Friendly Calgary Insurance Brokers - Our Team

Since 1987

Our Team of Insurance Professionals

Larry Costen, CAIB | CEO/Founder
Larry began his career in the financial services sector in 1981. After achieving a Business Diploma at SAIT, he established Costen Insurance in 1987 to provide full service insurance products to his clients. Larry has seen some drastic changes in the insurance industry over his 30+ years in the business, and is currently working in a mentorship role to assist the next generation of leadership. In his free time, Larry enjoys traveling, riding his motorcycles, and spending time with his German Shepherd, Kala. Contact Larry
Crista Costen, CAIB | Owner/President
Crista joined the family business in 1998 and completed a Finance Degree at Mount Royal University in 2006. In her role as President, she is working hard to develop and grow a profitable business, while keeping up with the ever-changing technology and needs of the industry. She enjoys writing the weekly blog and finding new ways of marketing the business and educating clients. She enjoys spending her spare time with her husband and three boys, camping, gardening, and reading! Contact Crista

Andrew Shareski, CAIB | Owner/Operations Manager
Andrew began his insurance career with Costen Insurance in June of 2007 and has been the Operations Manager since 2009. He oversees the day to day operations of our busy brokerage and he loves working with our fantastic team! In his spare time Andrew enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, playing guitar, playing disc golf, and cheering for the Vancouver Canucks (sorry Flames fans). Contact Andrew
Kristel Wilson, FCIP | Insurance Broker
Kristel joined the Costen Insurance team in May 2010. She completed her Chartered Insurance Professional designation in 2008, her Fellow Chartered Insurance Professional in 2018, and has been in the insurance industry since 2005. Currently she focuses on auto, home, and motorcycle insurance, as well as some small commercial lines products. In her spare time, she enjoys books, movies, and fantasy games on various platforms. Contact Kristel

Sol Digaoan | Insurance Broker
Sol volunteered with Costen Insurance during the summer of 2017 and joined the Costen Insurance Team in July 2018. She graduated from SAIT and received her financial services diploma in the spring of 2018 and now focuses on home, auto, recreational, and travel insurance. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with friends, family, and her dog. She especially loves to go out and eat with friends and family. Contact Sol
Hala Rifai | Insurance Broker
After working in several fields from banking to paralegal to salon management, Hala found her calling in insurance while working for a small local insurance brokerage as an executive assistant. After taking the plunge in 2019 and obtaining her general insurance licence she switched gears and joined the Costen team in February of 2021. She is very excited to start this new chapter in her career and will be working towards obtaining her CAIB designation to further her knowledge in the insurance industry. In her spare time, Hala enjoys volunteering, entertaining family and friends, travelling anywhere sunny, bicycling, running and cheering on her son’s hockey team. Contact Hala

Karen Sandeman | Commercial Insurance Broker/Bookkeeper
Karen has been in the insurance industry since 1977 and previously owned Glenmore Insurance Brokers Ltd for 21 years. In her spare time she has volunteered at Heritage Park for over 20 years. Her other interests extend to traveling the world, cooking, baking, bridge, golf, her dogs & cat, and spending time with friends and family. Contact Karen
Dipika Batura | Insurance Broker
Dipika worked in several different industries over the years, including administrative and accounts payable positions. After taking a break in her career to stay home with her two children, she decided to try her hand in insurance! Before joining Costen Insurance in July 2021, she worked for a direct writer in an associate insurance advisor role. Dipika brings with her a strong work ethic, analytical skills, and an upbeat and positive attitude. She speaks four languages, including English, Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi, and looks forward to getting to know all of our wonderful clients! In her spare time, Dipika enjoys volunteering at the Rocky View Alliance Church, spending time with her family and friends, and reading non-fiction, including autobiographies.

Jessica Smith | Producer/Insurance Broker
Jessica is a rare breed as she is a third generation Calgarian! She graduated from SAIT in 2004 with her Hotel Restaurant Management diploma. With her attention to service and willingness to step in and help when needed a close friend, who was her insurance broker at the time, recruited her in 2006 to help out in the new office she was setting up. Jessica joined the Costen Insurance Team in April 2019 and focuses on both Personal and Commercial Insurance.
In her spare time, you can find Jessica usually at a car show in the summer showing off her 1949 Studebaker Truck or one of her family’s Mopars. In the winter months she has been known to travel the Barrett Jackson and NASCAR circuit and hasn’t missed a Grey Cup in 15 years. Contact Jessica
Amanda Shareski | Bookkeeper
Amanda joined the Costen family in September of 2020. She comes to us with a background in retail management and office administration. After taking a few years out of the official workforce to stay at home with her three young children, she is back working part time now that they are all in school. She loves excel spreadsheets, budgeting, and tending to her growing plant family. In her spare time, Amanda enjoys heading out for a walk, visiting with family and friends, or browsing through a second hand store.

