Our Benefits Team

Lio Spagnuolo

President & CEO

Lio Spagnuolo, GEBS, GBA, BA is a self-professed sports fan (especially hockey) who would rather be in the game, than watching it. This energy and passion is applicable to every facet of his life – personally and professionally. He is a dedicated family man with a strong work ethic, and can always be relied on to see the big picture. As President of Penmore Benefits Inc., Lio is responsible for all of Penmore's employee benefits divisions (Group Benefits, Group Retirement, and Global Benefits). With a BA in Economics from Laurentian, Lio has broad experience in the employee benefits field. He started in the industry at London Life in 1995. In 1999, Lio joined with John and Joe at Penmore. He currently shares his expertise as a member of the board of the Benefits Alliance Group, member of the Advisory Board of Wealth and Estate Plan, Group London Life and member of the Advisory Group of Manulife Group.

Lisa Wong

Vice-President, Operations

Lisa likes to physically hit her opponents – be it in the modern sport of Olympic fencing or kickboxing.  When she’s not sparring in a match, she is busy chasing her two kids around the house, the park and everywhere in between. In the little spare time she has, Lisa gives back to her community by volunteering. Lisa is currently appointed as the Vice President of Operations for Penmore Benefits Inc. As the former Operations Manager for the Penmore Group of Companies, Lisa oversaw operations for all three entities of the Penmore Group of Companies. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto (with a specialization in English).  She has worked in the insurance industry for over a decade.  She currently has her ALMI designation from LOMA (Life Office Management Association) and was a former Communications and Technology Chair for the LOMA Society of the Greater Toronto Area. Lisa is a proponent of lifelong learning and is currently enrolled in courses at U of T’s School of Continuing Studies.

Emeka Agu

Director of Finance

Emeka Agu, CPA,  is an avid soccer and basketball fan. He proudly carries the distinction of being the world’s biggest Liverpool FC supporter (self-proclaimed). He has a passion for maintaining a healthy active lifestyle, from hitting the gym to playing pickup basketball on the weekends. In his spare time, Emeka enjoys spending time with friends and family, travelling the world, and seeking new adventures and cultural experiences. As the Director of Finance at Penmore, Emeka is responsible for overseeing all financial operations of the company. He is a graduate of the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University and holds a CPA designation. Prior to joining Penmore, he gained extensive experience at some of the world’s leading financial services institutions and Fortune 500 companies.

Shannon McShane-Reed

Senior Vice President, Group Benefits

Shannon is passionate about mental health advocacy, animal rescue, being a devoted friend, and, most importantly, being a mom. She loves spending her free time at the family cottage, gardening or hiking with her two dogs. Shannon also sits on the Board of Directors for Heartache2Hope, a Halton-based not-for-profit organization. Shannon has three decades of experience in the health and dental industry, with some of Canada’s largest public and private companies leading national blocks of business at over $100 million in revenue. She previously held executive growth-focused roles at Express Scripts Canada/Cigna and Symbility Health, where she was elevated to President after a successful tenure as VP, Sales, Marketing and Client Service. Shannon is client-focused and known for leading cross-functional teams by empowering and elevating everyone around her. She is also a Certified Agile Leader and Scrum Product Owner, using her extensive experience to help organizations drive greater efficiency and unlock growth opportunities.

Rahim Peera

Senior Vice President, Group Retirement Services

Rahim is passionate about spending time being physically active playing his favourite sports. You may find him spending weekends and evenings on the basketball court, soccer field or perfecting his game on the golf course. Ask him about what is on his bucket list and Rahim will tell you that playing golf at Pebble Beach is a ‘must do’ in the future. A close second would be a visit to Bali, Indonesia with his wife. Hawaii would be acceptable too as a dream destination.

Rahim is currently Senior Vice President, Group Retirement Services. He is a University of Waterloo Economics graduate and has been in the financial services business since 2002. Since 2007, he has been working exclusively in the Group Retirement area. Prior to joining Penmore, he worked for some of Canada’s largest insurance and financial service companies.

Tina Parise

Vice President

Tina is a dedicated leader in the Group Benefits and Retirement consulting industry, known for her expertise, results-driven approach, and genuine care for the people and organizations she serves. As Vice President, she excels in designing benefits strategies that deliver measurable results and improve employee well-being. Her career is driven by a passion for creating meaningful change, solving complex challenges, and building strong client relationships. Her approachable demeanor and commitment to excellence make her a trusted partner and valued mentor. She holds her BA from Ryerson Polytechnic University, now known as Toronto Metropolitan University, and brings extensive expertise as a Human Resources professional. Authenticity, enthusiasm, and a vibrant personality shine in every interaction. Whether she’s collaborating with clients, mentoring her team, or planning her next travel adventure, Tina brings a contagious energy that inspires those around her. Deeply family-oriented, she cherishes time spent with her husband and three children, exploring new places and indulging in her love for food. Her balance of professionalism and warmth makes her not only a dynamic leader but also a trusted friend and partner in success.

Neeli Moses

Vice President, TPA Services

Coming Soon

Tyler Ogilvie

Vice President, International Benefits

Tyler is passionate about travel. After a four-month trip to Australia to play rugby in his early years at the University of Calgary, he was hooked. Journeys to Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Iceland, Scotland and many more followed. Tyler’s desire to see the world and learn about other cultures inspired him to try and work in an international field. Tyler is an International Benefits Consultant who works on Penmore’s book of global clients. With his analytical background, he is able to bring a new level of detail to the organization’s global consulting business. Tyler excels at building strong client relationships and understands his client’s needs anywhere in the world. Tyler holds a Risk Management and Insurance degree from the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business and started his career at Mercer as a benefits consultant. After four years of consulting with large domestic clients, he transferred to Penmore in 2015. He looks forward to growing Penmore’s global business in the years to come.