About > Meet Our Staff

Our Team

Meet the book & gift team at Ampersand Inc.

Saffron Beckwith

President

1. The best piece of advice I've ever been given is

Treat others as you want to be treated.

2. What would you be doing for work if not this?

A professional organizer.

3. What's your go-to karaoke song?

Anything by The Killers.

Fun Fact

Joined Ampersand in 1994. Once challenged Olympic figure skater Kurt Browning to a dance contest...and won.

Morgen Young

Vice President

1. The best piece of advice I've ever been given is

"Don’t meet trouble halfway." - Lorna MacDonald

2. What would you be doing for work if not this?

I would probably be a nurse, like my Mom and my Nana. 😊

3. What's your go-to karaoke song?

It is always changing! At the moment, almost anything off of Green Day’s Dookie album.

Fun Fact

Joined Ampersand in 2006. Always wanted to learn to play piano, so started taking lessons the year she turned 40!

Tamara Mair-Wren

Operations Manager

1. The best piece of advice I've ever been given is

“You should not eat too much candy because you’ll get a tummy ache” - From my son

2. What would you be doing for work if not this?

Making jewelry.

3. What's your go-to karaoke song?

"American Pie" - the bite sized techno Madonna version from the year 2000.

Fun Fact

Joined Ampersand in 2011. Believes in the sacred balance of the three "Ch" food groups: chips, chicken wings, and cheese.

Vanessa Di Gregorio

Special Sales & Social Media Manager

1. The best piece of advice I've ever been given is

That it’s okay to say no!

2. What would you be doing for work if not this?

If I wasn’t in publishing, I’d want to work as a game writer or narrative designer in the video game industry.

3. What's your go-to karaoke song?

The Pokémon Theme Song.

Fun Fact

Joined Ampersand in 2010. Is known to open a new box of cookies and eat the entire thing in one sitting, then open another box.

Jenny Enriquez

Account Manager

1. The best piece of advice I've ever been given is

Always be a student – never stop learning!

2. What would you be doing for work if not this?

I’d find a way to get paid to eat and travel the world or I’d open a B&B… for dogs.

3. What's your go-to karaoke song?

“Jenny From The Block” by J. Lo.

Fun Fact

Joined Ampersand in 2014. Has been caught talking to her food privately…on more than one occasion.

Dani Farmer

Account Manager

1. The best piece of advice I've ever been given is

To clean the food trap in my dishwasher. Seriously, go do yours now!

2. What would you be doing for work if not this?

Running my own bookstore has always been a dream of mine, but the temptation to do something totally different, outdoors with zero spreadsheets, is also there: perhaps landscaping or dog walking?

3. What's your go-to karaoke song?

My go-to karaoke song is "Stop" by the Spice Girls. Who doesn’t love a 90s pop hit with built-in choreography?!

Fun Fact

Joined Ampersand in 2015. Is a super nerd who has named all her cars, past and present, after Marvel superheroes.

Laureen Cusack

Life Coach

1. The best piece of advice I've ever been given is

Get your driver’s license.

2. What would you be doing for work if not this?

A teacher or TV producer.

3. What's your go-to karaoke song?

I don’t have one…. But I would pick IMAGINE by John Lennon.

Fun Fact

Joined Ampersand in 2016. Has lots of interests, but doesn’t always stick to them; including: Irish dancing, Tai Chi, therapeutic touch, learning new languages...

Evette Fisher

Account Manager

1. The best piece of advice I've ever been given is

You don’t have to show up to every argument you are invited to.

2. What would you be doing for work if not this?

Is there a job that is 50% forest-based and 50% sewing-based? That’s what I’d do.

3. What's your go-to karaoke song?

Hold On by Wilson Phillips.

Fun Fact

Joined Ampersand in 2016. Is known to smile at animals and often has fulfilling one-sided conversations with them.

Pavan Ranu

Special Sales Account Manager

1. The best piece of advice I've ever been given is

Always go with the choice that scares you most because that’s the one that will help you grow.

