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Senior Management
Ted Latimer
President
Ted started in the wine business in 1984, working at one of Canada’s first private wine retailers, The Wine Shop. Soon Ted was motivated to go into business for himself, creating Britannia Wine Merchants in 1990. Bitten by the entrepreneurial bug and in partnership with Don Bryant, he went on to found Free House in 1994, eventually expanding the business and relocating to British Columbia. Ted’s passion for good food, great music and wine helped form the foundation of the Free House family.
Don Bryant
CFO, Managing Director
Don stumbled on the wine business while working towards a post-graduate business degree. Initially starting out with J Webb Wine Merchants, he eventually decided to strike out for California to work harvest. At crush, he learned the business from top to bottom, before returning to Canada to co-found Free House Wine + Spirits. His Bachelor of Commerce (with honors, no less), provided the business foundation for Free House.
Nathalie Mulder
National Sales Manager
Nathalie was born in The Netherlands and moved to Canada when she was 4. After receiving her BA from the University of Alberta she went back for her MBA with a specialization in International Business. Nathalie has been in the industry for 9 years starting with a small microbrewery, Peak Brewing out of Canmore. After working with Mark Anthony Brands as a fine wine rep, and then Maxxium Canada for nearly 5 years, Nathalie came to Free House.
In her “spare” time, Nathalie loves to cook and is a National bodybuilder, currently 7th in the country and 2nd in the province. She also judges shows across the province for fitness/figure/bikini model and bodybuilding. Gerald Gallant
Quebec & Maritimes Sales Manager
Gerald comes to Free House (Magnum) with 9 years of Sales & Marketing within the wine business. He has been managing the Quebec and Atlantic Provinces for the last 5 years and 4 years of managing the Northern Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba market for the Trialto Group. Before this, he has worked in the food & beverage industry for over 20 years where he has gone from being a server to sommelier and maître d’ in a Five Diamond restaurant and in one of the Leading Hotels of the World. He has his Sommelier certificate from the ASP and was chosen as one of the Top 10 sommeliers in Canada by Wine Access Magazine.
British Columbia Sales Division
Alfons Obererlacher
Sales Representative, Vancouver Island
A restaurant industry veteran, Alfons has concentrated his professional attention on wine for over two decades. His colorful career experience spans two continents and incorporates many different hats; Sommelier, wine consultant and educator, and sales representative, in Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Canada.
Abigail Pyett
Senior Retail Specialist, Vancouver West, Fraser Valley, Delta
Abigail Pyett joined Free House in May of 2005 after serving an apprenticeship in the restaurant trade, focusing on staff training with particular emphasis on wine’s place on the menu, on the table and in the business plan. One of Abby’s discoveries was that some restaurants tended to be too casual about the returns available to them from an improved list and more knowledgable service. At Free House Abby serves the Lower Mainland’s suburban accounts, where her advice is welcomed.
Joanna Dickinson
Sales Representative, BC Interior
Joanna joined Free House Wine and Spirits in August 2010. After graduating from the University of Manitoba with a degree in Marketing and Sociology she moved to the Okanagan with the hopes of pursuing a career in the wine industry. Joanna has 8 years experience in the restaurant and customer service industry. She is eager to get started on her WSET courses to expand on her knowledge and passion for wines. Joanna is thrilled to be representing Free House Wines in the beautiful Okanagan!
Keith Nicholson
Sales Representative
Keith Nicholson was born and raised in Vancouver and his career in the restaurant and wine industry of 25 years has involved many different sides. He has worked in some of British Columbia's leading restaurants, Blue Water Café, the Bearfoot Bistro and Le Crocodile where he led some of the most internationally renowned wine programs. Keith is a certified Sommelier through the International Sommelier Guild and a certified instructor spending part time teaching classes regularly. He is also a past scholarship recipient from the Society of Wine Educators, and winner of the 2009 Sommelier Challenge in Vancouver. In the wake of a huge passion for champagne, in 2009 he became the first Canadian Officer of the Confrerie de Champagne deVenoge. Inspired after completing the Introduction to Wine Making course through UC Davis extension, and a `two-week wine tour of Australia awarded by 'Wines of Australia', he left the city to work harvest on the Crush Team at Laughing Stock Vineyards for the 2010 vintage to have an experience of a life time. Now back in Vancouver, he is very happy to be on the street as a part of our Free House team. When not out sharing the brands of Free House, Keith also spends time entertaining and educating on-line, documenting the pursuit of 'Serious fun with wine' on his site, Winemonkey.ca.
