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16 | GREATER BALTIMORE CHAMBER OF COMMERCESPOTLIGHTThe second part is actual security. We do armed and unarmed security for places like apartment buildings and farmers%u2019 markets, as well as executive protection, which is a one-on-one kind of thing for CEOs and celebrities. Our third lane is private investigation. We do a lot of work for different law firms around the city. We serve documents, we do witness interviewing and also full-fledged investigations, such as looking for individuals. What kind of work do you do personally? I don%u2019t usually work on the sites anymore, but I might do the first day so I can get an understanding of what%u2019s needed and expected. I tend to do at least a walkthrough.What are some of the most important lessons you%u2019ve learned in transitioning from being a federal officer to running a company? It%u2019s really more customer service than it is security. Because I%u2019m doing the negotiating or the contracting, I%u2019m having to empathize with officers%u2019 feelings and what they%u2019ve got going on in their lives. With customers, I have to figure out what they need beyond just what they say they need. I have to read between the lines. It%u2019s more people-oriented than I think I originally realized. KARMA FRANCIS, PIKESVILLE FARMERS MARKET MANAGER AND SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER AT PLANTATION PARK HEIGHTS URBAN FARMPLANTATIONPARKHEIGHTS.ORG, FACEBOOK.COM/ PIKESVILLEFARMERSMARKETHow did you get started with Plantation Park Heights Urban Farm?I started in March of 2023, but I%u2019ve always been part of this community. I went away to college, graduated in 2019 and got a job in customer service, but I would always come home during the summer and volunteer at the farm, which is actually my dad%u2019s. So once I came home and he said, %u201cHey, it doesn%u2019t seem like what you%u2019re doing is what you love. Let%u2019s get you started with managing the social media at the farm and get you engaged with the [Plantation Park Heights Urban Farm-affiliated AgriHood Baltimore Farmers Market in Druid Hill Park] as well.%u201d I also started managing the Maryland Market Money Table, just to get the gist of what the market looks like.Tell me more about the Maryland Market Money Table.It%u2019s a partnership with the Department of Agriculture. Folks who have WIC, SNAP and the Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) can use those benefits and get matching tokens from us in order to get double the money. So let%u2019s say someone spends $20 with a farmer %u2014 they%u2019ll come to the table, get their receipt, and get tokens in matching money to spend with farmers again. It%u2019s a great way to get more bang for your buck.How did you become involved with the Pikesville Farmers Market?I got a call from [GBCC President and CEO] Beth Rheingold, who had heard about the work I was doing in the community with the farm, and with our produce giveaway at the farmers%u2019 market. Her son was moving on from managing the Pikesville market and they were looking for someone to take over. I said I%u2019d do it, so now I manage the Maryland Market Money Table at both markets and am also in charge of the vendors and creating a community space for folks to get fresh produce.What are some lessons you%u2019ve learned in managing the markets?People don%u2019t know about a lot of the benefits that are out there for them. It%u2019s really interesting to have conversations with folks who are like, %u201chow do you even make a dish with an eggplant?%u201d They%u2019re not aware of where their food is coming from, or the resources they have access to right in the community. It%u2019s a good feeling to be able to give them these resources. What are your hopes for the future of the markets?Honestly I just want to see the markets continue to grow to give vendors a platform to showcase their work and an opportunity to meet other vendors. The Pikesville market is supposed to be moving to the Armory very soon, which is an exciting growth opportunity. It%u2019ll attract more people once folks start hearing more about the events they host there. I think it%u2019ll bring a different crowd.