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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.
Richard Somerset
Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Trained in Wine Business at the prestigious University of Adelaide, Richard has developed a global specialization in strategic wine marketing and brand management. Having spent 14 years in the wine industry, he was most recently responsible for directing the marketing efforts of two global brands,
Penfolds and Wynns. Richard has a well rounded resume with experience in all facets of the wine business from managing operations for wineries and retailers to winery production and viticulture. He brings a unique and rare approach to wine marketing due to his extensive knowledge of the competitive retail and on premise environment, winery operations, global strategic brand management, brand promotions and fine wines which together allow him to truly understand the essence of a brand and quickly develop a strategy to ensure success.
Christina Masciangelo
*Currently on maternity leave
Praire Sales Manager
Christina comes with over 14 years of experience in sales and marketing within the wine business. She has worked in all facets of the trade from retail sales to regional management.
Christina comes to Free House with extensive sales management experience from her time at Mark Anthony, Vintage/Maxxium and Empson. Over the last 4 years Christina has been the Regional Sales manager for Empson for N Alberta, Sask and Manitoba and has been teaching the WSET program in her spare time.
Sujinder Juneja
BC Sales Manager
Sujinder comes to Free House via the Toronto Music Industry, where he ran the Canadian office of a world-renowned independent Record Company. After deciding to expand his range within the field of "sensual arts", he worked for over a year-and-a-half as a journalist at a Canadian Food and Wine magazine, as well as part-time at a private fine wine retailer in Vancouver. Sujinder holds his advanced certification from both the WSET and ISG, and when he's not tending to his family and garden, he spends his spare time listening to new music and exploring fine wines and whiskys.
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.
Nathalie Mulder
Key/Chain 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.
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
Sales Representative, 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.
Andrea Deacon
Sales Representative, Vancouver East, Richmond, Burnaby, & New Westminster
Kevin Cairns
Sales Representative, Vancouver Downtown, Whistler and Key Accounts
Kevin comes to Free House with over 14 years of experience in the BC wine industry. In addition to his vast experience Kevin has earned his diploma through the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET).
Darci Sellers
Sales Representative, Interior
Darci brings to the Free House team extensive sales knowledge and experience. Beginning her Sales career with CedarCreek Estate Winery, Darci has come full circle back to the world of wine and is very proud to be representing the entire Free House portfolio.
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.
Pilar Bradshaw
Office/Sales Coordinator
Pilar was born in Kelowna, so wine is in her blood! She moved to Calgary for school and received her BA in Communications with a minor in Latin American Studies from the University of Calgary. Pilar loves to travel and study and speaks fluent Spanish. She has been in the service industry for almost her entire work life and the past ten years have been spent with Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. She made the move to Free House after coming back from maternity leave. Pilar loves the wine industry and has taken WSET courses in her spare time to learn as much as she can. Now, her spare time is spent learning the motherhood ropes with her one year old son.
Alberta Sales Division
Reed White
Sales Representative,Southern Alberta including Medicine Hat & Drumheller
Reed White joined Free House Wine + Spirits in March of 2008. During the past 15 years Reed has been working in the Food & Beverage industry. Reed got his start working in Calgary's restaurant scene for nine years before being hired byt he 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 for the past nine years. He soon tooke the position as Maitre D' and managed that restaurant and helped direct the wine program withthe food and beverage team for two and a half years. 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 was experience in the food and beverage industry, both locally and internationally, to Free House and our clients.
Tauna Eden
Sales Representative, Northern Alberta
Tauna Eden has worked as assistant manager for the past 5 years at Il Portico , one of Edmonton’s top Italian restaurants. Tauna’s experience at the restaurant has allowed her to interact with numerous wine agents and winery principles, become a pro at customer service, as well as develop a passion for fine wine. She is planning to take part in some WSET courses as soon as she gets her feet wet in the company!
Brendan Jones
Sales Representative, Southern Alberta
Brendan Jones brings an extensive background in the restaurant industry to his new position, both in service and as a trainer. His experience includes Princess Cruises, and a number of fine dining restaurants and hotels. Brendan has also worked at a private retail shop in Vancouver and has just moved from Vancouver to join our Alberta team, based in Calgary. In addition to his vast work experience Brendan has earned the International Sommelier Guild’s Diploma!
Candice Meyers
Office Assistant, Alberta
Candice joined Free House as the Office Assistant in our Calgary office on November 2007. Candice has brought with her 8 years of Customer Service, Sales Support and Publishing Experience, and is looking forward to expanding her Wine knowledge.
Saskatchewan and Manitoba Sales Division
Carrie-Lee Oberding
Sales Representative
Carrie-Lee Oberding has joined the Free House team to work the Mantioba market. Carrie-Lee is passionate about wine and is currently taking the Level 2 ISG program. She has worked in the wine industry in Winnipeg for the last year and a half and brings an invaluable entrepreneurial spirit from owning her own business for 13 years.
Melanie Eldridge
(currently on maternity leave)
Sales Representative
For the last 12 years, Melanie has been working in the Hospitality industry. She started as a server in bistro style restaurants, working her way up to managing fine dining establishments, where she was exposed to many a fine wine. Melanie’s career took her to managing a private wine boutique which nourished her love and knowledge of wine. Wanting to see a different aspect of the wine business she joined the sales team at Free House Wine + Spirits Ltd. in August 2006.
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
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