Roy Benin
President

Roy joined The Beer Store in April 2023 as our President.  Roy is focused on building future business leaders, activating The Beer Store’s future strategy with excellence, being a positive contributor to culture, and delivering annual business results. Prior to joining The Beer Store, Roy spent 15 years as President of Consumer-Packaged Goods companies across North America.

Outside of work, Roy enjoys spending time with his wife, three children, and toy poodle. He is a marathon runner and really enjoys learning about new cultures.

When asked why Roy is proud to be a part of Brewers Distributor Ltd., he responded:
“The idea of being the "best source for beer" is meaningful. Especially when you think about our Environmental Leadership impact over the past 95 years. The rich, long, and noble history is impressive.”

When asked which of our Core Values resonates the most with him, Roy said:
“Hard question as they are all meaningful and interdependent. Health & Safety would be my choice as we need to ensure that our employees go home safely to their families...each and every day!”

Cathy Kim
Senior Director, Finance

Cathy joined Brewers Distributor Ltd. in 2022. As our Senior Director of Finance, Cathy is responsible for internal and external Financial Reporting, Accounting, Accounts Payable Shared Services, Treasury and Taxes. Prior to becoming Director of Finance with Brewers Distributor Ltd., Cathy held various external positions in Finance, including Corporate Controller and Director of Supply Chain Finance.

When asked why Cathy is proud to be a part of Brewers Distributor Ltd., she responded:
“I am most proud to be a part of the BDL team because of the people and my team.  The drive, passion, and dedication to do what's best for the organization are balanced with collaboration, team spirit, and caring for each other.  It is a recipe for success built over many years and evident in the deep culture.  It’s clear that people love working here!”

When asked which of our Core Values resonates the most with her, Cathy said:
“Respect. We are all here to drive for results, achieve targets, and excel in performance. These are the ‘what’s,’ but the differentiating factor in creating a positive environment where everyone wants to come to work and be their best is the ‘how’s’ - how we go about achieving the ‘what’s.’ The fundamental of my ‘how’ is building relationships on Respect including honesty, integrity, and promoting a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging which aligns with this Core Value.”
 

Fulvio Matteazzi
Vice President, Finance 

Fulvio has been with Brewers Distributor Ltd. since 2012. As our Interim Head of Finance, Fulvio oversees all financial business cycles, annual budgeting, quarterly forecasting, monthly reporting, variance analysis and outlook, and procurement of goods and services. Prior to his promotion to Interim Head of Finance, Fulvio held several key roles, including Director of Procurement & Business Analysis, Director of Strategic Projects and Director of Risk & Strategic Planning.

Outside of work, Fulvio enjoys spending time with his wife and two children and enjoys travelling, playing golf, and going to live sporting events. He is also an avid fan of hockey, soccer, basketball, football, and baseball.

When asked why Fulvio is proud to be a part of Brewers Distributor Ltd., he responded:
“I am very proud of the charitable work that we do. I’m also proud of the great culture we have in working together and how all employees are respected.”

When asked which of our Core Values resonates the most with him, Fulvio said:
“This is a tough one to choose as all 5 Core Values are very important, but for me it is Respect.  This is the foundation that everything else builds on and values our most important asset, our people.”

Jay R. Wilson
Senior Vice President, People & Culture

Jay Wilson has been with Brewers Distributor Ltd since 2006 and is our Senior Vice President of People & Culture. Jay oversees our Human Resources Division including People & Culture, Health & Safety, and Pension, Benefits & Payroll. Prior to his recent promotion to Human Resources, Jay held several pivotal positions including Vice President of Logistics, Director of Employee Relations, Manager of Employee Relations, and Manager of Corporate Health & Safety.

Outside of work, Jay is a husband and proud father to three children, and enjoys basketball, cycling, music, and boating. Jay is Chair of the Board on DEBRA Canada, as well as an Executive Sponsor for the B Proud Employee Resource Group.

When asked why Jay is proud to be a part of Brewers Distributor Ltd., he responded:
“I am most proud of our employee community. We are one united group with the same goal: drive the business forward while treating everyone with the level of respect they’ve come to expect.”

When asked which of our Core Values resonates the most with him, Jay said:
“While it’s difficult to only select one of Core Values, the one that most resonates with me is Respect. This is the starting point that everything else is built upon.”

Jeff Zabalet
Vice President, Legal

Jeff has been with Brewers Distributor Ltd. since 2016. As Vice President of Legal, Jeff directly supports the Internal Audit and Loss Prevention/Security Departments as well as the Real Estate team and the Stewardship team. Prior to becoming Vice President of Legal, Jeff worked for one of the largest law firms in Canada for 10 years.

Outside of work, Jeff enjoys spending time with his family and is an avid soccer player and fan.

