Leadership
Shaina Hernandez
Chief Executive Officer
Shaina A. Hernandez is an accomplished economic development leader with deep experience building partnerships that strengthen Maryland’s business and community landscape. As President and CEO, Shaina oversees Baltimore’s nonprofit network of five historic public markets – including the recently revitalized Lexington Market – advancing their mission to increase food access and support inclusive entrepreneurship across the city.
Throughout her career, Shaina has worked in the non-profit sector and held appointed positions at the highest levels of state and local government, leading teams that tackle some of the state’s largest and most pressing issues. Her career reflects a consistent focus on solving problems and breaking down barriers to ensure that prosperity reaches every neighborhood across the state. Most recently, Shaina served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Maryland Governor Wes Moore, where she led the administration’s work across several policy and operational areas, including transportation, emergency management, housing, the environment, and energy. In 2024, Shaina served as the lead for the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse and recovery operation, coordinating between partners across all levels of government to fully reopen the Port of Baltimore just 11 weeks after the collapse. She also oversaw the creation of Governor Moore’s signature vacant housing reduction program, Reinvest Baltimore, which recently awarded $50 million to community development organizations in some of Baltimore’s most vulnerable neighborhoods, and led the effort to shore up the state’s Transportation Trust Fund during the state’s most recent legislative session.
Previously, Shaina served as Senior Advisor for Policy for Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, where she spearheaded major projects to expand local entrepreneurship, support small businesses, and modernize infrastructure. Earlier in her career, worked at the Greater Baltimore Committee, where she led the organization’s work around creating a better business environment, modernizing the state’s tax structure, and improving opportunities for justice-involved individuals. She also served in various roles within the office of former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley.
Shaina is proud alumnae of the University of Maryland, College Park, as well as a graduate of the AmeriCorps*National Civilian Community Corps program. She and her husband reside in Baltimore City with their children.
Randi Norris
Chief Operations Officer
When Randi moved to Baltimore nearly 20 years ago, she fell in love with the vibrancy and grit of Baltimore. She has been committed to supporting organizations and institutions that help make Baltimore unique ever since. Randi has vast experience in the nonprofit sector, including fundraising and grant writing, providing technical assistance, capacity building, and organizational development.
In her role as COO she ensures the five Public Markets across Baltimore remain a vital community asset that supports local culture and economic growth. This includes strategic planning, operational oversight, and engaging with city officials and private stakeholders.
Nicole Ruocco
Chief Financial Officer
Nicole Ruocco came to Baltimore Public Markets with nearly 35 years of experience in accounting, finance and organizational management. She has worked in for-profit and non-profit businesses, including Living Classrooms Foundation, IgniteSavvy, and Institute of Notre Dame.
Nicole is passionate about balancing the financial well-being of the organization with the realities of operating a complex Market system. As CFO, she manages the financial planning, risk management, and regulatory compliance for the organization. Her role works closely with the Board of Directors and Senior Leadership to ensure strategic growth and transparent financial practices. She is a CPA and is licensed in the State of Maryland. She is currently a member of the AICPA and MSATP.
Market Operations
Jamal McCord
Director of Markets
With over a decade of experience in hospitality, operations management, and customer service, Jamal has led teams, optimized service standards, and implemented strategic initiatives to enhance guest experiences and operational efficiency. His background includes managing multi-departmental operations, overseeing large-scale budgets, and developing training programs that improve staff performance and customer satisfaction.
At BPMC/Lexington Market, Jamal oversees operations across multiple public markets, ensuring efficiency, vendor support, and customer engagement. He works closely with stakeholders to enhance market operations, streamline processes, and create a welcoming environment for merchants and visitors.
His favorite part of the job is collaborating with diverse vendors and teams to create vibrant, community-driven spaces where small businesses can thrive.
Johnnie Williams
Sr. Operations Manager
Johnnie started his journey with Baltimore Public Markets in February 1983, when the markets were under the Comptroller’s Office. The main office was located at Pier 4, Pratt St., where the second building of the National Aquarium now stands.
In 2005 BPMC merged with Lexington Market to utilize the strengths of both organizations for operating Baltimore City’s Public Markets. In 2016 Johnnie was placed in the position of Operations Manager for both organizations and currently holds the position of Senior Operations Manager.
He has enjoyed being out in the field, seeing first hand the hard work that Baltimore Public Markets does as a company, keeping the orgs relationship with merchants a well-balanced business relationship.
David Tyson
Operations Manager
David has been working at the Markets since 1998, starting as a custodian at Avenue Market. In the decades since, he worked his way up as a custodial team trainer, to supervising the team, to becoming the housekeeping manager for all the public markets in 2015, and is now Operations Manager.
He keeps our Markets humming along smoothly by keeping the buildings structurally sound, supervising housekeeping staff, and supporting our merchants with stall inspections and any other one time tasks they need help with.
David’s favorite part of his job is getting to meet people from all walks of life.
Shanyon Vann
General Manager, Avenue Market & Hollins Market
Shanyon began her journey at the Baltimore Public Market Corporation (BPMC) as a project manager contractor in the spring of 2024. Shortly after, she was onboarded as the General Manager of Avenue Market.
