The Co-op’s Strategic Planning Committee is now fully staffed and ready to get up to speed. On Tuesday, April 28, the council appointed four new members to the committee, bringing it to eight members. In keeping with Hunger Mountain Co-op’s emphasis on transparency and member participation, the council created slots not only for council members and management, but also for non-management employees and member-owners. Four initial committee members, appointed by the council in January, interviewed the 10 people who answered the call to join the committee. 

The new committee members are: 

Andrea Farmer | Co-op Front-End Assistant Manager & Member-Owner
Andrea combines experience in independent retail with a history of working in big-box stores. She is passionate about the community and kinship at the heart of locally owned businesses. 

Jes Mending | Co-op Member Services Assistant & Member-Owner
Jes brings an international perspective and professional experience across food service, healthcare, and handcrafts. They are dedicated to understanding and addressing the needs of diverse community members. 

Paul Ohlson | Member-Owner
Paul helped negotiate the land purchase for the store and designed both the original 1995 location and the 2005 expansion. His career has focused on creating opportunities for low-income Vermonters, including founding a company to help farmers save energy. 

Jacob Venter | Member-Owner
Jacob blends clinical psychiatry and business training to bridge health, food, and business strategy. He has extensive experience aligning organizational goals with community needs to improve access, well-being, and operational performance. 

The new members join committee co-chairs Jeff Roberts (Council Vice President) and Rita Ricketson (former two-term council member and instrumental in the vote for the 2008 expansion), General Manager Mary Mullally, and myself.  

The Co-op has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a consultant to lead and assist the committee; if you know of anyone who would be a good fit for this work, please contact General Manager Mary Mullally.

Ask us anything at the next Co-op Connects on Monday, May 11, 4:00 – 5:00 pm 

Mary and I will be holding our next almost-monthly “ask us anything” Co-op Connects session on Monday, May 11, 4:00 – 5:00 pm. Please join Mary, me, and council member Mark Seltzer to chat about the past, present, or future of the Co-op—or anything else on your mind. Look for us at the Demo station.  

The Wrap  

It’s time for hungry bears to come out of hibernation and start roaming our woods and fields, so let’s brush up on some bear facts! 

Q: What do you call bears with no ears?
A: b

—Carl Etnier, Council President

Do you have any questions or comments about the council? Do you know any jokes even faintly related to food and/or co-ops? Please email them to me!