The council is responsible for communicating with member-owners, overseeing the general manager, and establishing policies, among other governance functions.
Governance
Your ideas, suggestions, and feedback are represented by up to nine elected member-owners who govern the Co-op.
Meet Your 2026 Council
Carl Etnier
Council President (2016–18, 2024–26)Our Co-op helps us support local growers and producers; we also work hard to make high quality food accessible to everyone in our community through member sales, discount programs and supporting local groups working on food insecurity. I'd like to help the Co-op build on our successes, continue to learn from our many talented members and staff, and to heal from divisions.
(802) 441-3337
Jeff Roberts
Council Vice President/Treasurer (2022, 2023–25, 2026–28)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
Steven Farnham
Council Secretary (2015–17, 2018–20, 2021–23, 2024, 2025–26)A life-long Vermonter, I was raised and reside in Plainfield. I will listen to Hunger Mountain Co-op members and workers, to know their vision, needs, concerns, and goals. Additionally, it is important to continue focusing on carbon footprint reduction, greater sustainability, and greater dynamism and diversity in how the co-op serves the community.
(802) 917-2581
Leesa Stewart
Council Member (2026)As a longtime Vermonter and Hunger Mountain Co-op member, I value strong local food systems, environmental sustainability, and a welcoming, equitable community hub. I bring deep financial and organizational leadership experience to support the Co-op’s mission, strengthen resilience, and help it thrive for members, staff, and future generations.
Giles Brulé
Council Member (2025–27)As a member and employee of our Co-op for the last 25 years I am excited to take my involvement further as a member of the council to work on the challenges that lie ahead, especially in the areas of affordability and accessibility.
Greg Gerdel
Council Member (2026–28)My top priority is to facilitate local, organic food production and to educate members, customers, and the community at large about the importance and urgency of these things. A related challenge is to re-vision our lifestyle and convenience choices in a more sustainable, less environmentally destructive way. I aim to lead in a way that is collaborative, inclusive and creates a stable community.
T Gram
Council Member (2025–26)I’ve always been an activist for social and environmental justice and I’ve always been inspired by the vision of cooperatives. As a working class member who relies on hypoallergenic food options only the Co-op offers, I was encouraged by union workers and other members to champion an activist run for council to ensure that the democratic cooperative vision is carried out.
Catherine Lowther
Council Member (2021–23, 2024–25, 2026–27)As a lifelong organic gardener, a therapist and health counselor, a faculty member at Goddard College for 23 years where I started the BA in Sustainability Program, chaired the Sustainability Committee, and offered courses in Climate Change, and a Co-op member since 1989, I am grateful to bring my experiences supporting health and well-being to the Co-op Council.
(802) 272-0349
Mark Seltzer
Council Member (2026–28)I would like to help the Co-op succeed in the years ahead. This may take the form of assisting with flood resiliency, energy efficiency, sustainability, space planning, among other issues.
Mary Mullally
General Manager(802) 262-3219
Carl Etnier
Council President (2016–18, 2024–26)Our Co-op helps us support local growers and producers; we also work hard to make high quality food accessible to everyone in our community through member sales, discount programs and supporting local groups working on food insecurity. I'd like to help the Co-op build on our successes, continue to learn from our many talented members and staff, and to heal from divisions.
(802) 441-3337
Jeff Roberts
Council Vice President/Treasurer (2022, 2023–25, 2026–28)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
Steven Farnham
Council Secretary (2015–17, 2018–20, 2021–23, 2024, 2025–26)A life-long Vermonter, I was raised and reside in Plainfield. I will listen to Hunger Mountain Co-op members and workers, to know their vision, needs, concerns, and goals. Additionally, it is important to continue focusing on carbon footprint reduction, greater sustainability, and greater dynamism and diversity in how the co-op serves the community.
(802) 917-2581
Leesa Stewart
Council Member (2026)As a longtime Vermonter and Hunger Mountain Co-op member, I value strong local food systems, environmental sustainability, and a welcoming, equitable community hub. I bring deep financial and organizational leadership experience to support the Co-op’s mission, strengthen resilience, and help it thrive for members, staff, and future generations.
Giles Brulé
Council Member (2025–27)As a member and employee of our Co-op for the last 25 years I am excited to take my involvement further as a member of the council to work on the challenges that lie ahead, especially in the areas of affordability and accessibility.
Greg Gerdel
Council Member (2026–28)My top priority is to facilitate local, organic food production and to educate members, customers, and the community at large about the importance and urgency of these things. A related challenge is to re-vision our lifestyle and convenience choices in a more sustainable, less environmentally destructive way. I aim to lead in a way that is collaborative, inclusive and creates a stable community.
