What’s New: In Brief (March 11, 2010)

A 48-year-old Sault Ste Marie resident has been charged with five courts of fraud and five counts of theft after allegedly misappropriating client’s funds as an insurance agent.
As of press time the allegations have not been proven in a court of law.
Jeffrey McWhinney was arrested and charged on Mar. 9 by Sault Ste. Marie police.
It is alleged that between Dec. 11, 1997 and Aug. 14 2002, McWhinney misappropriated client’s funds as an insurance agent by receiving and converting these funds for his own use, according to a police statement.
According to the police, the approximate fraud value is said to be $353,972 and five separate victims were involved.
McWhinney was associated with — but not an employee of —Schuster Boyd McDonald, who immediately ended its “associate” relationship after “officials first heard speculation of fraudulent activity last spring” and the company alerted the regulatory authorities, according to a company release, posted on SooToday.com.
McWhinney acted independently when it came to case management and client services, the company said.

Andrew Shepherd has been selected as the new Collision Training Director to oversee the delivery of I-CAR and partner training to the collision sector in Canada.
Shepherd brings with him an extensive background in training and professional development, as well as experience in association operations and national committee, according to the Automotive Industries Association (AIA) of Canada.
He will be responsible for building the infrastructure in Canada to deliver, monitor, track and grow training for all aspects of the collision repair industry. 
Additional duties will include strategic planning, partnership development, industry relations, business planning, data collection, committee and advisory group development, creation of a trainer network and liaison with the I-CAR head office in the U.S, the association reports.