Meet The Crew

    Our Team

  • Rita: blonde women with glasses and a black hat

    Rita Aceto

    Catering Manager

    A Brazilian turned Mainer, Rita loves to celebrate and is infatuated with the details and the joy of being involved in the organization of events. Anything from get-togethers with childhood friends to dinner parties, Rita is the planner and organizer for it all! A lover of writing and reading, Rita graduated from the number 1 Latin America university where she studied Brazilian Portuguese and Greek Literature. After school, she found her passion for advertising and creative planning, and built a 10-year career at some of the top agencies in Brazil planning events and live experiences for global brands. Rita is also crazy about live music, a staple in Maine culture. Through her love of music and her roadie husband, whom she met at a concert, she made her way to Maine after he proposed to her on one of Portland piers. Together, along with their dog Tito, they made their home in Maine, where Rita found her passion for the restaurant industry and decided to put her creativity and planning skills to work creating unforgettable experiences that put smiles on people’s faces. 

  • Alex: short haired women playing a guitar

    Alex Alexion

    Assistant General Manager, Seattle

    Alex joined the Luke’s Lobster team in July of 2022. She is from the southern coast of Massachusetts, so quality seafood is something she grew up appreciating. She remembers spending summers digging for clams with her brothers and bringing them home for her parents to cook, which has become an unofficial tradition for her family. Alex takes pride in working hard, remembering faces, and connecting with guests. When she’s not working she’s writing songs at home with her cats or playing her music on a stage for anyone who will listen. Alex also loves watching bad scary movies and eating excessive amounts of peanut butter. She is grateful to be a part of the Luke’s team and family.

  • Tracy Anderson, dark haired Black woman smiling

    Tracy Anderson

    General Manager, Brooklyn Bridge Park

    Tracy has been with Luke's since she was scouted by our Plaza GM Gonca in 2016, and then quickly became an integral part of our Brooklyn Bridge Park shack. As a shift leader in BBP, Tracy was there when we took over the whole smokestack building and is excited to move to the Upper West Side to bring her talents to a new neighborhood. When she's not giving our guests the Luke's experience that we're known for, Tracy is spoiling her granddaughter Brianna.

  • Federico Barona; standing in a sunflower field wearing a black shirt and sunglasses

    Federico Barona

    General Manager, Garment District

    Freddy has been in the hospitality industry for 28 years. He comes from brands such as Applebees, Havana Central, and Hale and Hearty. He spent over six years as a General Manager at Don Coqui in White Plains and has also had experience opening a restaurant/club from scratch as a partner.
    Freddy is the father to a beautiful 25-year-old daughter, who is following in his footsteps at Don Coqui, and a 20-year-old son. Freddy is also a former standout high school baseball player and played baseball at SUNY New Paltz. He is a big Mets fan, his favorite superhero is Superman, and in his free time, Freddy clears his mind by going to the gym.

  • Rachel posing with a stuffed animal lobster toy and a luke's apron

    Rachel Baumwoll

    General Manager, NYNY

    Rachel is a West Coast native who grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada. Coming from leadership roles in fast-casual concepts, Rachel started with Luke’s in 2023 to immerse Vegas in our values and quality seafood. She started with the team to open and lead the second shack in Las Vegas at MGM’s New York, New York. She studied at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, earning her degree in Education which has allowed her to collide the best of both worlds: the restaurant industry and team development.
    In her free time, Rachel enjoys exploring new places while hiking with her cocker spaniel, Hank, and listening to podcasts and good music. At home, Rachel likes reading a good book or watching documentaries. She spends a lot of time in the kitchen trying new recipes with her family as her taste-testers. Rachel makes a killer chicken marsala.

  • Kevin Bowen, pictured with his two daughters

    Kevin Bowen

    General Manager, Portland Pier

    Kevin Bowen is the General Manager of our Portland Pier location. Kevin joined Luke’s in May 2021.   He was born in Camden, Maine but grew up within a military family that moved all over the country (Illinois, California, South Carolina,  a stop in England, Arkansas, and New York).  Kevin returned to Maine for college and never left.  Proud father of two amazing daughters that are his entire world.  Before Luke’s, Kevin spent 15 years with Ninety Nine Restaurants as a General Managing Partner.  When away from work, Kevin likes to hike, golf (terribly),  and might be known for taking a vacation or two.

  • Johnnie Brown smiling while wearing a Luke's hat and apron at the shack

    Johnnie Brown

    Assistant General Manager, SOMA

    Meet the incredible Johnnie Brown, a man born to add a splash of excitement to every chapter of his life! Born in Oakland, CA and surrounded by a squad of siblings, cousins, aunties, uncles, and grandparents - talk about a family fiesta! Growing up, Jonnie was the life of the party in groups like the Boy Scouts, the debate team, and the track squad, all while playing drums in the church and various music groups.
    Embarking on his career at Sears, Johnnie ascended in the Shipping and Receiving Dept to the illustrious title of Receiving Manager. And guess what? Sears also played matchmaker, introducing him to his wife and the source of his fatherly pride, Juan.
    The journey didn't stop there. From the Alameda County Registrar of Voters to a stint as a Data Analyst in Social Services, he rode the waves until 2009's layoff prompted a detour. Seizing the opportunity, he earned a Medical Assisting certificate, becoming a health superhero at various fairs and clinics. Enter Panera - a bagel run with his wife turned career jackpot! Johnnie skyrocketed from Associate to Assistant General Manager, working at nine Panera locations and opening two in the Bay Area like a culinary maestro. While at Panera, Johnnie multitasked as a minister at Beth Eden Baptist Church, where he welcomed his son Joseph into the world.
    In 2023, life threw a curveball- Johnnie's wife faced surgery, prompting a tough choice to bid adieu to Panera. Destiny had other plans, leading him to Luke's, where he discovered a calling in the food industry. Not once, but twice, Johnnie stumbled into careers he didn't seek, guided by fate and a love for the work and the people he surrounds himself with.

