Our Team

Jill Terrill

Chief Creativity Evangelist/ Owner of Joy & Co.

Our somewhat fearless leader, Jill Terrill, has been a maker as long as she can remember. Her Grandma Ella taught her to see beauty in the little things and she hasn’t stopped looking and seeing it yet. Her mom, Cara, lead the way as a woman entrepreneur. Jill figured out a way to mesh the two into Joy & Co. She works hard each day to give people tools and permission to follow their creative journey. There is a “Maker” in each of us “and we all have things to say."

Annette Block-Valdivia

Mastermind of Mischief & Social Sensei

Here at Joy & Co., Annette is our beloved manager and person who holds the fort together. She hires, trains, works with vendors, and ensures a consistent flow within our floor space. Originally from Illinois, Annette taught special education in Chicago for about 26 years, moving to Grand Marais after her retirement. She is dog mom to Levi, Moses and Delilah, but much like Rachel Rae, she would gladly adopt any creatures (other than spiders) as her children. She has a huge heart, and we're happy to have her on board!

Halle Bockovich

Operations Ninja & POS Whisperer

Halle was born and raised in Hovland, MN just northeast of Grand Marais. She is a creative, accomplished maker and is known in the area for the toys, gifts and Halloween costumes she creates seemingly from thin air.  This retail overlord has only been at Joy & Company since 2019, but is the key to your happy experience once you go though the small door into the big store. The youngest of our crew, Halle keeps the inventory flowing and the merchandise looking great! We love having her on our staff and look forward to seeing her grow!

Amy Flack, master of customer service, grew up in Grand Marais with her 9 siblings. Her musical family has participated in the local music scene since the 1970's and she continues the tradition, performing with her band, 4-Shore.  She had been part of Joy & Co. family since 2016. "This job renewed my interest in art of all kinds and my love for people. I love this store and the work we do!"  We love Amy and her amazing laugh, which graces our space any time she is present. She has four grown children and nine grandchildren who also share her love of the North Shore.

Oppie Sheils

Web Orchestrator and Wrangler of all things E

Op is originally from Phitsanulok which located in the central part of Thailand. In 2001, she met her husband while he was in the US army training for 6 weeks with Thai Royal army. She moved to the United States to be with her husband in 2002. Op and her husband settled in Duluth, MN for 12 years.  They moved to her husband's hometown, Grand Marais in Spring 2016.  In her spare time, she is out camping, canoeing and fishing for walleye and northern with her husband and daughter. Her biggest walleye was 30.5 inches! (not to mention her other 27s, 28s, 29s!) Op and her daughter love to do craft projects together - especially sewing costumes, learning as they go.  Op has a love of art and creative adventures and she joined the Joy team in 2020. She is invaluable in her skills of developing the website and inventory management. She is often found at Joy in the inner sanctum (hiding in the back) playing with art materials or new inventory.

Levi // Chief Happiness Officer

We call Levi the "Biggest Little Dog in Grand Marais." This Jack Russell Terrier/Long-Haired Chihuahua is our official greeter.  He takes his job very seriously. Since the moment Annette adopted Levi from Ruff Start Rescue, he's oozed personality and become an integral part of our team. With the pandemic, he has taken a bit of a hiatus, but will return when it is safer to do so.