• Owner: 108

Why are you interested in serving on the Prairie Food Board of Directors?

Now that our children are grown and on their own, I now have the capacity to give back to community and be more involved. With the 25+ years of consulting leadership experience coupled with my passion for small business and responsible food supply I feel compelled to serve. I have been an HOA board president and understand the commitment and the challenges which come with serving on a board of directors. 

It is important that the PFC board reflects the community it serves. As a family with diverse backgrounds, ethnically, religiously, politically and professionally, I feel I would effectively represent a voice for a market segment which may be somewhat underrepresented. Additionally, my professional experience as a DEI lead in corporate America is powered by my firm beliefs that inclusion and representation are paramount to any organization's success.

Employment: Please tell us about your Past or Present Employment 

I'm currently a Practice Lead for Data & AI at Avanade, Inc, which is a child company of Microsoft and Accenture. I lead over 300 people across the US with varying backgrounds, experiences and belief systems and am known as the Chief Inspiration Officer. I've built a personal brand within the company and my industry which represents strong and fair people leadership and empowerment.

On the more technical side, I do have over 25+ years of technology experience in the Data & AI space, which covers everything from hands on development to solution architecture to program management. I manage a portfolio yielding over $220M in revenue/year.

Volunteer: Membership/Affiliations past and present

Westfield Square Homeowners Association - Board President, Board Member

Natya Dance Theatre - Parent Lead for events and performances

Chicago Public Schools - Several career fairs on behalf of Avanade, Inc.

Junior Achievement - College Fair representative for Avanade, Inc.

Which of the following areas do you have expertise?

Management, Event Planning, Communications, Technology

What experience, education, and skills do you have that you feel will contribute to your effectiveness as a Prairie Food Director? 

I've been a business leader for over 10 years and come from an entreprenuerial family. I was raised in my parents' retail business in Chicago. I have extensive retail experience throughout my life...and it's a part of my DNA. Intuitive business acumen, accounting best practices, project management, technology management.

What are your personal goals for Prairie Food Co-op?

My personal goal for PFC is to create a community around the food supply in our local area and promote healthy eating and responsible food sourcing. Raising awareness through education of the issues our food supply faces in this country today and what we can do as a local community to protect ourselves. Eventually, develop an expansion plan for both physical footprint of the business but also product offerings.

What experiences have you had with food co-ops in the past?

I'm a home chef who focuses on organic cooking. A lot of research goes into how I nourish my family. I have helped my cousin grow her restaurant in Massachusetts through process improvement, recipe and menu development, ingredient sourcing and supply chain. I also implemented an automated PoS system for them to streamline order taking and the kitchen operations.