MEET THE TEAM
Jennifer Luna, Owner & CEO
Obsessed with paper, stationery, and office supplies since childhood, Paper Luxe was Jenn's dream a long time in the making. Jenn has had an eclectic past that includes working as a personal assistant and estate manager for celebrities Scarlett Johansson and Melissa Etheridge. In 2012 upon returning to the PNW, she teamed up with her mom, Laurie Hicks, to create what would become Paper Luxe. They then went on to open The Curious Bear Toy & Book Shop next door, followed by The Crest Home, and eventually a second Paper Luxe location in Gig Harbor, along with Little Luxe Baby. Thoughtful gifting and helping loved ones celebrate each other is at the heart of all her businesses.
Jenn received the Gift + Stationery 40 Under 40 award from Stationery Trends and Gift Shop Magazine in 2019, and was named to their Editorial Board in 2021. She's married with 3 kids and lives in University Place, WA.
Madison Tice, Director of Marketing & Business Development
A lover of all things paper, gifts, and interior design, the shops are Madi’s dream come true to work at. She’s been with the company since 2018, starting as a retail associate during summer breaks and then coming back to work full-time as a manager in 2019. It’s been a thrill for Madi to witness the evolution of The Kindship and continue to help the company grow. She’s a jack of all trades but her official role is managing marketing, events, and business development for all the shops under The Kindship umbrella. Madi is also the lead buyer for Paper Luxe and Kindship Cards. She loves everything about the small business world and loves her job more than she should.
Geneviève Van Ginkel, Director of Operations Paper Luxe/Little Luxe
Geneviève, the Kindship’s favorite French-Canadian, joined the team in 2021 with more than 30 years of leadership retail experience in both the U.S. and Canada with brands such as Apple, Lush, and Bath & Body Works. Geneviève can be found leading the Paper Luxe teams, as well as Little Luxe and the Kindship Studio. Hailing from Quebec, she moved to the states in 2017 where she met and married the man of her dreams. Geneviève’s hobbies include making handmade cards and caring for her “fur kids” Little Meow and Sunny.
Ann Wiley, Director of Operations at The Curious Bear
Ann is the Director of Operations for The Curious Bear, as well as the company’s ‘CFO’ (Certified Fun Officer). She never fails to find a reason to sing, dance or be ridiculous on the daily and her favorite part about working at the toy store is watching kids find their very own ‘treasures’. Ann lives in Tacoma with her husband and three kiddos who are always up for yet another one of her crazy adventures!
Carli Ricker, Communications Coordinator
Not born, but most certainly raised in Tacoma, Carli is proud to work for a local company. After finishing college in California with a degree in journalism, she moved back to Washington where she joined The Kindship in the summer of 2021. Carli helps manage our content creation, websites, weekly newsletters, customer support team, and so much more. Outside of work, she can be found reading, hiking, and watching football.
Katherine Murto, Assistant Manager at The Curious Bear
Katherine is a born and raised Tacoma resident. She and her husband have two wonderful boys. Her hobbies include running, roller skating, cross stitch, and jigsaw puzzles. She worked in the insurance industry for over a decade before joining the Curious Bear team, and couldn't be happier.
Erin Cox, Assistant Manager Paper Luxe Fircrest
After working in higher education and taking a few years to stay at home while her children were younger, Erin has enjoyed the opportunity to dive back into the work world. Erin loves interacting with customers, learning more about creatively merchandising the store, and her fantastic coworkers. She lives in Fircrest with her husband and three kids and has been working at the shops since 2018!
Jessica Allen, Assistant Manager Paper Luxe Gig Harbor
Enthusiastic about art and any opportunity for creativity, Jessica (or Jess, for short) has grown tremendously in her position at Paper Luxe since joining the team during the 2021 holiday season. Over at the Gig Harbor location, she can often be found creating eye-catching displays, obsessing over plants, or working with customers to find the perfect gift. In addition to her role at Paper Luxe, Jess has spent the past seven years pursuing an education in experimental psychology.
Laurie Hicks, Co-Founder and Honorary Team Member
A proud mother of two, grandmother of four, and married for over 40 years! A Washington State native with a passion for retail and interior design, Laurie worked in the title insurance industry for many years and has always had a love for home decor, interior design, gift-giving and family. The shops gave her a chance to combine all her passions and build a business together with her daughter. The stores always looked amazing thanks to her magic touch. She recently retired and relocated to Casa Grande, Arizona with her husband John.