Meet the Candidates
Support Our Candidates! Give Them Your Vote
This year we’re thrilled to have 4 outstanding candidates running for 4 open seats on our Board of Directors. Now let’s just take this head on—we know what you’re thinking. Why should I vote in an uncontested election? We have these from time to time and it’s still incredibly important to vote, even during an uncontested year. Here’s a few good reasons why:
It’s the ‘Co-op’ in Co-op
Unlike those massive grocery chains owned by a shadowy conglomerate in an underground lair somewhere with big charts and maps on the walls and a table of evil men planning world grocery domination (isn’t this how it works?), we’re owned by you. Voting is the literal mechanical part that keeps us from becoming just another soulless aisles-and-fluorescent-lights box.
Validation is a Vitamin
These 4 brave and altruistic souls are volunteering to spend their time talking about capital reserve studies and refrigeration repair costs so you don’t have to. Seeing a pile of “yes” votes is the psychological fuel they need to keep fighting the good fight.
A Quorum is a Real Thing
Our bylaws (i.e., the “super rules of the cooperative universe”) require a minimum number of votes to make an election official. If everyone stays at home because “it’s in the bag,” we’re stuck in a weird legal limbo. And nobody likes limbo unless there’s a stick and a catchy beat.
The TL;DR
Yes, all of the candidates on this page are going to win. But they shouldn’t win by default—they should win because the membership actually has their backs. We do everything we can to make it easy for you to vote for them, including a cool digital tool built for us by a local company that will allow you to vote faster than our copywriter can write this sentence. (And this guy types REALLY fast!) A link to the voting tool will go live on April 1.
Seriously, democracy is important, under threat everywhere, and a co-op is one of the most democratic organizations on the planet. Democracy is a Cooperative Principle that serves as a cornerstone for the way co-ops all over the world work. Please vote this year, just like every year! We look forward to counting your vote.
Candidate Statements
Learn more about our candidates below. Please note: in order to not interfere with the election process in any way, candidate statements are the original, unedited submissions. To be equitable, they are presented in random order, which we reshuffle regularly.
Director of FP&A at Enstar Group
What interests you about serving on the Co-op’s Board of Directors?
I am interested in serving on the Board of Directors to help shape the present and future of an organization I deeply care about. I have worked at the Co-op, received scholarships from the Co-op, and currently shop there; now I want to contribute and give back more at this stage in my life.
In what ways can you contribute to the Co-op Board?
Personally, I am vested in seeing the Co-op thrive in our community, and I still maintain a number of relationships from my years working there. And from a professional perspective, I have a strong finance background with experience serving on other boards and working with non-profits. I believe this unique blend of knowledge, skills, and abilities could be a great asset to the Co-op and Board.
An integral part of board work is reviewing, assessing, and potentially implementing policy change based upon member-owner feedback. As a board member, how will you listen to and integrate feedback from diverse viewpoints of the membership in determining the future of the Co-op?
At the end of the day, it comes down to accountability for me. You are accountable to the Co-op and its members and are charged with making sound, prudent decisions to support the Co-op’s short and long-term ambitions. This responsibility is bigger than an individual, and all I can hope to do is foster constructive dialogue and lend my expertise to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Which Co-op Value is the highest Priority for yourself? Which Co-op Value do you think should be the highest priority for the Co-op? They may be the same. https://coopfoodstore.coop/board/.
Employees will always hold the highest priority in my heart. If you optimize and empower your workforce, the rest tends to figure itself out. And this is by far my favorite part about shopping at the co-op. When I worked there, I loved seeing familiar faces, and that holds true now that I am on the other side. The big chain stores will never replicate that community.
I think the beauty of the co-op is that members have diverse opinions about what they consider their highest priority. As board members, if we aim to support and uphold those values, the majority should feel represented.
Please compose your candidate statement and anything else you’d like us to know. (350 words or fewer):
I am interested in serving on the board because I care deeply about the Co-op and its impact on my life and the community. I want to give back by using my experiences to help shape the Co-op’s future, strengthen its governance, and collaborate with members of our community. I would welcome the opportunity to contribute my skills, learn from fellow board members, and help advance the organization’s values.
What interests you about serving on the Co-op’s Board of Directors?
I’m interested in serving on the Co-ops’ Board of Directors to bring my skills and talent with operations, project management, finance and passion for food – particulary the Vermont and regional food supply chain to this Board. I’d be able to leverage my connection to a rich network of partners within that supply chain in order to assist with advancing the goals of the Co-op Food stores, regionally and nationally. I was thrilled to get an email relaying interest in my perspective and knowledge.
