About Us
Meet the Staff
Chris Castillo – General Manager
We’re proud to have Chris as our general manager here at Ellwood Thompson’s. He has served several years in retail management, including stints as the store manager at Ellwood Thomspson’s and the director of operations at Tom Leonard’s Farmer’s Market, another local-independent market. Chris is dedicated to providing the Richmond community with high-quality local products and organic items that help our customers eat safely and healthily. Outside of work, Chris enjoys spending time with his wife Melody Joy and his two dogs Duke and Buddy. Beach trips with family, gardening and outdoor activities are always on his schedule too.
Todd Taylor – Assistant Store Manager
Todd Taylor began his career with Ellwood Thompson’s in 2003; he departed to try his hand at coffee roasting, a long-time love affair of Todd’s but even his love of coffee could not keep him away from his love of Ellwood’s. Todd is currently the assistant store manager and his calm, caring demeanor helps make Ellwood’s a great work environment for all of our stewards. When not at work you can find Todd visiting coffee shops and breweries and helping his wife with her business, as well as spending quality time with his son, Joshua.
Jonathan Keller – Assistant Store Manager
Jonathan Keller has been a member of the Ellwood Thompson’s family since 2006. He has worked in almost every department in the store and is a familiar friendly face to Ellwood’s shoppers. We are proud to have Jonathan as our assistant store manager. Jonathan has also traveled throughout Asia and is hoping to visit Europe soon and eventually the moon.
Jack McGrath – Chief Financial Officer
Jack joined our company in 2008. After earning his accounting degree from Stonehill College in Massachusetts and working as an accountant for various firms, he gained extensive experience in accounting for restaurants. For over 20 years Jack served as controller for the Tobacco Company Restaurant, a hugely successful restaurant here in Richmond, VA. He also served as Controller for Bullets Corporation, a local multi-unit restaurant company. Jack has experience as a restaurant owner, where he gained valuable entrepreneurial experience which he brings in his position at Ellwood Thompson's. Because of his experience and depth of knowledge in food service, Jack is essential to the oversight of Ellwood’s various prepared foods departments. In Jack's spare time he enjoys staying organized and competitive with basketball, golf and tennis. A passionate sports fan, especially of the Boston Red Sox, Jack is also a season ticket holder for the Baltimore Ravens. He spends most of his free time at the beach and enjoys reading good books and getting fired up about live concerts, especially Bruuuuuuuce Springsteen!!
Lauri Colbert – Human Resources
Growing up in Boston, spending summers in St. Stephen NB Canada, moving seemed natural. Since then, Lauri has lived in Worcester MA (college), Burlington VT, Aspen CO, back to Boston (grad school), Richmond VA, Portland OR, Los Angeles CA and finally landing back in Richmond. Using her more formal training, she worked in mental health and was the Personnel Manager at the World Trade Center in Boston. From there it starts getting a little less "traditional." Teaching skiing, working at a riding camp and being a "fill in" nanny for Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson in Aspen. Film and TV production and post production on the east and west coast. Director of production for a “dot com” in Portland OR, organizing spa and "in store" events for Self Magazine in LA -- it was all a fun ride but she wanted to come back to Richmond. When Lauri got back she started part time as a cashier at Ellwood's. Once she got a taste of it she knew this store was where she belonged. Lauri is proud of our mission, our products, and most of all our employees -- and these things have a lot in common. Though our employees are not all originally local they all have a strong sense of community and a love of quality food. Like organic produce their appearance may vary from their "conventional" counterparts but you can be assured they will bring the flavor!
Cyndi Watkins – Marketing Director
Cyndi has worked with Ellwood Thompson’s since 2006 in many different capacities. She is currently enjoying her role as Ellwood’s Director of Marketing. Cyndi loves organic gardening and literature, and loves to cook.
Meet a few of our employees
Check this out
Want to join our team?
Visit the Work for Us page in this section.
Want an Ellwood Thompson's near you?
Do you wish you had a mid-sized, friendly market in the heart of your neighborhood? Maybe you and your neighbors have difficulty finding natural and organic products? Let us know! Ellwood Thompson's is expanding and always looking for new locations. Email Chris Castillo.
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