About

Leadership / Board of Directors

Ben Foster, CPA

President, from Cash Canada Pawn. Alberta.
Bio
Email

Ben has been involved in the pawn industry for over 20 years as an operator, advisor and owner. Ben is the President of Cash Canada Pawn, a leading chain of pawnshops in Western Canada. Ben has been highly involved in the evolution of the pawn industry in North America, having previously served on the Government Relations Committee of the National Pawnbrokers Association, and as a founding member of the Canadian Pawnbrokers Association. Earlier in his career, Ben advised on many mergers and acquisitions across the North American pawn industry with an aggregate transaction value of over $1 billion.

Tanya Graver, CPA

Secretary, from Hock Stars, Ontario
Bio
Email

Hock Stars started with one location in 2019 and now has three Buy, Sell, Buyback and Loan stores located in Ontario. She brings over 13 years of experience in the Buy, Sell, Trade and Pawn Industry. Hock Stars is customer forward and holds strong core values of Community, Experience and Innovation with a mission statement of “Changing the Negative, One customer at a time! Prior to opening Hock Stars Tanya worked extensively in the hospitality industry as well as being a certified Bookkeeper with an Accounting certificate by trade.

In addition to her professional achievements, Tanya is a mother of four children who she attributes being her driving force. Tanya is a committed member of the Wasaga Beach International Lions and the Lost Boys Hope Foster Group. She believes in giving back to the community.

Martin Strasser, CPA

Vice President, from Premier Jewellery and Loans. B.C.
Bio
Email

Martin Strasser joined the pawn industry in 1995 as a founding partner in Premier Jewellery and Loans, located in Kelowna, B.C.

He has been a member of the U.S. National Pawn Association since 2002. Within that organization he acted as the committee chair for the 2020 N.P.A. Pawn Industry Operating Survey. This was a financial, operational, and demographic analysis of the US pawn sector. It was designed to provide pawnbrokers and stakeholders with clear, robust, and definitive data regarding a misunderstood industry. Martin is a founding member of the Canadian Pawn Association as well as a former director of the now dormant B.C. Pawn Association.

He has been privileged to present at several pawn industry conventions including multiple Midwest Pawn Conventions and the Pacific Northwest Pawn Convention. His presentations typically focus on pawn industry metrics with an emphasis on improving individual store operations. He is also a G.I.A. accredited Diamonds Graduate.

“The Founders Club”

The following individuals and companies participated in the founding of the C.P.A. Each of these made a significant financial investment to seed a fledgling association. We would like to thank their vision and leadership without which this association would not exist. In alphabetical order:

  • Rob Boucher – Hock Exchange
  • Ben Foster – Cash Canada 
     
  • Tanya Graver – Hockstars
     
  • Jeff Hockley – Hock Shop
     
  • Ken Roath – Roaths Pawn
     
  • Dean Robbins – SwapNShop
     
  • Shawn Stinson – Howard’s Pawn Shop  
     
  • Martin Strasser – Premier Jewellery and Loans

Ben Foster

Ben has been involved in the pawn industry for over 20 years as an operator, advisor and owner. Ben is the President of Cash Canada Pawn, a leading chain of pawnshops in Western Canada. Ben has been highly involved in the evolution of the pawn industry in North America, having previously served on the Government Relations Committee of the National Pawnbrokers Association, and as a founding member of the Canadian Pawnbrokers Association. Earlier in his career, Ben advised on many mergers and acquisitions across the North American pawn industry with an aggregate transaction value of over $1 billion.

Tanya Graver

Hock Stars started with one location in 2019 and now has three Buy, Sell, Buyback and Loan stores located in Ontario. She brings over 13 years of experience in the Buy, Sell, Trade and Pawn Industry. Hock Stars is customer forward and holds strong core values of Community, Experience and Innovation with a mission statement of “Changing the Negative, One customer at a time! Prior to opening Hock Stars Tanya worked extensively in the hospitality industry as well as being a certified Bookkeeper with an Accounting certificate by trade.

In addition to her professional achievements, Tanya is a mother of four children who she attributes being her driving force. Tanya is a committed member of the Wasaga Beach International Lions and the Lost Boys Hope Foster Group. She believes in giving back to the community.

Martin Strasser

Martin Strasser joined the pawn industry in 1995 as a founding partner in Premier Jewellery and Loans, located in Kelowna, B.C.

He has been a member of the U.S. National Pawn Association since 2002. Within that organization he acted as the committee chair for the 2020 N.P.A. Pawn Industry Operating Survey. This was a financial, operational, and demographic analysis of the US pawn sector. It was designed to provide pawnbrokers and stakeholders with clear, robust, and definitive data regarding a misunderstood industry. Martin is a founding member of the Canadian Pawn Association as well as a former director of the now dormant B.C. Pawn Association.

He has been privileged to present at several pawn industry conventions including multiple Midwest Pawn Conventions and the Pacific Northwest Pawn Convention. His presentations typically focus on pawn industry metrics with an emphasis on improving individual store operations. He is also a G.I.A. accredited Diamonds Graduate.