Benefits Team

Earl Shindruk founded Optimax Benefits in 1998 with the intention of operating a company that would always do the right thing for the right reasons. His personal philosophy of care helped shape the company into the way it stands today. Optimax is a benefits brokerage with exceptional client care and thorough specialized services.

Earl started Optimax Benefits after working in a variety of industries. He completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Alberta, majoring in Marketing and Human Resources. He worked for Mutual Life of Canada (which became Sun Life), managed a local contracting company as well as working for Laidlaw Waste Systems and TransAlta.

As a Sessional Instructor, Earl taught Employee Benefits and Human Resources Introduction at MacEwan University for 11 years. He enjoyed sharing his knowledge and insights with the many students who attended his classes.

Professional growth is something he highly values. Earl always looks for opportunities to expand his knowledge. He has been a guest speaker at MacEwan University, University of Alberta and for CPHR Alberta, as well as IPMA. He is always willing to share what he has gained from his own research with clients, business leaders, students and community members.

As an experienced business owner, Earl likes to visit with clients to learn about their vision for their companies and employees. He is always willing to take time with clients to educate and inform them regarding their needs and how to design a benefits plan around those areas.

Earl is a strong advocate for initiatives that help the local community. He is involved with several charities and not for profits and seeks to partner with and assist as many as he can. He has served on many not-for-profit boards. Earl was a founding board member of the Meningitis Foundation of Alberta and a founding member of 100MenYEG.

He hosts an annual golf tournament, the Optimax Open, which helps raise awareness and funds for one charity each year.

In his spare time, Earl enjoys spending time with his wife and family. He can often be found cheering on the Edmonton Oilers and Edmonton Elks. He likes to golf with friends and work out. He also likes growing things in the home garden as well as reading books on business and other topics.

Office: (780) 490-5945
Mobile: (780) 993-3822
earlshindruk@optimaxbenefits.ca

Earl works with you to:

• Understand the employee benefits marketplace and obtain the best value available from carriers
• Provide benefits education and assist you is designing a customized benefit program
• Explore new benefit options including flexible plans, health spending accounts, and executive solutions.

Meet the Founder

Carlee has earned a deep understanding of employee benefits through her 25 years of experience in the group benefits industry. She has worked with some of Canada’s top rated bene t carriers and has been sharing her valued expertise with her clients at Optimax Benefits since 2008.

Today, she utilizes that experience to coordinate quotations from a national marketplace, implement new benefits programs, manage existing plans and work with her diverse array of clients to negotiate the most competitive renewal rates with the insurance carriers across Canada.

Customer service is a way of life for Carlee. She nurtures and maintains long term relationships with Optimax clients through clear, ongoing communication and exceptional client care. During her career, she has established an effective and systematic service schedule that is much appreciated by her clients.

When she is not working, Carlee enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Embracing an active lifestyle, they can be found at their lake cottage year round, swimming, boating, waterskiing, hiking and cross-country skiing. Her boys have always been involved in hockey and one now plays with Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York. With all this  first-hand experience, Carlee understands the value of exercise and wellness when planning a comprehensive benefits plan.

Mobile: (780) 238-8867
carleefranczak@optimaxbenefits.ca

Carlee works with you to:

• Administer new benefit plans and communicate with clients
• Answer any questions or concerns in a timely manner
• Establish a regular proactive service schedule

With his attention to detail and proven track record as a creative problem solver, Todd Shindruk is a key component of the Optimax Benefits team.

One of the many advantages of dealing with a local, nimble team of experienced advisors is accessibility; one of the aspects that Todd enjoys most about his job is managing and communicating the intricacies of the employee benefits process with his clients. Whether obtaining quotes from a competitive national marketplace, implementing multi-layered benefits plans, or securing employee enrolment, Todd takes great pride in delivering the level of service and communication that Optimax has always been known for.

Along with designing personal, targeted and effective plans, he strives to provide peace of mind to each client by ensuring all processes run smoothly and efficiently.

Todd’s clients range from large trades to boutique operations and not for profts. Along with his duties as a
Client Relationship Coordinator, Todd has been setting up and managing all Health Spending Accounts for Optimax since he joined the organization in 2019.

In his spare time, Todd likes to get involved with community projects, work out or settle into a good book.

Office: (780) 490-5945
Mobile: (587) 336-6075
toddshindruk@optimaxbenefits.ca

Todd works with you to:

• Negotiate and facilitate understanding of benefit contracts to clients.
• Make the benefit quoting and enrollment process smooth and efficient
• Be accessible and ready to assist with any questions or inquiries