  • Mike Bruna: smiling guy wearing a black beanie

    Mike Bruna

    General Manager, Bethesda

    Mike Bruna grew up in Northern Virginia and has been working in foodservice management for over 13 years. As a child, he spent his summers fishing and crabbing with his grandparents in Virginia Beach. He made the move to Brooklyn in 2016 with his partner of 15 years, where he enjoys playing piano, wrestling with his cat, and riding his bike around the city. Bringing his passion for both nature and food, Mike found a home that aligns with his personal values at Luke's Lobster. He looks forward to serving you the best Maine-style Lobster Roll you'll ever eat at our Garment District location on Broadway, just south of Time's Square in the heart of New York City.

  • Kristin Candelore, girl smiling in a car selfie

    Kristin Candelore

    Recruiting Coordinator

    Kristin joined the Luke's team back in the summer of 2015 after years slinging pizzas with California Pizza Kitchen. She started off as the Catering Coordinator in the City of Brotherly Love - where she was born and raised. In 2016 she took on the role of General Manager, and now spends lots of time on Amtrak traveling along the East Coast as our Director of Operations. If you ever need a train discount, she's your girl! When she's not at Luke's you can find Kristin hanging at home with her husband and her puggle, or slowly losing her hearing in a SoulCycle class.

  • Kevin Casey: smiling wearing a green hat

    Kevin Casey

    General Manager, Newport

    Kevin Casey is the current General Manager of our Park Slope location. Kevin started as a Teammate and delivery person at our Upper West Side shack back in 2013 and has worked in many of our New York shacks throughout the years. Hailing from Western Massachusetts, he spent many summers in Maine growing up with his family, where he determined that the lobster roll is the very best way to eat lobster. When not at a Luke's, Kevin spends his time in the great outdoors, surfing, biking, gardening, writing music, enjoying all of the fine cuisine in the city, and especially working on creative and artistic projects.

  • Arthur Chang

    General Manager, Upper East Side

    Arthur is a second-time New Yorker- born and raised in Memphis, TN.
    He gained his love for good food and drink growing up in his family's restaurant business. He originally came to New York City to work in finance until he moved out to the Bay Area to start his own food business with a Southern Fried Chicken food truck. He moved back to NYC a few years ago and has worked for some well known restaurant groups before joining the Luke's Lobster team.
    Arthur enjoys all that NYC offers- he is an avid museum and theatre goer and a fine wine enthusiast. He also enjoys cheering for his college alma mater's (The University of Tennessee) sports teams, the Boston Red Sox, and Chelsea Football Club in the English Premier League.

  • Chanel Connerly

    Assistant General Manager, Grand Central

    Chanel, a Brooklyn native with a heart as diverse as her upbringing in Crown Heights, has spent 11 vibrant years in the hospitality industry. Raised amidst a mosaic of cultures, her passion for culinary arts and community service was nurtured by her grandparents. With a background spanning Starbucks, Five Guys, and Union Square Hospitality Group, Chanel's expertise reflects a fusion of experiences. Beyond her professional endeavors, she pours her heart into an independent catering venture, finding profound joy in crafting memorable culinary experiences for others.

  • Ben Conniff, cofounder, smiling and wearing a white and green hat

    Ben Conniff

    Co-founder & Chief Innovation Officer

    Ben Conniff is the co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Luke’s Lobster, with over 30 locations across 9 US cities and internationally in Japan and Taiwan. After answering Luke’s Craigslist ad in the summer of 2009 and opening our first location in the East Village one month later, Ben remains heavily involved in the day-to-day workings of Luke’s since the beginning.

    Ben is also the author of Real Maine Food, and has written for Saveur, GQ, Tasting Table, and more. He was named to the Inc. and Zagat “30 Under 30” lists and serves as an advisor to restaurant, fishery, and agriculture businesses. He spends the majority of his time in Portland, ME.

  • Darren Cowie in a blue hat on a lobster boat

    Darren Cowie

    General Manager, Upper West Side

    Darren has been with Luke's for more than two years, and is the 2018 recipient of the 2018 GM of the year award! He started his manager career flipping ice cream and singing for tips at Coldstone Creamery. Now you can find him watering his beautiful plants and training new managers in the Upper East Side. Darren does not enjoy long walks in the park but prefers playing hours of playstation talking mad smack online.


