2023 Board Of Directors Candidates
Below you’ll find the 2023 Board Of Directors Candidates running for election to our board. Please take the time to read each application thoroughly before casting your vote!
May Bend
1. Why would you like to serve on the Board of Directors of River Market Community Co-op?
I’d like to offer my background in Economics, lifelong love of local organic food systems, and past experience on the Board to serve the store I
most love shopping at. I’m here to help and support others, as they do their jobs.
2. What is most important to you as an owner of River Market Community Co-op?
That my daughter, now 2.5 yrs old, knows where her food comes from. I’ve been shopping at River Market since I was a kid and have many fond
memories of roaming the aisles with my Dad and grandparents. I want Hazel to have this same connection to community and local farmers, it
makes a difference.
3. What opportunities and challenges do you see in the future for River Market Community Co-op?
Inflation is driving up food prices everywhere, we don’t want to lose the middle on down of our market. Fresh, local, and ideally organic, food
should be available for all. I’d like to help Sarah and her fantastic team keep the number of transactions through the register high, even if basket
size drops. We want to serve a broad community – this is how we best protect our environment and the local farmers who work in its best interest
while harvesting nourishing food our bodies can thrive on.
4. What skills, formal training, education, professional or volunteer experience would you bring that directly contributes to the mission of the co-op?
I was on the Board, and even lucky enough to serve as Board President, when the Co-op hired Sarah into the GM role. The experience taught me a
lot…and I had to take a quick break while my daughter was a baby. Incredibly, she’s a toddler now, and I’m ready to return to the Board, if you’d like
to have me
Meghan Hatalla
1. Why would you like to serve on the Board of Directors of River Market Community Co-op?
I’m interested in supporting local shops that I love.
2. What is most important to you as an owner of River Market Community Co-op?
That the quality of co-op, and the benefit it provides to the community, stays intact.
3. What opportunities and challenges do you see in the future for River Market Community Co-op?
News of a new grocery store near Manning + 36 could draw away business. More residential space
downtown could bring in new business. I think that there’s a inherent balance in the future that will hopefully
serve the co-op as well as more and more people begin to care about where their food comes from
4. What skills, formal training, education, professional or volunteer experience would you bring that directly contributes to the mission of the co-op?
I am a user researcher, which means I rely on empathy and communication to understand issues and relay
that information back to the people who can effect change. I’m also active on social media and very
technologically proficient
Julie Luna
1. Why would you like to serve on the Board of Directors of River Market Community Co-op?
I would like to serve on the Board of Directors so I can participate in the overall governance and
sustainability of our River Market Community co-op. When my family moved to Stillwater nearly 15 years
ago, one of the first things we did was join River Market. As we searched for places to raise our children, we
knew we wanted to settle in a town that had a food co-op because healthy, organic, and sustainable
agricultural are priorities. Food also creates community and being a part of the Board will allow me to help
others view their co-op as a vital source of community.
2. What is most important to you as an owner of River Market Community Co-op?
The most important part of being a River Market member is the knowledge that I am participating in
creating sustainable and healthy food production practices through purchasing local products, supporting
local farms, and spending my money that goes directly back to the community in which I live. It is also an
important part of creating community around food–I love that the staff knows me and greets me when I
shop.
3. What opportunities and challenges do you see in the future for River Market Community Co-op?
Opportunities: education about healthy and sustainable foods, information about comparative food costs,
and more involvement in community events.
Challenges: the rising cost of food, promotion of healthy food as a sustainable alternative to convention
foods, and increasing membership.
4. What skills, formal training, education, professional or volunteer experience would you bring that directly contributes to the mission of the co-op?
I’ve worked in non-profit programming, development, and grant writing. I’m a trained facilitator and coach
with the ability to understand the overall picture while still outlining necessary details. I’m also an avid cook
and shop regularly at the co-op, which gives me first hand expertise in understanding River Market, and its
products. I currently am the director of a Food Share program that gives groceries to approximately 90
families per week. This gives me an insider’s view into the need for healthy food for all people.
