Market Team

Dana
Executive Director & Market Manager

Entering her fourth season at FSFM, Dana is proud to work for an organization that centers its mission on supporting farmers and increasing food access. Prior to the market, Dana worked with Baxter Community Center's Raised Garden Bed Program, GVSU's Sustainable Agriculture Project, Access' Farm to Pantry Program, Local First's Eat Local Campaign, and was given the immense privilege of interning at D-Town Farms with the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network. Dana is grateful to serve in a role that allows her to bring these experiences to the table to support our community. The market is a place where people can come together across their differences to celebrate, connect, and learn. Dana looks forward to continuing to steward a vision for the market where all belong.

In her spare time, Dana enjoys bringing people together over a homemade meal, exploring local parks, and can frequently be found swimming in Lake Michigan.

Ron
Operations Coordinator

Ron is eager to work with vendors and customers alike in his position at the market. Supporting local farmers and food businesses while increasing accessibility to healthy food has been his dream job since studying Sustainable Food Systems at GVSU. Ron has extensive experience in the local food system, including working for Earthkeeper Farm, the YMCA Veggie Van, Nourish Organic Market, and Nutcase Vegan Meats.

A native Grand Rapidian, Ron has heard stories from his grandmother about attending the market as a child. As the centennial of the market approaches, he feels it is appropriate to both review the history of the market and look toward the future. He sees the market as a place for the community to come together over one of the things we all have in common: food!

When he’s not at the market Ron can be found biking around the city, drawing, or taking care of his plants.

MacKenzie
Communications Coordinator

MacKenzie loves sharing the beauty of the market through her creative role. She is a Grand Rapids native and is inspired by the vibrant colors, fresh smells and warm smiles to capture her favorite thing about the market -- community. Passionate about the many ways we are all connected, MacKenzie conveys the message that supporting local vendors at our market has an impact beyond leading a healthy lifestyle; It is taking action towards creating a just food system. She is proud to work at our historic market and share with you our dedication to providing food access to Grand Rapids as she finishes her undergrad in Community Leadership at Aquinas College.

In her free time, MacKenzie enjoys spending time at local coffee shops, trying out new recipes and exploring Michigan's unique landscape.

Brianna
Community Outreach Coordinator

A new-comer at FSFM, Brianna enjoys a colorful life as a poet and multi-disciplinary artist. Brianna is working toward a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and has been applying this knowledge to teaching preschool children for over 4 years! Brianna will be furthering their co-learning experience through implementing inspiring, interactive children’s activities. The idea of showing kids a more mindful and involved concept of food is a driving force behind Brianna’s work at the market!
Community enrichment and unity are some of Brianna’s most cherished values, and they adore seeing these principles culminate at the Fulton Street Farmers Market. Brianna will get a front row seat to how food-accessibility impacts market-goers as the Community Outreach Coordinator.
When not at work, Brianna enjoys taking bike rides, hikes, and creating art in whatever way they can.

Vendor Committee

Board of Directors

Michele Giordano | President
Kim Sanwald | Vice President
Chad Kirkpatrick | Secretary
Jill Myer | Treasurer
Steve Krogman | City Liaison
Mark Cleveland
Matt Clark
Margaret Sudekum
Ryan McNamara
Calvin Wiersma
Jennifer Bongiorno
Destiny Swanson

DanaExecutive Director & Market Manager

Ron Operations Coordinator

MacKenzie Communications Coordinator