Upcoming Events
Co-op Board meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month unless otherwise posted. The agenda is posted the Friday before each meeting on the Board Bulletin Board to the right of the Information Desk, next to the Suggestion Board. All Co-op owners are welcome to attend.
There is not a Co-op Board meeting in July. We'll see you in August! Happy Summer!
Next board meeting: Wednesday, August 13, 6pm PT. You can find the meeting agenda here the week before the meeting.
Owners are invited to join us at this month's Board of Directors meeting via Zoom or in person at 300 Pioneer Street. Owners will be asked to shared their name and Owner number when they enter the meeting.
Zoom meeting information:
Click here to join.
Meeting ID: 952 3841 6631
Passcode: 475483
For Board Standing Committee Meeting Times and Information, click here
Board of Directors
The Ashland Food Co-op is governed by an elected Board of Directors. The Board oversees and guides the business and affairs of the Co-op. The primary duties of the Board are setting long-range strategic goals and plans for AFC’s future, acting as trustees on behalf of the ownership, conducting financial oversight and hiring and supervising the General Manager.
BOARD MEETINGS
All owners are welcome and encouraged to attend the AFC Board meetings. The Board meetings are held at 6 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month, except for July and December. Owners have the option to attend in person or via Zoom. The Board meeting agenda is posted the Friday before each meeting on the Board Bulletin Board to the right of the Information Desk, next to the Suggestion Board. Owners on AFC’s mailing list will also be emailed a link to the meeting agenda and a Zoom link to attend the meeting.
Board Role and Duties
What Does the AFC Board of Directors Do?
Board Directors are volunteers who are elected for three year terms. The Board of Directors has four primary duties:
- Make key decisions to oversee and guide the business and affairs of the Co-operative
- Act as trustees for AFC owners and inform owners about the status of the Co-operative
- Ensure sound management of the Co-operative
- Set long-range goals and plans for the future
The Board of Directors acts as a single body and speaks with one voice.
The Board holds the General Manager (GM) accountable for their decisions and performance in conducting the store’s daily business.
Board values:
- Monitor financial management to ensure adequate capitalization and profitable operations
- Approve capital and operating budgets
- Authorize loans and leases and capital expenditures
- Represent the Co-operative in major legal matters
- Recommends updates to the Bylaws
Cooperation
- Empowerment
- Integrity
- Involvement
- Responsibility
- Passion
- Vision
Board Responsibilities
Policy and Planning
- Define the purpose and values of the Co-operative
- Establish long-range and strategic goals
- Set major policies and standards to achieve goals and objectives
- Look after the best interests of the Co-operative as a whole
- Make decisions about the Co-operative’s governance system and development of policies
Financial and Legal
- Hire the GM of the Co-operative, define their duties, and set their compensation
- Supervise and evaluate the performance of the GM
- Ensure that AFC is well managed according to all store values and policies
Internal
- Establish and serve on Board committees
- Monitor progress towards goals and achievement of objectives
- Perpetuate a strong Board through recruitment, elections, and training
- Review election procedures and ensure smooth transitions between Board terms
Ownership and Community
- Organize owner meetings
- Establish and maintain effective avenues of owner input and involvement consistent with AFC goals
- Establish standing and ad hoc committees of the Board, and recruit owner volunteers as needed
- Establish and review policies for Co-operative participation in social and community activities, including endorsements and donations
Code of Ethics
- Directors shall hold the good of the Co-op to be above that of any interest group, individual Board Director, owner or Co-op employee at all times. Directors act in accordance with the AFC Board Director Code of Ethics. (link to document)
Director Responsibilities and Participation
Being a Board director requires an average commitment of 10–20 hours per month.
- Understand AFC Bylaws and policies
- Attend monthly Board Meetings, Closed Work Sessions and Executive Sessions
- Serve on one or more Board Standing Committees
- Prepare for Committee and Board meetings
- Serve as Chair of a Board Committee at least once during a term
- Serve as a Board Officer at least once during a term
- Join an Ad Hoc Committee as needed
- Prepare annual GM evaluation
- Attend trainings, retreats and strategic planning sessions
- Plan and attend the Co-op Annual Meeting
- Fulfill the duties listed in the Board Director job description
- Maintain confidentiality and actively support all decisions made by the Board
- Fulfill commitments within the agreed-upon deadlines
- Financially support AFC by being an active owner and shopper
- Recruitment and mentoring of new Directors
- Participate in other Board/employee/owner events as assigned
Meet the Board of Directors
Mark Gibbs - President
Member, Finance Committee
End of current term 2026
Born and raised in the Chicago area, Mark has lived and worked as a volunteer high school teacher in the Bronx, NY and a financial analyst in Manhattan and Tokyo, Japan, prior to returning to graduate school and a professional career in corporate finance and banking in Chicago and San Francisco. Mark and his wife Colleen spent ~ 15 years living in the Midwest and starting their family before moving to Ashland in 2011. Mr. Gibbs has an undergraduate degree in Economics and a Masters in Finance, Strategy and Marketing.
