Ken Whiting - Head Honcho - ken@helipress.com
Heliconia is lead by World Champion kayaker, Ken Whiting. Ken is one of the most influential and respected paddlers in the world, and was recognized as such by Paddler Magazine as one of their 'Paddlers of the Century.' Ken was the 1997/98 World Freestyle Kayaking Champion, the 1998 Japan Open Champion, and a five-time Canadian champion. Since 1998, Ken has written and produced a best-selling and award-winning series of instructional books and videos. In 2002, Ken retired from competition, stepped back from the management of the Ottawa River-based kayak school Liquid Skills, and became entirely focused on the growth of The Heliconia Press.
Nicole Whiting - Sales Animal - sales@helipress.com
Before tying the knot with Ken in life and in business, Nicole was a full time whitewater kayaker working, traveling and competing internationally. Her major athletic goal was realized when she captured the gold at the World Championships on the Ottawa in 1997. Shortly after the win, Nicole switched gears and headed out to Vancouver to pursue an entrepreneurial career in event management. This business experience came in handy when she returned to the Ottawa Valley and joined The Heliconia Press in 2003 as manager of operations. Her energy, enthusiasm, organizational skills and sales savvy have been invaluable in its growth.
Brendan Mark - S&M Director - brendan@helipress.com
Growing up on the Ottawa River, Brendan was a dedicated force on the international paddling scene - representing Canada for over eight years in both Freestyle and Squirt kayaking. There's no doubt that, combined with an honours business degree in marketing, Brendan's industry savoir-faire has been a key asset for The Heliconia Press. His victory at the 2003 World Championships in Graz, Austria, completed his quest for medals and set the stage to begin work with Ken Whiting and Heliconia. If you're keen to sell or sponsor Heliconia products, please give Brendan a call!
Amy Luscombe - Creative Mastermind - amy@helipress.com
Keeping Brendan out of trouble was her first assigned duty, and her biggest challenge to date at Heliconia. Originally hailing from Hamilton, ON, Amy has dabbled in tennis teaching, tree planting, social work and teaching English in Hong Kong but her love for the outdoors brought her to the Ottawa Valley. Amy is an honours graduate from Algonquin College's accelerated Outdoor Adventure Naturalist Program and was recipient of the Algonquin College 2006 Award of Excellence.
Will brings a wealth of experience to Heliconia, most recently moving from a three-year role as the Creative Producer for S4 Potential where he specialized in the production of media-rich educational software and interactive video. Will also brings creativity, dynamism and plenty of cans of diet soda. Richardson holds a degree from the renowned Theatre program at Ryerson University in Toronto and completed a directing apprenticeship at the Centaur Theatre in Montreal. Since then he has acted in several television shows and written and directed for both theatre and film.
With more than ten years of experience working as a professional writer and editor, Rebecca started working with Heliconia because she wanted to help promote the outdoor activities she loves and work with great people in an unbeatable office environment! An avid canoe tripper and cross-country skier, Rebecca has an unnatural love of Gantt charts, certain types of banjo music, and picking wild blueberries.
Because raising two school-age children, a husband and a few horses isn't enough to keep Tamara busy, she has taken on the task of raising our spirits and keeping all the wheels greased at our growing publishing house. Tamara is passionate about the outdoors and practices natural horseback riding with her horse, Willow.
When she is not traveling the world, this Hawkes Bay, New Zealand lass calls the Kaituna River, Rotorua, NZ home. Lou began kayaking 6 years ago and has represented the NZ freestyle Kayak team since 2005. She loves and lives by boating new rivers, surfing huge waves, tearing up the trails on her mountain bike and extreme racing. Lou has managed to secure a global work schedule that allows her to enjoy back to back summer seasons. She breaks up her mundane lifestyle by being a professional accountant and our sweetest sales rep.
Marzella was born and raised as an Ottawa Valley farm girl. Looking for challenge and growth, she found herself residing in Texas and immersed in a year-long internship at Teen Mania's Honor Academy. Home began to beckon again and Algonquin College's Outdoor Adventure program revealed to her the magic of endless outdoor activities. As Liquid Skills Office Administrator, Marzella finds time in the shoulder seasons to serve as Heliconia's "chipper" sales rep. She loves to laugh, play sports, spend time with family, go to church, and be crazy all while looking for ways to better the lives of those around her.
Tamara Cuff (right)- Glorified Secretary - 
Marzella Martin - The Good One -