Allison Fiore
<< 2021 Board of Directors Elections
1. Why would you like to serve on the City Market Board? What excited you about becoming a Board Member?
If you look at my Board profile it will look like I have just served one year. The truth is, I served on the Board for two consecutive terms from 2015-2020. I ran in 2021 but was not reelected. When a vacancy popped, the Board voted and asked me to serve temporarily to fill that need. When I got that call, I was beyond excited. City Market has been a part of my life since I moved to Vermont in 2009. I am proud of the work they do in the community, the support they give to our local farmers, the way they care for their employees, and I believe in the cooperative model.
The time I have served has been a privilege and I would be beyond excited to serve a third and final term on the Board to help ensure that all of that good work continues.
2. Please describe any professional skills you have that will help you to be an effective Board Member. How would you help the Board to balance the business needs of a $50 million business with the need to meet our Global Ends as a community-owned cooperative?
The success of the Board depends on their ability to read and interpret reports and to effectively communicate with each other and the General Manager. My 20 plus years working as a fundraiser and as part of a successful fundraising team, paired with my prior experience on the Board, have given me the skills I need to be an effective and dependable Board Member.
My day-to-day work requires me to understand the needs of my organization and convey those needs to our donors and potential donors, both in writing and verbally. I also need to communicate with my team and, as a manager, occasionally navigate difficult conversations. And at the end of the year, I need to analyze our results, measure our success, and make choices for the following year.
With that said, I believe my greatest strengths lie in the time I have spent on the Board, learning the policies, studying the ins and outs of the coop’s financial statements, and talking with coop Members. The Board is strongest when there is a mix of new Members and seasoned Members. New Members bring a fresh perspective, while seasoned Members pass on what they have experienced and learned over the years.
3. Describe your prior involvement with community organizations and/or cooperatives. What did you learn from these experiences?
The two organizations I have worked with the most here in Vermont are my kids’ schools and City Market. I have also given my time to many organizations in small bursts through our amazing Member Worker program.
It takes a village. That is what I have learned through all of my volunteer work.
As part of the school’s PTO I helped raise funds for various school needs, welcomed new families to our town and school, ensured our community families who are in need had the food/winter clothes/school supplies they needed, and helped to bring our community together.
I have spent a little over 6 years on the City Market Board of Directors. I have learned a lot about the inner workings of a cooperative, what policy governance means, and I gained a deep understanding of the incredible work City Market does for our community. As Member owners our voices are important. And who we elect to serve on our Board is an important decision.
4. What opportunities and challenges do you see in the future of City Market?
There have always been challenges and opportunities. There were challenges when the downtown store opened, but ultimately it was an amazing opportunity for the coop. As we outgrew that space, we were faced with challenge of meeting the needs of our Members. That led to the opportunity to open the South End store. This year we were faced, along with the entire world, the challenge of the pandemic. I am proud of how City Market navigated (and continues to navigate) this challenge, and I know when it is behind us, we will have learned something that leads to a new opportunity.
In addition to the global health crisis, we currently face the challenge of the ever-changing grocery store and retail landscape. Most chain grocery stores now carry organic food and some even carry local food. I believe City Market’s opportunities are embedded in the work we already do. Continued and growing support of our local businesses and farmers, outgoing support of our food shelf and other food access focused organizations, and in all we do to ensure every community member has access to healthy food. Our chain stores are not concerned with food waste, fair-trade, and community in the way our coop is.