  • Meaghan Dillon: brown haired girl wearing a bright dress

    Meaghan Dillon

    Vice President, Marketing

    Meaghan spearheads the marketing efforts of the brand which explains why she has more photos on her iPhone of lobster rolls than she does of people or dogs combined. Meaghan is a graduate of Fordham University and developed her love for all things food and culinary while working at the French Culinary Institute in SoHo. She moved on to work on the development team at Marcus Samuelsson Group where she was integral in opening a number of the celebrity chef's restaurants from Harlem to Bermuda. Meaghan currently lives in the East Village mere blocks from the original Luke's shack, where she alternates weekly between a shrimp roll and a lobster roll. She's also a passionate lover of pizza and all the reality TV that Time Warner has to offer.

  • Sean; smiling in front of Luke's logo wearing a salmon shirt

    Sean Doherty

    General Manager, SOMA

    Sean Doherty became interested in cooking as a form of self defense from his mother's questionable cooking skills.  After graduating high school Sean attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park New York. Sean's career, or play time as he calls it, has allowed him to be a Chef, Food and Beverage Director, Culinary Arts Instructor,  Director of Operations for Catering and Concession operations, and Chief Cook and Head Bottle Washer.  While not working he can be found volunteering for various charities and organizations, enjoying theater, and of course, cooking.

  • Sam Dorval in front of our Portland Pier restaurant

    Sam Dorval

    Customer Experience Manager

    Sam was born and raised in Brunswick, Maine and has been working on the water since he was 15. As a student clammer throughout highschool, Sam transitioned to co-founding his own oyster farm in 2018, where he grew a passion for the Maine coast. Attending college at the University of Maine for Marketing and Management, he used what he learned and directly applied it to his work. Shortly after graduating from UMaine in 2021, he has now joined Luke's team as Customer Experience Manager, where he uses his love for the working waterfront as his daily driver in the office. 

  • Jake Ellis at the summit of a hike

    Jake Ellis

    Director of Supply Chain Operations

  • Billy Fechtmann; wearing a button down shirt and smiling in front of windows

    Billy Fechtmann

    Director of Operations

    Prior to joining Luke’s, Billy spent the last 18 years on the franchise side of Moe’s Southwest Grill. He began his career as an hourly teammate and eventually grew to Partner and Vice President of nine locations. When not working, he can be found at home or hanging at the beach with his wife Samantha, daughter Emma, son Cody, and dog Callie. In his free time he enjoys running, playing golf, and rooting for the NY Giants, Yankees, and Knicks.

  • Emily Feldman: girl wearing purple shirt and backwards hat

    Emily Feldman

    Vice President, Ops Services

    Emily is a Luke's original in both hire date and personality and is the rock of Luke's Lobster. She's the one that ensures all the LL stores are running smoothly and is the first call respondent to any emergencies that arise at the shops. When not running from store to store, Emily can be found enjoying the finer things in life. Whether that's watching a movie on her projector screen or making tomato sauce that would make any nonna jealous (secret ingredient: butter) - she's a quality over quantity gal, and that's probably what makes her so great at her job. If you're ever feeling stressed get in line for one of Emily's killer back rubs. While her hands may be slight, they are freakishly strong.

  • Denny Fiaalii in front of yellow lobster traps

    Denny Fiaalii

    Assistant Production Manager

  • woman smiling in a sunflower field

    Sabrina Fiaalii

    Director of Food Safety and Quality

    Sabrina was born and raised in Farmington, Maine. After graduating from Maine Maritime Academy, she went to Alaska and worked as a Marine Biologist monitoring catch on commercial fishing vessels. It was also where she met her husband- you may have heard of him, Denny Fiaalii, Raw Supervisor at Seaco! Sabrina joined Luke’s Lobster QA department in 2016, shortly after Denny started working here. Sabrina is a natural leader who brings palpable warmth and positive energy to work. Her passion at work is building and empowering the team while keeping our product safe and ensuring the best quality.
    Sabrina loves country music, bonfires, camping, fishing, hunting, playing basketball and softball, Sunday morning coffee, and walking around without shoes. Any time she spends with my family is treasured- she has two daughters, Manaiah and Emery, a dog, Sailor, and of course, her husband, whom she loves to pieces.

  • Cassandra Johnson; woman sitting on a rock on the summit of a mountain.

    Cassandra Galloway

    Ops Services Manager

    In true Luke's fashion, Cassandra found her way to the company as a teammate through a Craigslist ad recruiting for the opening of our Rittenhouse shack in Philadelphia. From Teammate, to Shift Leader, to Senior Shift Leader, Cassandra grew to love lobster shack life so much so that - even when she took a brief sabbatical from the company to move to the 'burbs - Luke's was never far from her mind. As soon as she had the opportunity, she jumped back on the line as the GM of Rittenhouse. Now, 6 years from answering that fateful ad, she's followed the bright LobStar of Luke's all the way to San Francisco to GM our first west coast shack! When not slingin' lobster, you can find Cassandra... well, actually you probably can't find her. Because she's most likely at home with her husband and mustachio'd cat Tom Selleck or off exploring the wilds of California.

  • Jason posing while wearing a baseball cap, a white patterned button down shirt, jeans, and blue shoes

    Jason Garrido

    General Manager, FiDi

    Jason Garrido is a former General Manager at Bareburger with extensive experience in all facets of food service. He has worked in hospitality since he was a teenager, working his way up with determination and hard work. Jason enjoys laughing at supposedly "scary" movies and playing video games. He has a 13-year-old daughter, who he loves with all his heart, even though she consistently tests his patience and thinks she knows everything. His favorite sports teams are the Giants, Yankees, and Knicks, and in his perfect world, the Dallas Cowboys and Boston Red Sox would lose every game every season. He is a very well-rounded individual who can connect with people from all walks of life and enjoys learning about different cultures through their lived experiences so that he can become a better person. You will find Jason on his off days eating a bunch of pizza or enjoying his guilty pleasure of shopping! Jason brings to the Luke's Lobster team lofty goals for not only the success of his shack but for the company as a whole.

