Board of Directors

Member-Owners Committed to Making a Difference

Greetings from the Mississippi Market Board of Directors! We are made up of member-owners, elected by member-owners, and represent member-owners’ collective vision for the future of Mississippi Market. With your help we can do our best to enrich Mississippi Market members’ lives and make a positive difference in our community. Let us know your hopes for the co-op. Contact us through the board’s e-mail board@msmarket.coop or voicemail 651-310-9475.

Read our bylaws here (PDF)

Upcoming Board Meetings

July 20, 2010 • 6:30 PM
Selby Store, Community Room

August 17, 2010 • 6:30 PM
Selby Store, Community Room

September 21, 2010 • 6:30 PM
Selby Store, Community Room

Meet the Mississippi Market Co-op’s Board of Directors:

Charles Breer

Charles is serving as the 2010 Board Vice President.

Franc Garcia

Franc was raised on a family ranch in Mexico and moved to Minnesota from California in 2001. Growing up eating organic, home-grown food has made him a confirmed supporter of local family farms: “enjoying accessible, affordable organic foods with superior taste and quality is something I'm passionate about. I'd like to see stronger, more visible connections between consumers and growers within the co-op system.” Franc works at Saint Paul Academy and shops often at the Randolph store; he and his wife and two young children live in Saint Paul. Franc is serving as the 2010 Board Treasurer.

Nina Johnson

Nina serves as President of the Board. She has been a member of our co-op since 1989. She has also been active in the 4th Street Guild, a woodworker's co-op, and Kidspark, a cooperative drop-in daycare center, so she brings great co-op experience to the Board! “I love being part of a lively community that actively works toward creating and maintaining healthy people, communities and ecosystems. My kids and I experience this vitality every time we step into the store.”

Tracy Morgan

Tracy's past history as VP of Business Development and Communications for a large local nonprofit, as well as my practical experience launching and growing businesses, makes her well suited to serve on the Board of Directors for the Market. Her experience in leadership roles has impressed upon her the importance of fostering a collaborative environment, augmenting weaknesses with strengths of other talented people and planning proactively. She believes wholeheartedly in thoughtful, visionary planning first so that we can make panic-free course corrections along the way. As a contributor for www.SimpleGoodandTasty.com (also my client), I have become a vocal advocate for the community and personal benefits of local, sustainable and organic foods. My vision for the future of the Mississippi Market would be to 1) make healthful, local foods a cornerstone in more Twin Citizens' diets, and 2) for the Market to leverage its brand and fiercely loyal consumers in order to play a leadership role in making sustainability (in all of its facets) an accessible, attainable concept for our community.

Jon Olson

Jon grew up in a family trucking business serving small farmers in Western Minnesota, becoming well-versed in food production, processing and distribution. Jon also has experience in planning and administration of operating budgets up to $4 million. As a team leader with a B.A. Degree in Organizational Leadership, Jon managed an entire academic division at Hennepin Technical College, a process that requires collaboration with educational administrators, first responders, students, teachers and government entities. Jon sees Mississippi Market Co-op as a community resource that can serve a wide market segment with a blend of locally grown and commercially produced products. The notion of the “organic hippie” is fading, and the concepts of locality and sustainability belong to every responsible consumer. Jon's vision for Mississippi Market points to a place that sells what people want, where the selection is diverse, and the customers are educated about food choices.

Joan Pasiuk

Joan was elected to the board in October 2004 and served as Board President in 2007. She has been involved in area co-ops (including our St. Clair store) for over 20 years. She is Director of the Bike Walk Twin Cities program at Transit for Livable Communities. After years of toting groceries by bike or backpack from the Randolph store she will be adding mileage (and hill work!) to bike, walk or occasionally jump on the bus to shop at the fabulous new W 7th store. "I am a strong advocate to for St. Paul's quality of life and honored to serve the co-op during this exciting time of our business."

Susan Peak

 

 

Barbara Tretheway

Barb is a lawyer who focuses on health care issues. She is the General Counsel of HealthPartners. Barb first became involved with coops in grade school when she bought food for her pet rabbit at the Middleton Farmer's Coop. Barb loves to cook (and eat) and really appreciates the quality of food that is grown nearby and raised with care. She also enjoys working with organizations that are governed by the people who use the services. Barb is serving as the 2010 Board Secretary.

Nilgun Tuna

While working as an architect for over 20 years Nilgun Tuna has also pursued passions as a cook and organic gardener. Her interest in co-ops began during her student days: “Co-ops first appealed to me for their availability of organic food. Now I see co-op membership as concerned with the politics of food in our society; we are each an important agent of change and public education.” Nilgun is serving as the 2010 Board President.