I am an Assistant Vice-President of Group Small Business Marketing and Advisor Services for Manulife Financial. I graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with an Arts degree in English Language and Literature as well as a Diploma in Business Administration.

I earned my Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) designation from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP) in 1994. I am a fellow of the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists. In 2010, I was elected the first Canadian President of the ISCEBS Governing Council.

Currently I represent the IFEBP as a committee member on the Canadian Investment and Corporate board. In 2012, I was appointed the Chair of the Education Committee for the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist academic program. In this capacity, I work closely with academic partners at the Wharton School of School University of Pennsylvania and Dalhouise University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

I am passionate about helping people live their dreams. I speak on a variety of topics including: Integrated Disability Management, Self Directed Career Development Planning, Goal Setting, Employee Engagement, Leadership Challenges, Intergenerational Communication Gaps, and the Impact of Social Media in Employee Benefits.

I am a columnist for www.smallbizadvisor.ca and am regularly quoted in various Employee Benefits related publications.

I am actively involved in my community and support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada, HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre, Grand River Cancer Centre, Habitat for Humanity, United Way of Waterloo Region and Souls for Milestones a fundraiser to support local charities and not for profits.

I am an avid long distance runner who has lived my dream of running the Boston Marathon twice. I practice Karate and am slowly working my way toward attaining the rank of Black Belt.

I am a 2011 NaNoWriMo winner who finished writing my first novel called, Three Words, in November 2011. It is available on:

iTunes

http://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/three-words/id511137378?mt=11

Amazon Kindle

http://www.amazon.com/Three-Words-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B008NSO3H2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1342946805&sr=1-1&keywords=Three+Words+s.d.cranston