Meet Our Growth Team

As the Chief Executive Officer at Envision Saint John, Andrew Beckett brings a wealth of experience and expertise in organizational leadership, strategic planning, financial management, and business administration. With a career spanning several decades, Andrew has consistently demonstrated his commitment to driving growth and success in various leadership roles.

Andrew spent 13 years working for the City of Saint John. During his tenure as Commissioner of Finance he showcased his expertise in financial planning and business administration, helping shape the city’s financial policies and practices. In his role as Deputy City Manager, Andrew provided leadership in strategic planning and financial management, contributing to the city's growth and development. Most recently, Andrew was the Vice President of Finance Administration at St. Francis Xavier University.

Andrew holds a Master of Arts in Human Systems Intervention from Concordia University, a Certificate in Municipal Administration, a Certificate in Public Participation, and a Bachelor of Commerce from Dalhousie University. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant.

He is a former volunteer on the Board of Directors for the Saint John Free Public Library, Marathon by the Sea, and East Coast Music Awards.

As CEO, Andrew is excited for the unique opportunity to reconnect with the community, and to provide leadership in an area of significant importance to the region’s future.

A marketing strategist with more than 25 years experience, Jillian is a versatile leader recognized for driving results in a collaborative and inclusive manner. Her team recently launched the inaugural place brand for The Saint John Region - Always Moving Forward. And in 2018, she won a Seatrade Global Cruise Award for Marketing Initiative of the Year for the creation of a tidal mural in the heart of the city depicting the world’s highest tides produced by well-known street artist Sean Yoro (Hula) shared millions of times worldwide.

A lifelong Saint John resident, Jeff has more than a decade of experience in Real Estate Development, Urban Planning and Project Management. He has lead a number high profile projects in the Saint John Region, including the development of the Fundy Quay, the Central Peninsula School project, the Central Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan and the development incentives programs for the regions Uptown neighbourhoods. Jeff’s educational background includes a Masters in Urban Planning & Real Estate Development and a Masters Certificate in Project Management.

Nick joins Envision Saint John from the Fundy Regional Service Commission where he has spent seven years - first implementing their regional recreation plan, and more recently doing regional transportation planning, and development approvals in the Fundy Rural District and Village of Fundy-St. Martins.

Nick has a BA from UNB Saint John, majoring in Communications and enjoyed a year studying abroad in Sweden.

Nick’s family recently moved to the west side of Saint John, after many years living in the south end.

In his spare time, he can be found mountain biking with his family or volunteering in Rockwood Park with Saint John Cycling. Nick also is the chair of the Saint John Transit Commission. 

Olivia is a communications professional with prior experience working in the federal and provincial government, and the non-profit sector. She holds a BA from St. Thomas University in Communications and Public Policy, Psychology, and Criminology and Criminal Justice, and has completed certificates in social marketing, research ethics, and gender-based analysis. She is an advocate for women’s rights and positive mental health, and is passionate about supporting opportunities for people in rural New Brunswick. Olivia is the 2022 recipient of the Frank McKenna Prize for Communications and Public Policy from St. Thomas University.

A proud New Brunswicker, Shawnna has over 30+ years in the Hotel/Tourism industry, which includes the Westin Calgary, Delta Hotels by Marriott Saint John, Hilton Saint John & Saint John Trade & Convention Centre and Discover Saint John. Shawnna has a strong passion for our province and especially the Saint John region which she brings to every client contact across all sectors including Conventions & Meetings, Sport Tourism, Corporate Business and much more.  In 2020, Shawnna was a finalist for Supplier of the Year by Professional Convention Management Association Canada Chapter East.

Chloe joined the Envision Saint John team in December 2023 from Fernandez Law Office, where she worked as a Legal Assistant. Previously she held roles in both Administration and Hospitality - working as a Guest Service Agent at both the Delta Hotels by Marriott Saint John and the Hampton Inn and Suites.

She has a diploma in Journalism from Holland College in Charlottetown, PEI.

Having lived in every province in Atlantic Canada, Chloe returned to the Saint John Region where she grew up. She is excited to be working with a team that is so passionate about growth in the region.