Please describe any experience or skills you may have serving on a board, committee or community group.
I currently serve on The Intervale Center Board, and the University of Vermont College of Life Science and Agriculture’s Advisory Board. I’ve served on a variety of different Boards, including NOFA-VT, Nordic Soccer, the VT YWCA chapter, Vermont Women’s Fund Council, the Vermont Land Trust, and the Real Organic Project. In my professional career, I supported the governing Board for the Working Lands Enterprise Fund for four years. I focus on process systems improvments and governance ecosystems in my Board work.
As a board member, how will you represent the diverse viewpoints of the membership in determining the future of the Co-op?
I have enjoyed a professional career that includes over (25) years of grocery retail, 4 years in public sector/government and most recently the non-profit sector. My part-time career is within higher education: I also work as a part-time Dance Lecturer at the University of Vermont. Teaching, coaching and learning are at the center of how I approach my volunteer time. Sharing knowledge and information is critical as is the tenacity I employ to learn about different systems.
What do you see as the biggest challenges for the Co-op in the coming years and how can we prepare for them?
The Co-op Food stores have scaled and are a marvelous example of coop retail excellence. In order to keep capacity and be a support to the community, its important to address the workforce and business viability issues that persist for food and farm producers who are vendors and customers to the Co-ops. We also know the pandemic has shifted the ways eaters shop and that the shopping experience augments of wider aisles, sanitation practices and curbside pick-up likely will not go away.
What are the emerging innovations to come in the next 5-10 years for brick and mortar? The Co-op will need to be nimble with preserving it’s decade long magic and leaning into persisting change and trends; including online aisles to compete with. Sharing best practices with co-ops of all sizes, ensuring the Board has diverse perspective, talent & skills, listening/responding to your membership and investing in the professional development and mental well-being of the staff are just a few ways to prepare.
Candidate Statement
My name is Lynn Ellen Schimoler, I live in Essex and have two children. We enjoy visiting VT farmer’s markets, eating out at restaurants that offer locally grown food, getting outdoors often, and playing/watching the game of Lacrosse.
I went to High School across from the Hanover Co-op location. My friends and I would visit the Food Bin often, and my mother owned a Health Food store called Honey Gardens in Lebanon, NH. I am a member of co-ops in Northern VT, and a new member at the Co-op Food stores. I was a former Director at Onion River Co-op, and part of my role was collaborating with National Cooperatives Grocer on co-op expansions in the Northeast; including spending time in the Hanover produce department observing incredible merchandise resets and learning how your commissary operates.
I’m interested in serving on the Co-ops’ Board of Directors to bring my skills and talent with operations, project management, finance and passion for food – particulary the Vermont and regional food supply chain to this Board. I’d be able to leverage my connection to a rich network of partners within that supply chain in order to assist with advancing the goals of the Co-op Food stores, regionally and nationally.
I’m passionate about cooperative economics and committed to assisting this business model thrive. The co-op model allows a community to address an ambitious set of needs – overall wellness, social, and economic. I’m excited to help advance the needs of the members and eaters in the Upper Valley community and those members external to the area demographic. A grocery store can be the gateway to provide access to and navigation through these needs and I’d be honored to particpate in this work.
Present Occupation
Floral/Produce associate
What interests you about serving on the Co-op’s Board of Directors?
Getting more involved in the community
In what ways can you contribute to the Co-op Board?
I have been with the Lebanon Co-op for nearly a decade (on and off). In the time that I was away from the co-op, I worked with many local businesses and farmers. And I have an associates degree in Agribusiness Management.
An integral part of board work is reviewing, assessing, and potentially implementing policy change based upon member-owner feedback. As a board member, how will you listen to and integrate feedback from diverse viewpoints of the membership in determining the future of the Co-op?
Be receptive take each individuals point of view into account.
Which Co-op Value is the highest Priority for yourself? Which Co-op Value do you think should be the highest priority for the Co-op? They may be the same. https://coopfoodstore.coop/board/
Hard to pick one, but I believe serving our local vendors and community are the highest priority.
Please compose your candidate statement and anything else you’d like us to know. (350 words or fewer):
My goal, if I were accepted on the board, would be to encourage and support our local businesses. As well as try to involve our community more with the Co-op
Director, Tuck Center for Entrepreneurship
What interests you about serving on the Co-op’s Board of Directors?
After three years on the Board, I remain motivated by the responsibility and opportunity that come with stewarding a community-owned organization.
