Board of Directors Overview:
The Whole Earth Market Board of Directors is a 9 person governing body consisting of co-op members that are elected on a rolling basis at the annual meeting in March each year. Board members have a fiduciary duty to the success of WE Market Co-op and they have a responsibility to represent the members and their interests in our co-op.
The Board of Directors has adopted a Policy Governance business model to guide their actions. The model allows the board to stay focused on three main areas:
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Setting long term goals and organizational limits
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Supporting and holding the General Manager accountable for organizational performance
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Creating an open and active dialog with member regarding the strategic direction of the co-op
The Policy Governance model maintains operational decisions in the hands of the General Manager. The Board of Directors defines the policies and the General Manager reports back to the board monthly on their compliance of the applicable policy.
Meet the Board!
Karen Gjelhaug -President
Why do you love the Coop?
I love that there's a place in River Falls that always has local food options and lots of organic choices.
Favorite items:
Local produce, bulk products, and in-house soups, salads, and sandwiches.
Why are you on the WE board?
I love the WE co-op and the community that supports it and want to take a more active role in my involvement.
What is your background?
I worked in organic certification as a certifier/inspector for the last 5.5 years and am currently a full-time student pursuing an MBA.
Goals for the future?
I would love to see the co-op be able to expand and truly become a one-stop grocery shop that meets all community member needs!
Erin Mahnke -Vice President
Why do you love the Coop?
I love the convenience of local foods I can pick up at the last minute and the selection of pre-made sandwiches and salads for a quick meal.
Favorite items:
Curry chicken wrap, coffee, farm-fresh eggs & produce.
Why are you on the WE board?
I’ve enjoyed The Co-op for many years and decided to be a part of The Co-op Board as a way to give back.
What is your background?
I’ve been a naturalist for several organizations, a science teacher for 20 years and am currently an Assistant Principal at Dakota County Area Learning School. I’ve lived in River Falls for 21 years.
Goals for the future?
To be a part of the growth of The Co-op!
Bairet Eiter
Bio: Bairet Eiter (she/her) moved to River Falls in 2013 to pursue a degree in sustainable agriculture at UWRF. She has aways been passionate about taking care of the earth, cultivating community and collective well-being. After graduating from UWRF, Bairet joined the team at WE Market Co-op as assistant manager before pursuing another career in organic seed sales. Bairet and her partner started a veggie farm in Menomonie in 2021 and after facing some challenges ultimately decided to move back to River Falls.
Bairet now works as a rehabilitation provider helping kids, teens and adults build life skills to help them cope with their mental health and she teaches yoga at several local studios. Bairet says that the biggest reason she would like to serve on the board is the community. She feels that WE-Market Co-op is a steady and vital resource in River Falls, so much so that it was a big reason to move back and stay in the community! Bairet would be honored to bring her perspective, experience and excitement for community and local food to the board.
What motivated you to run for a position on the board of directors?
I am motivated to run for a position on the board because I bring a unique perspective as a former staff member and I feel strongly that the success of WE Market Co-op is critical for our farmers, community and to collectively create change to protect our local natural resources.
Have you ever served on a board before? If so, what type of board, and how would you describe your experience?
I currently serve on the Abundant Yoga Community non-profit board as Vice President. My experience as a board member has been positive so far, though it is a newer role for me. I enjoy connecting with other board members and collaborating on marketing for events and offerings.
Have you done any work or contributed in some way to our Co-op or any other co-op in the past? If so, please describe.
Yes, I previously was the assistant general manager at WE-Market
Co-op and recently served on the hiring committee for the recent general manager hire.
What strengths or talents do you feel you have that would be assets to the board?
My strengths include communication, marketing, connecting with others, having one on one conversations, excitement for local food and sustainability, community connections and understanding the
co-op from an employee perspective as well as a regular attendee of board meetings when I was staff.
What role do you see the Co-op playing in the community over the next 5 years?
I see the co-op being a vital role in helping to support local growers, being a safe place for marginalized community members, being a resource for educating about sustainability and sourcing ethically and a partner in community initiatives for sustainability and preserving our natural resources.
David Van Eeckhout -Treasurer
Phaedra Johnson
Why do you love the Coop?
I love being able to get locally sourced items as well as a range of organic products. The Co-op is well-stocked and organized, and the people that work there are amazing, which adds up to a great shopping experience. I always leave happy!
Favorite Products:
Local radishes, microgreens, and other salad makings, bulk honey, Organic Valley dairy products, baking supplies, and all the snacks!
Why are you on the WE board?
I’m thankful to live in River Falls and want to support the WE Market Co-op and our local producers. I’ve been a member of other co-ops (Menomonie Market, Lakewinds Food Co-Op) and believe that they are essential to building healthy communities. I’m excited about the future of our Co-op and want to contribute, in any way that I can.
What is your background?
I’m a health services researcher by training and my professional background includes over 20 years of experience working in global healthcare and life sciences research organizations. I’m currently the Director of Research for the Amyloidosis Research Consortium (ARC), a non-profit research and patient organization for a rare disease.