After years of visiting both Bend and Ashland, the Gibbs moved to Ashland with the intention of simplifying our lives and refocusing our values and priorities as we pursued raising our three young children in a more nurturing and natural environment. While few plans are perfect, this special community has been wonderful for our family. Today our daily life continues to revolve around the academic, career and artistic activities and pursuits of our three children ages 20, 23 and 25. We also especially enjoy gathering with friends and family at our terrific local establishments, hiking and exploring this beautiful region and skiing Mt A. I am fortunate to now have more personal and professional flexibility to directly contribute more time to important local organizations and activities that align with our personal values.
Kathryn Kavanagh - Vice President
End of current term 2027
Kathryn Kavanagh is a passionate advocate for cultivating an equitable, just, and regenerative food system. She graduated from the University of Washington with bachelors degrees in Business Marketing and Community, Environment, and Planning. Her career has taken her from urban farms, bakeries, and after-school enrichment programs to her current role working as a project coordinator and media specialist for the National Farmers Union's Local Food Safety Collaborative.
She promotes the importance of taking good care of both land and the people who work at all stages of the food system, and sees food safety as a bedrock to a healthy, sustainable, and secure food future. She cares deeply about the intelligent use of land, including better built environments designed at the human-scale in harmony with nature. Kathryn is an artist, poet, and singer-songwriter inspired by the natural world, and seeks to use her art as a platform to further advocate for ecological stewardship. She loves living in Ashland and you can likely find her out-and-about thrifting, playing guitar, or browsing the bulk section of the Co-op.
Ernesto Soto - Treasurer
Member, Board Development Committee
End of current term 2026
Ernesto and his parents immigrated from Mexico City to the California Central Coast in 1990. From a young age, he was inspired by organic produce through his work at the local health food store. Ernesto was fascinated by the variety of produce he saw, and eager to learn more about the dedicated individuals that brought food from field to fork.
Years later, in 2014, he was given the opportunity to cultivate this passion for organic produce, and its producers, as the Grower Liaison Manager at Coke Farm. He now works with over 100 small and beginning family farmers to coordinate planting schedules, aggregate product, and enhance marketability in order to earn growers the highest value for their crops sold by Coke Farm.Through trust and teamwork, Ernesto has seen a culture of collaboration grow within the agriculture community, creating opportunities for success for growers of every size and scale.
Jennifer Gibbs - Secretary
End of current term 2027
Jennifer Gibbs was born and raised in Western NY. Eager to enter the workforce after college, she worked at large public accounting firms and earned her CPA, financial advisor, and real estate broker licenses. During college, Jennifer learned to heal her mind and body with plant-based, healthy food and exercise, and then began a lifelong study into organic, holistic living and the power of using food as medicine. She met her entrepreneur husband, Jack, after moving to Chicago in 1997. For the past 27 years, together they have owned and operated a boutique wealth management and tax business as well as rental properties across the country. They have raised their three vibrant children in Ashland.
Jennifer most enjoys eating healthy meals around a table with her family, gardening, hiking, reading, playing sports, puzzles, and games, and spending time with friends in Ashland. Jennifer served on the board of the Siskiyou School for four years, in the role of treasurer for two. She has volunteered for and contributed pro bono work to organizations throughout the valley.
Joanna Wnorowski Pecoraro - Director
Member, Board Development Committee, Strategic Planning Steering Committee
End of current term 2028
Being the first one in my family born in the USA, I was raised multilingual/multicultural. I love finding ways to build bridges amongst all types of people. At nineteen years old, looking for a backwoods experience, I explored Oregon falling in love with the beauty & the people. I have been in Jackson county for over four decades. Our children grew up in Ashland so I was involved in all types of activities for over three decades. I have a deep commitment to the people of our region.
I began shopping at the Ashland Food Co-op in 1980 when there was a wood stove to hang out around. Prior to that I was instrumental in forming a food buying club in Silverton, Oregon in 1977. The value of having organic food available for the community is a priority for me. I have a five decades history of the study of nutrition, food preservation, gardening and a family connection to organic farmers. I love sharing with others about these topics. My strengths are in communication and education. I love interacting with people. I have been on nonprofit boards, involved with grassroots groups, the creation of our skate park and as multiple officers including president of the Ashland Bellview Grange. Service is key in my life.
