Marketplace as Catalyst

Advocates for policies that support local businesses and preserve the historic and walkable character of downtown Southampton.

Hosts family-friendly craft activities for children at the Rogers Mansion Museum Complex as part of community engagement and cultural programming.

Organizes and operates a weekly Farmers & Artisans Market every Sunday from May through September at Agawam Park in Southampton Village, featuring local farmers, fishers, bakers, and artisans. Vendor participation is restricted to bona-fide growers, producers, and local artisans, with all items requiring advance approval to maintain a non-competitive market. A bonus Saturday market is also hosted seasonally.

Operates a year-round visitor information office on Main Street in the Village of Southampton and provides visitor information about Southampton and the South Fork of Long Island. Also supports tourism through promotion of cultural, agricultural, and member-hosted events via an annual events calendar and visitor recommendations.

Provides guidance and resources for new businesses on licensing and regulatory requirements, supports business promotion through networking events, social media, an annual booklet, and business directory listings. Also hosts events that foster business collaborations within Southampton's business ecosystem and offers enhanced visibility for premium members in the directory.

Hosts weekly outdoor markets, festivals, and events that showcase regional food production, including operating monthly and later weekly public markets at the Old Fulton Fish Market in lower Manhattan from 2007 to 2014.

Works to revitalize the Old Fulton Fish Market and other public sites as markets and regional food hubs to support local food systems.

Fosters small businesses that support regional agriculture through market access and public programming.

Administers WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs, WIC Vegetables and Fruits Check Program, Farmers Market Wireless EBT Program, and NYC Health Bucks, enabling over 975 farmers at 450 markets and farm stands to accept benefits. Provides card readers, printers, and reimbursement for SNAP transaction fees.

Conducted benchmarking research in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension to define success metrics for farmers markets and updated market data in 2024. Disseminated findings through webinars, fact sheets, worksheets, and presentations to inform best practices.

Founded Local Foods Mohawk Valley, a local food collective in Clinton, NY, to support year-round community access to local food and reduce farmers' marketing and selling costs.

Hosts monthly virtual meetups and expert-led discussions for farmers market managers and stakeholders to share skills, discuss operations, and engage peers through Q&A and collaborative learning.

Provides oversight and monitoring of grant-funded projects and awardees, ensuring compliance and impact accountability for initiatives supporting farmers markets and local food systems.

Organized the statewide "Give Back NY" food drive during Farmers Market Week 2020 to support food pantries and launched the 2024 Farmers Market Week Toolkit with promotional materials, social media content, and activities to increase public engagement with local markets.

Offers training, certification, and ongoing professional development through an annual conference, monthly virtual cohort programs, self-paced online courses, and expert-led webinars covering market management, nutrition program compliance, marketing, and business planning.

Works with over 700 farmers markets statewide to promote their viability through services, programs, and partnerships that benefit farmers, consumers, and communities. Provides promotional assistance, facilitates information sharing, and serves as a unified voice for farmers markets.

Registers 38–50 farmers per hub into a system to support employment opportunities and market linkages, with additional employment created at Lusaka headquarters.

Installs solar home systems in Mumbwa, Zambia, enabling households and businesses to operate after dark; employs local residents for sales and maintenance and operates a MESH system that allows energy sharing between buildings.