Matt has worked in sales and service in the retail sector for more than 20 years as well as working in the performing arts scene specializing in Theatrical Production. Matt has been working in Tourism for more than 5 years with Discover Saint John and now Envision Saint John: The Regional Growth Agency. Born and raised in the region, Matt has a passion for his hometown and has a strong enthusiasm in making his community an even better place to live, work and play. He is a long-term volunteer with the Saint John Theatre Company and is a founding member of the Loyalist City Shakespeare theatre troupe.

Jin is a dedicated professional with a robust background in business analytics and management. She holds an MBA in Project Management and a BA in Information Management and Information Systems. With over seven years of experience in operations management and business analytics within the commercial real estate sector, Jin has honed her skills in dissecting complex datasets and transforming them into clear, actionable insights.

Her passion lies in uncovering the logical relationships within data and presenting her findings through intuitive visualizations. Jin is committed to advancing her expertise in economic development and financial analysis, constantly seeking opportunities for professional growth.

Outside of her professional life, Jin is an avid plant and vegetable gardener and an enthusiastic climber. She loves being outdoors without a ceiling and browsing her online collection of cats.

Walter is a recent graduate from the University of New Brunswick Saint John campus with a BBA in Marketing and Digital Business Design. Throughout his undergraduate program, Walter served as a student leader both as the Vice President External of the UNB Students’ Representative Council, and as President of the UNBSJ Business Administration Society. He has experience in business consulting, sales, data analysis, policy writing, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement.

Walter has a passion for economic development and business in the Saint John Region. He is driven by his commitment to helping others follow their passions and to empowering his community in any way that he can.

Both in his career and personal life, Walter is a born problem-solver, spending his free time doing his best to guess the twists in movies before they appear, using data to better understand the players on his favourite hockey team, and to help others as often as possible through volunteer roles. 

Jody is an experienced urban planner who has been working in the field for almost 15 years. He is passionate about building vibrant communities that celebrate their unique spaces in ways that are inclusive, accessible, and sustainable.

In his previous roles Jody worked as a planner for the City of Saint John and a project manager in the not-for-profit housing sector. Much of his professional life has been dedicated to developing policy, bylaws, and strategic plans that bring forward best practices in modern urban planning, including proposing systemic reforms at the provincial level that would result in more affordable housing projects.

In his spare time, Jody has worked on bringing urban events and experiences to life in the city that help build civic pride and cultural vibrancy. Some of the events have had lasting, transformative impacts on the surrounding community.

Kalynn joins Envision Saint John following six years as an Operations Manager in the events industry. Prior to this role, Kalynn worked as a team leader at TD Insurance, and as front-line staff in guest services at the New Brunswick Museum. She is excited to bringing her wealth of experience to this new position and to connect with stakeholders.

Kaylynn holds a certification in Event Management from Mount Royal University as well as a Digital Marketing Certificate from the University of Calgary.

Nada is a seasoned professional with over 12 years of experience in both corporate and academia, Nada holds a PhD in business management and is an active researcher. She has a unique fusion of academic skills and practical experience in supporting small businesses, innovation, business management, workforce, and career development. Her comprehensive experience includes key roles in project management, mentoring and coaching, business analysis, and strategic planning. Prior to joining the Envision Saint John team, Nada was part of the Newcomers' employment team at the YMCA. Apart from Nada’s professional experience, she is actively engaged in the Saint John community as a volunteer with different community organizations such as UNB, SJLIP, PERISCOPE accelerator, and the World Skills Employment Centre in Ottawa. In her spare time, Nada enjoys reading, learning new languages and travelling.

Ann joined the Envision Saint John team as Finance Director following 12 years at Grant Thornton LLP, where she worked as a Manager. Prior to her time at Grant Thornton, Ann spent 17 years as the Controller for a long-haul transportation company. Ann volunteers as Treasurer for the Business Community Anti-Poverty Initiative (BCAPI), an organization of business professionals who are collaborating to help our region with generational poverty.