  • Jim wearing a blue rain jacket posing and smiling in front of a wall of buoys and a row of lobster traps.

    Jim Gensheimer

    Chief People Officer

    Jim grew up in Maine and lives for all things outdoors and on the ocean. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and deployed multiple times on a Bath-built destroyer. Later, he worked at McKinsey & Company and in various people leadership roles around the country before returning home to Maine.
    He is our Chief People Officer and leads our People and Culture team. His personal aspiration is to support and bring the best out of our amazing people who, in turn, serve the best tasting seafood to our customers. At Luke's, everything starts with our people.
    Jim is married to Sarah and together, they have a 5-yo son and 2-yo daughter. Their family wouldn't be complete without their labradoodle, Casco, named for Casco Bay, their favorite body of water in the world. On any given weekend, the family can be found boating, at the beach, hiking, or skating and skiing depending on the season.

  • Kayla green wearing a black jacket and a red shirt smiling in the car while taking a selfie

    Kayla Greene

    General Manager, Farragut

    Kayla has been in the restaurant business since she was 18 years old. She has a passion for all things development: people, sales, cleanliness, and organization! When she is not at work, you can catch her at these two places: Target or the Mall! Being a part of Luke's means something greater than just a job: we stand for inclusivity, sustainability, and fun. Come see Kayla down in the DC Farragut Location!

  • Bryan Holden, man with a mustache smiling

    Bryan Holden

    President & Chief Development Officer

    Having grown up in Cape Elizabeth and attending Bowdoin College, Bryan is the epitome of all things Maine. After stints in banking and consulting, Bryan decided to join the family business. Known as the Doze, Bryan is the ultimate Renaissance man: All-American lacrosse player, lover of theatre and art, deft carpenter and flexible yogi. It was once rumored that he grew the best mustache on the East Coast, an allegation he will neither confirm nor deny. But perhaps Bryan's most admirable characteristic is his uncanny ability to bring his unique sense of humor to any situation.

  • Luke Holden holding his young daughter and standing next to his wife.

    Luke Holden

    Founder & Chief Executive Officer

    Luke Holden grew up in Cape Elizabeth, Maine – a third-generation lobsterman who started learning the trade at age 13. After attending Georgetown University and beginning an investment banking career on Wall Street, Luke was remiss to find that every lobster roll available in New York was overpriced, drowning in mayo, and diluted with celery. He craved a real Maine-style roll and simply couldn’t find one.

    Luke saw an opportunity to bring a casual seafood spot, like the homegrown lobster shacks of his childhood, to New York’s culinary landscape. In 2009, Luke decided to harness his passion for excellent seafood and his family’s 40-plus years in the Maine lobster industry to open the first Luke’s Lobster in the East Village with his dad Jeff, a lobster processor, and Ben Conniff. To keep up with demand, Luke and partners opened Luke’s Lobster’s own seafood processing facility in 2012. The complete vertical integration ensures every lobster served at Luke’s is handled with care and kept pristine.

    Today, Luke spends the majority of the year in Maine, where he maintains relationships with lobstermen and oversees production at Luke’s Lobster’s processing facility. He also sits on the board of the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative, the Island Institute, and the Tenants Harbor Fisherman’s Co-op, which he helped found. Luke’s donates a portion of its proceeds to The Ocean Foundation and the Island Institute, helping preserve Maine’s fishing communities and the sustainability of our oceans. Over the years, Luke has also been included on the Forbes’ 30 under 30, Inc 30 under 30, Zagat’s 30 under 30, and Crain’s 40 under 40.

  • Mike Holden; man on a horse in a cowboy hat.

    Mike Holden

    Director of Development

    Michael Holden, affectionally known as Mikey, has been with the company since 2012, working in various operations and development roles in Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston.  He graduated with a business degree from Skidmore College in upstate New York.  Today, Mikey is the glue that holds the team together during new openings.  A Maine native and the youngest Holden brother, Mikey approaches problems with a strong work ethic and a sense of humor.  In his spare time he enjoys Boston Sports, playing golf, and strategy based board games.


  • Imer Huertas; man standing in a metropolitan setting

    Imer Huertas

    General Manager, Back Bay

    Imer is a recent college graduate with a degree in Environmental Studies from Temple University in Philadelphia. He was initially hired as a teammate and has moved up within the company to Assistant General Manager in our Rittenhouse shack. He's been with the company for 5 years now and enjoys the pace of the restaurant industry. One of his biggest accomplishments in life was hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2018, which he completed in 5 months and 1 day. His free time is spent cooking and discovering new mountains!

  • Meghan McMahon; a long brown haired woman with a green sweater

    Meghan Jamal

    Assistant General Manager, Portland Pier

    Meghan was born in New York but raised in Florida, she brings a good mix of the Northern charm and South hospitality to the pier. She joined the Portland Pier team in August of 2020 as a FOH manager and in 9 short months was promoted to Assistant General Manager. She has spent the last 9 years in the restaurant industry here in Maine. The years before she found her passion in our industry she spent her time in the animal care field with the Humane Society. When she isn't on the pier you can find her out and about with her husband and pups enjoying all the outdoor activities Maine and New Hampshire have to offer. 

