Staff

KIm Lawson - owner

Kim is the owner of Fishpaws Marketplace and is responsible for all the day-to-day operations of the business. She practically cut her eyeteeth on the liquor and wine industry. (Her father has been in the business since 1968.) Kim grew up experiencing her family’s European attitude towards wine; that wine is a beverage to be consumed with food, an adjunct and a complement to any meal. During her years at Fishpaws, Kim has traveled throughout the wine regions of California, the East Coast, and Europe. She also attended VinExpo in Bordeaux. She has attended many classes and seminars on wine, spirits and beers and has educated and refined her palate with extensive tasting of all types of beer, wines and spirits from all over the world. Kim has even taught a class on wine at Anne Arundel Community College.

Kim is a principal member of Fishpaws tasting team but her personal passion is customer service. Kim is dedicated to having the best customer service possible. 

Kim’s formal education consists of a bachelor’s degree from Salisbury State University in Business & Marketing. Kim has been active for many years with the Anne Arundel County Licensed Beverage Association as an officer and board member. She is also a member of the Maryland State Licensed Beverage Association and the Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce and active with BWMC Foundation.  Kim was selected as Retailer of The Year by The National Association of Beverage Retailers in 1996 and again in 2016.  And in 2014, Kim with Fishpaws Marketplace was chosen as the US Small Business Administration’s Family Owned Small Business for Maryland.

Teri Schroeter - General Manager & Event Coordinator

Teri has spent her career orchestrating private parties and events for high end clientele and celebrities including political figures, the White House Press Corp, professional athletes, musicians, movie stars and fashion designers both domestically and internationally.

She is an event coordinator that is well versed in all aspects of the project from start to finish and enjoys thinking outside the box, taking pride in executing each event to maximum potential. Clients trust her ideas and execution and as well as planning and providing all of the food, beverage and décor for the events, she has also been there to host the parties adding an extra layer of comfort for the customer.

Teri Pheobus - Certified Cheese Specialist & Gourmet Food Manager

A Native of Hawaii, Teri grew up enjoying what we mainlanders call esoteric food. For fifteen years, she worked in the restaurant industry in Annapolis as a bartender for Carrol's Creek Cafe. After moving back to Hawaii, Teri became the Cheese Buyer for Whole Foods Market. Teri became the first Certified Cheese Professional in the State of Hawaii; that would be one of 750 in the United States. In case you didn't know, A Certified Cheese Professional is on the same level as a Master Sommelier and a Master Cicerone. Now, Teri is back in Maryland, serving as the Cheese Manager at Fishpaws.

Teri's training included Study at the University of Wisconsin Center for Diary Research. Her travels to many specialty cheese making locales to visit and make a variety of Cheeses such as Italy (Parmigiano Reggiano), Vermont (Jasper Hill Cellars), Petaluma, CA. (Cowgirl Creamery), Pt Reyes, CA. (Pt. Reyes Creamery), Sebastapol, CA (Redwood Hill Creamery), Wisconsin (Emmi Roth) and Sonoma County, CA. (Laura Chenel).

Besides being a turophile, Teri's interests and hobbies are cooking, trail running, fishing, boating and travel.  Are your interests in the exciting arena of Cheese pairing and taste? Interested in really complimenting your dinners, parties, hors d’oeuvres and appetizers? Ask her about her Wedding Cake designs made from cheese wheels, or just come in and talk Cheese!

Van McLaughlin - Wine Manager

After a couple years serving in the Army Van got his start in the wine industry running a small shop in downtown Boston, MA. Here his interest in the world of wine developed from curiosity to near obsession.  He brings a wealth of knowledge having been in the industry for nearly a decade in roles ranging from retail and restaurants, to importing and distribution. Before making the move to Maryland in August 2020 he was a  manager for Gordon’s Fine Wine which is one of the premier wine merchants in the country. He is currently studying the Diploma level of the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) which is the fourth and final level of certification and the stepping stone to becoming a Master of Wine. When not helping customers find the perfect wine at Fishpaws Van enjoys sailing, soccer, and hanging out with his cats Loki and Cinnamon.

Charlie Oxendine - Beer Manager

Born and raised in Maryland, while spending time in North Carolina and New York City, Charlie has spent the past eight years heavily involved in the beer industry. He has held many different roles in the beer industry beginning with wrapping pallets, working as a brewery representative before moving over to the wholesaler side which is where he was able to become a Certified Cicerone® , along with other gaining other certifications along the way. Prior to beer, he attended Frostburg State University where he received a bachelors degree in Law and Criminal Justice along with becoming a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. He is a wealth of knowledge and loves talking about beer so please come and ask away! He is excited to meet you.