The Sugar Beet Co-op Elects First Board of Directors

The Sugar Beet Co-op, a community owned grocery store preparing to open in 2015, incorporated as a for profit cooperative in early 2014. As stated in its bylaws, The Sugar Beet Co-op is required to elect a board of directors. At the Co-op’s first annual meeting on  March 1, 2014, a slate of nominees was put forth and voted on by members.

Fourteen members of the Co-op, and residents of the community who demonstrated their commitment The Sugar Beet’s development with their initial work on the start-up, were elected to the first board of directors for The Sugar Beet Co-op. Following are the newly elected board members from Oak Park and River Forest:

Cheryl Muñoz, Founder and Project Lead, The Sugar Beet Co-op

Tom Hollinden, President, Transaction Manager, Colliers International

Peter Nolan, Vice President, Chief Brand Officer at Roti Mediterranean Grill

Lisa Boone, Treasurer, Founder and Executive Director of Geneva Foundation

Maureen Spain, Secretary, Marketing Group Manager at Hinshaw & Culberton LLP

Dan Beach, Professor and Chair of Psychology Dept at Dominican University

Monica Chadha, Architect, Civic Projects LLC, Adjunct Assistant Professor, IIT

Chris Dowsett, Fund Accountant at Magnetar Capital

Bill Gee, Manaaki Foundation; SLoFIG

Brian Hammersley, Architect and Principal of Hammersley Architecture

Judy Klem, Founder and President of Strategy Scene

Greg Marsey, Founder of Paramount Property Management

Julie Moller, Moller Family Foundation; SLoFIG

Anthony Munoz, Director of Marketing at the National Hellenic Museum

The Sugar Beet Co-op board will be responsible for overseeing the operations and finances of the Co-op, establishing policies to guide operational decisions, engaging employees, securing good conditions of employment and reasonable employee benefits, and ensuring that the purpose and mission of the Co-op are properly carried out.

Tom Hollinden, Sugar Beet Co-op Board President, stated, “The team of people leading the way to build and open the Sugar Beet is incredible. It is with their expertise, enthusiasm and dedication we will reach our membership goal by opening and raise the required funds from our members to help get the grocery store built. The sooner we achieve these goals, the sooner our community will have year round access to local, organic, healthy food.”

The Sugar Beet Co-op will be open to the public although members of The Sugar Beet will be entitled to store discounts, voting rights on important issues and ownership in the store. Membership is open to everyone and can be purchased through the website. www.sugarbeetcoop.com