Portland Food Co-op
Board of Directors

The Portland Food Co-op is owned by people in the community – over 8,400 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.

The Board normally meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month, from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM. Please email board@portlandfood.coop if you would like to attend. Please email us by the Friday before the Board meeting.  We want to ensure we are providing enough space and time for your participation. Meetings are open to all Member-Owners. Please always check the calendar on this website as meeting times sometimes change. Please note that there are no Board meetings in April and August.

CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS

ALL CANDIDATES INCLUDED - REMOVE THIS TEXT AND LOSING CANDIDATE BEFORE LINKING

emily churchill (she/her) 2028

Board Treasurer

I grew up in NJ and moved to Maine in 2024 after living out west for many years in Jackson, Wyoming. I spent the past nine years working at an indoor farming start-up, whose mission is to provide meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities by growing local food. I have cultivated expertise in hydroponic farming, food safety, operations, and team management. My work in farming and inclusive workplaces has instilled a deep passion for local sustainable agriculture and an appreciation for the way food brings community together. I am impressed and inspired by the work of the Portland Food Co-op, and love shopping at the Co-op because it allows me to live my values everyday. I currently work at Scratch Baking Co and Dirigo Sea Farm.

HEATHER FLOR CRON (SHE/THEY) 2027

I am an artist, farmer, and community organizer of Andean and European descent. I grew up in poverty in Portland, Maine, and have witnessed the city become increasingly inhospitable to communities living on the margins. I’ve learned from my mother, Abuelita, and sister the power food has in building strong & resilient communities.

I work and organize with Presente! Maine, a grassroots organization that works to empower displaced Indigenous and Afro-Latinx peoples in Maine through survival programs, community power building, cultural celebration, and transformative healing practice. There, I serve as the Food Sovereignty & Land Access Lead. During my time with Presente! I’ve co-lead the Food Brigade project, a zero barrier food survival program and the Cuidado Colectivo Program, a youth recreation day program. I have stewarded Presente!’s Collective Farm since 2020 which grows culturally relevant food using ancestral practices. I want to celebrate life and plant seeds for futures where Black and Indigenous people are centered and celebrated. When I’m not working for food and land sovereignty, I enjoy making tinctures, playing with my niblings, dancing, eating at Công Tử Bộ, and cuddling with my cat Piña and dog Kiwi.

carl Cowen (he/they) 2029

In my professional life, I spend a great deal of time thinking about how institutions remain steady, responsive, and trusted over time. While the Co-op operates in a very different space, I see many of the same principles at work: collaboration, resilience, and a responsibility to serve people well.

I am honored to support the Co-op’s continued strength, and contribute to a community resource that does so much good for Portland.

Lesley Eshelman (she/her) 2028

In my professional life I’ve had the amazing opportunity to live in an intentional community where my job included gardening slowly, hiking, cooking, and caring for adults with disabilities. And now I am an Advocate in the field of care-work. Through these experiences I have the feeling that there is a broad lack of community in most other areas of our lives and world. This is something that I would like to spend my time working to change. The Portland Food Co-op fosters a sense of community within the store, among the member-owners, and the staff in a way that other consumer-based businesses do not. Along with their support for local farmers and food businesses, this is an effort that I can really get behind, 

In my personal life I like to ride my bike to mostly bakeries, but also other delicious food destinations. I also spend lots of time with four nieces and nephews who crack me up and remind me not to be such a food snob. I wish for more time to read, and I would probably get it if only I spent less time watching reality television shows.

george giese (he/him) 2027

Board President

I am an environmental consultant for AECOM, which is a global publicly traded engineering and consulting company.  I have  lived or worked in Portland Maine from the early 1990s to present. My office is located at the Pierce Attwood building on Commercial Street in Portland. I have raised two children with my wife Jayne. Georgia, my daughter, (25) now lives and works in Manhattan NY and my son Will (22) just completed college in Boston, MA. I currently volunteer on a community board with the Town of Yarmouth and at the Catholic Diocese of Portland. I grew up living and working in a family-owned small supermarket and butcher store in New Jersey that included many local sourced foods and included making house calls to deliver food to local neighbor customers. 

I feel my 34 years as a professional consultant, my experience as a volunteer in the community and my awareness of what a small business is and love for food preparation and customer service I developed as a child working in the family business position me well to be of value to the PFC Board. I am currently starting my second year of a three term on the PFC Board.

CALLIE JACKS (THEY/THEM) 2028

I am an artist, designer, teacher, knitter, chef, farmer, & babysitter. I am originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, and I grew up visiting family in Maine. I moved to Portland in 2022 and worked as a cook in fine-dining. Among other things, I am is passionate about fermentation, ecology, and the local food economy. I hold a degree in Studio Arts from Bard College and a Master in Applied Gastronomy from the University of Gastronomic Sciences. I am the Communications Coordinator at Watershed Ceramics and I also work at Onggi on Washington Ave, where you can find me in the shop talking about sourdough and miso and sauerkraut.

Martha Lefebvre (SHE/HER) 2027

Board Vice President

I’ve had the privilege of serving on the PFC Board for the past two years, and I currently serve as Board Secretary. It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience to work alongside such a thoughtful and dynamic team as we pursue PFC’s mission to nourish Maine’s local food economy and build a more connected community. I’m especially passionate about the intersection of food sovereignty and women’s rights, and how meaningful change often begins with the food we choose to put on our plates. In my role at Good Shepherd Food Bank, I support a wide network of community, school, and healthcare partners working to make Maine a healthier, more equitable place. Outside of work, I’m happiest when I’m out in nature birding and learning about wildlife or relaxing at home with my partner and our two cats and dog, who run the house.

