ANDUIN McELROY, Chair
Anduin has served on the board for five years. 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.
HILLARY SHOOK, Vice Chair
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.
JODI TANSKY, Secretary
After working as a registered nurse for 10 years, Jodi Tansky is currently a stay-at-home mom pursuing a certificate in holistic nutrition.
She holds a B.S. in Nursing from Armstrong Atlantic State University and served as an emergency nurse at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital from 2007-2015. She is secretary of the Alaska Emergency Nurses Association and in 2013 was named Alaska Nurse of the Year in the Education category by the Alaska Chapter of the March of Dimes. In 2012-13, she chaired the FMH Emergency Department Education Committee and co-chaired the FMH Housewide Education Committee
RICHARD SEIFERT, Treasurer
A Co-op Market Owner since 2008, Richard has served as the board treasurer for the past six 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.
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.
ART GELVIN and BRIAN KASSOF were appointed to fill two vacant seats in January 2019. Art’s term is expiring this year, and he is running for reelection to the seat he currently holds. Brian’s seat expires in 2022, and his appointment must be confirmed by Owners. To learn more about them, please click here to read their bios on the 2019 ballot.
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.
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
