2024 Board of Directors Candidates

Why would you like to serve on the Board? What makes governance meaningful to you and how will your values align with the Co-op's Ends?

I would like to serve on the Board to give back to the community. I hope to listen to owners and represent concerns. I believe in the great possibilities of a co-operatively owned and governed organization. I believe a cooperatively governed organization can further purposes that other organizations cannot. I am passionate about the sustainability of local food in Champaign Urbana and making local food accessible to more people. I hope to further the end of the co-op for a vibrant, inclusive community. I believe the Board can help make the co-op a great place to shop and to work!

We know that potential Board members may have past experiences serving on Boards in other leadership roles, and within the community. What professional skills will you bring to our Board? Share any relevant leadership experience.

I am an biomedical engineer by profession with experience in business and management.  I will bring my business background into evaluating financial numbers. My experience reading through financial documents will be helpful in interpreting various board documents. In my past few years on the common ground food co-op board, I have served as treasurer and vice president. As treasurer, I've used my skills to help create documents for easily interpreting fiscal information. As vice president, I've used my organizational skills run meetings and provide leadership to committees. I hope to bring that experience and leadership into another term on the board. 

What do you hope to get from the experience of being on the Board? What do you hope you will learn about yourself?

I hope to listen to owners and represent them well. I wish to work together with like minded people to help our co-op and community. I will contribute to making the co-op a great place to shop as well as an excellent place to work. I hope to learn more about our local food vendors and producers. I believe through being on the Board I can learn more about how our local food scene is intertwined with other aspects of our community. I hope to learn more about my strengths and weaknesses as a board member and person. I hope to learn from others their skills and viewpoints from their life experience and profession as we all work together for our community.

How will you help the Board balance the needs of upholding our Ends, planning for the future of our community-owned cooperative and monitoring the operations of our grocery store?

I will help the Board remain future oriented and plan for the difficulties in the current financial environment. With food inflation increasing drastically in the last few years, there will be many obstacles for the co-op in the future. There will be uncertainty in the coming years but I believe the Ends are guiding guardrails for the purpose of the co-op. I believe the Board must not lose sight of the Ends especially during times of difficulty. I will help the Board stay focused on our ends as a co-op.

Why would you like to serve on the Board? What makes governance meaningful to you and how will your values align with the Co-op’s Ends?

As a person with cerebral palsy, the opportunity to govern would give me the voice to be able to showcase how accessible the co-op is.  Furthermore, highlighting the success the store has already achieved and the acceptance it provides.  The resources provided by the co-op ensures that families and individuals have the items they need to be able to be sustain healthy lifestyles and know that they have a place where they can be accepted and cared for.  My voice and unique perspective will inhabit those values.

We know that potential Board members may have past experiences serving on Boards in other leadership roles, and within our community. What professional skills will you bring to our Board? Share any relevant leadership experience.

 I pride myself on good communication because being a person with a physical disability communication is everything in terms of making a good first impression as well as being valued and understood in our society.  Communication is a key part of my role as a hotel receptionist for the I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center.  Without good communication individuals who are choosing to have their conferences at my employer, would not be able to have the effective tools needed for their businesses to succeed.In addition to my current role, I have previous leadership experience working for Big Grove Tavern in which I was their main point of cell person were effective communication was needed at all times throughout a high volume restaurant.  In my mind, being an effective communicator and active listener makes me a prominent candidate for being a good leader on the board.

What do you hope to get from the experience of being on the Board? What do you hope you will learn about yourself?

Being on the board would allow me to be a more active part of my community that I have adored for so long.  Time on the board would also allow me a good opportunity to engage with the community on a higher level, which I have not yet had the chance to do.  What I hope to learn about myself is that not only am I strong and capable leader, but the leadership I provide brings positive changes to an already supportive community and business.  I thrive in situations where I can build connection and growth and being a part of a team, such as the board would allow me to expand my own knowledge as well as share the knowledge I have with other people.

