Board of Director Candidates
Nick Easterling
Board CandidateHow long have you been an owner of Good Foods?
I have been an owner since 2008 when I turned 18, the age of requirement
Please describe your level of involvement with Good Foods past and present.
I worked
at Good Foods for 6 years, up until September of 2011. During that time I
helped sign up more than 1000 new owners. I worked in the Marketing Department
during that time as well, helping with everything from in-store promotions and
social media to owner involvement and communications.
Describe any experience you’ve had with other co-ops.
While employed at Good Foods, we often interacted with employees from other co-ops such as Bloomingfoods in Indiana and NCGA, the larger co-op of co-ops that Good Foods is a member of.
What experience have you had serving on other committees or on other Boards of Directors?
The Good Foods Board of Directors will be my first direct experience on a board, if I am elected.
What skills and strengths can you contribute to the Board of Directors?
Having worked at Good Foods for 6 years, I know the ins and outs of how things run on a daily basis. I am very familiar with the Co-op’s strengths and weaknesses and look forward to providing input about how we can embrace the former and reduce the latter. I can help improve communication between Co-op employees and the Board of Directors.
What task
groups or areas of Board work are you interested in?
I am interested in work on the Film Task Group and the Education Task Group.
What is the most important issue you think the Board should address? Why?
Helping shoppers to be more informed about nutritional and environmental aspects of their food options is a top priority so they can make choices that best fit their values and needs.
What have you learned from your visits to Board meetings that has confirmed your desire to run for the Board?
My continued passion and support for the Co-op and its future are what motivated me to run for the Board.
Jeff Rice
Board Candidate
How long have you been an owner of Good Foods?
Since June 2011.
Please describe your level of involvement with Good Foods past and present.
We are regular customers, and I have attended Board meetings.
Describe any experience you’ve had with other co-ops.
I have not lived in areas where there were co-ops.
What experience have you had serving on other committees or on other Boards of Directors?
As an academic, I have served on committees addressing undergraduate and graduate education, hiring, campus wide Initiatives, budget issues, and other matters. I also serve on the boards of numerous academic journals. In Columbia, Missouri, I served on the Board of Directors of Hillel and chaired a search for a new director as well as worked on budget, programming, and other issues.
What skills and strengths can you contribute to the Board of Directors?
I have administration experience in academia and have run several campus programs, including one with a million dollar budget. I also bring a strong knowledge of local food movements, food production, and craft beer since these are also subjects of my recent research. My main area of research is technology.
What task
groups or areas of Board work are you interested in?
Education
What is the most important issue you think the Board should address? Why?
As more and more people become aware of local products, the challenge is to use tools such as social media in order to guide that awareness. While Good Foods has a Facebook page, Twitter account, and already participates in social media, there might be lessons to learn from successful industry usages so that social media becomes more than an update of new products or events, but also creates stronger relationships with consumers and the community.
What have you learned from your visits to Board meetings that has confirmed your desire to run for the Board?
New initiatives regarding purchasing, the Board’s relationships with local producers, the Board’s commitment to continuing education, and concerns over new competition. All are important.
Catherine (Kate) Seago
Board Candidate
How long have you been an owner of Good Foods?
I became an owner in January 2003, so I have been an owner for about nine years.
Please describe your level of involvement with Good Foods past and present.
My current and past involvement has been just as an owner. I have voted in the elections on a regular basis and tried to attend the annual meeting unless I had a conflict.
Describe any experience you’ve had with other co-ops.
None.
What experience have you had serving on other committees or on other Boards of Directors?
I have served on a variety of committees as a librarian at the University of Kentucky. I have participated in professional associations and served on the Kentucky Library Association Board as Parliamentarian. I serve on the Board for Motion Matters, a non-profit organization, which seeks to inspire people to move for fun and wellness.
What skills and strengths can you contribute to the Board of Directors?
I am generally considered to be a good organizer and planner. I like to think I can listen to all sides of an issue and craft a response that works for the majority.