Elizabeth Walsh - Director
End of current term 2028
Elizabeth brings two decades of experience in the natural foods industry, with a background spanning executive management, consumer research, data science, and strategic planning. She’s passionate about building resilient food systems and supporting the long-term success of community-owned businesses. As a parent and long-time co-op shopper, Elizabeth is committed to ensuring the Co-op continues to thrive as a place of nourishment, connection, and shared values.
Evan Archerd - Director
End of current term 2028
Evan Archerd has been a local business owner and builder in Ashland and Talent for nearly forty years. He has always believed that “Building Responsibly Creates Great Communities.” The first step in all of his building projects has been to consider the unique physical and environmental features of the site before any planning or construction could begin. In addition, his company built one of the first affordable housing projects in the City of Ashland and he remains committed to creating affordable housing in the Rogue Valley.
Evan attended the University of California at Santa Cruz and Southern Oregon University, where he later served on the SOU Alumni Association Board of Directors. He is also a past president of the Rotary Club of Ashland Lithia Springs. Evan was a member of the Board of Directors for the Ashland Community Land Trust, and he chaired numerous local homeowner associations. He is a Licensed Real Estate Broker and Certified General Appraiser in Oregon and also has years of licensing experience as a general Contractor.
Board Meeting Minutes, Annual Reports and Annual Meetings
Board meeting minutes are posted on the AFC website after they are approved at the next Board meeting.
Board Committees
Executive Committee
Chair: Joanna Wnorowski
Members: Larry Cooper, Bob Kaplan, Nick Hardee, Abby Lazerow
Finance Committee
Chair: Larry Cooper
Members: Mark Gibbs, Nick Hardee, Mel Gedde, Joe Reyes, Tracy Kaiser
Board Development Committee (BDC)
Chair: Larry Cooper
Members: Joanna Wronowski, Ernesto Soto, Abby Lazerow
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Committee
Co-Chairs: Melissa Scudder, Sara Huque, Barry Haynes, Marvin Woodard
Members: HR Manager, Erica Thompson, Melissa Scudder, Barry Haynes, Joe Reyes, Mahlea Ramsey
Strategic Planning Steering Committee
Co-Chairs: Nick Hardee
Members: Bob Kaplan, Joanna Wnorowski, Barry Haynes, Tracy Kaiser, Bryan Crane, Abby Lazero
AFC Gives Committee
Chair: Bob Kaplan
Members: Erica Thompson, Abby Lazerow, Melissa Scudder, Kali Kraum, Deborah Costella, Betsy De Gress, Amber Offins
The Ashland Food Cooperative is a member-owned and member-governed cooperative corporation with the Board of Directors acting as the decision-making center of the business. The board provides overall direction for the Co-op on behalf of the ownership, ensures sound management to achieve the goals of the Co-op, and keeps the ownership informed about the status of the business. Board members are elected by the ownership for a three-year term. We encourage all members to consider service at this level.
Wondering if you’re a good candidate? Here’s what we suggest:
- Board members must be Co-op owners in good standing.
- Knowledge of natural foods is desirable.
- Prior experience, education, or skills could include: work on a volunteer board; financial, business, or legal background management, supervisory, or organizational skills; negotiation, facilitation, and conflict resolution skills; collective/cooperative experience.
Interested? We’d love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected].
Become a Candidate
The AFC Board elections cycle begins each year in March when applications become available. The Board candidate application packet is updated annually. Interested owners may also contact the Board Development Committee throughout the year to learn more about becoming a Board candidate.
Board Candidate Qualifications
- Co-op member in good standing for at least one year
- Knowledge of natural and organic foods
- Passion for the Co-op and our community
- Strong leadership skills
- Collaborative approach
- Ability to engage in respectful debate and dialogue
- Offer unique perspectives and skills
- Previous board, committee or other group experience
- Strong leadership, organizational and communication skills
- Ability to understand financial issues and financial statements
- Understanding of cooperative principles and values
- Intelligence and integrity
- Creativity, vision and flexibility
- Ability to empower others and delegate authority
- Respects multiple elements of diversity and diversity of thought
- Ability to put the interests of the whole organization above the interests of the few
- Computer proficiency
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Understand the responsibilities and duties of AFC Board Directors
The Board Nominating Committee will read all applications and then schedule interviews with candidates before the April Board meeting. Candidates must pass a screening interview with the Board Nominating Committee to check for basic qualifications and potential conflicts of interest. All candidates who are forwarded by the Nominating Committee will be notified and officially entered into the election process. Forwarded candidates will be asked to submit a 150-word campaign statement and to provide a high-resolution photo, which will be published in election materials.
Contact
Contact the Board Please note the Board of Directors does not manage the day-to-day operations of the store. Questions about store operations should be addressed to the General Manager through our contact form.