T Gram
Council Member (2025–26)I’ve always been an activist for social and environmental justice and I’ve always been inspired by the vision of cooperatives. As a working class member who relies on hypoallergenic food options only the Co-op offers, I was encouraged by union workers and other members to champion an activist run for council to ensure that the democratic cooperative vision is carried out.
Catherine Lowther
Council Member (2021–23, 2024–25, 2026–27)As a lifelong organic gardener, a therapist and health counselor, a faculty member at Goddard College for 23 years where I started the BA in Sustainability Program, chaired the Sustainability Committee, and offered courses in Climate Change, and a Co-op member since 1989, I am grateful to bring my experiences supporting health and well-being to the Co-op Council.
(802) 272-0349
Mark Seltzer
Council Member (2026–28)I would like to help the Co-op succeed in the years ahead. This may take the form of assisting with flood resiliency, energy efficiency, sustainability, space planning, among other issues.
Mary Mullally
General Manager(802) 262-3219
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.
Committees and Charters
Council committees are charged with making recommendations to the Co-op Council or acting on behalf of the council. Committees are made up of council members and/or member-owners at large.
Governance Committee
Purpose – To oversee council functions related to council governance, including:
- bylaws
- governance policies and ends
- council election process/ballots
- council self-evaluation
- council annual retreat
- such other duties as the board authorizes.
Committee Members – Council members: Steven Farnham (chair), Leesa Stewart. Members by virtue of their office: Carl Etnier (Council President), Mary Mullally (General Manager). There is room for up to two member-owners at large.
Community Engagement Committee
Purpose – To understand and represent member-owners’ interests and expectations and inform them about the council and Co-op’s plans and operations. The committee or a subcommittee shall carry out projects to accomplish the above goals, work with staff to plan the annual meeting, and carry out such other duties as the council authorizes.
Committee members – Council members: Steven Farnham, Greg Gerdel, T. Gram. Members by virtue of their office: Carl Etnier (Council President), Mary Mullally (General Manager). There is room for up to two member-owners at large.
Council Development Committee
Purpose – To recruit and develop (educate) council members for a healthy and diverse council, and such other duties as the council authorizes.
Committee members – Council members: Leesa Stewart (chair), Jeff Roberts, Mark Seltzer. Members by virtue of their office: Carl Etnier (Council President), Mary Mullally (General Manager). There is room for up to two member-owners at large.
Sustainability and Resilience Committee
Purpose – To offer information and progress reports about how the Co-op is increasing its environmental sustainability by reducing carbon emissions, becoming more resilient to climate change impacts, and helping to increase environmental sustainability and climate change resilience in the community.
Committee members – Member-owner at large: Amanda Sardonis (chair). Council members: Greg Gerdel, T. Gram, Catherine Lowther, Mark Seltzer. Members by virtue of their office: Carl Etnier (Council President), Mary Mullally (General Manager).
Strategic Planning Committee
Purpose – To design and lead an open and inclusive process to develop a three- to five-year strategic plan aligned with the Co-op’s mission and ends. The plan will guide organizational priorities, resource allocation, and long-term direction, and will address physical plant requirements, staffing, potential new business directions, community collaborations, and effectuate additional duties as authorized by the council.
Committee members – Council members: Jeff Roberts. Members by virtue of their office: Carl Etnier (Council President), Mary Mullally (General Manager). Member-owner at large: Rita Ricketson. (These four committee members were tasked by the council on January 27, 2026, with recruiting other members to the committee; the charter specifies that the committee have six to nine members.)
Vision Committee
Purpose – To broadly revisit the Co-op’s mission and ends policies, to describe a vision for the Co-op for the next five-year period, and provide the basis for developing concrete plans, along with such other duties as the council authorizes.
Committee members – Council members: Jeff Roberts (chair), Giles Brulé, T. Gram. Members by virtue of their office: Carl Etnier (Council President), Mary Mullally (General Manager). Member-owners at large: Theresa Murray-Clasen, Paul Ohlson, Rita Ricketson, Jacob Stone.
Ballot Committee
Purpose – To execute the council election process and vote tabulation.
Committee members – Member-owners at large: Chris Whalen, Deborah Messing. Members by virtue of their office: Carl Etnier (Council President), Mary Mullally (General Manager).
HMCCF Advisory Committee
Purpose – To provide financial assistance through grants to businesses, organizations, and initiatives aligned with our mission to build a dynamic community of healthy individuals, sustainable local food systems, thriving cooperative commerce, and a more inclusive and anti-racist community.
Committee members – Member-owners at large: Matt Levin (chair), Julia Scheier, Scott Hess, Richard Wiswall, Jen Porrier. Staff member: Rowan Sherwood. Member by virtue of their office: Carl Etnier (Council President).
Charter Pending Approval
Important Documents
View important governing documents.