The Co-op plays an important role in our region — not only as a grocery store, but as a values-driven institution shaped by its owners.
Serving as Secretary, Vice President, and Chair of the Owner Linkage Committee has given me a deeper appreciation for the balance between governance and operations. The Board’s role is to think long-term, provide clear policy direction, and ensure financial and organizational health while empowering management to do their work effectively. That work continues to matter, especially as the retail and economic environment evolves.
I’m interested in continuing to serve because I believe steady, thoughtful governance is essential to protecting what makes the Co-op unique while positioning it for long-term success.
In what ways can you contribute to the Co-op Board?
Over the past three years, I’ve developed a strong understanding of our governance structure, policy framework, and strategic priorities. My experience as Secretary strengthened my focus on clarity, accountability, and strong board processes. Serving as Vice President has allowed me to support board leadership and help facilitate productive, forward-looking discussions.
As Chair of the Owner Linkage Committee for the past two years, I’ve focused on strengthening the connection between the Board and our member-owners. I value listening carefully, asking thoughtful questions, and helping the Board synthesize diverse input into policy-level decisions.
I bring a collaborative approach, a willingness to engage respectfully with differing viewpoints, and a steady focus on long-term sustainability rather than short-term reactions. I believe those qualities are especially important in a board setting.
An integral part of board work is reviewing, assessing, and potentially implementing policy change based upon member-owner feedback. As a board member, how will you listen to and integrate feedback from diverse viewpoints of the membership in determining the future of the Co-op?
Listening to member-owners has been central to my board service, particularly through my work chairing the Owner Linkage Committee. I believe effective listening happens in multiple ways — through structured forums, surveys, written feedback, and informal conversations. Each provides a different perspective, and together they help paint a fuller picture of what matters to our owners.
At the same time, the Board’s responsibility is not only to gather feedback but to thoughtfully evaluate it in light of our mission, financial realities, and long-term goals. Owners will not always agree with one another, and feedback may point in different directions. My role is to help ensure those perspectives are heard, considered respectfully, and weighed carefully within our governance framework.
Strong policy decisions come from balancing diverse viewpoints with clear strategic thinking and fiduciary responsibility.
Which Co-op Value is the highest Priority for yourself? Which Co-op Value do you think should be the highest priority for the Co-op? They may be the same. https://coopfoodstore.coop/board/
I would consider local our highest priority because it naturally encompasses our other three values: employees, community, and environment.
When we support local producers, our employees have the opportunity to build real relationships with the people growing and making the food we sell. That connection helps close the gap between supplier and staff, and ultimately strengthens how we represent that food in the store. It adds meaning and authenticity to the work our employees do every day.
Purchasing locally also directly supports our broader community. It strengthens local farmers and their employees, helps new business owners gain traction, and introduces shoppers to the many producers and small businesses that make our region unique. Keeping those dollars circulating locally reinforces the cooperative model in a tangible way.
Finally, there’s the environmental impact. Local food doesn’t need to travel as far to reach our shelves, which reduces transportation-related impacts. And, simply put, food that is harvested closer to peak ripeness and doesn’t travel long distances just tastes better.
For me, prioritizing local strengthens employees, community, and environment all at once — and reinforces what makes the Co-op distinct.
Please compose your candidate statement and anything else you’d like us to know. (350 words or fewer):
Serving on the Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society Board for the past three years has been a meaningful way to contribute to an organization I care deeply about. During that time, I’ve served as Secretary, Vice President, and Chair of the Owner Linkage Committee for the past two years. Each role has helped me understand the importance of strong governance, clear policy direction, and staying connected to the people who make this Co-op possible: our member-owners.
The Co-op is more than a grocery store — it’s a community-owned institution built around shared values. In a shifting retail and economic landscape, thoughtful, steady board leadership matters. Our job is to focus on long-term sustainability — financially, organizationally, and environmentally — while supporting management in running the day-to-day operations effectively.
Being part of Owner Linkage has been one of the most important parts of my service. Hearing directly from owners, whether in forums, surveys, or informal conversations, keeps the board grounded in the community we serve. It’s not just about collecting feedback — it’s about really listening, understanding different perspectives, and making sure those voices help guide our decisions. Of course, not every opinion points in the same direction, but part of the board’s role is weighing those perspectives thoughtfully and keeping our mission at the center of every decision.
If re-elected, I will continue to bring a collaborative, mission-focused approach to board service, listening to owners while keeping an eye on long-term goals. I remain committed to serving our member-owners and supporting the Co-op as it continues to thrive in our community.