Goals for the future:
To help sustain this great Co-op, which has kept going and growing thanks to the efforts of past members and Board Members.
Jim Camery
Bio: I'm 64 years old and have lived in rural RF since moving here from Minneapolis in 1999. I'm a hard core gardener with 50 tomato plants every year and do a lot of old-style canning. I restore old cars and trucks and wood boats from the 50's. I'm married (Tammy Tollefson) with no kids. I volunteer with WestCap as an ESL tutor and at the schools as a math tutor. I have taught computer programming for RFSD Community Education.
Have you ever served on a board before? If so, what type of board, and how would you describe your experience?
Yes, I served as President of the local antique boat club (about 300 members) for 9 years and was the treasurer before that. It was a good experience but it was time for others to contribute. It was a 9-person board with a VP, secretary and treasurer. I was elected and served two terms as a Pierce County supervisor. Again, a good experience and I had a bit to contribute as the only representative from a salaried, business background but the time commitment was too much and I didn't run for a third term. It wasn't news to me, but people run for local offices for all sorts of reasons and have all levels of ability to work with others. We used Roberts Rules to administer meetings. I have been the chair of the Pierce County Democratic party for about 15 years. It uses a board structure with a secretary and treasurer.
Have you done any work or contributed in some way to our Co-op or any other co-op in the past? If so, please describe.
We're just shoppers, although we are heavy shoppers and buy everything that we use at the coop, if it's available. This is probably 95% of our monthly spend. We were members of co-ops in Minneapolis when we lived there since the 80s. I think I'm still a stockholder of the original Seward Co-op.
What strengths or talents do you feel you have that would be assets to the board?
I retired in 2023 from Wells Fargo as a Data Scientist, a role that involved reviewing databases and building AI applications to summarize them. My prior career was analyzing customer and sales data for chain retail organizations (including groceries Harris Teeter and Delhaize) to develop strategy. I have skills in analyzing data, drawing conclusions and presenting findings.
What role do you see the Co-op playing in the community over the next 5 years?
I don't know what will play out because everything is changing so fast. I drive by Aldi and always see 2 dozen cars while Ptaceks has 3 or 4. The farmer's market can have dozens of people in good weather and is less convenient than the Co-op but people enjoy seeing their friends there and it's seen as a community attribute. There does have to be some strategizing and visioning done to think through which options are realistically viable. It might be that the Co-op continues to be sort of a boutique specialty store, but I can't say I know right now.
What motivated you to run for a position on the board of directors?
I'm recently retired and have more time for things. We're long-time shoppers and in the store several times a week and feel motivated to help it continue to be successful.
Alex M Petersen
Bio: My name is Alex M. Petersen, I am a visual artist and educator currently studying landscape architecture at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. I moved to River Falls in 2018 and have since been engaged with our community via the University, public art, and the horticultural network of Western Wisconsin. My current focus as a landscape architect elevates and engages ecological restoration, food sovereignty and cultural empowerment. Serving on the Board of Directors at WE Co-Op provides greater engagement with the communities and the sustainable food systems of our region.
What motivated you to run for a position on the board of directors?
I am motivated by hyper-local place making, cultural sustainability and community engaged resiliency. I am deeply concerned about the ever-increasing rise of monopoly capitalism and the extraction of wealth from rural communities. Serving on the board of directors for WE
Co-Op provides an opportunity to engage with small-scale agriculture and farmers, while simultaneously serving the community I call home and care deeply about.
Have you ever served on a board before? If so, what type of board, and how would you describe your experience?
I have served on leadership committees and community-focused volunteer roles in many academic and professional spaces. Beginning in 2021, I have served as a River Falls Creates committee member. The goal of this position is to facilitate and engage public art in the city of River Falls, while managing the City’s percent for Art Initiative. In this role I have worked closely with the Business Improvement District, the City of River Falls, The Community Art Base, and local residents and artists to serve the greater community by bringing art and opportunities to our region.
Have you done any work or contributed in some way to our Co-op or any other co-op in the past? If so, please describe.
I have been a member of WE Co-Op since moving to River Falls and shop regularly. Otherwise, no.
What strengths or talents do you feel you have that would be assets to the board?
My experiences as an educator, with one foot in the art world and the other in horticulture, has helped me develop a surprisingly agile ability to observe, reflect and respond to a wide range of communication styles and situations. I am comfortable and respectful, regardless of the situation, while also understanding and centering a diversity of perspectives. I am able to navigate and engage, completing projects and helping others achieve their goals and visions.
What role do you see the Co-op playing in the community over the next 5 years?
I would like to learn more about the support systems currently in place for small-scale agriculture and businesses in Western Wisconsin, and what can be strengthened and supported for a more resilient, flexible network. Community engagement and education is vital to this role, and I see myself becoming both a leader for outreach and a connector to form greater possibilities for our city, community, and region.
