Our People

The Chappell family of Kennebunk, Maine has an entrepreneurial heritage, best known by its flagship company, Tom’s of Maine.

Second generation Chappells are currently engaged in their own small businesses, carrying on family know-how and values. Other family members are involved in Ramblers Way Farm.

Tom Chappell, CEO, has attracted young and talented professionals to learn how to apply human and environmental values while growing a brand, market share, and profits. The methodology of managing common goodness and profits is described in Tom Chappell’s second book, Managing Upside Down.

Our people bring a passion to serve customers using our holistic set of values: unique product quality, social and environmental responsibility, and American made goods.

Tom Chappell

Founder, President, lifetime entrepreneur, author of business/ethics books, founder of Tom’s of Maine, environmentalist. Father of 5 children with Kate and grandfather of 9.

Kate Chappell

Co-founder of Tom’s of Maine and co-founder part owner of Ramblers Way Farm, grandmother of 9, poet, artist (katecheneychappell.com) plus select art on the website. Experience with product development, employee fairness and opportunity, customer service. Full time artist, maker of book art, watercolors, and printmaking. Published poet. She advises Tom on business life.

Eliza Chappell

Junior merchant, women’s line. Mother of 3, creative, an eye for fashion, and advocate for the consumer. She helps design and directs the women’s product line; helps with the creative in all messaging. Responsible for retail store (in the planning).

Nick Armentrout

Father of 3, grass farmer, and manager of an equine therapy non-profit with his wife, manages the wool supply and manufacturing process. Skilled in sustainability practices, Nick manages our relationship with our sustainability partner, Clean Air, Cool Planet. Also a junior merchant in the men’s product line.

Rosanne Chessie

Mother of 2, and head of Administration, Human Resources, Purchasing, and Customer Service, started with Tom at the outset of Ramblers Way and brought years of previous experience working with Tom at Tom’s of Maine. Rosanne’s administrative skills help expand and empower the entrepreneurial energy of the company. She also heads up Kate and Tom’s personal philanthropy.