Stephen Munasinghe
1. Why would you like to serve on the Board of Directors of River Market Community Co-op?
I am eager to continue our work we have been doing over the past year I have served as an alternate director on the board. It has been an honor
to help further our community driven goals and aspirations. I have loved witnessing the positive impact River Market has on the St. Croix Valley
and I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve on our board and play a small role in River Market’s growth and development.
2. What is most important to you as an owner of River Market Community Co-op?
As an owner of River Market it is important to me that our Co-op is a place we can rely on to provide great local food and products. The team and
employees at RM have done such a great job of achieving these goals and along the way provide incredible hospitality. It is important to me as an
owner we all feel welcome and know that we have a great store we can rely on. I love the feeling we all get when we walk through the doors at the
market, my family and I instantly feel welcomed and can’t wait to see what fun produce we can find for dinner!
3. What opportunities and challenges do you see in the future for River Market Community Co-op?
I think opportunities and challenges are inevitable in all businesses. We are lucky to have a great team in place at River Market to take these on.
A lot of challenges are unknown at this time but competition and general economic concerns always come to mind. I believe if we can continue
to grow our digital platforms and provide great food and great service in River Market we will continue to grow. We have such a great foundation
to build on such as our Growers, Grazers, and Bakers initiative! We should all take a lot of pride in what RM does for our community
4. What skills, formal training, education, professional or volunteer experience would you bring that directly contributes to the mission of the co-op?
I have learned so much as an alternate director this past year! It has been amazing to be around the other directors and learn so much about
board governance and what it takes to participate in this role. My role as Partner and business operator in restaurants has helped me quite a bit
in processing information and knowing what it takes to grow a business. I have enjoyed learning about the co op and look forward to helping in
any way possible in the future using any of the skill I have acquired over the years running restaurants
Courtney Orawiec
1. Why would you like to serve on the Board of Directors of River Market Community Co-op?
River Market is an important part of my life–I shop there at least once a week. I believe in the mission of the co-op and food co-ops in general. I
want to do my part (in addition to being an owner and shopper) to ensure that River Market continues to thrive and therefore to serve the
community
2. What is most important to you as an owner of River Market Community Co-op?
Supporting the community. This happens in a variety of ways such as buying produce from local farmers, rounding up at the register, and the
knowledge that more of each dollar that I spend at the co-op goes directly back to the community than if I were shopping a larger, nationwide
retailer.
3. What opportunities and challenges do you see in the future for River Market Community Co-op?
With the economic landscape continuing to change so quickly, businesses need to be able to adapt both quickly and effectively. Grocery stores
are no exception to this, but I think that the co-op’s unique business model enables us to achieve this goal. Furthermore, I think that there is
tremendous opportunity to highlight the co-op’s commitment to sustainability and the positive impacts it has on the world, especially as the
results of climate change become more and more apparent. The co-op is uniquely positioned to be a source of community engagement,
enhancement, and support.
4. What skills, formal training, education, professional or volunteer experience would you bring that directly contributes to the mission of the co-op?
I have served on the Board of River Market for the past year and I have learned so much about the co-op and its mission. Moreover, I have worked
at two different food co-ops (one in Illinois and one here in the Twin Cities Metro) as everything from a baker to a merchandiser to a Deli manager.
So, I understand very well the challenges and rewards to be had from being part of the co-op community. It is my hope that I can continue to bring
all of this experience to the Board and that it might help bolster the success of River Market.
Scott Vrchota
1. Why would you like to serve on the Board of Directors of River Market Community Co-op?
Supporter of the business, people and products
2. What is most important to you as an owner of River Market Community Co-op?
sustainability of healthy food choices and working with local producers
3. What opportunities and challenges do you see in the future for River Market Community Co-op?
challenges: space and associated limitations to offer products. opportunity to strategically expand River Market Co-op space & products
4. What skills, formal training, education, professional or volunteer experience would you bring that directly contributes to the mission of the co-op?
2 years on River Market board with focus on expanding a successful business model as well as looking at growth and expansion opportunities. 1
year board member on Stillwater Mulberry Point Yacht Harbor. Former business owner and consultant in the Health Care industry. Interested in
the community growth and development for Stillwater and neighboring river communities.