  • Taylor Johnson

    Assistant General Manager, Las Vegas Fashion Show

    Taylor comes from a background in retail and never imagined she would end up working in the food industry. But Luke's ended up being a game changer, and she worked her way up in the company and is happy to be part of a company that takes care of its people and the environment.
    Born and raised in Las Vegas, she ended up in Florida during her teenage years deep sea fishing, crabbing and snorkeling with her grandfather. So, of course, she knows about seafood! In her downtime, nowadays, you can find her at home building gundam models with her partner, arguing with her parrot and playing video games. All while living by the wise words that they say forgiveness is divine, but never pay full price for late pizza.

  • Chris Jordan

    Director of Sales & Procurement Operations

    Chris first met Luke when they were teammates on the Georgetown hockey team, and graduated in 2009. He joined Luke's Lobster in 2011 while living in NYC and handled all of the seafood ordering and distribution for the restaurant group. Today he lives in Maine with his wife Lauren, their daughter, and their fantastic dog Otis, seen here. He handles the accounting and logistical side of all of the company's seafood procurement and international sales, as well as a majority of the domestic retail and wholesale operations. He loves skiing, the outdoors, and playing sports, taking great satisfaction at being exceptional at a few of them, but "good to pretty good" at all of them.

  • Lauren Gibson; woman in a Luke's apron, smiling, with a tray of lobster rolls

    Lauren Jordan

    Vice President, E-Commerce + Retail

    Lauren joined the Luke's team in 2011. As VP of E-Commerce + Retail, Lauren oversees Luke's Online Market and Branded Grocery channels and is responsible for executing a strategic product roadmap that enhances the Luke's brand image and sales performance targets through product. Lauren's entrepreneurial spirit and passion for cooking stems back to age 10, when she held regular lemonade stands in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art - which helped fund her BA degree in History & Chinese from the University of Pennsylvania. Although born and raised in NYC, she's happy to call Portland, Maine home now where she lives with Chris Jordan (Luke's Logistics Director) and their rambunctious pup Otis.

  • Morgan Kamensky; women in a short sleeved red shirt

    Morgan Kamensky

    People + Culture Director

    After graduating from St. Lawrence University with a B.A. in Spanish & Fine Arts, Morgan thought she'd spend just a summer in Portsmouth, NH working in restaurants while she figured out how to apply her obscure double major. Instead, she stuck around and built a career in the hospitality industry growing from Server, to General Manager and ultimately VP of Operations of J.Group - a hospitality group founded by James Beard nominated restaurateur, Jay McSharry.

    Now, as People + Culture Generalist at our processing plant in Saco, Maine, she loves using her Spanish daily to support our diverse, multi-lingual team. Nicknamed "The Morganizer" at age two, Morgan has a knack for bringing order and building systems. Outside of her Luke's life, she is most often hanging with her husband doing projects on their "almost fixed" fixer-upper in Cape Neddick or enjoying the beaches and hiking trails of southern Maine. 

  • Chris Knoke; man smiling in  in a jacket and tie

    Chris Knoke

    General Manager, Pike Street

    Chris has been in the restaurant industry for over 25 years and tried to get out a few times but just kept returning for the people.  He has a wonderful partner and two sons who keep life interesting. He is always up to sing karaoke and enjoys the occasional golf game and game night with friends. He enjoys watching sports (Go Mariners and Seahawks). He might also be found spending a weekend at a Sci-fi/Fantasy convention playing board games and Magic: The Gathering.

  • Heather Krieger; woman with blue hair in front of a bookshelf

    Heather Krieger

    General Manager, Las Vegas Fashion Show

    Heather joined the Luke's team in 2017 when she decided she wanted to participate in something healthier than bartending. When she's not chatting up the guests at our shack on the fabulous Las Vegas Strip, she can be found perusing museums, riding roller coasters, reading classic literature (from Bukowksi to Austen to Kafka!) , sipping craft beers, and hanging out with her super duper rad kiddo. As a self-proclaimed "steward of the Earth," her favorite part about working at Luke's is how our respect for the environment has a huge impact on all aspects (big and small) within our company.


  • Adam Laite; man sitting in a car with his bulldog.

    Adam Laite

    Vice President, Sales

    Adam Joined Luke's in June of 2016. He manages all of the wholesale and grocery business, both domestic and international. Born on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Adam moved to Maine in 2009 for College. He graduated in '13 from the University of New England. He worked for a local branch of Xerox in Portland, ME for two years, managing multiple territories in Southern Maine during that stretch. In 2015 Adam was recruited by Designs for Health and managed all Sales & Marketing initiatives for Northern New England overseeing 100+ medical practices. 


    Outside of work, Adam spends his time playing hockey and golf, at the gym, and grabbing a couple beers pretty much anytime the opportunity presents itself. Adam reluctantly self-identifies as an emotionally-drained, lifelong Toronto Maple Leafs fan and has one son, named Gilmour, seen in his photo with him.