How will you help the Board balance the needs of upholding our Ends, planning for the future of our community-owned cooperative and monitoring the operations of our grocery store?

The Ends of the cooperative align with the world I would like to inhabit, one that is inclusive to all and provides the resources and education the community needs to take care of themselves, their families and those surrounding them. My excellent communication skills and the ability to connect with others would be an asset in keeping the cooperative aware of what our members and community members need and what they would like to see in the future. I offer new energy and a willingness to take on new projects and learn new skills to see where I am needed the most.

Why would you like to serve on the Board? What makes governance meaningful to you and how will your values align with the Co-op's Ends?

I am eager to serve on the Board to contribute to the growth and sustainability of Common Ground Food Co-op. Governance is meaningful to me because it provides a structured way to make impactful decisions that benefit our community. My values of inclusivity, sustainability, and community empowerment align closely with the Co-op's Ends. I am committed to fostering an equitable local food movement, serving as an educational resource, and strengthening the cooperative movement. By leveraging my skills in strategic planning and community engagement, I aim to support Common Ground in creating positive, lasting change.

We know that potential Board members may have past experiences serving on Boards in other leadership roles, and within our community. What professional skills will you bring to our Board? Share any relevant leadership experience.

I bring a wealth of professional skills and leadership experience that will benefit the Common Ground Food Co-op Board. As the Director of the Environmental Geology graduate programs at the University of Illinois, I have developed strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills. In this role, I lead collaborative projects, develop curriculum, and engage with diverse stakeholders, all of which are transferable to Board governance. Additionally, I advise students in the Earth Science and Environmental Sustainability major, fostering their growth and understanding of environmental issues.

I also have significant experience as an Engineering Geologist and consultant, where I developed expertise in strategic planning, financial analysis, and risk management. This background has honed my ability to make informed, data-driven decisions and manage complex initiatives effectively.

In the community, I have been actively involved in various educational and environmental organizations, often taking on leadership roles to drive projects forward. My experience includes organizing events, facilitating workshops, and advocating for sustainable practices.

Moreover, I am passionate about fostering inclusive and vibrant communities. My commitment to equity and sustainability aligns with Common Ground's mission, and I am dedicated to using my skills to support the Co-op's goals. By bringing my background in education, strategic planning, and community engagement, I aim to contribute to the continued success and growth of Common Ground Food Co-op.

What do you hope to get from the experience of being on the Board? What do you hope you will learn about yourself?

From the experience of being on the Common Ground Food Co-op Board, I hope to deepen my understanding of cooperative governance and community-driven initiatives. I aim to contribute meaningfully to the Co-op’s mission while gaining insights into effective policy-making and strategic planning in a cooperative setting. This role will allow me to collaborate with like-minded individuals who are passionate about sustainability, inclusivity, and local food systems, further enriching my professional and personal growth.

I also look forward to learning about the unique challenges and opportunities faced by the Co-op and its members, which will enhance my ability to support and advocate for community-focused initiatives. Engaging with diverse perspectives and working towards common goals will be a rewarding experience, fostering my skills in leadership, communication, and collaboration.

Through this journey, I hope to learn more about my strengths and areas for growth. I expect to discover new ways to leverage my background in environmental geology and education to benefit the community. Additionally, I hope to gain a deeper appreciation for the cooperative movement and its impact on local and global scales. Ultimately, I aim to become a more effective advocate for sustainable and equitable practices within our community.

How will you help the Board balance the needs of upholding our Ends, planning for the future of our community-owned cooperative and monitoring the operations of our grocery store?

I will help the Board balance these needs by actively listening to our community, fostering open communication, and ensuring our Ends guide all decisions. I will collaborate with fellow Board members to plan for the future by prioritizing sustainability, inclusivity, and community education. By maintaining transparency and accountability, I will ensure our grocery store operations align with our mission. My approach will focus on community engagement, thoughtful planning, and continuous improvement to support the growth and success of our cooperative.

Why would you like to serve on the Board? What makes governance meaningful to you and how will your values align with the Co-op’s Ends?