Morgan Wallace
Senior Account Manager, Vancouver, North Shore
Morgan joins Free House having spent the last four and a half years with Diamond Estate Wines and Spirits. During his time with Diamond he helped launch several highly successful wine and spirit brands. Prior to moving to Vancouver Morgan worked in the U.K. for the highly regarded wine retailer Oddbins for five years as a store manager. During his time with Oddbins he gained his WSET diploma and spent a lot of time researching the various regions and countries of Europe. Prior to living in Europe Morgan worked in the Restaurant industry in Winnipeg and Edmonton. An avid sports fan Morgan spends his spare time drinking wine, cooking, following and watching two of his favorite sports teams. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL and Newcastle United of the English Premier Soccer League.
Tara Holland
Logistics Manager
Tara comes to us with great enthusiasm and experience in the wine business with over 9 years experience at Medallion Wine Marketing and most recently at Whitefish.
Cassie Romanyk
Executive Assistant, Sales & Marketing Support
Cassie is the newest member of our team in the BC office, coming to us with 3 years of experience in the wine industry formerly with Foster’s Wine Estates where she held the role of Office Manager. In her last year there she was able to expand her role to include Sales Support and Logistics Management, giving her the opportunity to learn about the industry from all angles. She brings to Free House a valuable skill set and a passion for wine. She is eager to start expanding her wine knowledge by enrolling in WSET courses, and of course by tasting some fabulous wines! With her free time she enjoys hiking, biking and snowboarding with friends and spending quality time with her family.
Alberta Sales Division
Reed White
Sales Representative,Southern Alberta including Medicine Hat & Drumheller
Reed White joined Free House Wine + Spirits in March of 2008, having spent the last 15 years working in the Food & Beverage industry. Reed got his start in Calgary's restaurant scene before being hired by the Westin Casuarina Resort and Spa in Grand Cayman and leaving for the Carribean. He worked in events for two years before moving into the 'AAA' four diamond restaurant Casa Havana (a Wine Spectator award winner). He soon took the position as Maitre D' and managed that restaurant and helped direct the wine program with the food and beverage team. After five years in Grand Cayman, Reed moved Kelowna BC and started working the 2007 crush under award winning wine maker, Eric von Krosigk. We look forward to Reed bringing his vast experience in the food and beverage industry, both locally and internationally, to Free House and our clients.
Yvette Smith
Northern Alberta Sales Representative
Yvette started in the Industry in 1999 working with Maxxium Canada for 10 years. After that she accepted a contract role with Sleeman. This is where she got her passion for sales. Yvette is very excited to start her new role with Freehouse Wine & Spirits and will be enrolling in WSET classes shortly to broaden her wine knowledge. She is looking forward to selling an amazing portfolio!
Mike Longfield
Southern Alberta Sales Representative
Mike joined Free House Wine + Spirits in October of 2011. Mike started working in restaurants in 1998, and quickly grew to love the Hospitality Industry. After attaining a diploma in Hospitality Management at SAIT, Mike worked as a Generall Manager with Moxie’s Restaurants in Calgary. In 2008, Mike made the transition into the Beverage Alcohol industry and joined Select Wines and Spirits where he worked as a Sales Representative and most recently, Key Account Manager for Alberta. Over the past decade, Mike has developed an affinity for great wine and spirits and is looking forward to furthering his education of these through WSET courses. In his free time, Mike loves spending time with his family, playing music, and following sports. He is proud to be a part of the Free House family.
Saskatchewan and Manitoba Sales Division
Sandi Masserey
Sales Representative
Sandi is the newest addition to the Freehouse team joining us in the MB market. She began her career in the hospitality industry, starting in the restaurant business… hostessing, serving, and bartending. However, for the past 13+ years, Sandi has been with the MLCC as a customer service clerk, involved with training, marketing and merchandising. Her customer service skills have been utilized to contribute to the success of many MLCC sponsored functions, such as The Flatlanders Beer and Wpg. Wine Festivals as well as various other events around the city. In her spare time, she works as an extra on movie sets, loves to go to concerts, enjoys entertaining, and hanging out with her family and friends!
Ontario Sales Division
Rita Zlicic
Toronto Office
Rita brings to Free House her legendary people skills and a solid marketing background. After negotiating the hectic world of fashion for over 10 years, she has found her true passion in the wine business. With an enthusiasm for wine and a thirst for knowledge, Rita is set to effectively promote and manage wine in the Ontario market to ensure market presence.
Graeme Foote
Sales Representative
Maritime Sales Division
Michael LeBlanc
Sales Representative
Michael brings over 20 years of management and customer service experience in the Food & Beverage industry to Free House Wine + Spirits. He received his Marketing diploma in Business at the New Brunswick Community College. Before joining Free House Wine + Spirits, he spent two years at Alcool NB Liquor (ANBL) where he gained valuable insight and experience in the retail sales and marketing side of the wine and spirits industry in New Brunswick
Quebec Sales Division
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