  • Thanh Le holding up a lobster

    Thanh Le

    Senior Training General Manager, GCT

    Thanh Le aka Le, comes from a long line of restaurants including TGI Fridays, Outback Steakhouse, and Houlihan's. Originally from Northern Virginia, Le came to New York in 2015 to join the restaurant Vapiano. After traveling the world and becoming a certified international trainer, Le joined Luke's Lobster in 2018. He is a family man with three beautiful daughters and a stunning wife to match. He enjoys princess tea parties and spending time with his family. Check him out at our FiDi and Midtown East locations.

  • Darwin Lowe; man standing smiling with a purple dress shirt

    Darwin Lowe

    General Manager, Midtown East

    Darwin enjoys the outdoors, especially when he is working on his garden planting herbs, vegetables and snapdragon plants! He loves working in the hospitality and food service industry where he gets to meet all types of interesting personalities which make for good storytelling. Darwin grew up in the beautiful island of Barbados and moved to New York where he received his education. 

  • Julia Lydon; blonde women smiling wearing a blue shirt

    Julia Lydon

    Marketing Coordinator

    Julia is a native Mainer, born and raised in South Portland, ME. She’s been working in the seafood industry since 2014, getting her start serving all things seafood at a local restaurant and fresh fish market. In 2016, she moved to Boston to attend Simmons University. A couple of months later she joined the Luke’s team at our Back Bay shack, initially as a teammate and then as a shift leader. After graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Public Relations and Marketing Communications, she traded in her apron to join the Luke’s Marketing Team as a Marketing Coordinator. In her free time, you can find her cooking, exploring Boston neighborhoods, or taking a bus up to Portland to visit with her family.

  • Jean posing for a picture outside a brick building while wearing a floral shirt

    Jean Marti

    Assistant General Manager, Grand Central

    Jean joined Luke’s at the beginning of 2024. She is originally from Wisconsin, but the last seven years she’s been living in New York. Jean has a passion for training and food safety. She has eight years of hospitality experience between working at Domino’s Pizza and Chipotle. She loves spending time with her family, and spoiling her bunny and cat. In the future, she would like to open a small sewing business.

  • woman smiling on a boat on the ocean

    Aislinn McCabe-Corrow

    People + Culture Generalist

    Aislinn began her career at Luke's Lobster in the summer of 2021 as the People + Culture Coordinator; in this role, she has the pleasure of supporting the team at the processing plant and shacks nationwide with all things payroll, benefits, and compliance. Aislinn recently relocated to Maine from New Hampshire, where she hiked all 48 of the 4,000 footers and worked in restaurants and hospitality for the better part of 15 years. When not in the office, you can find Aislinn renovating her house, taking pottery classes, and swimming in the ocean as often as the weather allows.

  • Shelbi McCarthy; woman smiling in a gray sweater

    Shelbi McCarthy

    Marketing Director

    Shelbi is a born and raised Mainer. She grew up in the Sebago Lake region and now resides in Portland. She joins Luke's as the Marketing Manager, assisting the marketing team with content creation, social media, and customer service. She developed her love of all things Maine during her time as online editor for Maine and Maine Home+Design magazines. When she is not eating her way through Maine's burgeoning culinary scene you can find her enjoying the natural resources of Moosehead Lake during all the seasons or spending quality time with her large, loud, and lovely family.

  • JP McIntyre; man smiling wearing glasses and a tropical hat

    JP McIntyre

    Ops Services + Innovation Manager

    JP McIntyre grew up in Baltimore near the Chesapeake Bay, which engendered in him a lifelong love of seafood and a passion for sustainable fishing methods. He is incredibly proud to bring his decade of hospitality experience to the team at Luke's Lobster. Look for him at Luke's Lobster Chicago City Hall, where he'll be happy to serve you the best seafood you've every tasted.

  • Brendan Murphy; wearing a sweatshirt and baseball hat, taking a selfie outside

    Brendan Murphy

    Vice President, Finance & Controller

    Having grown up as a summer resident on Bailey Island, Maine, Brendan returned to Maine in 1998, to “The Way Life Should Be”. In 2023, he joined Luke’s Lobster as the VP of Finance/Controller. Prior to joining Luke’s, Brendan’s extensive experience includes corporate financial reporting and analysis, capital budgeting and planning, business information analytics, system implementations and integrations, and a champion for continuous improvement.
    Outside of work, Brendan enjoys time being active, time with his adult children, and listening to and playing music. Brendan received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame and completed his MBA at the University of Southern Maine. Brendan has held the designation of Certified Management Accountant (CMA) since 1995.

  • Brian Noble

    Assistant General Manager, Portland Pier

    Brian Noble was born by the ocean in Bridgehampton, NY and grew up in love with jumping and riding the waves at Scott Cameron Beach.  He was a 3-sport athlete in High School, playing Football, Basketball, and Baseball.   He began his service industry career as a dishwasher at 14 years of age and moved up the ranks to become a bartender on his 18th birthday.  During his summers in the Hamptons as a local on the South Fork, Brian worked two jobs; cleaning beachside mansion pools by day and bartending late into the summer nights.  He began bar managing in 2008 and brought his hard work ethic north to Vermont in 2010 where he continued his management career for several establishments in and around Stratton Mountain Resort.  Shortly after the opening season as the first GM at "Bar 802" in VT in 2016,  Brian fell in love with his gorgeous fiancee Lia and moved south to be with her, first in Stamford and then in South Norwalk CT.

