Governance

Your ideas, suggestions, and feedback are represented by up to nine elected member-owners who govern the Co-op.

Meet Your 2023 Council

The council is responsible for communicating with member-owners, overseeing the general manager, and establishing policies, among other governance functions.

Eva Schectman

Eva Schectman

Council President (2019–21, 2022–24)

I graduated from Goddard College in 1987 and have lived in Montpelier ever since. I've been a member of the Co-op for thirty years. I want to represent values that I think many Co-op members share; putting people ahead of profits; looking out for vulnerable members of the community and making a difference by engaging in the democratic process.
802) 229-2766

Jennifer Porrier

Jennifer Porrier

Council Vice President (2021, 2022–24)

As a life-long Vermonter I am deeply committed to the Co-op’s mission of local ownership and providing a retail outlet for our local farmers and providers. Joining the council is an opportunity for me to turn my passion for Vermont and our community into concrete action in the form of bringing together the needs of each to satisfy the whole.
(802) 488-0279

Steven Farnham

Steven Farnham

Council Secretary (2015–17, 2018–20, 2021–23)

I'll endeavor to expand and broaden channels of communication between Co-op Member-Owners and management, because I believe effective communication is key to Member-Owner satisfaction, which, in turn is key to harmonious relations amongst all involved.
(802) 917-2581

Julia Scheier

Julia Scheier

Council Treasurer (2022, 2023–25)

I have worked in Vermont’s agricultural sector since 2015, both at Salvation Farms in Morrisville and at the Agency of Agriculture. My experience has informed a deep respect for all aspects of the supply chain that brings local, nutritious food to Vermonters. I appreciate Hunger Mountain Co-op’s values of strengthening the local food system and I am thrilled to be on the council.
(508) 667-072

RJ Adler

RJ Adler

Council Member (2021, 2022–23)

In 2020 I moved to Montpelier from Middlebury, where among other things, I sat on the Middlebury Co-op Board for six years, served as vice president for two years, and led strategic sub-committees on defining the mission, most notably. I would bring my entrepreneurial spirit, and understanding of policy governance to the Co-op board.
(802) 458-7194

Lauren Antler

Lauren Antler

Council Member (2022-2024)

As a business owner, comedian, parent, and community member, I will bring creative problem solving, community engagement expertise, a sense of humor, a commitment to maintaining a local food supply and tangible experience in board operations to the Co-op Council. Plus, a real passion for the bulk section.

Catherine Lowther

Catherine Lowther

Council Member (2021–2023)

I grow food organically and have been a Co-op member since 1989. I taught climate change at Goddard and practiced psychotherapy, health counseling and conflict resolution. I'm on the board of the Sustainable Montpelier Coalition and was a mentor in Al Gore’s Climate Reality Training. As a member of the council, I help the Co-op pursue sustainability.
(802) 272-0349

Ashley Muscarella

Council Member (2023–2025)

I believe food cooperatives are the sustainable grocery option for local communities. Hunger Mountain Co-op should continue promoting local agriculture, reduced waste grocery shopping, and ensuring low- and moderate-income families can belong and shop sustainably at the Co-op.
(724) 591-2409

Jeff Roberts

Jeff Roberts

Council Member (2022, 2023–25)

I joined the Co-op in 1995 and it immediately became an integral part of my life. As a dedicated Hunger Mountain Co-op and farmers’ market shopper and advocate for local food, I admire the ingenuity, hard work and perseverance of farmers, growers and retailers and appreciate deeply the daily challenges they address to put food on our tables.
(802) 223-0248

Kari Bradley

Kari Bradley

General Manager

A central Vermont native, Kari has worked in the natural foods retail industry for 25 years, the last 18 as General Manager of Hunger Mountain Cooperative.
(802) 262-3219

Genevieve Cambron

Staff Representative

I work in bulk, wellness, and receiving. I am here to communicate the perspective of my co-workers with the council, and bring information from the council to them. All this to ensure that we all are on the same page, working together to make this cooperative, employees and community thrive. Let’s exchange to find dynamic solutions and turn challenges into healthy opportunities.
(802) 829-8623

Eva Schectman

Eva Schectman

Council President (2019–21, 2022–24)

I graduated from Goddard College in 1987 and have lived in Montpelier ever since. I've been a member of the Co-op for thirty years. I want to represent values that I think many Co-op members share; putting people ahead of profits; looking out for vulnerable members of the community and making a difference by engaging in the democratic process.
802) 229-2766

Jennifer Porrier

Jennifer Porrier

Council Vice President (2021, 2022–24)

As a life-long Vermonter I am deeply committed to the Co-op’s mission of local ownership and providing a retail outlet for our local farmers and providers. Joining the council is an opportunity for me to turn my passion for Vermont and our community into concrete action in the form of bringing together the needs of each to satisfy the whole.
(802) 488-0279

Steven Farnham

Steven Farnham

Council Secretary (2015–17, 2018–20, 2021–23)

I'll endeavor to expand and broaden channels of communication between Co-op Member-Owners and management, because I believe effective communication is key to Member-Owner satisfaction, which, in turn is key to harmonious relations amongst all involved.
(802) 917-2581