I have felt renewed and energized in the past by serving on non-profit boards that were community facing.  My prior experience has included serving on four different boards that were focused on inclusion and support for individuals, especially kids, with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities.  As someone who had two parents that grew up on farms outside small towns, the prospect of serving in a capacity that will help the Chambana community expand its access to quality food is extremely appealing.  Common Ground's commitment to DEI is one reason I am applying as my daughter happens to have Down Syndrome.

We know that potential Board members may have past experiences serving on Boards in other leadership roles, and within our community. What professional skills will you bring to our Board? Share any relevant leadership experience.

I have served as Secretary for two different boards, and as both Vice President and President of my church council.  I am an attorney by trade, with a particular focus on corporate law, including corporate governance.  I spent many years doing international securities legal work, which required me to become extremely familiar with financial statements and have spent the last 2+ years on a non-profit that needed substantial work cleaning up its chart of accounts.

What do you hope to get from the experience of being on the Board? What do you hope you will learn about yourself?

My Board service to date has been (1) disability engagement and support; (2) early childhood education; (3) homeless job and life training; and (4) church council.  I am hoping that I can engage in a completely new space where my skills might prove useful.

How will you help the Board balance the needs of upholding our Ends, planning for the future of our community-owned cooperative and monitoring the operations of our grocery store?

My background has taught me a great deal about strategic planning, how to implement it and recognizing when to step back and compare a proposed resolution in light of an organization's end goals.  I would like to work with the existing Directors to engage with our members to be proactive to identify areas of growth that the community feels would best serve its needs.

Why would you like to serve on the Board? What makes governance meaningful to you and how will your values align with the Co-op's Ends?

I have over 50 year history of life-long commitment to healthy eating and lifestyle and respect for the earth.  I want to be part of an operation that brings good products and services to others.  I am a long time shopper & owner of Common Ground.

We know that potential Board members may have past experiences serving on Boards in other leadership roles, and within our community. What professional skills will you bring to our Board? Share any relevant leadership experience.

I was a founder of Strawberry Fields Natural Food Store, 1974.

I served on the City of Champaign Neighborhood Services Advisory Board, c. 1991 – 2016.

Though a therapist by profession, I have a strong background in accounting and business.

As a retiree, I work as a freelance writer for a wide variety of publications.

What do you hope to get from the experience of being on the Board? What do you hope you will learn about yourself?

I pride myself in being able to engage with people who are different and have opposing views form me on some issues and we always get along.  I see this as an opportunity to interact with people of various ages and opinions.

How will you help the Board balance the needs of upholding our Ends, planning for the future of our community-owned cooperative and monitoring the needs of our grocery store?

I have a solid sense of integrity and an open mind, good perspective and generally am a good analytic decision maker.

Why would you like to serve on the Board? What makes governance meaningful to you and how will your values align with the Co-op’s Ends?

I would like to serve on the Board to contribute my time and skills towards building a strong, inclusive community. To me, governance means having a hand in creating something lasting and meaningful through working collaboratively to support the cooperative movement. I have much to learn about how to collectively support a local, environmentally-friendly food infrastructure, but I believe it is vital to our community’s health in the 21st century. I’m also committed to providing education on food resources and equitable access to nutrition, as demonstrated by my experience with a food insecurity project addressing University of Illinois students. 

We know that potential Board members may have past experiences serving on Boards in other leadership roles, and within our community. What professional skills will you bring to our Board? Share any relevant leadership experience.

I served as President and Seminar Coordinator for UIUC’s biology graduate student organization. As Coordinator, I recruited speakers to address the needs of the students and tripled seminar attendance from 2018 to 2019 through direct engagement with the student community. As President in 2021-22, I managed the leadership council during the transition to in-person activities, including deciding safety policies to implement, and supervised the annual recruiting weekend planning committee.

I served as Treasurer of a graduate student organization at East Tennessee State University in 2014-15, overseeing a budget committee and making final decisions for allocating a $12,500 budget for research travel grant applications. 