    Mr. Noble sharpened his restaurant skills for 3 more years before the newly engaged couple moved to Portland, Maine where they couldn't be happier!  Fun Fact: Lia & Brian are currently planning to be wed right on the pier at Luke's in September of 2022!

  • Ward Peck; wearing a baseball hat and sunglasses while looking out at the Portland harbor

    Ward Peck

    Tank Room Manager, Portland Pier

    Ward joined the Luke's team in May of 2021 as the Portland Pier Wharf Assistant but came to Maine 20 years before from Glen Rock, New Jersey in 2001 after an internship at UNESCO in Paris, France. Ward worked as a writer, reporter, and editor at a handful of community newspapers in Biddeford, Cape Elizabeth, and South Portland as well as administrative coordinator in Portland Scarborough at Maine Medical Center and MaineHealth. He enjoys spending time with his son and showing people around a growing Portland.

  • Haleigh Petroe; woman smiling in black and white

    Haleigh Petroe

    Vice President, People + Culture

    Haleigh Petroe is the VP of People + Culture for Luke's Lobster. She was one of the first hires in 2009 at our original East Village shack and climbed up the ladder from roll slinger to General Manager to Director of HR to VP of People + Culture. She doesn't much like ladders though. Over the last 10 years, Haleigh has focused on bringing great people into the organization and growing the Luke's community, most recently at our processing plant in Saco, Maine. In 2016, she earned her SHRM (Society of Human Resource Management) Professional Certification through Pace University. Also, Haleigh has notably won 2nd place in our office Halloween costume contest 3 years running (next year is her year). You can find Haleigh in Brooklyn, NY walking her dachshund Begbie or trying to fix her '96 Jeep Cherokee.

  • Klaudia Ramos; woman standing in a bus aisle, smiling

    Klaudia Ramos

    Director of Finance, Financial Controller

    Klaudia Ramos was born and raised in New York and joined the Luke's team in 2020. After graduating from Baruch College with a BA in Accounting, she worked for The Standard, High Line and The Brooklyn Brewery in the accounting department. KlaudiaI loves to travel to new places and see Broadway and Off-Broadway shows with her partner. She also has a maltese dog who she spoils with treats and hugs, and who loves to take car rides with her.

  • Maria holding a lobster on a boat

    Maria Ribaudo-Alicea

    Director of Operations

    Maria is a lifelong Jersey girl who is excited to be in the New York City world as a Director of Operations! In addition to being passionate about business operations and logistics, Maria is an avid autumn enthusiast, she’s always looking for the ultimate fall-themed adventures with her family. An adrenaline junkie, you can find her on the next plane to skydive, parasailing in the Caribbean, or zip-lining in Puerto Rico! Growing up in an old-school Italian household, family dinners are what she looks forward to every week, with a big pot of gravy on her stove, of course!


    A proud mother to her eight-year-old son Ethan Elias, Maria and her husband Miguel are always looking forward to planning their next family adventure!

  • Virginia Rector, blonde woman smiling wearing denim jacket

    Virginia Rector

    Chief Operations Officer, Restaurant Group

    Virginia watched the Muppets take Manhattan so many times as a child that at 22 she packed up a U-Haul with $600 in her bank account and moved to New York City. Like many failed actresses, she quickly realized that being able to pay rent and eat was more important than seeing her name in lights. Little did she know her true love, hospitality was waiting just around the corner. Virginia has run operations for TGI Friday's, BR Guest Hospitality, Joes Crab Shack, The Meatball Shop and found a forever home here at Luke's Lobster. Virginia has opened up 17 restaurants in her career and can't wait for the next ones to come. She's fed everyone from Warren Buffet, to the Rockettes, to our community soup kitchens.

    Virginia oversees operations all across the country so you can most likely find her with our awesome teams from coast to coast, working reg during our busiest shifts, inspecting under refrigerators, in the nearest airport lounge on her laptop or phone, or doing very important research for new cocktail development on the beach.

    We are so lucky at Luke's to build a family who truly embodies our core values of Taste, Transparency, and Purpose-Virginia feels constantly humbled by the hard work, good vibes, and passion of those around her. 

  • Roscoe; man with beard, glasses, and a hat smiling for a selfie

    Jonathan Roscoe

    General Manager, Union Square

    Jonathan Roscoe was born and raised in New York City. He has been working in food service since he was 16 years old. Roscoe is a big football fan, and in his free time you can usually find him watching movies or hanging with his little man Lucas, his 2-year-old son. Roscoe is happy to be part of the Luke’s Lobster family!

  • Brian Sanchez, a man in a sweater smiling

    Brian Sanchez

    Accounting Coordinator

    With hopes of making some cash and biking throughout the city, Brian got on Craigslist and applied for Luke's Lobster. In 2015, he started out as a delivery biker and earned his nickname B$. He became an official Teammate continuing at FiDi and most recently Brooklyn Bridge Park. As a shack veteran, he traded the kitchen counter for a desktop and joined the Finance team in 2023. He's a huge baseball fan and loves movies.