What task groups or areas of Board work are you interested in?
I am most interested in working with the Education Group and developing the vision and goals for the future of the Co-op.
What is the most important issue you think the Board should address? Why?
I think that sustainability is one of the more important issues and one that plays out in many other issues such as eating local; eating a more plant based diet; preference for organic foods, recycling and providing a wide variety of foods. A personal focus for me is learning what works best for me in terms of diet to promote my well-being and health.
What have you learned from your visits to Board meetings that has confirmed your desire to run for the Board?
I thought the Board was well organized and focused. I also was impressed it was taking the time to investigate different ideas and seriously thinking about what would be best for the Co-op and the community.
Doug Slaymaker
Board Candidate
How long have you been an owner of Good Foods?
About 8 years.
Please describe your level of involvement with Good Foods past and present.
I have been a member of the Board of Directors for the last three years. I have served as Board secretary for the last two years.
Describe any experience you’ve had with other co-ops.
Since becoming a board member at Good Foods I have been deliberate about visiting co-ops around the country. My experience is that Good Foods is a treasure!
What experience have you had serving on other committees or on other Boards of Directors?
I have served on a range of local and national committees through my University of Kentucky commitments. For example: steering committee of the Asia Center, Board of Directors of the Japan-America Society of Kentucky, the editorial board of the University Press of Kentucky, and, nationally, the Association for Asian Studies and the Modern Language Association of America.
What skills and strengths can you contribute to the Board of Directors?
Having been a board member for three years, I bring a complete understanding of the role of the board and its responsibilities. I bring my skill with administration and organizing and the qualities of work and commitment, already proven effective, to take us into the future.
What task groups or areas of Board work are you interested in?
I will continue to work with the communication task force as we think of ways to be effective in our communities.
What is the most important issue you think the Board should address? Why?
The most important task for the board is visioning and directing the Co-op into the future. The board provides leadership as we work towards greater and wider involvement with food systems and food-related issues throughout our region.
What have you learned from your visits to Board meetings that has confirmed your desire to run for the Board?
I am constantly amazed at the hard work, commitment, and talent of this board. I hope I have the opportunity to work with them for three more years!
Nominating Committee Candidates
Linda Barnes
Nominating Committee Candidate
How long have you been an owner of Good Foods?
I have been an owner for nine years
Please describe your level of involvement with Good Foods past and present.
I have been a customer since I returned to Lexington in 1984.
Describe any experience you’ve had with other co-ops.
I do not have any experience with other co-ops.
What experience have you had serving on other committees?
I have served as a board member of the Blue Grass Trust and the Arboretum. I have also served on several committees.
What skills and strengths can you contribute to the Nominating Committee?
During my career I have had to identify and recruit individuals to serve on boards. Working with those same boards, I learned how the boards’ work is affected by its members.
At any time during your service will you be working for a business that could create a conflict of interest?
No.
Jennie Leavell
Nominating Committee Candidate
How long have you been an owner of Good Foods?
I have been an owner since 2003 and a shopper since the late 1980s.
Please describe your level of involvement with Good Foods past and present.
I was recruited in March 2011 to serve on the Nominating Committee. I have been meeting owners and working with the NomCom on the election process since then. Prior to that, I ran for election to the Board of Directors and have gone through the election process as a Board candidate as well.
Describe any experience you’ve had with other co-ops.
None.
What experience have you had serving on other committees?
I serve on the Board of Directors of Warwick Foundation, a nonprofit estate in Salvisa, KY, left for preservation. I am on the events committee and we brainstorm and mount events to increase awareness of Clay Lancaster’s legacy.
What skills and strengths can you contribute to the Nominating Committee?
I am organized, responsible, accountable, and honest. I love talking to people about the Co-op and I earnestly believe that strong Board members contribute to its overall success. I love helping behind the scenes and being active in the Co-op and Lexington community.
At any time during your service will you be working for a business that could create a conflict of interest?
No.