ART GELVIN
Art is employed by the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, working on a wide variety of projects throughout Alaska. He holds a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from UAF and is working on a master’s degree in remote sensing. He has also worked in retail, including the produce and bakery departments at Fred Meyers, and know that grocery is a tough business. He enjoys cooking, browsing the cookbooks in bookstores and perusing the shelves in small, out-of-the-way grocery stores.
BRIAN KASSOF
Brian loves the co-op because it makes Fairbanks a better place to live and provides access to healthy, sustainable, ethically sourced food. He has experience working in self-governance as a board member at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fairbanks and has participated in governance at UAF. He credits his academic training in history with helping him develop strong analytical and communication skills, as well as an eye for detail.
ANDUIN McELROY
Anduin has served on the board for six years, most recently serving as chair. Currently a stay-at-home mom, she has worked as a planner and technical writer and has pursued graduate work in Earth System Science and Policy, specializing in renewable energy and land use policy. She previously served on several boards, including the Southwest Oklahoma Literacy Council and the Greater Grand Forks (ND) Community Theatre.
CHASE NELSON
An engineer specializing in water and wastewater, Chase is involved in several community development efforts. He is the state director for Engineers Without Borders, traveling abroad annually for community infrastructure development projects. He serves as the Alaska chairperson for Water for People, a service organization providing clean drinking water to the impoverished. He also travels around Alaska to work on community development.
MADELINE PATTERSON-O’DELL
Madeline has been a Fairbanks clinical dietitian since 2002 and a certified diabetes educator since 2007. She currently works with both outpatient and longterm care patients. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in foods and nutrition, with a minor in biology, and completed a Master’s level internship in dietetics from Meredith College. She has served on the board of the North Star Council on Aging and the UAF/TVC Culinary Arts Advisory Board.
RICHARD SEIFERT
A Co-op Market Owner since 2008, Richard has served as the board treasurer for many years. A retired professor at UAF, Rich is a consultant/teacher in energy efficiency, solar design and indoor air quality. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from West Chester (PA) State University and a master’s in engineering physics from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
HILLARY SHOOK
Hillary is a deputy center manager of the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center, collaborating to ensure the efficient response to emergency incidents. In her work, she instructs dispatch courses and serves on local and national committees. She coordinates the Feds Feed Families food drive at Alaska Fire Service.
Hillary was an Americorps Volunteer and program coordinator at Hoosier Hills Food Bank in Bloomington, Indiana, where she worked closely with donors, agencies and volunteers to distribute food to at-risk families. She later served as an assistant manager of perishable foods at Bloomingfoods Cooperative, where she purchased local meats, dairy and breads and coordinated local farm tours.
MARY CHRISTENSEN, General Manager
Mary grew up on a cattle ranch in South Dakota. Founded in 1945 by her grandfather and father, this successful enterprise gave Mary a foundation in business fundamentals. Mary owned and operated retail gift stores for 18 years. She brings years of retail and marketing experience, extensive knowledge of retail store start-up, a wealth of educational resources for setting up a food co-op and an avid interest in creating an efficient, well-run and well-loved retail operation to the position of General Manager.
Mary served as Board Member and Treasurer for Co-op Market from August 29, 2009, until January 17, 2011, when she resigned her seat to become Project Manager. On April 23, 2012, she accepted the position of General Manager.
NOTE: The November 2019 meeting location has been changed to the Fairbanks Community Food Bank, 725 26th Avenue.
Our Board of Directors meets at 6 p.m. every 2nd Monday at the Literacy Council of Alaska/Forget-Me-Not Books on Gaffney Road. These meetings are open to all Owners and to the general public. In addition, the board hosts an Eat & Greet social during Owner Appreciation Days. To contact the board, please email board@coopmarket.org.
Meeting Minutes