Nivi Uppal | Producer/Insurance Broker
Prior to coming to Costen Insurance in 2016, Nivi worked in the auto industry for 14 years with a number of dealerships in various sales positions. Nivi was first introduced to the insurance business in 2010 by a friend, and after a few years he decided to make a career change and become a licenced Broker. When he’s not working, Nivi likes to get out on the golf course and spend time with his family. He is thrilled to start his new career in the insurance industry and enjoy a greater work/life balance. Contact Nivi
Esraa Hamdan | Producer/Insurance Broker
Esraa was born and raised in Calgary. She started in the insurance industry in 2011 and quickly began working on the commercial side of things. Esraa joined Costen in April of 2019. In her spare time she enjoys hitting the gym or spending time with her son. Contact Esraa

Dan Dunsmore | Producer/Insurance Broker
Dan began his insurance career in 2004 after obtaining his Marketing and Public Relations Diploma in Ontario and joined Costen Insurance in January 2020. With over 15 years experience in the insurance industry he has honed his craft to focus on commercial & professional insurance. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family, friends, golfing, geocaching, and snowboarding. Contact Dan
Sanjay Chadha | Producer/Insurance Broker
Sanjay has been in the insurance industry since 2002, originally working in London, UK. He started in personal insurance, then moved to commercial insurance, and then back to personal insurance from 2005 to present with a prominent focus on motorcycle and recreational insurance throughout Alberta. As much as he enjoys working as a broker, which is a lot, he really enjoys getting outdoors, whether it’s on the ATV, dirt bike, or in his truck. He also loves being home with his wife and two kids, and flying and driving all of his RC models.Contact Sanjay

Shawn Keating | Producer/Business Development
Shawn joined Costen Insurance in January 2020 after a 20+ year career in communications. He supports the team through Business Development, networking and tradeshows. In addition, as a licenced broker, he focuses on property, automobile, recreational and travel insurance. In his free time, Shawn enjoys golfing, hard and soft water fishing, camping, and exploring the gaming world with his boys. He also loves collecting interesting things, including coins, rocks and fossils. Contact Shawn

Nirmal Lombsar | Branch Partner (Westwinds)
Nirmal joined the Costen Insurance team as a producer in July 2007, focusing mainly on auto, property, travel, and commercial insurance. She enjoys her time with her family and building her business and developing relationships with her clients. Contact Nirmal
Nadima Charanek | Branch Partner (Chinook)
Nadima was born and raised in Calgary and graduated from the University of Calgary with a Psychology degree. After working in the non-profit sector for several years, Nadima decided on a career change and became a licensed broker in 2016. Nadima joined Costen Insurance in January 2017 and sees insurance as another way to continue to pursue her passion of helping people. When she is not busy working, Nadima loves spending time with her family and friends, traveling, volunteering and giving back to the people of Calgary in any way she can. Contact Nadima

Dena Chen | Branch Partner (Aspen)
Dena has been working in the insurance industry since June of 2007. She joined Costen Insurance in January 2017 with a strong focus in auto, property, travel, and commercial insurance. Dena has been a global citizen in Asia, Europe, and North America and hopes to bring her open mind and wide range of cultural experiences to her work. She loves to travel, learn different cultures and enjoys interacting with people in diverse environments. Contact Dena
Moutaz Elkorashy | Branch Partner (Tuxedo)
Moutaz worked in the travel industry for nearly 15 years before switching careers and joining the insurance industry in 2012. He previously worked with Desjardins and State Farm in various positions. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Law, a Diploma in Travel and Tour Services, and a Certificate for Microsoft Systems Engineer in Windows NT. In his spare time, Moutaz loves the opportunity to travel and explore new countries and cultures. His travel experience has taken him throughout the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and North America and he looks forward to many new adventures. Contact Moutaz

Daniel Egubat | Branch Partner (Tuxedo)
Daniel worked in the banking industry for 5 years with the Bank of Montreal before making a move over to the insurance industry in 2013. He has worked with both Desjardins and State Farm, and joined the Costen Insurance Team in the spring of 2017. Daniel loves sales and focuses on personal lines insurance, including auto, property, and recreational insurance. He also speaks two other languages, Tigrigna (Eritrean) and Amharic (Etheopian). Contact Daniel
Lloyd Keating | Financial Advisor
Lloyd joined Costen Insurance in January 2010 as a Financial Advisor and brings over 25 years of experience to the team. He focuses on Life, Disability, Critical Illness, and Long Term Care Insurance, as well as Investments. In his spare time, Lloyd enjoys spending time with his family, camping, fishing and golfing. Contact Lloyd