Julia Scheier

Julia Scheier

Council Treasurer (2022, 2023–25)

I have worked in Vermont’s agricultural sector since 2015, both at Salvation Farms in Morrisville and at the Agency of Agriculture. My experience has informed a deep respect for all aspects of the supply chain that brings local, nutritious food to Vermonters. I appreciate Hunger Mountain Co-op’s values of strengthening the local food system and I am thrilled to be on the council.
(508) 667-072

RJ Adler

RJ Adler

Council Member (2021, 2022–23)

In 2020 I moved to Montpelier from Middlebury, where among other things, I sat on the Middlebury Co-op Board for six years, served as vice president for two years, and led strategic sub-committees on defining the mission, most notably. I would bring my entrepreneurial spirit, and understanding of policy governance to the Co-op board.
(802) 458-7194

Lauren Antler

Lauren Antler

Council Member (2022-2024)

As a business owner, comedian, parent, and community member, I will bring creative problem solving, community engagement expertise, a sense of humor, a commitment to maintaining a local food supply and tangible experience in board operations to the Co-op Council. Plus, a real passion for the bulk section.

Catherine Lowther

Catherine Lowther

Council Member (2021–2023)

I grow food organically and have been a Co-op member since 1989. I taught climate change at Goddard and practiced psychotherapy, health counseling and conflict resolution. I'm on the board of the Sustainable Montpelier Coalition and was a mentor in Al Gore’s Climate Reality Training. As a member of the council, I help the Co-op pursue sustainability.
(802) 272-0349

Ashley Muscarella

Council Member (2023–2025)

I believe food cooperatives are the sustainable grocery option for local communities. Hunger Mountain Co-op should continue promoting local agriculture, reduced waste grocery shopping, and ensuring low- and moderate-income families can belong and shop sustainably at the Co-op.
(724) 591-2409

Jeff Roberts

Jeff Roberts

Council Member (2022, 2023–25)

I joined the Co-op in 1995 and it immediately became an integral part of my life. As a dedicated Hunger Mountain Co-op and farmers’ market shopper and advocate for local food, I admire the ingenuity, hard work and perseverance of farmers, growers and retailers and appreciate deeply the daily challenges they address to put food on our tables.
(802) 223-0248

Kari Bradley

Kari Bradley

General Manager

A central Vermont native, Kari has worked in the natural foods retail industry for 25 years, the last 18 as General Manager of Hunger Mountain Cooperative.
(802) 262-3219

Genevieve Cambron

Staff Representative

I work in bulk, wellness, and receiving. I am here to communicate the perspective of my co-workers with the council, and bring information from the council to them. All this to ensure that we all are on the same page, working together to make this cooperative, employees and community thrive. Let’s exchange to find dynamic solutions and turn challenges into healthy opportunities.
(802) 829-8623

Review Committee Charters

View our most current committee charters. Committee charters are reviewed, approved, and updated annually.

Join a Committee

Are you a member interested in joining a committee?

Council Committees

Council committees are charged with making recommendations to the Co-op Council. Current committees consist of the Annual Meeting Committee; Ballot Committee; Bylaws Committee; Communications Committee; Executive Committee; General Manager Evaluation and Contract Committee; Hunger Mountain Cooperative Community Fund (HMCCF) Committee; Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee; Recruitment Committee; Sustainability Committee; and the Work In Progress (WIP) Committee.

At the Co-op our purpose is rooted in the belief that good food helps to create sustainable local food systems and vibrant, healthy communities.

Important Documents

View important governing documents.

Governance Policies

The Co-op Council governs by a system of policy-setting and monitoring called Policy Governance.

Bylaws

The Co-op’s bylaws are the rules for how we are organized as a cooperative in accordance with the State of Vermont’s Statutes governing cooperatives.

Articles of Incorporation

The Articles of Incorporation serve as our charter establishing the Co-op as a corporation with the state of Vermont.

Cooperative Principles

Established by the International Cooperative Alliance, the Cooperative Principles provide guidance for how we put our values into practice.

Milk With Dignity Resolution

A program that seeks to improve working conditions and alleviate downward pressure on the dairy industry.

Diversity & Inclusion Resolution

In 2020, our council adopted this resolution regarding diversity and inclusion values.

Annual Report

Watch the 2022 Annual Report overview.

Community Grants

Hunger Mountain Co-op awarded a record-setting $15,200 to 15 local grant recipients working on important and innovative projects addressing food access and local food systems.

50th Anniversary Video

Watch our 50th Anniversary video created by our friends at ORCA Media.

Annual Membership Meeting

The 2022 Annual Meeting took place on Thursday, Nov. 10 from 6 pm – 7:30 pm via Zoom Meetings.

Highlights included:

  • We celebrated our 50th anniversary as a cooperative.

  • Our Community Award went to Liv Dunton and Doni Cain of Fox Market in East Montpelier.

  • We announced this year’s Cooperative Community Fund.

  • We recognized a couple dozen Co-op employees who reached milestone anniversaries this year.

Continue reading our Annual Meeting recap in the link below.

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