Maggie Muth (she/they) 2029

I have been a member of the Coop for about 10 years. It is my regular food shopping haunt, and I really wouldn’t know what to do without it. I love the small local feel and fresh local food. Although I am not technically a Mainer, by some standards, I moved here from Baltimore 20 years ago to attend the Maine College of Art as an adult student, and never left. My professional background is primarily in the non-profit/arts world, bringing disparate groups of people to work together as a community.  For 10 years I had the opportunity to work in developing countries bringing people together with art programming, despite language and cultural differences. I am a teacher and community artist, as well as a grandma, stitcher, sometime puppeteer, sometime runner and just generally love being outside, especially in winter.

Sonya Raab (she/Her) 2027

Board Secretary

I am originally from Boston, MA. After living out west (Denver and Jackson, WY) for a decade, I convinced my husband to relocate to Portland, ME. In 2017, I 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, I taught myself how to make sourdough. In May of 2020 I decided I would fulfill a lifelong dream and join a farmer’s market. Very quickly, my business, Bread and Blossom, was developed. You can find my bread at the Brunswick-Topsham farmers markets in the summers. After working nearly every job in hospitality from restaurants to hotels, I decided to open my own event planning business! This had been my original dream since discovering at the young age of 13 that I was destined for the hospitality industry.  My goal in life is to do whatever I can to fix our broken food system. I am excited to serve on the board to assist our community in having access to locally grown/produced food made by small businesses! This year I will be growing my own vegetables for the first time ever at my community garden spot! I love the Co-op and being on the board has been such an enlightening experience for me.

Rob Twyman (he/him) 2029

I’ve spent over four decades supporting the natural and organic foods community. I planted my food roots working for such natural food innovators as Bread & Circus Natural Foods in Boston, The Odwalla Juice Company, and my own business, Kinetic Lunch, an early initiative to bring natural and organic foods to the fast-food space.

I worked for Whole Foods Market for 28 years, starting as deli clerk and working my way to EVP of Global Operations. As EVP, I led operations throughout the US, Canada, and the UK. More recently, I served as CEO of Daily Table, a non-profit grocery chain dedicated to providing affordable nutrition to underserved communities.

I’m committed to and actively engaged in supporting the future of quality food and sustainable agriculture. I have served on multiple non-profit and for-profit boards. I currently consult for emerging retail and CPG brands, and volunteer at the Maine Center for Entrepreneurs, as a mentor for their Cultivator program, working with Crooked Face Creamery. My work is guided by a mission to build and nurture community health and wellness by making quality food accessible to everyone.

I’m an avid cyclist, cook, and Francophile with a particular passion for cheese and coffee.

Pedro A. Vázquez (he/him) 2027

I’m Pedro A. Vázquez, and I’ve spent my life defending human rights in every role I’ve held. As a legal professional for over 20 years, I’ve passionately pursued justice—first investigating medical malpractice and personal injury claims, and more recently representing clients in Title II and Title XVI hearings before the Social Security Administration across multiple jurisdictions.

Beyond work, I’m a proud father of six who recharges and finds inspiration exploring the outdoors in all seasons. My dedication to fairness and equity extends into my civic work, where I’ve channeled my energy into advocating for marginalized communities and expanding access to essential resources.

Joining the Portland Food Co-op Board of Directors feels like a natural extension of that commitment. I’m eager to bring my experience, energy, and collaborative spirit to help ensure our co‑op remains a community-driven, inclusive source of nutritious food and sustainable practices for everyone in Portland.

Kerry Walls (she/her) 2029

I am an experienced business coach and CEO with a unique background in education, small business and counseling psychology, I help leaders create breakthrough results in their businesses.

Having coached hundreds of owners and CEOs across many industries, I assist them to develop and train their staff to be aligned with the mission and values of the company and have their actions be consistent with those values.

I specialize in working with companies, often around 100 employees or less, who want to sustain a value based, relationship-oriented culture as they grow. I develop others to lead collaboratively through creating strong relationships built on trust and respect.

I have lead courses with a focus on Leadership, Effective Communication and Managing Change & Transition.

I received my MA in Counseling Psychology from Lewis and Clark, and my BA in English & Education from Whitman College.

Having moved 9 years ago from Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine to be closer to my kids (In Boston and NYC), I now work part time and enjoy gardening, reading, and probably too much pickleball while still adjusting to the fact that spring in Maine really doesn't happen until the end of May.

Sarah Wissler (she/her) 2029

I am a marketing and communications professional based in Portland, Maine. A lifelong Mainer, I have experience across nonprofit, public, and private sector organizations. Currently, I work as a growth marketing manager, where I develop strategies to engage audiences through clear, thoughtful, and data-informed messaging.

Throughout my career, I have held leadership roles in strategy and communications, with a focus on strengthening community engagement and helping organizations tell their stories in meaningful and accessible ways. My work spans global nonprofits, higher education, and mission-driven organizations, where I have led cross-functional initiatives, developed campaigns, and supported executive leadership and board-level communications.

I have been a Member-Owner of the Portland Food Co-op for several years and am passionate about supporting local farmers and building a more sustainable, community-centered food system. Outside of work, I teach indoor cycling and enjoy growing heirloom tomatoes in my container garden.