Portland Food Co-op
Board of Directors
The Portland Food Co-op is owned by people in the community – over 6,500 in total! Obviously, having that many Member-Owners trying to directly manage a business would be impossible. Instead, the Member-Owners elect a Board of Directors to govern the organization on their behalf.
The Board of Directors is responsible for the overall governance of the Co-op. Directors are elected every spring and serve three-year terms. The Board meets once a month, and Board meetings are open to all Member-Owners. Those interested in running for the Board are strongly advised to attend at least one Board meeting to learn more about leadership within the Co-op.
An important role of the Board is to hire and oversee the General Manager, who runs the day-to-day operations of the retail store. The Board is also responsible for the long-term vision of the Co-op. While the current retail store is the most tangible product of the organization, the Board is always seeking ways to expand the positive impacts of the Co-op on our Member-Owners and the community.
Board meetings are generally held on the fourth Tuesday of each month, from 6:30-8:30 PM. Updated information is always available on the Co-op calendar. Meetings are open to all Member-Owners. If you would like to attend a board meeting, please email board@portlandfood.coop.
CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS
Martha Lefebvre (SHE/HER) 2026
Board Secretary
Martha Lefebvre is a lifelong advocate for social and economic equity. Her experience building a local food recovery program near Seattle led her to pursue a Masters in Policy, Planning, and Management and a Certificate of Graduate Study in Food Studies at USM's Muskie School of Public Policy. Martha hopes to use her degree to strengthen Maine's local food system and build food and land equity throughout the state.
She is particularly interested in food and land sovereignty, the global food system’s environmental impact, and the intersection of feminism and veganism. Currently, Martha is working with Friends of Woodfords Corner to establish a new farmers market in Portland which will serve the Woodford community and beyond. She recently became employed at Good Shepherd Food Bank in the Community Initiatives team.
Natasha Rose Lombardi (she/they) 2026
Natasha Rose Lombardi is a retired social worker, who works to give back to the community. Natasha is currently the Vice President of the CT TransAdvocacy Coalition, an organization that works for the rights of the Trans Community. Natasha has also been involved with several other non-profits, such as the Hartford LGBTQ Community center and others.
amy morse (SHE/HER) 2025
Board Vice President
Amy is a passionate member of the PFC and visits multiple times per week.
She desires involvement in the Portland community, teamwork, and connecting with like-minded people, especially now that she is retired with more time. She feels that the professional experience and skills that she developed in healthcare, including leadership, boards, listening campaigns, marketing, strategic planning, policy systems, and program analysis/development will lend themselves well to the work with the Co-op Board.
She appreciates and misses the cultural environments that she experienced for 3 years in New Zealand with the Maori and 3 years in Kunming, China. She looks forward to opportunities to help in some way with Portland’s diverse community.
The co-op model of business, including the consensus model, aligns perfectly with her values and beliefs. She is excited about the potential opportunity to learn about the world of co-ops, groceries, collaboration with local farms, and wellness education.
Sonya Raab (she/Her) 2025
Sonya is originally from Jamaica Plain, MA. For the last 10 years, she lived out west in Denver and Jackson, WY. Her and her fiancé relocated to Portland in June! In 2017, she graduated from the University of Denver with a BSBA in business and a major in hospitality. While being furloughed during the beginning of the pandemic and recovering from a major ski injury, Sonya taught her how to make sourdough. In May of 2020 she decided she would fulfill a lifelong dream and join a farmer’s market. Very quickly, my business, Bread and Blossom, was developed. After feeling like she was at a bit of a dead end in Jackson, they decided to make the move to Maine! Sonya works in two restaurants in Portland as a chef, events coordinator, server, and bartender. Her goal in life is to do whatever she can to fix our broken food system. She is excited to serve on the board to assist our community in having access to locally grown/produced food made by small businesses!
Linsey Ruhl (she/her) 2026
Board Treasurer
Linsey grew up in northern Penobscot County and attended UMaine in Orono and Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C. Linsey spent 7 years working as a public defender in the South Bronx. When she left the city, she spent another two years doing public defender work in Colorado. Linsey returned home to Maine in 2019 and has been living in Portland with her partner and their two dogs since December 2019. She works as a staff attorney with Pine Tree Legal Assistance. She love all things outdoors, but especially backpacking, and is also an amateur woodworker and home remodeler.
Colin Vettier (he/him) 2026
Board President
As soon as Colin arrived in Portland, he joined the PFC. As someone trying to live a low carbon lifestyle, he is constantly questioning his buying habits, and is mindful of the impact his spending choices have on his community and the environment. This lifestyle led him to explore the rich ecosystem of co-ops as it offers strong alternatives to corporate entities that value profit over people. He sees co-ops as places that foster communities, a functioning model of what is possible when thinking beyond big box stores and investor-owned businesses. Of course, there is always progress to be made, and there are always new ways to serve the community, which is what motivates him to be part of the Board of Directors. Colin is excited to bring his values and his skills (especially in policy drafting and management) to the co-op and to be a part of this cornerstone of life in Portland. It’s not just about buying food, it’s about sharing values and elevating each other.