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?

Penny Lane by The Beatles.

Fun Fact

Joined Ampersand in 2006. Reading on her front porch while drinking a coffee is her favourite thing to do unless it is reading on her front porch while drinking a glass of wine.

Ali Hewitt

Sales Manager Western Canada

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

That if you hate everyone, you should eat something, and if you think everyone hates you, get some sleep!

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

I’d probably still be working at a bookstore!

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

Two Princes by the Spin Doctors - a jam!

Fun Fact

Joined Ampersand in 2007. Has so many shoes that she bought a Billy Bookcase from Ikea to store them all.

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

Account Manager

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 Sintichakis

Account Manager

1. You can have any fictional character from a book as your friend, who do you choose and why?

Peter Pan so he can teach me how to fly and never grow up.

2. If you had to eat one meal everyday for the rest of your life what would it be?

Pasta – any kind of pasta.

3. What skill do you think everyone should have?

Everyone should have the ability to be kind. It’s a skill that’s often overlooked, but always has an impact.

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. Is determined to try all the hottest chicken wings the world has to offer.

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

I was once in a band that was mentioned on the David Letterman Show…we didn’t PLAY on the show, but we were mentioned!

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

Sales Coordinator

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. Likes to hangout in dog parks, but doesn’t own a dog.

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. You’re closer than you think.

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

Playing guitar on a stage / recording studio somewhere.

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

"Kiss From A Rose" by Seal. Or "Rockstar" by Nickelback. It's all about making your friends laugh.

Fun Fact

Joined Ampersand in 2019. Fun fact: I’m in two excellent bands.

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.