Meet Our Team

Charm City Run has been an amazing journey for our whole family, and it has become another much larger family.  Kara and I opened Charm City Run more than 20 years ago and it has been the thrill of a lifetime. Getting to go to work with the opportunity to change a life for the better is such a privilege and a responsibility. Our first goal was to have one successful store.  It seemed like that took a long time and there was plenty of self-doubt and I know family members wondered what we were doing with our lives. We were not always sure, but we believed in the run. We believed in Baltimore, and we believed that if you care people come back. 

Our mission is to inspire and move the human spirit one sole at a time. I love this statement. First there is a mission beyond selling stuff and the first mission has nothing to do with product or sales. We want to inspire. It is a lofty goal, but we have a humble and perhaps ignorant belief that we can do this every day. To move. When people move, they are better versions of themselves, better workers, but more importantly better friends, partners, brothers, sisters, and parents. There is a spirit within you, and it takes some care. We want to move that spirit to a happier place. The sole is the product and offers us the opportunity to start talking.

The people that have built this thing are not perfect, just like you and me, but they are decent and caring and getting to know and hopefully mentor them has been the greatest joy of my life outside of my own family. They have made me better professionally and personally and I hope you have enjoyed their company as well.

THE old leaders

Tom Mansfield, President (>18 years) - Tom runs the retail business. Bright, inspiring, dad to Brody and Sutton and husband to Mel. As a former teacher I felt guilty talking him out of it but I am glad he is with us and you. He likes wakeboarding, his truck and people. He just gets it done.

Brian Nasuta, VP Footwear (>18 years) - Dad to Owen and Sadie and husband to Kat. Brian joined us from Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill. Brian is thoughtful, determined and introspective. Brian runs the footwear business. He loves to Kayak and enjoys a craft beer. He has been known to run really far with his dad.

Will Murdoch, Director of Events (>5 years) - Will worked for our Bel Air store while he was running for Salisbury. He has a way with people and our team. He passed up the first opportunity to join us when he went to Ripken Baseball and then he started Elite Race Management in Harford county with his brother-in-law. He cut his teeth managing Zombie races all over the country. We would not miss out twice. Will joined us for good in June 2017 and he manages Charm City Run Events. Dad to Aubrey, Henry and Joey, and husband to Jo. He likes trucks too and wants to deliver you the best race experience every weekend.

Lisa Dowling Costello, General Manager, Apparel (>35 years) - Lisa came to CCR when the store opened after Josh realized he was desperate for employees. Lisa and Josh had known each other since middle school (and even went to the same college) and when CCR opened, she started "helping out"a couple hours a week while their kids, Lilly and Ben, were in "school". The store was much smaller, as was the budget, but Josh's vision made it work and twenty years later, CCR is a force in the running community. Lisa currently holds the title of General Manager, Apparel. She is credited with creating the world famous Run Crab and Lisa loves seeing our logo out and about when she is traveling or just on the streets of Baltimore. She feels lucky to have been a part of something so special from the ground up and can't wait to see where CCR goes in the next decade!

When she is not tracking down shirts to logo or following the latest trend, Lisa can be found on a beach or spending time with her husband, Tom and daughter, Lilly. She also is the parent to an extremely misbehaved English bulldog named Bubba.

Kelly Maurer, Training Program Director (>7 years) -  Kelly was a swimmer and then a lax mom and longer distance runner. Kelly managed lacrosse tournaments for a while. She is a sane and much more put-together Forrest Gump. Kelly is the Coach of the Coaches and wants to bring the power of the run to as many Marylanders as she possibly can. No one believes in its powers more than Coach Maurer. Kelly cultivates spirit. Her trainees and coaches know how devoted she is. She is sweet and driven and believes in the mission. Kelly launched Medals for Mettle in our area. Ask her about it. Mom to Amelia and wife to Eric.

The Leaders

John Leonardis, Accessories Buyer (>4 years CCR, 7 years If the Shoe Fits) -was the manager of If The Shoe Fits before it became Charm City Run Frederick. John is a chef, runs a ton of miles in the watershed, and is dad to Amelia and husband to Siobhan. He has made Charm City Run a richer place to work and has added so much to the family. He likes to take people on runs, “get lost” and go twice as long as was originally intended.

