Our Team
Rob Woods
Rob Woods, is a Cree/Gitsxan from the Muskoday First Nation located in central SK. Rob spent the last 12 years in commercial banking, helping Indigenous communities and entrepreneurs across Western Canada with accessing capital for community projects and economic development. He was often directly involved with supporting communities with wealth management and the settling of land claims. Rob specializes in Indigenous engagement consultation, business and strategic planning, and financial forecasting and risk management on a national level. Rob takes pride in his recent work on well-site reclamation programs as well as supporting the Moosomin First Nation as acting CEO. He has assisted nations with completing the process of reserve creation in the Saskatchewan region helping to open the door to economic development.
Rob has a Bachelor’s of Commerce degree from the Edwards School of Business at the University of Saskatchewan and a Certificate of Indigenous Business Administration from the First Nations University of Canada.
Cherish Francis
Cherish Francis is the VP of Communications & Marketing at Wiyotisiwin. Cherish has spent the last 17 years working in media, communications, public relations, marketing, as well as First Nations governance and economic development. She is a member of Nekaneet First Nation in Treaty 4 Territory.
Cherish believes communication is key in Indigenous communities and has impacted the industry in the prairie provinces. In 2005, she was the youngest female Indigenous video journalist reporting & anchoring CTV News in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Cherish also worked for CTV News Calgary and APTN Nations New- Saskatchewan Bureau.
In 2012, Cherish was a part of a documentary series that told the stories of Saskatchewan’s Residential School Survivors which was the catalyst to be a part of the planning committee for the national “Reconciliation in Media” conference.
Cherish also served as the Communications Specialist for the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and was the Director of Communications for the File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council.
Cherish has built her reputation on strong leadership and is a clear advocate for First Nation inherent and treaty rights. As the CEO of Nekaneet First Nations Economic Development, Cherish currently has a number of First Nations clients in western Canada assisting in Indigenous economic development.
She recently developed and implemented the communications strategy for Saskatchewan’s first on-reserve cannabis dispensary.
Cherish is an honor graduate of Lethbridge College’s Communications Arts Program majoring in Broadcast Television. She is also the proud mother to her two daughters.
Richie Stanviloff
Richie completed a Bachelor of Commerce through the University of Saskatchewan with a major in Finance and entered the industry in 2007 after accepting a position at a major financial institution. He started with MFG in 2013 as a Research Analyst working closely with the Portfolio Managers and MFG’s Insurance division and became an Associate Portfolio Manager in 2015 and now manage MFG’s insurance division.
Outside of office hours, Richie and his wife, Jamie, try to keep up with their two sons. He is also an avid sports fan, cheering on his beloved Calgary Flames and Dallas Cowboys. In the summer months, he enjoys playing golf and spending time with the family.
Mark Teal
Mark started with MFG in 2008 as a research analyst. In 2010 he became an associate portfolio manager and now is a portfolio manager and a partner at MFG working closely with the team to help build and manage portfolios. Additionally, Mark works with several our clients as their lead portfolio manager and currently sits on the Alignvest Student Housing Investment Committee.
During his personal time, he enjoys time with his wife Carrie and two daughters Lakelyn and Layla. They spend summers at their family cabin where he enjoys watersports, campfires and having BBQs. Mark also enjoy his time as a director for a non-profit organization called farm in the dell.