I have been shopping at Bloomingfoods as my primary grocery store since 1999, and then was lucky enough to be employed by the Co-op for over 16 years. Since retiring two years ago, I have continued supporting Bloomingfoods and continue to be invested in its success.

In addition to my employment at Bloomingfoods, and because of it, I’ve visited many Grocery Co-ops, shared professional experiences with many other Co-op employees and managers, and attended several Co-op conferences. 

I served on the Board of Directors for both Bloomington Hospital and the Local Council of Women for 10 years. I've worked on and chaired many committees in the community: MCCSC, my church, and the Bloomington Hospital Foundation. I coached youth sports teams and was a Scout leader.

I have direct experience reading and understanding financial statements; I work well in a team, and I value efficient time management. Hard work, personal responsibility, and personal accountability define my work ethic. I have both a Bachelor's Degree and Master’s Degree in Public Health Education.

Working at Bloomingfoods strengthened my belief in the values and mission of the Co-op. I was impressed by the decision-making process of the Bfoods leadership team. They used the Ends, always, as their guide. My degrees in Public Health established the baseline for my lifestyle alignment with the Ends.

I can’t pick just one! So, the two Ends that resonate most with me as the primary roles for BCS are:

a. provide a coop-ownership model offering meaningful employment/strengthens community, and

b. provide a market for local, fair, and healthful products/care for land, etc

The opportunity is to continuously improve our customer service, public accessibility, product affordability, and vendor relationships. The challenge is to be nimble enough to respond to community needs/trends. In order to achieve our Ends, we need the strongest possible financial base and a strong, invested, and valued employee base.

I’m looking forward to serving the Bloomingfoods community again, and I’m excited to be a part of how we adapt to unfolding economic and social pressures.