Dawn Litrenta, Timonium Store Lead (>8 years) - was a personal trainer, field hockey coach and real estate broker that everyone knew except for me.  Dawn coaches the Timonium middle-distance groups and groupees and leads the Timonium store. Dawn’s training groups are borderline crazy about her.  Dawn loves the run and loves sharing it with others. Dawn is from Strong Island and pronounces Jeremy, “Germ-y.” She is mom to Bella, Sophia and Angelina (Lina).

Ben Pickett, Regional GM (>8 years) - Ben Pickett is the second half of the Brothers Pickett. Ben hails from Harford County and is a Patriot.  He was one of the best runners in the MIAA back in the day and he was certainly the best with one lung. An amazing kid. Quiet, smart, knowledgeable. He studied computer science than switched to accounting and then we talked him into a real career. Ben worked the Timonium store, lead it with Dawn and then we shipped him back home to run Bel Air. Ben is husband to Holly, a nurse who works the store when she can.

Josh Pickett, Amazon Lead (>11 years) - Josh joined Charm City Run back in 2011 when Brian was still managing the Bel Air store. Brian and Josh were running buddies for years, and Brian finally wore him down (it wasn't that hard). He then managed Bel Air for five years until his brother, Ben, took it over from him. Josh now runs our Amazon business. Outside of CCR, Josh loves to play and record music. He even built his own studio where he records himself and other local acts. He and his wife, Caitlin, live in Baltimore and love to travel. Although Josh isn't in the stores as often these days, he still loves to make the rounds when he can, and you will definitely catch him out at our races. 

Jessi Ceiri, Fells Point Store Lead (>4 years) - She follows in a long line of retired teachers that turned into running specialty retailers. She definitely has the most colorful hair and the best tattoos. Jessi is also a fantastic run coach for Charm City Run and if you need help going up to the 10K, check out her groups. Jessi is also a personal trainer and loves pizza and wine. When not at Charm City Run Jessi can be found training for obstacle course racing and hanging out with her three dogs and husband Tom. Tom is a Baltimore City Firefighter and Run to Remember Hero.

Bill Frazier, Annapolis Store Lead (>2 year) - Bill is one of our favorite outsiders who received his footwear knowledge and fit training on both coasts over the last 20 years. We are so excited to have him as part of the team. As an avid baseball player, he came to running as part of conditioning and fell in love while teaching his dog to run with him. Now you will find him chasing his daughter Harper on the trails and still lacing up his cleats weekly.

Matt Milner, Columbia Store Lead (>3 years) - Matt originally joined the Charm City Run team when he was hired as a part-time employee at the Locust Point store while he finished college. After a move to Ellicott City with his wife, Jenn, and twin boys, Joshua and Jakob, he began working in the Columbia store. This eventually blossomed into his current role as the Columbia store lead. He is passionate about running and is keenly interested in the technical aspects of footwear, apparel, and accessories. He is an Air Force veteran, where he served as a Munitions Systems Journeyman both domestically and overseas. He also has a background in music, having toured the country extensively as a part of a rock n roll band. He loves interacting with customers and loves running. He can be seen putting in miles on the rolling hills of Howard County on a daily basis.

Lauren English, Director of Marketing (>2 year) - is Top Gun enthusiast (even her oldest son's name is Maverick), who isn't afraid to take the highway to the danger zone if it means a marketing win. She has more than 15 years of experience in the marketing and communications fields spanning a wide variety of professional environments. She pairs her range of experience with a fierce can-do-attitude. And now she has finally gotten to follow her passion for running by joining Charm City Run as Director of Marketing. In her down time, she loves spending time with her husband Chris, and two boys, Maverick and Boden, running around Baltimore, and enjoying a cool glass of Pinot Grigio.

Deanthony White, Director of CCR Mobile and Brand Partnerships (>1 year) - DeAnthony’s passion for running has led him to join the energetic and knowledgeable team at Charm City Run. DeAnthony’s background in business development and sports marketing stems from tenures with Under Armour, UNC-Chapel Hill Athletics and slew of other well-known companies. Outside of work, DeAnthony enjoys exercising, attending music festivals, and trying out new foods & restaurants in the DC/Baltimore area. DeAnthony does a little of everything with CCR, from business development, brand awareness initiatives, events and leading the CCR Mobile Van experience to a city near you!

team members

EVENTS TEAM

We have built Charm City Run not one store at a time but one person at a time.  We have the privilege of watching these folks grow and develop all within the solid character with which they came to us.

Thanks to all of you who have supported us over the years.  We hope that you have been treated like a human being, gained some inspiration along the way and received service second-to-none.