Changes on the Cedar Falls Food Co-op’s Board of Directors

Jacquelyn Berggren, Andrew Morse, and Scott Wirtz

At the 2017 Member-Owner Potluck & Meeting, the Cedar Falls Food Co-op wrapped up its elections for three seats on the Board of Directors. The three incoming members began their term immediately following the meeting on Oct. 24.

The nine-member Board leads the Co-op’s efforts to establish the community-owned grocery store in or near downtown Cedar Falls. With 31.1% of the membership voting, the results are as follows:

Andrew Morse           28.8%

Jacquelyn Berggren  25.9%

Scott Wirtz                 25.3%

Blake Conover           20.0%

As per the Co-op’s bylaws, the top three vote getters are elected to serve three-year terms. They fill seats by termed-out members Dan Heit, Amber Mann, and Kristel McClenahan.

 

Berggren has already been active with the Co-op, serving on the Communications Committee and writing articles for the Garlic Press. She is currently pursuing an associate of science degree in applied nutrition. “There is an excitement that exists around working to open a community hub, and I find it rewarding to continue to work with others to reach this goal,” she said.

 

Morse has recently accepted a new position at UNI: assistant to the president for board and governmental relations. He has been engaged in Co-op work since this summer serving as co-chair of the Capital Campaign Committee. “I believe my passion for good food as a community development strategy will serve the Board well as it steers ever faster toward the launch of a physical store that is a vibrant addition to Cedar Falls,” Morse said.

 

Wirtz brings a financial background to the Co-op’s board. A graduate of UNI with a bachelor’s in accounting, he is looking forward to utilizing his skills to help the Co-op move forward. “I work alongside families and small businesses on understanding their financial strengths and liabilities every day as we forge a path from where they are to where they want to be,” Wirtz said. “I think I can be a tremendous asset in that regard.”

 

The Co-op extends its sincere appreciation for outgoing Board members Heit, Mann, and McClenahan. All three have been active in the Co-op’s work since the very first community meeting was held in September 2012. They were among the first nine members of the Steering Committee, and they continued their service with three years on the Co-op’s board.

 

When the Co-op incorporated in 2014, the existing steering committee transitioned to serve as the very first Board of Directors. In order to move from a self-appointed board to a fully elected one, each year since then, Co-op members have voted for new members to serve on three of the nine seats, which means with the election of Berggren, Morse and Wirtz, the Co-op now has for the first time, a fully elected board.

 

The next election for the three seats whose terms end in 2018 will be held next summer. Co-op member-owners who are interested in adding their skills set to the cooperative are encouraged to join a committee or the board. Drop us a line at info@cedarfallsfood.coop.

Leave a Reply