When asked why Jeff is proud to be a part of Brewers Distributor Ltd., he responded:
“The legal profession is really a service industry. I enjoy the variety of work and being able to support all areas of business. The reason why my role is so rewarding to me is the great people that work here. As a service provider, it’s wonderful to work with such knowledgeable, down-to-earth and appreciative individuals.”

When asked which of our Core Values resonates the most with him, Jeff said:
“Sustainability Leadership. Employees at Brewers Distributor Ltd. are very proud of our sustainability achievements and our model of a circular economy that’s been in place for almost 100 years. The concept of a circular economy has become the future aspiration for many governments and industries only recently.”

Jennifer Mason
Senior Director, Information Technology

Jennifer Mason’s impressive career began with Brewers Distributor Ltd. in 1985. In her current role as Senior Director, Information Technology, Jennifer manages the IT Team and oversees all development, infrastructure, networks, and security across Brewers Distributor Ltd. Prior to her promotion to Senior Director of Information Technology, Jennifer held several pivotal roles, including Retail Manager, Project Manager of Corporate Systems, and Manager of Application Development. 

Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys spending time at her cottage in Northern Ontario and fishing with her husband. Jennifer is the Executive Sponsor for the Women’s Initiative Network Employee Resource Group. Jennifer is passionate about breaking down barriers and empowering women to achieve success. 

When asked why Jennifer is proud to be a part of Brewers Distributor Ltd., she responded:
“I am most proud of the people. Each day I am blessed to work with such great team members across Ontario. I enjoy mentoring, managing, and meeting new people, with every new I.T. project we embark on.”

When asked which of our Core Values resonates the most with her, Jennifer said:
“All of our Core Values are very important to me. Respect continues to resonate with me the most, since being the Executive Sponsor for our WIN Employee Resource Group. This group which includes women and allies provides me the opportunity to work with individuals across the Company, share our stories and support people in our organization.”

Ryan Wagner
Director, Strategy & Execution

Ryan joined The Beer Store in 2021. As the Director of Strategy & Execution, Ryan and his team (Project Management Office & Analytics) are responsible for the growth and direction of The Beer Store, positioning it competitively in an evolving landscape and delivering the enterprise portfolio. Prior to his current role, Ryan was the Senior Manager of Strategy at The Beer Store, a management consultant and worked in operations as a mining engineer.

Outside of work, Ryan plays professional lacrosse in the National Lacrosse League and enjoys travelling with his wife, cooking & all things music. Ryan is a Board Member at Pathstone Foundation, an organization that supports mental health care services for children and their families in the Niagara region.

When asked why Ryan is proud to be a part of Brewers Distributor Ltd., he responded:
“Growing up in a small town I’ve seen the positive impact that we've had in local communities. I now understand that this is undoubtedly because of our people and their commitment to giving back. Our people work hard, adapt to change and do whatever it takes to move the business forward – that’s what makes me proud.”

When asked which of our Core Values resonates the most with him, Ryan said:
“I'm really drawn to the idea of “leaving the world a little better than you found it.” That's why our core values of Respect and Sustainability Leadership mean so much to me. Seeing them put into action every day, means that they’re more than just words on a page and for that reason they resonate most with me.”

Suzanne Makins
Senior Director, People & Culture

Suzanne Makins joined Brewers Distributor Ltd. in 2000. As the Senior Director of People & Culture, Suzanne oversees the Employee Relations Team, the Compensation Team, the Learning & Development Team, the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Team, and the Human Resources Team. Prior to her promotion to Director of People & Culture, Suzanne held several key roles, including District Manager, Senior Manager of Learning & Development, and Director of Employee Relations.

Outside of work, Suzanne enjoys hiking, biking, and building model planes. She is also a lifetime member of the Warplane Heritage Museum. Suzanne is a regular supporter of many charitable events for Multiple Sclerosis, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada, and ALS fundraising.

When asked why Suzanne is proud to be a part of Brewers Distributor Ltd., she responded:
“I am very proud to be a part of the team as we are constantly changing and reinventing ourselves. This allows us to grow and implement new and exciting changes to the business. Throughout my tenure, I have helped develop many team members, and enjoy seeing them grow within our company. Our people are passionate and committed to the success of our company which makes me very proud.”

When asked which of our Core Values resonates the most with her, Suzanne said:
“Every one of our Core Values are important and a vital part of who we are and what I believe in, but if I had to lean towards one that would be Respect.  We are all Leaders, and part of that role is valuing every employees ability, and qualities.  It is important we foster a positive culture where you feel valued, appreciated, and motivated.  The Beer Store continually shows the importance of respect through our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives across the company.  We should be proud of who we are and feel we belong in a company that respects our voice.”