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 artisans. Upon his realization of the importance of Brick and Mortar for handmade, he quickly pivoted and opened the first Shop Makers location with his partner & Co-founder Veronica in Gastown in November 2020.
Passionate in building entrepreneurs and supporting artisans, Adam has grown Makers beyond that single Vancouver location, into 23 locations, and from a modest team of just 2, to now over 180.
To date, Shop Makers has generated over $60,000,000 in sales for our makers, and enabled hundreds to pursue their passions.With big ambitions, Adam hopes to grow Shop Makers to over 100 locations showcasing over 7000 artisans.
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 1400 artisans, she hopes to continue to spread awareness and inspire Canadians to shop local, support small businesses & discover the incredible talent all around us.
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 Vendor Success
Katrina brings a rich mix of entrepreneurial, operational, and creative experience to her role at Makers.
A longtime maker and business owner, she has run a variety of small businesses since 2012. Katrina has also been actively involved in the small business community for many years. She has participated in, and helped organize, artisan markets and events throughout Vancouver. Her direct operational work with several small businesses further strengthens her knowledge of daily workflows and the behind-the-scenes systems that keep independent businesses thriving.
Before joining Makers, Katrina spent 11 years in the music industry specializing in project management. She’s led large-scale campaigns for clients such as TELUS to supporting grassroots, community-driven initiatives, sharpening the leadership, communication, and organizational skills she brings into her work today.
Katrina has been with Makers for 5 years. Having worked in both retail and corporate roles, she holds a unique point of view that balances both perspectives. For the past 3.5 years, she has been a part of the corporate team, supporting Makers through rapid expansion while staying closely connected to the maker journey.
Today, as Head of Vendor Success, Katrina oversees the vendor community across all Makers locations. Outside of work, she enjoys time with her husband, Adam, and their whippet, Zuzu.
Chris Sharanewych
President
As President 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.
The rest of the team…
With 23 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!