Staff + Board

Board of Directors

Lydia Woolever — President — This is Lydia’s second year on the SMFM Board, after volunteering with board since 2019. Lydia is the owner of Little Fields Floral, a small, sustainable, woman-owned flower farm that grows using no-till and organic practices on the Eastern Shore. A Kent County native, she has been a SMFM vendor for the past seven years, and brought her experience from journalism career to our communications and marketing efforts. She designed our website and writes our weekly newsletter. She cares deeply about sustainable farming and the local food system, purchasing some 90 percent of her food from right here on the Eastern Shore (she couldn’t live without Duke’s mayonnaise and Claussen’s pickles!).

Deborah Schule — Vice President + Volunteer Chair — Deborah is in her third year on the SMFM board, and her second as Vice President. After many years as a volunteer herself, she is now responsible for soliciting and managing the SMFM’s vibrant volunteer program. Deborah owns her own media and marketing firm and served on a variety of non-profit boards in Arlington, Virginia, before moving to St. Michaels six years ago. She believes that volunteering is a great way to meet other members of the community and support efforts to make St. Michaels a great place to live.

Kendra Martello — Treasurer — This is Kendra’s second year on the SMFM board after serving as a volunteer since 2021 and vendor with Casa Carmen Wines since 2024. She works as a lawyer and consultant in her own firm after decades in legal, policy, and consulting roles in nonprofits and public companies in the life sciences sector. In her spare time, she can be found walking her dog along the nature trail, practicing yoga, or enhancing her love of wine and food at market or one of the area’s great local businesses.

Kit Damonte — Secretary — Kit has been a volunteer at the market for two years (including as our Veggie Sign painter!) and this is her first year on the SMFM board.  She recently moved to St. Michaels after retiring from 30 years of teaching middle school science in Montgomery County.  She loves the community, atmosphere, and natural beauty of Talbot County and the Eastern Shore. She also serves on the board of the St. Michaels Woman’s Club and is a member of the Miles River Yacht Club.  She spends time out on the water sailing or kayaking and is always happy when spending time with horses while volunteering at a local equine therapy barn.

Sandy Lawler — Vendor Chair — You likely already know Sandy! Prior to joining the SMFM Board this year, she spent two years as our beloved Market Manager, overseeing the operations of market each Saturday, as well as a volunteer last year. She comes from the event world in both the public and private sectors. Her background includes experience in the culinary field, public markets, marketing, and the arts. Currently, she works as a culinary consultant and is always an advocate for sustainable and equitable food practices and policies, helping lead the SMFM’s SNAP efforts. She lives in Tilghman Island with her husband.

Sandy Brown — Fundraising Chair — This is Sandy’s second year on the SMFM board after joining as a community-education pop-up. She is the former executive director of Shore Legal Access (formerly Mid-Shore Pro Bono) and has over 13 years of non-profit experience based on the Eastern Shore. She is an active Master Gardener and is passionate about all things eco-friendly, especially when it comes to our local community. She considers herself an advocate for small organizations with environmental missions and enjoys cultivating community connections. She lives in Tunis Mills with her husband and two dogs.

Kerri Clear — Education Chair — This is Kerry’s third year on the SMFM board. The Eastern Shore native studied education at Salisbury University, pursued a hospitality career in Charleston, then returned home to be closer to family. She is now the Executive Chef at the St. Michaels Community Center, where her cooking focuses on a farm-to-table approach and providing nutritious menu offerings to local residents. She also works with fellow local chefs and food distribution programs to coordinate food donations, including fresh produce and cooked dishes, throughout Talbot County.

Jen Shatwell — This is Jen’s first year on the SMFM board. A passionate localvore, she's been a weekly patron since moving to the Eastern Shore in 2015, and, in 2017, she facilitated a community input session during the market's transition to becoming an independent organization. Jen is a strategic communication and leadership consultant with more than 25 years of experience. She partners with business and organizational leaders to create communication plans that achieve measurable results. Her career began at Ford Motor Company and she is now Managing Director at CRA | Admired Leadership®. She lives in the historic district with her husband and two Goldendoodles, Barnaby and Jameson.

Michael Willis — This is Michael’s first year on the SMFM board. A Cordova native, he has spent 30 years in the culinary industry, including 15 years working as a chef in St. Michaels and Bay Hundred area. In July 2025, he became Executive Chef at the St. Michaels Community Center, where he focuses on preparing nutritious, accessible meals for the local community. Michael brings a strong appreciation for local agriculture and regional food systems, with a professional background that emphasizes sourcing, seasonality, and the connection between farmers and kitchens.

Advisors

Elizabeth Beggins — Social Media — Elizabeth helped launch the St. Michaels Farmers Market in 1998 and has served as manager, producer, and volunteer since its inception. A former market farmer, she now works in communications with a national non-profit to protect farmland and support sustainable farming. She manages the market's presence at @loveyourfarmer and creates content for ongoing outreach and engagement. Also a writer on Substack, Elizabeth encourages collective kindness and the practice of living compassionate, connected lives.