Meet our Team!
Adam Sharanewych
Co-Founder & CEO
A Software Developer by trade, Adam co-founded Shop Makers with the original intent to build an E-commerce marketplace to service Canadian artisans. Upon his realization of the importance of Brick and Mortar for handmade, he quickly pivoted and opened the first Shop Makers location with Veronica in Gastown in November 2020, originally under a different name.
Passionate in building entrepreneurs and supporting artisans, Adam has grown Makers beyond that single Vancouver location, into 11 locations Canada wide and from a modest team of just 2, to now over 70.
To date, Shop Makers has generated over $14,000,000 in sales for our makers, and enabled hundreds to pursue their passions.With big ambitions, Adam hopes to grow Shop Makers into over 25 locations nationwide by 2026 and to eventually expand beyond our border to support artisans across the continent.
When Adam’s not working, you can find him skiing, golfing, or bird-watching (his newest favourite hobby) 😝
Veronica Kos
Co-Founder & Director of Marketing
Originally obtaining a Bachelors Degree in journalism, Veronica pivoted to the creative world of marketing in 2018 and has never looked back.
Co-founding Shop Makers with Adam in 2020, Veronica’s biggest passion is finding fun and innovative ways to promote the many talented local makers and artisans in the community.
Growing the Makers community from roughly 80 to now over 600 artisans across 10 store locations, and with
big ambitions to expand Makers across Canada, she hopes to continue to spread awareness and inspire Canadians to shop local, support small businesses & discover the incredible talent our nation has!
When not working, Veronica can be found skiing, hiking, biking, … basically enjoying any outdoor Vancouver activity! (or accompanying Adam in searching for cool birds)
Connect with Veronica online by following Makers on all out socials!
Katrina Jones
Director of Retail Expansion
Katrina brings her 11 years of project management experience in the music industry to her work at Makers. Having overseen large scale projects from clients such as TELUS, to smaller-scale, community based initiatives, Katrina is ready to tackle any project of any size.
Being a maker herself adds a layer of connection and authenticity to her work, as she’s experienced first-hand all of the thrills and pitfalls of running your own business.
Katrina is Director of Retail Expansion, in her role, she oversees all new store openings on both the vendor and logistical side. She has been with Makers since 2021, where she started as manager of our North Vancouver location.
When Katrina is not at Makers, she loves to spend her free time hanging out with her husband Adam and giant Whippet, Zuzu. Reach out to her if you’re a vendor looking for a spot in a new store, or if you have a hot tip on a great new Makers location! 😉
Chris Sharanewych
VP of Growth
As VP of Growth at Shop Makers, Chris brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of leadership & innovation.
As a founding member of ATG Pharma Inc., in his previous role as Vice President, Chris had an instrumental impact in driving the corporation’s transformation from operating within a garage to its establishment as one of Canada’s fastest growing manufacturing companies and a global market leader.
Chris has long been passionate about supporting and empowering entrepreneurs. While pursuing a Bachelor in Economics at Queen’s University in Ontario, Chris also founded the entrepreneurship club, which continues to operate today as a think-tank for young entrepreneurs to meet and collaborate on their business ventures.
Now, at Shop Makers, Chris is determined to leverage his expertise to propel Makers to new heights. He is dedicated to championing local artisans and providing them with the support, resources, and retail infrastructure they require to succeed in today's competitive market for small businesses. Chris's strategic focus on driving growth and innovation, combined with his passion for supporting entrepreneurs, makes him a valuable asset to the Shop Makers team.
With over 10 years experience as a store manager in the corporate retail world, breaking national sales records with her previous company, and having built many retail locations, she has realized her true passion is supporting small businesses. Katie’s natural drive for building relationships and fostering connections can blossom at Makers. Whether she’s lending a helping hand behind the scenes, spreading the word about local vendors, or simply being a loyal customer, Katie’s commitment to her community is # 1!
When Katie’s not working, you can find her in the company of her husband Alex and her beloved rescue pups, Willow & Ziggy! If you’re part of the Makers community, or want to be, Katie’s your gal to reach out to!
Katie Zaharik
Regional Manager
The rest of the team…
With 10 store locations, there are also 60+ store-front team members who’s dedication to our local artisan community is integral to Makers. Our store managers & sales associates care deeply about helping support & grow our artisans’ small businesses - just take it from our many makers who are often raving about their connections with our staff. On top of that, our team members foster a positive, inclusive and enjoyable work environment that makes our stores a great place to work at. Everyone wants to love where they work, and we all know that the people are the most important part. We’re grateful everyday to have such amazing people on the Makers team!