Market Authority

Returning to Meadville after 20 years of living in South Florida, Ashley Mattocks-Rose was proud to become a member of the Market Authority in 2022. Born and raised in Crawford County, she comes from a deep family line of both farmers and Market House vendors. As a professional musician and private instructor of 24 years, she understands the work of artisans: not just the need for inspiration, resource and creative outlet but also the hard work done behind the scenes to craft, hone and promote these skills. As a former minister and event coordinator, she is passionate about community organizing, sustainable practices and collective outreach. She is currently a “non-traditional” student at Allegheny College, finishing a degree in Public Humanities where she focuses on community efforts to simultaneously preserve history while investing in the future. She is also a member of Meadville’s Redevelopment Authority, the Blighted Property Review Commission and liaison to the MCRC’s Placemaking Committee for the 960 Parklet project. She and her family love to live “like tourists” all over Crawford County and you can find them on any given weekend scoping out wide-open spaces, places of historical significance and really tasty food…and yes, she loves a good promotional video practices.

Jill Hyatt has served on the Market Authority for the past three years and currently serves as the Vice Chair. Jill has been a teacher at Meadville Middle and High School for more than twenty years. In her role there, she founded and currently coordinates an enrichment program with Allegheny College that brings more than 200 students from PENNCREST, Crawford Central, and Conneaut to Allegheny annually for enrichment classes in the arts and sciences. She was recognized by the PA Department of Education as one of twelve finalists for 2025 PA Teacher of the Year. Jill is active as a choreographer, director, and performer with Meadville Community Theater and the Allegheny College Dance and Movement Studies Program. She has previously served on the boards of the Learning Center School and the Oil Region Ballet. She was a Meadville “transplant” over 25 years ago, after attending Allegheny College, and has raised her two daughters, now 14 and 19 here. She is interested in contributing her expertise in program development and community collaborations to help enhance the mission of the Market House.

John K. Fulmer first became involved with the Friends of the Market House in 1998 after being asked to assist with the raised gardens in the rear patio, then later appointed to the Market Authority. He has since served several 5-year terms. He once considered himself to be “the new kid on the block”, but is now the one that has been “around the block” a time or two. With that length of involvement he knows much of the history of the Market House, serving through numerous management styles, vendor arrangements, etc., providing a background of insight as to what has worked successfully and what has not while offering input so that the Market Authority does not make the mistake of repeating any unsuccessful strategies. He currently serves as President of the Friends of the Market House as well as Treasurer of the Market Authority. His primary involvement with the Friends throughout the years has been in maintaining the raised gardens, the concrete planters, and the 10 hanging baskets throughout the growing season. He also, along with others, organized the first Holiday Carriage Rides in 2007 and was part of that project for 13 years. 

Seth Ernst was born and raised in Meadville. He enjoyed the Market House as a child and teenager coming to Saturday markets, the diner and the MCA for events. After attending school in Cleveland, Edinboro and Pittsburgh, Seth returned to Meadville, where he has worked as a fabricator, manufacturing engineer, and now operates his own general contracting business, Ernst Construction Services. Seth has developed a wide array of skills and knowledge in the construction and manufacturing fields as well as a strong appreciation for historical building practices and architectural details. His work focuses on reverence for people and place; preserving and honoring the built environment our community lives within. Seth values the Market House for its architectural character but even more so as a long standing community hub and sees it as an ambassador for locally produced food, goods and art. He believes that as stewards of the Market House, maintaining and enriching these qualities should be our primary focus.

Jessica Roberts joined the Market Authority in 2026, bringing over 20 years of experience in sustainable agriculture and local food systems. She grew up in nearby New Lebanon, PA, working in her family's nursery, gardens and orchard. During her time at Allegheny College, she worked alongside Jerome Troyer to bring veggies to the Market House. Jessica has farmed across organic, biodynamic, and commercial operations in the Midwest and Northeast, and spent five years as a department manager at Wegmans Food Markets. As Associate Director of Certification for Real Organic Project, she managed a nationwide program serving 1,100+ farmers and conducted over 200 farm visits. In 2024, she launched Whole Farm Strategies, providing capacity-building and strategic planning support to farms and food system nonprofits. Jessica operates a budding market farm in Cambridge Springs and values the Market House as a vital connection point between local producers and the community.