- Hometown: Lombard
- Owner: 1
Why are you interested in serving on the Prairie Food Board of Directors?
As a co-founder of Prairie Food Co-op over 14 years ago, my dedication to this vision has never wavered. While my initial goal was to see PFC’s doors open, my commitment has grown to helping guide the co-op through the complex post-opening challenges many peer co-ops face. Through strong connections within the national food co-op community, I bring access to valuable insights and shared experiences that can help PFC succeed while avoiding common pitfalls.
At this pivotal moment, I am seeking to rejoin the board to support the co-op in strengthening its financial position through thoughtful, responsible decision-making. I believe there is an important opportunity to reassess recent directions, ensuring that our governance and operations consistently reflect core cooperative values such as collaboration, transparency, and member engagement. My goal is to contribute constructively to stabilizing and positioning PFC for long-term sustainability while honoring the principles on which it was founded.
What Does Prairie Food Co-op Mean to You?
Prairie Food Co-op means far more to me than just a grocery store—it represents years of shared effort to build something that brings lasting value to our community. As a co-founder, I was driven not only by the goal of opening a food co-op, but by the broader impact it could have: supporting local farmers and producers, keeping dollars circulating in the local economy, increasing access to high-quality and responsibly sourced food, and creating a space rooted in cooperative values.
Employment: Please tell us about your Past or Present Employment
I am proud to have served in the Army as a food service specialist, then spent 20 years in the restaurat industry, then entered the grocery industry and am now in IT. I was the first Store Manager when Sugar Beet Food Co-op opened in 2017 and followed that with experience as a Manager at Standard Market. I have been in the I.T. field for nearly 10 years now.
Volunteer: Membership/Affiliations/Leadership past and present
As a co-founder of Prairie Food Co-op, I have served as its first Board President and inaugural Outreach and Ownership (OO) Director, and have led outreach efforts for more than 12 years. My involvement has included planning and executing events, volunteering extensively, representing PFC at numerous community events and markets, managing social media and the newsletter, and coordinating initiatives such as door-hanger campaigns to build awareness and ownership.
In recent years, the board made the decision to transition away from the OO structure, despite my concerns about the timing and potential impact. I believe this shift has coincided with a period in which maintaining strong, experienced outreach has been especially important to supporting the co-op’s financial health and member engagement.
If given the opportunity to serve again, I am committed to rebuilding and leading a strong, volunteer-driven outreach team that complements and enhances current in-store marketing efforts, helping to reconnect with our community and strengthen long-term sustainability.
Which of the following areas do you have expertise?
Management, Fundraising, Marketing/Public Relations, Event Planning, Communications
What experience, education, and skills do you have that you feel will contribute to your effectiveness as a Prairie Food Director?
I co-founded Prairie Food Co-op and bring more than nine years of board service, including serving as the co-op’s first Board President. In addition, I served as the inaugural Outreach and Ownership (OO) Director and led outreach efforts for over 12 years, giving me a deep, practical understanding of both governance and day-to-day community engagement.
Through my long-standing involvement, I have built strong relationships with hundreds of PFC members and volunteers. This has given me a clear sense of our ownership base, what motivates participation, and how to effectively communicate the co-op’s mission in ways that drive engagement and growth.
Beyond PFC, in addition to my over 30 years of restaurant and grocery experience, I have been actively engaged in the national food co-op community for more than 13 years. These connections provide access to a broad network of shared knowledge, best practices, and lessons learned from co-ops across the country—insight that can help inform sound decision-making and avoid common challenges.
My experience combines leadership, governance, and hands-on outreach, along with a strong commitment to cooperative values. I believe this perspective allows me to contribute effectively to board discussions, support responsible financial oversight, and help strengthen the co-op’s connection to its members and the broader community.
What are your personal goals for Prairie Food Co-op?
My personal goal for Prairie Food Co-op is to help ensure its long-term sustainability by strengthening both its financial position and its connection to the community it serves. As a co-founder and long-time outreach leader, I believe the co-op thrives when it stays grounded in core cooperative values such as transparency, collaboration, and active member engagement.
I hope to contribute to thoughtful, responsible financial decision-making while supporting a reassessment of recent approaches to ensure they align with these principles. A key part of this effort is rebuilding a strong, volunteer-driven outreach program that complements in-store marketing, expands community awareness, and drives ownership growth.
Ultimately, my goal is to help position PFC not just to stabilize, but to grow in a way that reflects its founding mission and strengthens its role as a community-centered cooperative.
What experiences have you had with cooperatives, food or otherwise?
I co-founded PFC, have over 9 years of board service, and have been immersed in the national food cooperative community for over 13 years. I was also an early member and volunteer of Common Ground Food Co-op and the first front end manager for Sugar Beet Food Co-op.