Founded in Agawam, Massachusetts in 1989, Canary Blomstrom has been a rock in the communities of the Pioneer Valley for decades. We work together with you to review and analyze your specific risks and insurance needs so you not only understand what you need, but also why. We aspire to help you achieve and protect your personal goals and business endeavors. We pride ourselves on our comprehensive approach to managing your risks, and in making a difference for our clients and the communities we serve.
While our history and roots lie solidly in Western Massachusetts, we partner directly with our sister-company, Wheeler & Taylor, to further expand the services, resources and capabilities we offer our clients. Wheeler & Taylor opened its doors in Berkshire County, Massachusetts 150 years ago in 1871, and is now one the oldest, continuously operated financial companies in the United States, serving clients across the country and internationally. With Canary Blomstrom and Wheeler & Taylor, you get the hometown service and values you deserve, combined with the expertise, capabilities and reach that you need.
Canary Blomstrom further expands its reach and offerings as a member of the GoodWorks Financial Group of companies – a network of common-ownership financial companies who are all dedicated contributors and sponsors of numerous local and national charitable organizations serving the educational, healthcare and public safety needs of our communities.
President
Canary Blomstrom Insurance
As President of Canary Blomstrom Insurance, Ms. Brodeur is responsible for overseeing the day to day operations of the Company, as well as managing and directing the Account Executive and Account Management teams.
Ms. Brodeur began her insurance career in 1976 as a Personal Lines Underwriter at U.S.F.&G Insurance Company in Springfield, MA. After a 12-year tenure, she left to join her father, Al Canary, to start their own independent insurance agency in Feeding Hills. Over the next 10 years the agency grew as part of the community they served. As a result of their growth, they partnered with Richard Blomstrom to become the Canary Blomstrom Insurance Agency, which is now celebrating over 30 years in business.
As a founding member of the agency, Ms. Brodeur has held the positions of Treasurer, Vice President of Operations, and now President & CEO. Since 2000, Ms. Brodeur has also been a Partner and holds the position of Director for Alliance Main Street, LLC, a partnership of several independent agencies created in order to strengthen our insurance carrier relationships and better position our clients.
Ms. Brodeur is a native and current resident of West Springfield, MA. Of all of her accomplishments, she is most proud of her two daughters who are now successful, independent young women living in Redondo Beach, CA and Quincy, MA respectively. Ms. Brodeur’s spare time is spent visiting family and traveling as often as possible.
Executive Chairman
GoodWorks Financial Group / Canary Blomstrom
Chad Yonker is the Chairman & CEO of GoodWorks Financial Group, and Executive Chairman of Canary Blomstrom and its partner GoodWorks Financial Group companies.
Prior to GoodWorks Financial, Mr. Yonker founded Litchfield Capital Management in 2002 as a specialist investment manager focused on the financial services, insurance and real estate sectors of the public and private equity markets. The company quickly grew into one of the largest global financial services specialist hedge funds, compounding net returns to its investors in excess of 14% annually over an eight-year period of time in which the S&P Financials index lost nearly 50% of its value.
Prior to founding Litchfield Capital, Mr. Yonker was a Managing Director at the specialist investment bank, Fox-Pitt, Kelton’s (FPK) financial companies research team, ranked 1st or 2nd globally for insurance and financial services research in 2000, 2001 and 2002 by Institutional Investor Magazine’s Survey of Global Institutional Investors. While at FPK (1994-2002), Mr. Yonker was seven times named an “All-Star” and “5-Star Analyst” for his research work and investment recommendations in the banking, insurance and consumer finance sectors. Prior to joining FPK, Mr. Yonker was an analyst at the investment management and venture capital firm of Robert W. Duggan & Associates.
Mr. Yonker is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder, and holds a degree in Business Economics and Accounting from the University of California at Santa Barbara. As a financial institutions expert, Mr. Yonker has been widely quoted by publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Investor’s Business Daily, Barron’s, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Transcript, The American Banker, Buyside Magazine, IA Magazine, Crain’s Business, MarketWatch, SNL Securities, as well as various newswires and regional newspapers, magazines and publications.
Global Chief Financial Officer
GoodWorks Financial Group / Canary Blomstrom
As CFO of GoodWorks Financial Group, Mr. Hirani is responsible for financial, administrative, and risk management of the Canary Blomstrom and various entities under the Goodworks Financial Group umbrella.
Mr. Hirani has over 20 years of experience in finance and accounting having worked in these capacities in both the U.S. and India. Before joining GoodWorks Financial, Mr. Hirani founded and ran a financial advisory firm in India for 5 years. Previously, Mr. Hirani worked as an analyst and portfolio manager for hedge fund operators Endeavour Capital Advisors and Litchfield Capital Management, and was a sell-side research analyst at the specialist investment bank Fox-Pitt, Kelton’s financial companies research team, ranked 1st or 2nd globally for insurance and financial services research in 2000, 2001 and 2002 by Institutional Investor Magazine’s Survey of Global Institutional Investors (FPK is now a division of Macquarie Group). Prior to his move to the U.S. to attend the University of Maryland business school, Mr. Hirani worked as a Chartered Accountant and Auditor for K. S. Aiyar & Co, Chartered Accountants (Mumbai, India) were he ran audit and tax accounting teams that worked on the accounts of many of India’s largest publicly traded corporations.
Mr. Hirani is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder, a qualified Chartered Accountant (equivalent to CPA in India), and a qualified Cost & Management Accountant (India). Additionally, he has earned his MBA degree from the Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, and Bachelor of Commerce degree (Accounting and Finance) from University of Mumbai, India.
Senior Vice President, Director of Agency Mergers & Partnerships
Mr. Diaz is a Senior Vice President of Wheeler & Taylor Inc. responsible for Agency Mergers & Partnerships, Marketing, and Sales.
Mr. Diaz has 30 years of experience in the insurance industry. Experience includes Individual Financial Planning, Client Services Divisional implementations, Disability Income claims, SIU, litigation, mediation & settlement proceedings, sales, and marketing. He attended the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, where he began his career as Field Underwriter for MONY. He was then directly involved with establishing a Remote Service Center and Disaster Recovery location for MassMutual in Denver. He was the first Disability Field Consultant for the Berkshire Life Insurance Company. His experience spans the industry and country, working extensively on both the East and West Coasts.
Mr. Diaz maintains a strong, diverse, and ever-increasing knowledge of products and risk transfer, and holds numerous professional industry certifications including Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), Certified Professional Insurance Agent (CPIA), Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR), Associate Life & Health Claims (ALHC).
Mr. Diaz was a member of the Hagerty Agent Advisory Board. He was a two-time President of the Tri-Town Rotary Club and named a Paul Harris Fellow. He has served on the Board of Directors for both the Rotary Club and Multicultural BRIDGE. He has served on several High Schools to educate parents and teens on the risks and consequences of underage drinking.
Senior Vice President
Mr. Knight began his career as an employee benefits executive and later incorporated the commercial property & casualty vertical, where he currently concentrates most of his time and expertise. Outside of his Regions Director duties, Mr. Knight currently advises many of W&T’s larger commercial clients with whom he is known for developing relationships that have stood the test of time.
Mr. Knight graduated Nichols College in 1997 with a degree in business administration, and after college worked as a golf professional. Mr. Knight’s community service includes President of the Country Club of Pittsfield, current director on the board of directors of the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents, board member of the Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires and past President of the Rotary Club of Pittsfield. In the Winter Greg loves to ski and to coach and develop young athletes in the sport of alpine ski racing. He is the Race Director at Ski Butternut and the head coach of the Lenox High Ski Team
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