Shanyon enjoys working at BPMC because it allows her to foster connections with community members and partners. She believes that our impact is larger than us. Collectively, there is so much that we can learn and then share with others.
Nichole Goodman
Assistant General Manager, Lexington Market
Nichole’s professional background is in security administration and facility project management and planning. She got her start working as corporate security for Bank of America as a lieutenant and as the facility project manager responsible for 3 downtown BOA administration facilities, as well as the BOA Merrill Lynch facility in Hunt Valley.
Nichole has been with Lexington Market since October 2014 and has worked in the downtown area for over 30 years. She now oversees the market as Assistant General Manager and keeps the market running smoothly. Nichole manages everything from mechanical troubleshooting equipment in the garage to market staff to addressing merchant needs.
Her favorite part of her job is feeling like she gets to make a difference and excel through her work and peer interactions.
Brooke Bachman
Leasing Manager
Brooke comes to BPMC with a long background in residential and commercial leasing. As Leasing Manager, Brooke handles merchant selection, guiding new merchants through our onboarding process, and consulting on stall design and other operational aspects of getting new businesses up and running.
Brooke most enjoys the community development aspect of her role, supporting small business owners, entrepreneurs, and the neighborhoods in which Baltimore Public Markets are located.
Ariel Yates
Operations Coordinator, Lexington Market
Ariel Yates has worked in both security and management roles for more than 10 years.
She joined Lexington Market in December 2022 as the market’s Guest Services Officer and was promoted in January 2023 to Operations Coordinator.
Ariel’s favorite part of the job is interacting with guests who have never been to Lexington Market; she loves being able to tell the market’s story and history.
Community Impact
Jessica Blackwell Parks
Sr. Public Programs & Community Engagement Manager
Jessica has been part of the Baltimore Public Markets team for 3 years.
Recently promoted to Sr. Manager of Public Programs and Community Engagement, she’s here to support our markets through exciting activations, community outreach, and dynamic events.
Lesly Scott
Food Equity Manager
Lesly is an experienced educator, collaborator, and innovator in the areas of food security and health equity at both the policy and community levels. She has spent over two decades designing, implementing, and evaluating community-based food equity initiatives in public health and university outreach settings.
Before joining BPMC as the Food Equity Manager, Lesly managed the Fresh Mart Food Pantry at the Druid Hill YMCA. Her work at BPMC checks all her “dream job” boxes — the freedom to forge community partnerships that advance food access while tackling the root causes of food insecurity in her cherished city and community of Baltimore.
Lesly is most excited about launching a new food distribution space across all markets where folks can pick up a three-day supply of groceries. This project will address some of the persistent food insufficiency trends across Baltimore City while advancing BPMC’s mission to serve the community’s need for improved food access.
Marketing & Communications
Market Construction & Development
Charisse Nichols
Director of Storytelling & Content
Charisse has lived in Baltimore since 1997, starting her career at Center Stage under the tutelage of Irene Lewis and Peter Culman, and working her way up to being the Promotions Director. The creator of the Go Pass and Addy Award Winning Campaign, “Welcome, Kwame!”, she left in 2012 to work for the powerhouse of Foreman Wolf.
For 5 years, she planned corporate large-scale events like the House of Cards wrap parties to over 200 weddings in the Pazo space. Tony Foreman made her the GM of Bar Vasquez in 2016 and her favorite part of working 14-hour days was getting to know her guests, many of them becoming friends.
Charisse asked to not have the predictable job title of Marketing Director. As she sees it, each neighborhood, each market, and each vendor all have stories to tell. It’s her job to tell those stories and keep our markets brimming with the connectedness they bring to our city.
Abigail Lammel
Sr. Communications Manager
Abbie brings more than 10 years of experience with non-profit and food manufacturing marketing to Baltimore Public Markets. Originally from Northern California, she’s lived in Baltimore since 2019 and has fallen in love with the city’s art and food culture.
As part of her work for the markets Abbie assists with marketing strategy, handles print and digital marketing efforts, graphic design, and manages all the social media accounts. If you’ve ever sent any of the BPMC Instagram accounts a message, you’re talking to her!
Abbie’s favorite part of the job is working with small business owners throughout Baltimore, and is busy working her way through each culinary experience the markets have to offer.
Derrick Bowie
Sr. Facilities Manager
Derrick is the Sr. Facilities Manager for Baltimore Public Markets, specializing in electrical and plumbing repairs. He is a graduate of Carver Vocational Technical High School here in Baltimore and holds accreditations and degrees from Rets Institute of Technology and Morgan State University.
Derrick began working for Lexington Market as a teenager and now keeps all five of the markets in our network efficiently humming along.
He enjoys the technical challenges of working for BPMC and has been meeting them head-on at the markets for 47 years.
Finance
Administration
Lanece Taylor
Special Projects Manager
Lanece is a seasoned professional with more than 20 years of experience in the administration field. Recently, she joined Baltimore Public Markets as the Special Projects Manager, where she is eager to deepen her understanding of market operations and contribute to their growth.
Lanece is passionate about BPMC’s mission to provide the community with easy access to locally grown foods and is excited to witness their expansion in the coming years.
In her spare time, Lanece enjoys nurturing her creative side and spending quality time with her family.