Meet the Team
Dana Shortt is the founder of Dana Shortt Gourmet and Gifts, which she started in 2004 from a 480-square-foot operation and grew into the thriving business it is today, supported by a dedicated team of production chefs, food-loving sales associates, and a creative team. A trained chef with a background in hospitality, Dana continues to share her culinary expertise and vision with the new owners.
Marika - Kitchen Production Manager
Growing up in West Africa, Marika was shown early on the beauty in multicultural cuisine. Wherever her family traveled, it was often centered around food. This, coupled with cooking and experimenting in her home kitchen led her to pursue a culinary arts degree at Niagara College. Shortly after graduating in 2018, Marika was hired at Dana Shortt Gourmet as a prep cook and worked her way up to Production Manager by 2020. Marika oversees all aspects of the DSG kitchen and particularly appreciates recipe development. When she’s not in the kitchen, Marika enjoys a variety of activities including hiking, weight lifting, sudoku and of course, eating!
Jessica - Kitchen Production Manager
Jessica has been working in kitchens since 2018; first baking in the back of Tim Horton’s and then moving on to preparing cookies, cupcakes and other goodies at Sticks and Scones bakery. In 2019, Jess was hired as the head baker at Dana Shortt Gourmet and in 2022 was promoted to Production Manager, overseeing all aspects of the DSG kitchen. Her favourite colour is yellow and her favourite foods are anything-carbs and dessert!