Meet The Knight Archer
Insurance Leadership Team
Steve Demchuk
Chair
Steve supports the entire Knight Archer Insurance organization in his role and enjoys being involved in all the operations and divisions we have. He has his Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker (CAIB) designation as well as many years of management and project management experience to bring both education and experience to his role. Outside of work his kids keep him busy, and he also enjoys keeping active with swimming, biking, running, and SCUBA diving.
Robyn Kitamura she/her/hers
National Vice President, People & Culture
Robyn is committed to- and passionate about- fostering employee growth and engagement while developing meaningful relationships. Prior to joining KAI, she spent nearly twenty years in customer service mostly in the service and hospitality sector, including owning and operating a business. A forever student who is very rarely not enrolled in a course, program, or webinar, she is focused on learning from everyone in the room and becoming the best version of herself-- this year she is hoping to wrap up the final valuations in pursuit of her Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation. In her spare time Robyn enjoys cooking, baking, reading, and spending time with her husband watching basketball or baseball.
Laurie Kelly she/her/hers
VP Personal Lines
Laurie has been with Knight Archer Insurance since June, 2023. She obtained her CAIB designation with honors in 2013 and has over ten years of progressive insurance experience. Laurie has worked in multiple roles in the industry, including Motor License Issuer (MLI), Personal, Farm and Commercial Broker, and Branch Manager. Laurie is a team-focused leader who takes time to connect with her staff ensuring the smooth running of day-to-day operations in the branches while bringing a light-hearted mood wherever she is. She likes to spend her off time mastering escape rooms and hanging out with her two grandchildren.
Candace Lange she/her/hers
Director, Personal Lines Sales Development
Candace has been with Knight Archer since 2010 and in her time here has excelled in multiple roles, including Motor Licence Issuer, Account Executive, Branch Manager, and now Director of Personal Lines Sales Development. In her current role, she leads the sales team, identifies new sales opportunities, provides ongoing training, monitors daily operations, drives digital innovation, and supports both staff and clients.
Committed to professional development, Candace earned her Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker (CAIB) designation in 2021 and her Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) designation in 2023.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and dedicates her spare time to Regina Cat Rescue, fostering cats until they find their fur-ever homes.
Leah Wolfe she/her/hers
Director Commercial Lines
Leah joined the Knight Archer Insurance team in March 2025 and is based in Winnipeg, MB. She holds her CAIB designation as well as a Bachelor of Business & Business Administration degree obtained from the University of Winnipeg. Leah is a seasoned commercial account representative with over 15 years of experience in the insurance industry and we look forward to having her lead our commercial lines team for western Canada. In her spare time, Leah loves to cook, travel and spend time with family and friends.
Ted Kent
Director, Innovation & Special Projects
Ted spends a lot of his time at Knight Archer Insurance looking for opportunities to make life easier for our clients through innovation. He enhances digital operations with a solutions focus and leads special projects that impact clients, insurance providers, and our team. He has been a branch manager as well as the Director of Digital Branch Operations and has his Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker (CAIB) designation as well as a Canadian Security Course and Financial Planning 2 certificate. He loves to travel with his wife and find new lakes in Saskatchewan to take his fishing kayak out on.
Cathie McDonald she/her/hers
Director, Learning
Cathie has been building her career with Knight Archer Insurance for more than twenty years and has held multiple positions and worn many hats with us including selling insurance, being a team lead, and a branch manager. In her current position as the Director, Learning, Cathie leads the training, development, and licensing processes for all KAI employees; she enjoys the challenge of constantly increasing her knowledge as well as helping others train and learn. Cathie has attained her Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker (CAIB) designation and many other insurance-related and non-insurance related certifications. When not at work, she loves to travel and spend time with family and friends.
Mathieu Cubizolles
Director, Technology
Bio and photo coming soon!
Quill Chen she/her/hers
Assistant Branch Manager, Regina
Since joining the Knight Archer insurance in 2022, Quill has been dedicated to helping others succeed. She is committed to fostering growth inside her team and the customers they serve.
Outside of work, Quill immersed in books, enjoying family time, hiking. Passionate about continuous learning and work-life balance, Quill believes in growing alongside the team every step of the way.
Terra Slifka she/her/hers
Assistant Branch Manager, Regina
Terra is a knowledgeable and driven Assistant Branch Manager at Knight Archer Insurance, with a proven track record of over five years in Personal Lines insurance. Terra’s expertise is complemented by a strong desire for continuous professional development, as demonstrated by her pursuit of the full CAIB designation in 2025. Terra is a natural leader with an empathetic style and takes pride in her ability to develop tailored training programs that resonate with different learning preferences.
Outside of her professional endeavors, she is an avid outdoors enthusiast and enjoy quality time with her children and canine companions.
Tom Byers he/his/him
Assistant Branch Manager, Regina
Tom Byers is an experienced insurance professional and the Assistant Branch Manager at the Harbour Landing Office. With a passion for helping clients navigate their insurance needs, Tom is dedicated to providing personalized service and ensuring the best outcomes for those he serves. He holds a Level 2 insurance license and is currently pursuing his CAIB Designation to further deepen his expertise and enhance his ability to support clients in the ever-evolving insurance landscape.
Outside of work, Tom is committed to coaching his two daughters in sports, fostering teamwork and growth both on and off the field. He values family time and makes it a priority to spend as much time as possible with his loved ones.
Paul Ashton he/his/him
Branch Manager, Saskatoon
Paul has been with Knight Archer Insurance for nine years and enjoys his role as a trusted advisor to our clients. He enjoys educating them about the intricacies of insurance, while helping them understand the terminology, coverage options, and potential risks while empowering our clients to make informed decisions. During his tenure, Paul has spent seven years in Personal Lines, two years in Commericial Lines, and recently took the plunge and joined the leadership team as the Branch Manager for our Saskatoon offices. In this new role, he is looking forward to sharing his years of experience with the team and developing the same passion and enthusiasm for insurance and our clients. When Paul is not at work, he enjoys playing and watching many sports (especially basketball), and spending time with his wife and five children.
Tasha Lipinski she/her/hers
Branch Manager, Humboldt & Area
Tasha has been working in insurance for many years doing everything from Customer Support Specialist, to working as a Client Care Representative, to being an Account Executive before moving to her current role as a Branch Manager. Tasha recently completed the requirements to attain her Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker Designation (CAIB) and enjoys volunteering at events sponsored by Knight Archer and for her daughter’s soccer team and the local ski club. In the summer you’re most likely to find her camping or hitting the links, and cross-country skiing in the winter.
Laurie Friesen
Branch Manager, Winnipeg
Laurie helps with almost everything at the Winnipeg branch of Knight Archer Insurance, but her goal is always to give clients and staff the best, most positive atmosphere every single day. She is a Level 3 Licensed Broker and has set her sights on her Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker (CAIB) designation for the near future. She’s been working in insurance for more than 30 years and loves to bring all that experience forward when helping her team be the best, most knowledgeable, and kindest they can be. She spends a lot of time in hockey rinks when not at work and loves to go on long walks with her thankful dog.
Janaya Hanley
Processing Manager
Janaya Hanley has worn many hats, having worked in various departments and roles over the years - she supervised a team of motor-license issuers in our busiest office in the province, and then went on to manage a large corporate book of group benefits clients. This sales and service experience, paired with her background in Psychology, has given her a drive for efficiency and a client-first focus. Managing the Processing Department has allowed her to merge these elements in a very real way. Outside of the office she dabbles in acting on both stage and screen. She is a passionate lover of the arts and sits on the Board of Directors for Regina Little Theatre.