During COVID, I volunteered for a WeCU project researching food insecurity issues faced by university students. I summarized the main interventions that were successful at other universities and used that to inform the development of an educational program to offer through on-campus housing. 

My current job as a university technology manager requires communicating between sectors: understanding cutting-edge innovations coming out of UIUC laboratories, distilling extensive scientific research into concise marketing summaries, and negotiating license agreements with companies interested in using university technology. This also requires evaluating commercial potential and being strategic with university resources.

What do you hope to get from the experience of being on the Board? What do you hope you will learn about yourself?

I believe in acting locally while thinking globally. I hope to gain a deeper understanding of what we can do in Central Illinois to promote our unique food movement. By serving on the Board, I hope to learn how successful cooperatives balance sustainability with economic viability while supporting the local community, and what we can all do in our city to bring about the greatest good. 

On a personal level, I hope this experience helps me grow as a leader who can effectively advocate for sustainability and inclusivity. I’m looking forward to further developing the skill of navigating complex decisions when needing to balance the needs of a diverse group of people. Ultimately, I want to see how I can contribute to making our Co-op not just a grocery store, but a thriving community resource that fosters connection, supports local farmers, and champions environmental stewardship.

How will you help the Board balance the needs of upholding our Ends, planning for the future of our community-owned cooperative and monitoring the operations of our grocery store?

I’ll help the Board by using my communication skills to ensure clear, open dialogue between Owners and the wider community, ensuring our Ends remain central to all decisions. I hope to use my experience with making strategic economic decisions to ensure the Co-Op’s operations are both responsible and forward-thinking. I’m committed to strengthening the store as a hub for education on food issues and a leader in sustainable practices, all while promoting inclusivity and resilience. 

Why would you like to serve on the Board? What makes governance meaningful to you and how will your values align with the Co-op’s Ends?

I have served on the board now for several years and greatly enjoyed being able to offer my perspective as somebody working on the floor, as well as gaining more insight into the store's operations from the point of view of a director. 

We know that potential Board members may have past experiences serving on Boards in other leadership roles, and within our community. What professional skills will you bring to our Board? Share any relevant leadership experience.

My day-to-day experience working in the coop helps me interpret things like financial reports into what that looks like in action in the store. I have been manager of the produce department for nearly a year now, leading the department through significant sales growth in the past calendar year, and this supervisory role has given me greater perspective on ways the board can help guide Common Ground into a positive direction. 

What do you hope to get from the experience of being on the Board? What do you hope you will learn about yourself?

Being on the board has taught me a lot about the overall operations and state of the coop, as well as the cooperative movement more broadly. If given the opportunity to serve for another term, I look forward to the chance to learn more and grow further into the position to better serve our owners as we approach the challenges of the next three years. 

How will you help the Board balance the needs of upholding our Ends, planning for the future of our communityowned cooperative and monitoring the operations of our grocery store?

I am currently in my ninth (non-consecutive) year of being an employee of CGFC, and have worked in several departments and roles in that time. I am passionate about our ends as well as the principles of the cooperative movement. In my time running Produce, I have helped work towards a turnaround of what I imagine many of our owners view as a keystone part of our store. In the same way that I hope to continue contributing to the ongoing success and growth of our store from the operational side, I would love to keep serving our owners as a Director, using my experience and enthusiasm to lead our store forwards. 

Why would you like to serve on the Board? What makes governance meaningful to you and how will your values align with the Co-op's Ends?

Good, local food is a large part of why I decided to move back to Champaign in 2020, and I have always admired our community's commitment to both supporting our local food production and working to make sure that low-income and vulnerable populations have access to that food. I think food cooperatives stand at the intersection of ecological, economic, health, and community justice. All people deserve access to safe, nutritious food which is produced as sustainably as possible.

We know that potential Board members may have past experiences serving on Boards in other leadership roles, and within our community. What professional skills will you bring to our Board? Share any relevant leadership experience.

