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Our Team

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MELINDA KOENIGSBERG

DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER

Melinda brings her business talents with lots of love and practicality to the Inn at New Town Farms. Melinda earned her BA in psychology from Chapel Hill and went on to do graduate work in teaching at Winthrop University. She married her high school sweetheart Sammy, and became a Montessori teacher. Then along came her own 8 children all of which she homeschooled and raised while helping Sammy run New Town Farms. Melinda has since studied for her CFP at Queens University and gained her level 2 in wine studies from Wine and Spirits Educators Trust (WSET). She is looking forward to her next chapter at the Inn, and we are all very thankful she is on board.

SAMMY KOENIGSBERG

FARMER & CO-FOUNDER

Sammy is the founding farmer of New Town Farms. He received his bachelors of Architecture from UNC Charlotte in 1988. Soon after graduating he experienced a health crisis and a subsequent healing odyssey which landed him back on his family land in a garden working with the soil to produce nutrient dense, flavorful food that didn’t poison our land or our bodies. This health crisis came with an awakening to a health crisis in agriculture, food systems, and food in our age; and with that, a call to farming, educating, and food system reform. By God’s grace healing came and a new path began.

Sammy founded New Town Farms Organic in 1990 as an effort to redeem the blessing of food for health and enjoyment. He began New Town Farms Community Supported Agriculture in 1991. That same year Sammy helped found The Matthews Community Farmers Market; the first producer only farmers market in the Charlotte region. Throughout his life Sammy has loved and benefitted from the restorative powers of good food and good hospitality. When he began farming, the vision of taking the food he grew with so much care, artfully preparing it, and serving it to people on a beautiful farm became a passionate pursuit. Thirty years later this vision is coming to fruition, and Sammy looks forward to sharing his work in hope it is a blessing to you too.

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NOEY KOENIGSBERG-HOANG

GENERAL MANAGER

Noey was raised on New Town Farms and began farming from an early age.  She received her bachelor’s degree in Hotel and Lodging Management in 2012 from Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, NC and went on to work for Marriott International in various leadership roles. It was at Marriott that Noey met Chef Matthew Hoang in 2015, and they were married in 2021. Noey was also part of the opening team for Kimpton Hotels and Restaurant’s Tryon Park hotel in Charlotte, and worked as front office manager.

In 2018 Noey returned to the farm to help run the farming operation while completing her MBA. During this season Noey worked as a wedding planner’s assistant and managed several events on the farm. Noey is excited to be working with her family to grow the business, apply her management skills, and combine her passion for both farming and hospitality. The farm has a very special place in her heart, and she is looking forward to welcoming guests and hosting their events in this place that means so much to her. 

MATTHEW HOANG

EXECUTIVE CHEF

Chef Matt Hoang brings over 20 years of culinary experience to the Inn at New Town Farms. A Philadelphia native, he has been passionate about food since he was a young child cooking alongside his Sicilian grandmother. In the mid 90's his father's family moved to the states from Vietnam and he was deeply immersed in Vietnamese cuisine during that time. This upbringing led him to appreciate and love a diverse range of cuisines. 

Matt attended Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte where he obtained a degree in culinary arts.  Matt and Noey met while working together at The Charlotte Marriott City Center Hotel where Matt worked with many local farmers sourcing for Stoke Restaurant. Matt has held positions at  Merchant and Trade, The Ballantyne Hotel, and most recently was the opening Executive Chef of Indaco, Charlotte. Working on the farm has brought Matt closer to the source of his craft. His work in the garden and caring for the animals is deepening his work and joy as a chef.

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