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 17 locations Canada wide and from a modest team of just 2, to now over 120.
To date, Shop Makers has generated over $33,000,000 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 900 artisans across 17 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
Head of Recruitment and Merchandising
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 Head of Recruitment and Merchandising, in her role, she oversees our vendors in all locations across Canada.
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 to learn more about Makers!
Chris Sharanewych
President 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.
Nadia Randall
Business Administrator
Janelle Tasker
District Manager of British Columbia
A lifelong lover of all things creative, Janelle has always been drawn to the arts, through theater, film, crafting, and music. With over 6 years of managerial experience in retail, wellness, and operations, she found her perfect fit at Shop Makers nearly three years ago, where she could lean into her passion for supporting people and small businesses.
As BC District Manager, Janelle is passionate about ensuring every store and team member feels supported, valued, and empowered to grow. Always wanting to bring kindness, understanding, and a little bit of humour to each interaction.
Outside of work, you’ll likely find her at markets with friends, traveling and exploring new places with a coffee in hand, cooking, or curled up at home with a favourite movie or book.
For Janelle, being surrounded by such talented and creative individuals every day is both inspiring and a privilege. The uniqueness and joy that each day brings is a part of what makes being a part of the Makers journey so exciting"
Nadia has spent nearly two decades managing retail and wholesale operations at Canada’s National Ballet School, where she had the privilege of collaborating with manufacturers to develop innovative and healthier pointe shoes. Her work took her across Canada, helping both student and professional ballet dancers find their perfect fit.
After leaving Toronto to enjoy more time with family and nature in rural Eastern Ontario, Nadia is thrilled to be part of a growing company that supports talented artisans while staying connected to the arts. When she's not working, you can find her cultivating her country garden or spotting wildlife around her family property.
Nikola McDermott
Marketing Manager
Passionate about storytelling and community, Nikola brings 5+ years of social media and marketing expertise to Makers. With a background in personal training, she transitioned into marketing to follow her love for creativity, community, and impactful storytelling. Now, she thrives on crafting engaging content that celebrates the incredible talent of our Makers, sharing their stories, and fostering connections with a wider audience.
Whether developing compelling posts or brainstorming innovative campaigns, Nikola loves everything about bringing Makers’ mission to life.
When she’s not championing Makers' stories, you can find her on an early morning run (she even races half marathons!), catching up on Real Housewives, or soaking up the sun at the beach with their golden retriever, Florence.
The rest of the team…
With 20 store locations, there are also 150+ store-front team members whose 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, making our stores a fun and inspiring place to work. Everyone wants to love where they work, and we all know that the people are the most important part. We’re grateful every day to have such an amazing team at Makers!