Before moving to the Saint John region, Daniel lived in Mexico, the UK, Portugal, and Spain. With his wife being from Saint John, they moved here in 2017 and found a community where they can thrive and grow. His most recent role involved leading the Newcomer Programming team at the YMCA of Greater Saint John, overseeing three programming portfolios: Community & Settlement Training, Language Programs, and Employment Initiatives.

Jen is a seasoned marketing professional with over 18 years of experience working in various aspects of the marketing and advertising industry including roles at Discover Saint John, Hawk Communications, and the Saint John Board of Trade. With a BBA from University of New Brunswick Saint John and her MBA from Memorial University, Jen has a passion for telling the stories about what makes our region great, not only to visit, but as a place to call home. Jen’s primary focus is tourism, including our destination marketing campaigns, content creation and digital and social media marketing.

Lindsay is a seasoned sales professional with more than 12 years’ experience in hospitality Sales and Event Management. She holds a Business Diploma in Travel and Tourism Management from Atlantic Business College. Throughout her career she has lived abroad and across the country, but always returned home and is thrilled to be part of a team that is selling the Saint John region! Before joining Envision Saint John, Lindsay worked as the Sales Manager for Delta Hotels by Marriott Saint John. Spending the last decade focused on corporate, sport and group markets. Her main passion is selling the Saint John region on provincial and national stages, while also supporting and promoting local partnerships.

Olga had always been on the move – from her days as a Type Rating Instructor for Airlines, providing invaluable training for Firefighting and Emergencies, to her adventurous career as a VIP flight attendant for private jets, Olga has seen the world. She's visited 58 countries, which have all left a mark on her heart. After settling in the Saint John Region, Olga found her calling in helping others as a program coordinator and employment advisor at the Saint John Newcomer Centre. She helped to facilitate the integration of newcomers into the community by providing support, resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities.  In her spare time, she loves the thrill of mountaineering, hiking, and sports. Her adventurous spirit and love for the outdoors has never waned and she is excited to work with new residents and community partners through her role as Growth Coordinator at Envision Saint John. 

Nicole is a marketing and communications professional with a decade of experience in the charitable and health care sectors. She is passionate about brand storytelling and has led provincial marketing campaigns for the YMCA and Horizon Health Network – gaining perspective and insights on communicating to a wide range of audiences.

She is a graduate of St. Thomas University with a BA in Journalism and Communications and holds an Associate Marketing Management Professional certificate. During her time at the YMCA of Greater Saint John she was a member of the National Brand Council for Y Canada. A City of Saint John resident, she is passionate about growth in the region and volunteers on the Board of Directors for Fusion Saint John, and sits on the Fundraising Committee for L'Arche Saint John. Nicole was the 2022 recipient of the Red Triangle Leader to Watch award.

Craig brings more than 15 years of experience in sales, marketing, and operations within the hospitality sector. Prior to joining the Envision Saint John team, Craig was the Director of Sales & Marketing/Assistant General Manager at Delta Hotels by Marriott Saint John – assisting in a major revitalization of the hotel & conference facility.

In his role as the Director of Entrepreneurship & Business Growth at Envision Saint John, Craig brings a wealth of experience and a passion for fostering entrepreneurial success. Leading initiatives aimed at nurturing the growth and development of businesses within the region, Craig leads strategic efforts to grow a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through collaborative partnerships, he is dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs, facilitating their access to resources, and fostering a culture of innovation and resilience.

Craig holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of New Brunswick, with a major in history, and a minor in business administration. He has been recognized for championing cultural diversity throughout his work, and has a strong track record in sales and customer satisfaction.

In his spare time, Craig volunteers as Vice Chair on the Board of Directors at ConnexionWorks, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs and businesses in the Saint John Region. He has served as an active member of the Uptown Saint John Business Improvement Association Board of Directors for two consecutive terms, where he chaired the Marketing Committee, and has represented young New Brunswickers affected by Hemophilia and other bleeding disorders at the national level, as the New Brunswick representative on the Canadian Hemophilia Society's National Youth Committee.

He loves spending quality time with his family and husband – traveling or testing out new recipes and restaurants, and enjoying all the region has to offer.