Allison Searson

Why would you like to serve on the City Market Board? What excites you about becoming a Board Member?

It has been a privilege to serve on the Board for the last 6 years. I was involved in the recruitment and hiring of our current General Manager, John Tashiro, the search and evaluation of the expansion opportunities, and the ultimate purchase and building of the South End store. I am excited to be a part of the continued growth of our co-op and to be able to use my experience and historical knowledge to guide the co-op through this ever-changing time during the pandemic. I am also committed to deepening the Board’s work connecting to the members and community at large, and our ongoing work of creating a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming environment both in the store and the Board.

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?

As I run for the Board for the third time, my answer to this question is much different than it was the first time I ran. I believe my skills and experience now lie mostly in my 6 years on the Board. City Market, and my fellow Board members, have invested time in training and ensuring that I (as well as other Board members) understand our policies and are able to read and understand the policy monitoring reports we receive. As such, I feel confident I can continue to balance the business needs of the co-op with the need to meet our Global Ends.

Describe your prior involvement with community organizations and/or cooperatives. What did you learn from these experiences?

My main involvement with a co-op in the last 6 years is through my Board work with City Market. I am also able to serve on the PTO of my kids’ school and volunteer at various local organizations throughout the year. I have always worked for a non-profit and I have always strived to give back to the community in which I live. I now share these experiences with my children. I think of the phrase “it takes a village” often. We give when we can, we volunteer when we can, we serve on boards when we can, and together we make our town, city, state a better place to live.

What opportunities and challenges do you see in the future of City Market?

While the pandemic and public health crisis is challenging, I think the co-op’s greatest ongoing and sustained challenge is the growing competitive market. I also think that our greatest opportunities are what will help us stand out in that market. Our opportunities are to remain a leader in supporting local agriculture and supporting our community through access to healthy food. To succeed in supporting local agriculture and our local community, the co-op must continually assess the needs of farmers and shoppers and respond to their changing needs. It is constant and important work.

Click here to see Allison's resume.