BriarPatch Food Co-op

BriarPatch is more than a grocery store—it’s a pillar of our community. Through its leadership, it strengthens the local food system by supporting farmers, partnering with nonprofits, and championing environmental stewardship. These efforts have made BriarPatch a trusted hub where people connect around food, sustainability, and shared values. As a former employee, I have seen firsthand how BriarPatch’s commitment extends beyond its walls, creating real impact in the community. My career has been dedicated to driving meaningful change in food systems, from improving food access to strengthening regional supply chains. I admire BriarPatch’s role in fostering a resilient local economy and promoting ethical food systems. Serving on the board would allow me to contribute my experience in food procurement, operations, and community partnerships to further its mission. I am excited about the opportunity to support and strengthen the cooperative’s leadership in our region.

I am running for the BriarPatch Board because I see it as a powerful force for strengthening our local food system, and I want to help guide its continued growth. As the Executive Food Service Director for Community Roots, serving Nevada County’s K-12 school districts, and former Senior Food Services Manager at BriarPatch, I have spent my career working to create more sustainable, equitable food systems. Being part of the Auburn location opening reinforced my belief in the cooperative model’s ability to transform communities. I envision BriarPatch deepening partnerships with local producers, expanding organic and local food access to more communities, and leading innovation in sustainable food systems. My experience in food procurement, operations, and strategic planning would allow me to support this next phase of growth. I am excited for the opportunity to help BriarPatch thrive as it reaches new communities while staying rooted in its mission.

I will make a strong board director because my career has been dedicated to strengthening local food systems through leadership, vision, and hands-on experience. As a chef working for small restaurant groups, I prioritized local procurement and built direct relationships with farmers and ranchers. I carried that mission into retail, working for Bi-Rite Markets in San Francisco, a values-driven organization committed to ethical sourcing. At BriarPatch, I played a key role in both stores—first as Food Service Manager in Grass Valley, then leading the opening of the Auburn location while overseeing procurement and menu development for the Prepared Foods Departments at both stores. Now, as Executive Director for Community Roots School Food Agency, I continue to impact food systems while working with a Board of Directors, giving me insight into a healthy board-director dynamic. My leadership, strategic vision, and operational expertise make me well-equipped to help guide BriarPatch’s future.

“Let food be thy medicine.” I love the availability of high-quality products that are naturally produced and sustainably sourced. From local and organic produce to restaurant-quality meat and seafood, I can confidently buy high-quality ingredients that meet the expectations of the food I prepare. I love the co-op’s commitment to the community. Their support of local farmers and producers allows customers to experience farm-to-fork living. Finally, and possibly most importantly, I love the staff. These people are the face of the co-op, and the diversity of the staff makes the Patch a fun place to shop as well as a business I want to support. Beyond buying high-quality food, I also socialize with great people when I shop.

I want to be involved in the community and support a business I believe in. When my wife and I moved to Auburn from Grass Valley in 2020, we continued to drive to the Sierra College store because we loved the products and people at the store. When we found out a new location would be opening in Auburn, we were ecstatic! Seeing the new store’s positive impact on the community has been very satisfying, and I would be grateful to represent my neighbors and the Auburn area with a seat on the Board.

I am committed to the success of Briarpatch. Our family spends 90% of our food dollars there. I respect the core values of the co-op. I can assist the co-op in finding local growers and producers whose products meet the demands of the customers. I want to support Briarpatch’s goal in supporting the employees who strive to provide excellent service to customers. As a passionate cook, I have high expectations for the quality of the food I prepare, so I am committed to the co-op’s goal of providing quality products at competitive prices. I will bring perspective to the board. I have a deep knowledge of food, prior retail grocery experience, and sound business knowledge. I understand financials, governance, and best practices. I am confident in my ability to work towards common goals, unafraid to question, and respectful of other opinions.

Before moving to Nevada County, I wouldn’t have believed that you could come to love a grocery store. I grew up in a place where grocery stores were utilitarian and practical, visited purely for sustenance, and as quickly as possible. I have since learned that a grocery store can be so much more than I had previously encountered. Whether you’re looking for the best ingredients, or a store that makes a difference in the community, it’s clear that BriarPatch is an amazing place to shop, gather, and experience the welcoming culture of Nevada County. It’s a community hub that makes going grocery shopping feel like an enjoyable excursion rather than a necessary chore. When I shop at BriarPatch I feel lucky to connect with the fantastic staff and customers, while simultaneously finding the wholesome food I value. It’s definitely a place I love and to which I feel deeply connected.

I am running for the BriarPatch Board of Directors for a fourth term because I believe that by serving on the Board of an organization that I find so meaningful and impactful I can help strengthen our community. My time on the Board has opened my eyes to all of the important work that BriarPatch carries out, funds, and encourages. By being part of the Board, I get to contribute to all of that good work in my own way. I have already learned and experienced so much by serving on this Board, and I hope to continue growing and helping BriarPatch to do the same. I am dedicated to continuously making our co-op an even better place to shop and to spreading the word about all it has to offer.

I will make a good Board Director because of the unique perspective I bring to this important work. My experiences working in both our public school system and on local farms have helped put me in touch with the community that BriarPatch serves, and the shoppers, staff, and farmers that make it what it is. During my nine years on the Board, I have served as Board Secretary and on the Board Development and Governance committees. I have participated in numerous trainings, board retreats, and co-op conferences where my capacities as a Board Director have grown and matured. I have taken part in the process of opening a second store and joyfully celebrated its success. I hope to continue my development and service through another term on the board of this wonderful company.

I am always inspired by BriarPatch’s brilliance and how it serves as a leader in the community on so many levels. I love that BriarPatch cultivates community. It may sound cliché, but it is actually real and profound. I love that BriarPatch is a co-op, and not just a grocery business. A co-op that exists in service to people and to the Earth, sending ripples throughout the food system, beyond the walls of its stores. I love that BriarPatch Food Co-op is a non-conformist.

Participating in what I care about provides me with a sense of connection and fulfillment. I also appreciate the sense of empowerment that I feel through my service as a board member. This is in part due to the organization’s commitment to “Study and Engagement” which provides each director the opportunity to continue learning and thus growing our individual and collective leadership capacities. I look forward to deepening BriarPatch’s work in the region with its now two stores – an important accomplishment that can be harnessed for so much good. Participating on the board is an all-around positive experience and I am running for a second term because good work takes time and I’m not done!

Serving on the BriarPatch Board of Directors for one term has been an enriching experience. It has shown me firsthand how effective governance can shape a thriving, forward-thinking cooperative. I bring to the table 20 years of experience strengthening regional food systems and supporting farmers from diverse backgrounds, coupled with a steadfast commitment to BriarPatch’s excellence. In my current role as a cooperative development specialist, I work with rural communities across California and our region, leveraging the cooperative business model to advance social equity and economic empowerment. These experiences have deepened my perspective and honed my cooperative leadership skills, which I am eager to contribute as a dedicated Board Director for BriarPatch.