamic builder of corporate relationships. Known for calm in intense situations and skilled in collaboration, both internally and with our partner clients. Sophistication in strategy, negotiations and acquisitions – working closely with our Founder and CEO, in key decision-making and special projects. Possessing significant management consulting experience, including work with Microsoft, all major Canadian banks and the Big 5 global consulting firms. A successful entrepreneur –directing a boutique architectural design/build firm and real estate holding company.