meet the foundation staff
Community is at the center of the Madison Public Market. For nearly two decades, community leaders have been working on bringing the Public Market to Madison. The City of Madison has partnered with the Madison Public Market Foundation to help make our Market a reality.
In May of 2017, the Madison Public Market Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, was created to lead the fundraising efforts and community engagement during the Public Market development phase.
our leadership
Keisha Harrison is the inaugural CEO of the Madison Public Market Foundation.
A native of Chicago, she is a dynamic leader with extensive experience in project management, strategic planning, and change management, most recently serving as the Executive Director of the historic Indianapolis City Market.
Keisha Harrison, Chief Executive Officer
Steve Sisson serves as the Operations Manager for the Madison Public Market, where he is responsible for managing operational services and overseeing the organizations that keep the building running smoothly.
He brings a diverse wealth of local management experience to the role, including nine years working in administration at UW-Madison. Additionally, Steve has honed his leadership and logistical skills by running operations at his childhood summer camp and helping produce local theater productions right here in Madison. His goal is to make the market a welcoming, vibrant space for merchants, vendors and guests alike.
Steve Sisson, Operations Manager
Stacey serves as the Event Manager for the Madison Public Market, where she supports the planning, coordination, and execution of events and experiences that connect the community with Madison’s local businesses, entrepreneurs, and makers. With more than a decade of experience in event management, operations, and community engagement, she has planned and executed hundreds of events ranging from nonprofit fundraisers and community celebrations to large-scale public events.
Stacey Diehl, Event Manager
Rachel Figueroa serves as the Vendor Relationship Manager for the Madison Public Market. She coordinates the Madison Public Farmers' Market, and other temporary vending opportunities like our weekly kiosk program.
She has 5 years of experience managing the Dane County Farmers' Market.
She is motivated by her passion for our local food system and supporting Wisconsin producers. Before working in markets, Rachel spent time as a researcher supporting potato breeding efforts at the University of Minnesota. She hopes to provide meaningful opportunities for local vendors, and looks forward to contributing to a vibrant marketplace.
Rachel Figueroa, Vendor Relationship Manager
Operational Partners
-Huffman Keel Partners-
Construction management
-TrueFinish Edge-
Custodial Services
-Speak.Studio-
Advertising Management
-Signal security-
security services
-Elite builders-
General contractor
-Dane County waste + renewables-
Composting service
foundation Board members
Nichole Crust
Director of Entrepreneurship at WEDC
Matt Koenig
Thoughtworks
Larry Palm
(Treasurer) Madison Metropolitan School District
Anya Firszt
(President), General Manager, Willy St. Co-op
Char Smith
(Vice President), Business Community Manager, MG&E
Adam Haen
(Secretary), Small Business Consultant, Mad Llama, LLC.
Peter Robertson
Entrepreneur
Erik Larson
Center for Community Stewardship
The Foundation manages the day-to-day operations of the Market. The Foundation leads vendor selection, the employee hiring process, applies for grants, and works closely with the City on the architectural design.
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