My passion for local cuisine began in Portland Oregon. I moved to Portland for the thriving food and beer scene and general weirdness. I worked in various restaurants and brew pubs before embarking on a career in the film industry. 

After 7 years in the film industry I moved to Buffalo, NY to be closer to family. It was here that I reengaged with my love for food via my position as Assistant Manager at Lexington Co-op. I was in charge of product selection and merchandising for the grocery department and spent some time in produce as well. 

After a brief stint in graduate school I took over the Grocery Manager position at Syracuse Cooperative Market in Syracuse, NY. I worked to modernize the store’s approach to margin and product selection.

When the Syracuse Cooperative Market decided to open its first new location in 50 years, I was chosen to be Store Manager. The new store brought fresh, local products to a diverse community. We implemented a program called Double Up Food Bucks to make produce more affordable for SNAP/EBT users.

As a recent Chicago area resident, I am excited to bring my experience with food co-ops and the food industry to the opening of Prairie Food Co-op. All of my interactions with the Lombard community have shown a passion for food community building. I look forward to meeting more of the community as the co-op grows in the coming years.

In my spare time I enjoy traveling, cycling, and finding new places to eat in Chicago’s many wonderful neighborhoods.