  • Paul Santone smiling while leaning against a kitchen table wearing a red plaid shirt

    Paul Santone

    General Manager, Penn Quarter

    Paul is a Maryland native who has lived in PG County his entire life. He loves sports and is a fan of the Washington Commanders, Capitals, Mystics, Wizards, and the Baltimore Orioles, and actually grew up living less than five minutes from FedEx Field. Paul was a pretty decent High School wrestler and wrestled for the Maryland National Team.
    Paul has 18 years of experience in the food service industry, starting when he was 16-years-old. He spent 17 years with Ruby Tuesday, where he held every position before eventually getting promoted to GM in 2015 and traveling from Pennsylvania to Virginia to help train and develop new managers and turn around underperforming locations.
    He spends most of his free time with his family, which includes five siblings, his wife, and her family. He's known as the fun uncle or "Funkle" of eight kids whom he loves spending time with. On his days off, he's normally looking for some interesting to cook with his wife, binge-watching a new series, watching professional wrestling or whatever sport is on that day, or just laughing at some comedy special or podcast.

  • Steve Song at a restaurant table

    Steve Song

    Chief Financial Officer

    Steve Song is the Chief Financial Officer for Luke's Lobster having joined the crew in 2016. Prior to Luke's Lobster, he spent 14 years as a private equity investment professional working with various companies and management teams across a variety of industries. He began his career at JPMorgan in 2001 before working at hedge funds and private equity firms including Magnetar Capital and Altpoint Capital. 

    Since 2011, Steve has also served a Board Member of Minds Matter of NYC, a nonprofit organization serving low-income high school students, and served as its board chair until 2018. He has served on the Board of Directors for private companies, including Ford Models, AHN International and Sanchez Resources. Steve graduated with a joint Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics-Mathematics from Columbia University in 2001.  He has traveled to over 30 countries and has watched a game at every Major League Baseball stadium. He is based in New York City.

  • Mikey smiling while posing on the Pier

    Michael Tibbetts

    Assistant Kitchen Manager, Portland Pier

    Michael, known better around the pier by his nickname Mikey, has been with Luke's since the fall of 2020. He spent his first year as a dishwasher but quickly became a very important part of the team. Showing a natural talent and genuine passion for the food service industry, Mikey started taking on more responsibilities and became a positive leader for the kitchen staff. Treating his teammates and managers like family and striving for a positive and fun working environment, Mikey takes great pride in his work and loves being a part of not only the Luke's family but also helping learn more about and supporting the seafood industry in his hometown. As of January 2024, Mikey has officially transitioned to his first management role, becoming the Assistant Kitchen Manager of our flagship restaurant on the Portland Pier. A lifelong resident of the city of Portland, Mikey loves spending his time bouncing all over, soaking in all he can. Taking long walks around town, going to Seadogs and Mariners games, and taking his beloved wife Nikita out to eat at several of the Old Port's best restaurants. Mikey's favorite thing is his love of all things music, and he can often be spotted at any number of venues in Portland, usually front and center, rocking out and having a great time.

  • Rosie Train smiling while running a race wearing a Luke's shirt

    Rosie Train

    Restaurant Manager, Portland Pier

    Rosie grew up in a small fishing community on a little island off Portland, Maine. Her father is a 3rd generation fisherman. She grew up knowing how to drive a skiff (small boat), haul traps with friends, and be on boats in general. She even had her own student lobster license when she was younger. She always knew she wanted to be part of the lobster industry, so when Rosie heard that Lukes was opening a restaurant in Portland, she applied for a job. She started as a host, took a brief hiatus when Lukes shut down during COVID-19, and once she returned, she worked her way into serving. Rosie finished college while working at the restaurant and became an FOH Manager in December 2023. Rosie was a runner in college, so she now participates in many road races. She even has encouraged Luke's members to join her in forming a team to raise money for Maine Coastal Fishermen and Tri For a Cure.

  • Willie Wilson; posing in a light pink suit while wearing sunglasses and smiling

    Willie Wilson

    Director of Operations

    Willie is a restaurant industry veteran with over 20 years of leadership and operational experience at companies including Topgolf, Thompson Hospitality, Ben’s Chili Bowl, and Nando’s Peri Peri. Willie served as Topgolf’s Director of Operations during the company’s early years and helped open Topgolf facilities throughout the United States.
    Originally, Willie was in accounting- however, the restaurant industry is his passion, so he answered the call! Willie graduated from Morehouse with a degree in Accounting.
    Willie loves spending time with his family. He is a bit of a sports fanatic for golf, basketball, and football, not to mention he is a Laker, Cowboy, and Orioles fan. While he may based in DC, he and his family love to travel the world to eat good food and embrace the culture.

  • Noelia Vazquez with her dog on her back

    Noelia Vazquez

    General Manager, City Hall

    Noelia was born and raised on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean. After graduating college, she moved to New York City in 2011 on impulse with $300 to her name. While working for a big retail company, Noelia soon realized that a full-time job wasn’t enough to survive in NYC and she needed a second job, and that’s how her journey at Luke’s Lobster began back in 2015. Noelia started as a delivery driver and teammate and worked her way to becoming a shift leader.
    After 7 years in NYC, and the last 3 years of those at Luke’s, she made the decision to move to Chicago to be closer to my best friend and transferred to the Luke’s City Hall shack.
    When not at Luke's, she’s probably at a concert (been to over 70+ concerts and counting), on an adventure with her dog Riley Earp, or yelling at the tv on game days as a die-hard Lakers fan.