Rooted Carrot Co-op Market 2020 Board of Directors Candidates

The Rooted Carrot Co-op Market is proud to be a community owned and democratically controlled business. One of the ways we make this happen is by electing our Board of Directors in our annual election. Board Directors are member-owners just like you, and are elected to represent the voice of our community.

Only Co-op members are eligible to vote. Deadline to vote is midnight, Tuesday, September 29, 2020. Complete election details can be found at www.RootedCarrot.coop. Here are the THREE candidates running for THREE open seats. Each position is a 3-year term.

Kate Richmond

Current occupation:
Sr. Mgr. of Workforce Management at GrubHub

Education:
B.A. in business administration, with emphases in marketing and management

Why are you running for the Cedar Falls Food Co-op Board?
I am passionate about community, and firmly believe the co-op will great a space for that in ways we haven’t experienced. I enjoy lending my skill set where it’s helpful to the initiative, and have learned so much along the way as my path crossed that of others. I have enjoyed my short tenure standing in for a recent partial term vacancy, and would like to continue this important work.

What experience do you have in working with consensus-based, group decision-making bodies?
While the company I work with has a formal leadership structure, I lead a resource team. As such, it is imperative to be able to influence others without the authority to be the ultimate decision maker. While I have limited formal experience with a consensus-based process, I feel my experience operating in a resource leadership position prepares me well to operate successfully in that format.

Do you have prior board experience?
I served for the last year on the co-op board as a partial vacancy fill in as the Treasurer, and Finance committee chair.

What experiences have you had with food co-ops in the past? What food issues are you passionate about?
I have frequented New Pioneer. Additionally I grew up with my grandfather as a commercial vegetable farmer who was supported by local businesses. In addition to his market stand, a cooperative grocery store would have benefited him and our family greatly.

What food issues are you passionate about?
supporting those affected by food insecurity, and ensuring our environmental footprint of the foods we eat is as supportive to our planet as possible in addition to being free of chemicals and pesticides.

What else should we know about you that would make you a good candidate for the launch Board?
In my day job I collaborate with our Finance team to create and assist in managing a multi-million dollar annual budget for our customer service operations. Spreadsheets are my Friday night excitement, and I am thrilled to be able to support this initiative in whatever way possible.

Christine Sexton

Current occupation:
Parent

Education:
Biology, Public Health Nutrition, Dietetics

Why are you running for the Cedar Falls Food Co-op Board?
I want to help make this co-op come to life because I believe strongly in the benefits it will bring: it will keep more of our food dollars local and cycle that money into our local economy; strengthen our local food system by connecting growers and producers with consumers; and provide locally grown and produced foods that don’t need to travel as far to get to us. But I also believe this community-supported, -funded, and -operated project will strengthen our community in less tangible ways. It will be a unique outward display of the ability of this community to work together and of the pride we have in living here.

What experience do you have in working with consensus-based, group decision-making bodies?
I am part of a family! In addition, I have served in the past as the Chair of the Council on Profes- sional Issues for the Iowa Dietetic Association, and have served on the Rooted Carrot Co-op Board for the past year.

Do you have prior board experience?
I have served on the Rooted Carrot Board for the past year, serving on the Site and Re-branding teams, and also as co-Chair of the Advisory Council.

What experiences have you had with food co-ops in the past? What food issues are you passionate about?
The first food co-op that really made an impres- sion on me was Mississippi Market, which I could walk to from my apartment years ago in St. Paul, MN. I loved the feel of it – a small, neighborhood grocery store. I’ve visited many other co-ops since then – in Madison, Minneapolis, Cedar Rapids, Boise, Boston, Milwaukee – and no matter the size of the store they always feel like a unique experience grounded in their particular community.

What else should we know about you that would make you a good candidate for the launch Board?
I know the hard work that the current board and the co-op’s MANY volunteers are putting in to bring this co-op to life. I want to be a part of that effort because this will benefit our community for years to come!

Angela Yancy

Current occupation:
Stay at home parent

Education:
B.A. in environmental geography and B.A. in sociology, University of Iowa

Why are you running for the Cedar Falls Food Co-op Board?
The Rooted Carrot Co-op Market is at a critical point in its development after much hard work. As a person who believes that all people of the Cedar Valley deserve a place that offers local foods and products and supports our economy, my previous experience working on teams to accomplish long-term, large scale projects will be of benefit to the board as the Co-op moves forward in its next phase.

What experience do you have in working with consensus-based, group decision-making bodies?
Currently, I am a parent member of the Farm- stead Preschool Board and a member of the gar- dening team at the Northeast Iowa Foodbank. Both positions require working with passionate volunteers to come to decisions that will affect the programs long-term. Prior to becoming a stay at home parent, I was a director at a large non-profit in Iowa City. We worked with parent, case management and staff teams to coordi- nate services for individuals with disabilities.

Do you have prior board experience?
Yes, I am currently an active member on the Farmstead Preschool Board. In my previous work experience, I reported directly to the Board of Directors, providing strategic programmatic updates, financial reports, and other pertinent information for our service areas.

What experiences have you had with food co-ops in the past? What food issues are you passionate about?
My experience with food co-ops has been solely as a member. I believe all people have the fundamental right to healthy food that is afford- able and that, when possible, should have the opportunity to support local communities with purchases of locally-grown foods. I also believe that everyone should experience the beauty of growing food whether for themselves or others and the pride and peace that comes with even the smallest garden.

What else should we know about you that would make you a good candidate for the launch Board?
I have experience with procedure and policy creation and implementation. I have worked on a management team to create, write and implement strategic plans. My previous posi- tions required review of financial statements and documents along with critical analysis of how projects were progressing in relation to set timelines and costs.