2. What would you be doing for work if not this?

Oh, that’s easy! I would definitely be a Professional Food Taster.

3. What's your go-to karaoke song?

Bohemian Rhapsody.

Fun Fact

Joined Ampersand in 2019. She loves traveling!

Kris Hykel

Account Manager

1. The best piece of advice I've ever been given is

If you never try, you’ll never know.

2. What would you be doing for work if not this?

Ramen critic and/or historian.

3. What's your go-to karaoke song?

The Macarena, dance routine included.

Fun Fact

Joined Ampersand in 2017. Spy Kids 3-D, in my opinion, is the pinnacle of 3-D entertainment.

Dayle Sutherland

Account Manager

1. The best piece of advice I've ever been given is

Don’t ever act shocked when your kids tell you shocking things because you want them to keep talking to you.

2. What would you be doing for work if not this?

Travel photographer.

3. What's your go-to karaoke song?

Fleetwood Mac – Landslide
OR
Talking Heads - Psycho Killer

Fun Fact

Joined Ampersand in 2021. Dayle loves to cold water swim. She’s experienced winter ocean temperatures as low as 3 degrees Celsius on the Westcoast.

Kim Herter

Account Manager

1. The best piece of advice I've ever been given is

“Don’t take it personally.” This advice works in many contexts and it’s more difficult than it sounds. Sometimes you need to take a deep breath and not react when someone seems angry or has said or done something mean. Everyone has a lot going on and their mood or state of mind is seldom about you.

2. What would you be doing for work if not this?

In my fantasy world I would be a garden guru for the Royal Horticultural Society and would host a BBC travel & gardening television show in a plummy British accent and excellent tweed jackets.

3. What's your go-to karaoke song?

I am NOT a karaoke person, but when I consulted my son he suggested Dwight Yoakam… which says something about my hillbilly roots. So it would have to be “Guitars, Cadillacs”.

Fun Fact

I love horses and in an alternate universe I would be a cowgirl rancher with goats, alpacas and organic gardens galore.

Sarah Gilligan

Account Manager

1. The best piece of advice I've ever been given is

Choose experiences over things.

2. What would you be doing for work if not this?

Hopefully still working in the publishing industry!

3. What's your go-to karaoke song?

Mr. Brightside by The Killers.

Fun Fact

Joined Ampersand in 2018. Loves all things Studio Ghibli!

Declan McIntosh

Sales Assistant

1. The best piece of advice I've ever been given is

Self-doubt comes and goes. Don't forget how far you've come!

2. What would you be doing for work if not this?

Playing guitar and writing silly things.

3. What's your go-to karaoke song?

"Rockstar" by Nickelback.

Fun Fact

Joined Ampersand in 2019. Enjoys a good scenic bike ride every now and then.

Rachelle Carvalho

Sales Coordinator

1. The best piece of advice I've ever been given is

That my words matter – from a simple compliment to contributing to a conversation, you never know how you might leave a lasting impression.

2. What would you be doing for work if not this?

I would work in digital marketing in the film/television industry.

3. What's your go-to karaoke song?

"Do You Want to Build a Snowman" from Frozen or any other Disney song!

Fun Fact

Joined Ampersand in 2021. Is a big Marvel fan and she rewatches the entire MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) at least once a year.

Nicole Jaeger

Account Manager

1. The best piece of advice I've ever been given is

"Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day."

2. What would you be doing for work if not this?

I would probably run a dog rescue and sanctuary.

3. What's your go-to karaoke song?

"Closer to Fine" by the Indigo Girls.

Fun Fact

Joined Ampersand in 2023. Can be found boring her friends/family/acquaintances with random animal trivia.

Colin Rier

Account Manager

1. The best piece of advice I've ever been given is

Temper cheese.

2. What would you be doing for work if not this?

Football scout.

3. What's your go-to karaoke song?

"Pork and Beans" by Weezer.

Fun Fact

Joined Ampersand in 2024. Proud curator of a 600+ volume cookbook collection