About > Staff Bios
Our Team
Meet the book & gift team at Ampersand Inc.
Saffron Beckwith
President
1. What book changed your life?
'A Prayer for Owen Meany'.…that phenomenal book made me realize how truly powerful the written word was.
2. What’s your best advice?
Always be kind; you never know who you will be working for!
3. What is one thing you can't live without?
Coffee and my Blackberry…if only they invented a phone that I could get caffeine from…I’d be set!
Fun Fact
Joined Ampersand in 1994. Once challenged Olympic figure skater Kurt Browning to a dance contest...and won.
Morgen Young
Vice President
1. What book changed your life?
'To Kill a Mockingbird' and 'A Prayer for Owen Meany.'
2. What’s your best advice?
There are few things in life more important than good manners.
3. What is one thing you can't live without?
Laughter.
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. What book changed your life?
'The Twits' by Roal Dahl taught me the importance of taking your time to prank someone properly, and 'Big Sarah’s Little Boots' by Paulette Bourgeois helped me realize that loving shoes is just who I am.
2. What’s your best advice?
Always have a second helping of whatever is on offer.
3. What is one thing you can't live without?
Cheese and salt.
Fun Fact
Joined Ampersand in 2007. Has so many shoes that she bought a Billy Bookcase from Ikea to store them all.
Tamara Mair
Operations Manager
1. What book changed your life?
'Corduroy' by Don Freeman, I was one of the three 2nd graders to move from 'See Jane Run' to 'Corduroy.' At the tender age of seven I knew my calling was working with books.
2. What’s your best advice?
Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way.
3. What is one thing you can't live without?
Humor.
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
Account Manager
1. What book changed your life?
'The Golden Compass' by Philip Pullman and anything by Tamora Pierce, for writing stories that took me places, and for writing girls who are strong in more than just a physical sense.
2. What’s your best advice?
Take risks, and never stop learning and trying new things.
3. What is one thing you can't live without?
The internet. I mean, can you imagine? NO Google. No Twitter or Instagram. How would I figure out anything and where would
I get my daily cute puppy fixes? The horror.
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. What book changed your life?
'The Shadow of the Wind' by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.
2. What’s your best advice?
If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change the way you think about it.
3. What is one thing you can't live without?
Laughter.
Fun Fact
Joined Ampersand in 2014. Has been caught talking to her food privately…on more than one occasion.
Dani Farmer
Account Manager
1. What book changed your life?
Many of the books that have changed my life have been children’s literature, but most influential has to be the 'Harry Potter' series. I’ve been known to rock a Gryffindor scarf in winter.
2. What’s your best advice?
When something goes wrong in your life, just yell, “PLOT TWIST!” and then move on.
3. What is one thing you can't live without?
My phone with its access to the entirety of human knowledge (and cat videos) at the touch of a screen. I tend to suffer from separation anxiety when it isn’t within arm’s reach.
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. What book changed your life?
'The Chrysalids' – it didn’t really change my life but I discovered a genre that was fascinating: science fiction and fantasy.
2. What’s your best advice?
Still thinking about that one!
3. What is one thing you can't live without?
Music; I love listening to music – all day long! And of course my big family!
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. What book changed your life?
I like to think that every book I read changes me in some way, but my childhood was definitely shaped by Kit Pearson’s 'Awake and Dreaming' and 'The Sky is Falling' trilogy.
2. What’s your best advice?
Always try new things because the opportunity may not come again.
3. What is one thing you can't live without?
Tea, travel, and laughter – preferably all at once.
Fun Fact
Joined Ampersand in 2016. Is known to smile at animals and often has fulfilling one-sided conversations with them.
Jessica Price
Account Manager
1. What book changed your life?
'The Little Prince.'
2. What’s your best advice?
Embrace the uncertainty. When nothing is certain, anything is possible.
3. What is one thing you can't live without?
Peanut Butter.
Fun Fact
Joined Ampersand in 2016. Went skydiving while in New Zealand to overcome her fear of heights. It didn’t work. She’s still afraid of heights.
Laura MacDonald
Acting Account Manager
1. What book changed your life?
Definitely 'Harry Potter!'
2. What’s your best advice?
Call the people (or person) who raised you more often.
3. What is one thing you can't live without?
Dry shampoo.
Fun Fact
Joined Ampersand in 2017. She is a proud Hufflepuff, but her dog is definitely a Slytherin.
Pavan Ranu
Account Manager
1. What book changed your life?
'The Outsiders' by S.E. Hinton
2. What’s your best advice?
Create your opportunities, don't wait for them.
3. What is one thing you can't live without?
My family.
Fun Fact
Joined Ampersand in 2019. She loves traveling!
Kris Hykel
Acting Operations Manager
1. What book changed your life?
'I am the Messenger' By Markus Zusak. As an underachieving teenager, this was the first novel that really made me think.
2. What’s your best advice?
It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye – then it's fun and games you can’t see.
3. What is one thing you can't live without?
Matte Hair Gel.
Fun Fact
Joined Ampersand in 2017. Is determined to try all the hottest chicken wings the world has to offer.
Sarah Gilligan
Administrative Assistant
1. What book changed your life?
“Kafka on the Shore” by Haruki Murakami. This book showed me there can be a little moments of magic in everyday life.
2. What’s your best advice?
Always be nice and do what makes you happy.
3. What is one thing you can't live without?
Totoro.
Fun Fact
Joined Ampersand in 2018. Likes to hangout in dog parks, but doesn’t own a dog.