Young Kim - Executive Director

Young Kim has been the Executive Director of the Fondy Food Center since 2003. Prior to coming to Milwaukee he spent eight years in Seattle working with the city’s homeless population. Young describes himself as a “hardcore foodie” and is always on the lookout for exciting and simple recipes. He believes that good food makes for a strong community.

A second-generation Korean-American, Young was born and raised in the Deep South. He is the co-founder of the Asian/Pacific Islander Caucus of the Unitarian Universalist Association, former Chair of the Unitarian Universalist Nominating Committee, and a member of the Milwaukee Rotary. He currently serves as Vice President of the Community Food Security Coalition’s Board of Directors. When he’s not thinking of food and food systems, he likes to read poetry and restore vintage fountain pens. Young is a graduate of Oberlin College, and lives in Wauwatosa with his wife, the Rev. Suzelle Lynch, and daughter, Grace.

Nancy Ketchman - Director of Development and Communications

Nancy is a Milwaukee native who loves all things Milwaukee, especially the Fondy Farmers Market.  She has worked in marketing communications for more than 20 years.  And like Fondy’s Stephen Petro, she’s testament to the fact that English majors can get jobs.  She received her BA in English from Marquette University and her MA in English from the University of Connecticut at Storrs.

At Fondy, Nancy returns to what she loves best: supporting and singing the praises of Milwaukee neighborhoods and organizations like the Fondy Food Center.  Nancy lives less than 2 miles away from the Fondy Farmers Market in Milwaukee’s historic Brewers Hill neighborhood with her husband and two sons, making her and her family frequent and enthusiastic shoppers. When not cajoling everyone she meets to shop at the fabulous Fondy Farmers Market, Nancy loves wilderness camping, travelling, and enjoying Milwaukee’s many great restaurants.  

Lisa Kingery MS, RD - Food and Nutrition Program Director

Lisa developed her love for cooking and appreciation for local, seasonal eating in rural Japan where she lived and worked for 6 years. Inspired to spread the word on the joys and health benefits of cooking from scratch and eating with the seasons, she returned to the States to earn her credential as a Registered Dietitian and her Masters of Science in Nutrition and Public Health from Columbia University in New York City. Her interest in the environment, food, and urban agriculture led her to become both a Master Gardener and Master Food Preserver through the University of Wisconsin Extension. Lisa has fifteen years experience developing and managing nutrition education programs and teaching cooking. She lives in Milwaukee with her husband and 2 young daughters where she enjoys gardening with edibles. She is a strong advocate for keeping chickens in the city.

Steven Petro - Farm Director

Food is a universal experience – an act that brings us all together. This simple yet profound realization has led Steven to dedicate his life to growing food. Steven comes to Fondy with 5 years of extensive agricultural experience. He has worked on and helped manage several small, diverse farms around Madison, WI as well as in Maine and Georgia. In the coming seasons, he will be collaborating with Fondy farmers and gardeners to establish a farm on 80 acres of land near Port Washington. You will see the fruits of their labor every week at Fondy Farmers Market. Steven tries to spend as much time as possible outside, loves to learn, and is an avid reader and student of sustainable agriculture. Time with family, friends, his girlfriend, her horse and two cats are cherished. Each day is a poem, but when spare time permits he enjoys reading and writing them too. Steven is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in literature and creative writing (and cannot think of a more logical way into farming). He currently dreams of growing Charentais melons.

Jenni Reinke - Market Manager

Jenni works with both farmers and customers to ensure a positive market experience. In 2008 she volunteered with Public Allies, collaborating with Fondy staff to plan and execute the Fondy Farmers Market's first annual Opening Day Festival and Cook-Off. Jenni is delighted to be working with the market again, and contribute skills in food merchandising and nonprofit work. Born and raised in Wauwatosa, she worked at The Spice House for several years, doing everything from blending and selling spices to training and managing employees. Desiring to pursue community work, Jenni completed a ten-month nonprofit apprenticeship and leadership development program through Public Allies-Milwaukee. She is a graduate of Beloit College, where she earned a B.A. with a music major and philosophy minor. In her spare time, Jenni enjoys playing violin, practicing yoga and meditation, dancing, learning and writing about food, studying world religions and languages, and traveling.

Amaker Lee Johnson - Program Assistant

Originally from the California East Bay yet mostly raised in Milwaukee, WI, Amaker is back from California and is at Fondy by way of Public Allies until June 2012. She will be assisting with Youth Chef Academy, and planning for market events for the 2012 season. She likes food of all kinds, Russian culture, and cooking with & for friends.

Chevis Walker - Market Assistant