I currently serve as volunteer key staff and personnel liaison for U-C Books to Prisoners. I am also a member of the personnel committee of the Independent Media Center. In these positions, I have learned quite a lot about personnel supervision and management, including navigating the complications that can arrive when a paid employee reports to a team of volunteers. I believe leadership should be approached as a form of service, not a position of authority.

In my professional life, I worked for 8 years at the Water Quality Association in 3rd party regulatory testing for water treatment products, including residential filters, bottled water, and beverage-grade CO2. I am knowledgeable about various government and non-governmental regulatory agencies and how to interpret and verify certification claims.

I currently work for the General Services Administration of the federal government, where I maintain internal policies and work to streamline processes and ensure they are written in plain, accessible language.

What do you hope to get from the experience of being on the Board? What do you hope you will learn about yourself?

I hope that joining the Board will give me an opportunity to further engage in my community and learn more about the individuals and groups doing the work of food justice. I also look forward to working on a formal Board for the first time (Books to Prisoners is informal) and learning how to navigate that structure. Mostly, I feel that I have skills that could benefit Common Ground, an institution that I admire, and feel the need to serve.

How will you help the Board balance the needs of upholding our Ends, planning for the future of our community-owned cooperative and monitoring the operations of our grocery store?

I believe that mission and values statements are only valuable so long as they are consistently and continually referred back to throughout every stage of decision-making. In planning for future initiatives, the Board should be asking itself, "Which of our Ends does this initiative serve? Does it threaten or violate any of our Ends?" For instance, new projects to provide education about food may be serving End #3, but are they accounting for End #1, to create an inclusive community? How can we ensure these programs are as inclusive as possible?

Above all, we must ensure that these initiatives and values are serving and not impeding the operations of the store, which is after all the center of that vibrant community.

Why would you like to serve on the Board? What makes governance meaningful to you and how will your values align with the Co-op’s Ends?

I’ve been involved with food co-ops since my college years, but never on the Board. For the first time in a while, I’m not serving on any other Boards and am delighted to give that time here. Local food systems have never been more important than they are now, and Great Harvest is an integral part of both the local community and the local food system. 

We know that potential Board members may have past experiences serving on Boards in other leadership roles, and within our community. What professional skills will you bring to our Board? Share any relevant leadership experience.

Before opening my small business, I managed departments and led teams, eventually becoming a university administrator. I’ve also served on many executive boards over the years, including the Potsdam Food Co-op. In addition I ran for City Council in Reno, NV, during the pandemic, after serving on a number of government boards and committees. I understand the nature of co-ops, how executive boards work, and community engagement. In fact, community engagement has been the defining hallmark of my adult life, and that Is probably my biggest strength. I’ve worked with a number of different communities; as a librarian, I was deeply engaged with distinct university populations; as an organizer, activist, and a lobbyist, I helped establish goals and priorities and enact them, and persuaded elected officials to sign on to them; I’ve served on professional associations, committees, and Boards to set priorities and accomplish goals, and improve professional experiences for members. I’ve served on synagogue social activism committees and co-op boards. Leadership in organizations working to better people’s lived experiences is an essential part of who I am.

What do you hope to get from the experience of being on the Board? What do you hope you will learn about yourself?

While this is my third time living in CU, my 2022 mid-pandemic relocation here has been lonely. I honestly hope that serving on the Board will not only allow me to serve a role for the good of the community, but will allow me to better integrate into the community and to meet people while helping strengthen the co-op End of being the center of an inclusive, vibrant community. I also hope this experience will provide direction for my deep interest in foodways, food culture, and food history

How will you help the Board balance the needs of upholding our Ends, planning for the future of our communityowned cooperative and monitoring the operations of our grocery store?

By paying attention. I’m not sure there is another way; no one wants a crusading Board member, coming in with a plan. I am interested in the ways the co-op meets the needs of lower income residents, how it fits into the larger grocery environment, and in expanding the number of farmers who work with the co-op. But those are simply areas I want to pay attention to. The Board, the staff, and the membership have informed contributions to make that also must be listened to.