The Market’s Board and Staff consists of a diverse group of motivated individuals who bring a diverse set of skills and experience to the direction of the market.
Board of Directors
Ali DiMatteo, Board Chair
Ali has been visiting the Market since she moved to Melrose in 2013 and currently serves as Chair of the Board. Ali has a JD and has worked in politics and policy for much of her career. She can usually be found chasing her two kids around the Market while updating the chalkboard signs. On off days, she works on the Market’s sponsorship program and the many fundraisers and events that help fund the Market and the SNAP match. Ali loves to buy tomatillos/husk cherries at the Market, and always stocks-up on them during the few weeks they are available.
Laura Kahl, Vice Chair
Laura started volunteering with the Farmers’ Market in 2016 and is currently the Secretary of the Board. She also coordinates the Market’s fantastic group of volunteers. Laura has lived in Melrose with her husband and two kids since 2015, and although she works as a lawyer for a firm in Wakefield she tries to make it to the Market after work as often as possible. Her favorite things to buy at the Market are the in-season tomatoes.
Ruth Moses, Treasurer
Shortly after moving to Melrose in 2014, Ruth started visiting and volunteering with the Market, and currently serves as Board Treasurer. Ruth has an MBA in accounting/finance, and is currently working with small businesses and non-profits. Ruth may be seen performing all types of different jobs on market day, but can most often be found at the Market table. Outside of market days, Ruth takes care of the Market’s financial reports and requirements, and periodically volunteers with other fundraisers and events. Ruth loves the wide variety of fresh food available at the Market, enjoys buying what’s in season, and loves the sense of community there.
Diana Weinburg, Board Member at Large
Diana began volunteering at the Market in 2016. She serves as President of the Market’s Board of Directors focusing her efforts on overall governance, community relations and fund-raising. Recently retired, Diana’s background includes human resources, finance, operations and program management. She looks forward to spending more time at the market with her grandchildren. She eagerly awaits the arrival of strawberries, tomatoes and apples in season at the Market.
Mary Kay Crepinsek, Board Member at Large
Mary Kay joined the Board after shopping and volunteering at the farmers’ market in 2016. As a nutritionist and former food assistance program and policy researcher, she helps direct SNAP participant outreach and reviews grant proposals to fund the Market’s SNAP matching program. At the Market, Mary Kay can be found manning the Club Sprouts kids programs or counting and photographing our loyal market-goers and the farmers’ bounty. She and her husband Bob are long-time residents of Melrose and (urban) farmers themselves. In her free time, Mary Kay loves to play tennis and volunteers for Mystic Valley Elder Services and the Milano Center. Her favorite things to buy at the market are fresh fish, pasta, “feta” cheese, maple syrup and, for a special treat, basil sausage. She is grateful that our farms participate in the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), helping to make local, fresh produce more accessible to all.
Janet Rutan Board, Board Member Emerita
Janet began volunteering at the Market in 2017 and joined the Board in January 2019. She is a retired academic librarian and moved to Melrose in 2016. She also volunteers with MIRA (MA Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition) doing voter registration of new citizens. She loves spending time at the Market for the energy, the vendors and the people who come out each week in support of this great community event.
Cindy Chabot, Board Member Emerita
Cindy managed the Market from 2010-2017, growing it from its original small size and location to its current robust size at Bowden Park. As a professional structural engineer, her skills in automation, economizing, analyzing, and building are what set the roots for the Market and have enabled it to be the community institution it is today.. Cindy’s favorite thing about the market is seeing friends and being able to catch up with them. Each week her favorite stops at the market are the vegetables and fresh fruit (that actually has flavor), the bread, and the fish.
Maureen Elia, Board Member Emerita
Maureen has been volunteering at the market for seven years, enjoying all the wonderful food for the body and also for the mind that community engagement provides! Having moved to Melrose – thrity-nine years ago, she raised two children, and followed them to school by being a volunteer librarian there. She is active in the Melrose League of Women Voters, and was among the founders of Melrose Recycling and the Melrose Human Rights Commission. Maureen loves to behold the beautiful and bounteous displays of the produce. She has a seven year-old chicken who still produces eggs, and gave her the idea of the Melrose Urban Farm Tour.
Market Staff
Kim O’Brien, Market Manager
Kim O’Brien became the Market Coordinator in 2020, and has volunteered at the Market since moving to in 2019. Before moving to Melrose, Kim was a trial attorney in employment and labor law in New Jersey for over 25 years. She has been cooking and baking for family since childhood and recalls getting her 1st cookbook in 2nd grade. An avid researcher, Kim began learning about our current food system as a way to improve her own health. Ultimately that led her to pursue a certification in Holistic Nutrition and Health Coaching through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City. Kim is passionate about helping more people have access to healthy, affordable and locally grown food. When not at the market or in her kitchen, Kim loves to teach and practice yoga, paddleboard, go hiking, mountain bike and get outside with her boyfriend and her 2 Labradors, Finnegan and Genna.
melrosefarmersmarket.wordpress.com 