Meet our team

Ben Gutknecht

Financial Advisor*

Mutual Fund Investment Specialist**

Ben holds his general, life insurance and mutual funds licences, and has a passion for retirement planning. He and his team strive to go beyond your expectations to provide you with the peace of mind that you deserve at every stage of life.

Along with supporting the local hockey and basketball teams, Ben is a proud member of the Virgil Business Association, and is dedicated to serving the community he and his family call home.

Location

St Catharines

Brandon Duiker

Associate Insurance Agent

Brandon joined the team in 2026, bringing more than three years of insurance experience and a strong commitment to helping clients protect what matters most.

Specializing in home and auto insurance, he takes the time to understand each client's unique needs and provides clear, personalized coverage recommendations tailored to their circumstances.

A resident of the Niagara region for the past eight years, Brandon values building meaningful, lasting relationships within the community. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, travelling, reading, listening to music, and exploring the outdoors.

Location

St Catharines, Virgil

Carter Cochrane

Associate Insurance Agent

Carter joined the team in May 2025 and has been with Co-operators since June 2022, specializing in auto and home insurance. With deep family roots in the organization, including several relatives who previously served as Co-operators advisors, Carter brings a strong understanding of the insurance industry and a genuine passion for helping clients protect what matters most.

An avid traveler, Carter's experiences include working as a valet driver in New Zealand, which helped shape his appreciation for connecting with people from diverse backgrounds. Outside of work, he enjoys cooking, listening to music and spending time outdoors. His personal connection to Co-operators' legacy, combined with his industry expertise, allows him to provide clients with knowledgeable, personalized guidance for their insurance needs.

Location

St Catharines, Virgil

Jordan Patrick

Associate Insurance Agent

Jordan joined the team in 2022, providing excellent service between both the St. Catharines and Niagara-on-the-Lake offices. Equipped with his general insurance licence and experience in the industry, he specializes in providing expert advice for home and auto insurance products.

Jordan is from St. Catharines and spent seven years as a golf professional in Port Carling. He has an English bulldog and enjoys being outdoors in his spare time.

Location

St Catharines, Virgil

Luke Andres

Associate Insurance Agent

Location

St Catharines, Virgil

Marilyn Christie

CIP

Associate Insurance Agent

Marilyn joined the Niagara-on-the-Lake team in 2013 and is known for providing exceptional, personalized service to her clients. As a proud resident of Niagara-on-the-Lake, she is deeply connected to the community and values building strong, lasting relationships with those she serves.

Specializing in business, life and farm insurance, Marilyn also provides trusted advice on home and auto insurance solutions. With more than 25 years of successful business experience and a Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) designation, she brings extensive knowledge, expertise, and a client-focused approach to every interaction.

Outside of work, Marilyn enjoys travelling and exploring the arts. Her combination of insurance expertise, business acumen and dedication to her community allows her to help clients make informed decisions to protect what matters most.

Location

St Catharines, Virgil

Matias Garcia

Associate Insurance Agent

Matias joined the team in 2025, bringing more than three years of insurance experience and a strong background in banking. Specializing in home and auto insurance, he is dedicated to helping clients understand their coverage options and make confident, informed decisions to protect what matters most.

Having called the Niagara region home for the past four years, Matias values building meaningful, long-term relationships within the community. Fluent in both English and Spanish, he is proud to serve a diverse range of clients and provide personalized guidance tailored to their unique needs.

Outside of work, Matias enjoys travelling and spending quality time with family and friends. His combination of industry knowledge, financial expertise, and client-focused approach allows him to deliver trusted advice and exceptional service.

Location

St Catharines, Virgil

Palak Patel

Associate Insurance Agent

With over two years of experience in the insurance industry, Palak Patel joined our team in 2025. Fluent in English, Hindi, Gujarati and Punjabi, she is committed to providing exceptional customer service by educating clients on insurance solutions and guiding them toward confident financial decisions. A Niagara resident for the past seven years, Palak understands the importance of trust and responsiveness in serving the local community. 

Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, reading and exploring new areas of learning to support continuous growth of her knowledge.

Location

St Catharines, Virgil

Sharon Millar

Client Contact Representative

Sharon joined the team in November 2025 and serves as both a Client Support Representative and Receptionist at our Virgil location, providing support for clients across both office locations. Known for her friendly and welcoming approach, she is often the first point of contact for clients and visitors, ensuring every interaction is positive, professional and helpful.

Since moving to the Niagara region in 2021, Sharon has embraced the community and enjoys building connections with those she meets. Her dedication to outstanding client service and attention to detail help create a seamless experience for clients and visitors alike.

Outside of work, Sharon enjoys hosting family gatherings, spending time with friends and travelling throughout Canada and the United States. Her warm personality and commitment to supporting others make her a valued member of the team.

Location

St Catharines, Virgil

Tim Winter

PFP® , RIS®

Associate Financial Planner*

Mutual Fund Investment Specialist**

Tim joined the Co-operators team in 2022 to help clients achieve their financial goals and objectives. He brings with him 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, along with the strong belief that deep and lasting relationships are critical to a successful financial journey. Tim combines his passion for creating tailored financial solutions with his knowledge of personal finance to deliver a superior client experience.

Tim has completed numerous accreditations since completing his university honours degree, including the Personal Financial Planning designation and Responsible Investment Specialist accreditation.

He's lived with his family in Niagara for the last 20 years and is passionate about the vibrancy of the community, taking every opportunity to get involved. He loves spending time outdoors with friends and family, and is an active member of the community running club, which continues to be a great place to meet new and interesting people.

Location

St Catharines, Virgil