Elizabeth Warren
<< 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?
I would like to serve on the City Market Board because the organization aligns with many of my personal values. The Coop is a big financial supporter of Feeding Chittenden and food insecurity is an important issue to me as a community member. Sustainability issues, community involvement, and most especially the opportunity to belong to a coop that works so hard to offer a wide variety of organic and conventional foods right here in Burlington is something I do not take for granted! City Market is a corner stone of our city, and we all need to support it in whatever way we can. I have the time and skills to help in this capacity and would be very excited about a new opportunity!
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?
I am a business owner and have served on many boards over the years.
I am a previous owner of Otter Creek Awning which my husband Todd and I sold in 2017. Currently we own Inspired Closets in Williston Vermont and another smaller company called Organize My Home. I have worked most of my adult life in the home improvement industry, specifically my own businesses. As a small business owner my skills include just about every aspect of business. The Co-op is a much larger organization but there are many commonalities with any size business and my experience as a business owner could be a valued perspective. In addition, I tend to be a bigger picture thinker. I always appreciate understanding every perspective of an issue and that has been a skill that has served me well in business and all of my volunteer board positions over the years.
My board positions have included:
Essex Town School Board 2-year term. I have been trained in Policy Governance as we embarked on this during my tenure. I have a good understanding of this approach and how it applies to the City Market Coop.
First Congregational Church of Essex Junction 6 years on the Council, two years as Vice President and two years as President. My tenure was very much focused on creating and executing bylaws for the church. The way the church functions is very much like Policy Governance with the church members, a Board (Council) and the minister the CEO who has a staff.
Currently I am a volunteer Ambassador for Feeding Chittenden and actually chair this newly formed committee. We are just getting started and actually are helping with an event coming up in September to thank donors. My interest in Feeding Chittenden and their mission is related to City Market in that I do care deeply about food insecurity here in Burlington and hope these positions might complement each other.
3. Describe your prior involvement with community organizations and/or cooperatives. What did you learn from these experiences?
I described above some prior community and volunteer experiences. What I learned is that it is always about good working relationships and very good communication. I try hard to bring any issue I’m confronted with down to the basics. What are the organizations goals and does the current issue, problem, question, support those goals? By always referencing the goal, mission, or bylaws, depending on the situation, it is easier to stay focused and not get off track (which often does happen with board and committee work).
4. What opportunities and challenges do you see in the future of City Market?
Inflation will be the biggest challenge for City Market and all businesses in the next 2-5 years I believe. We have the opportunity to be a leader in that challenge. The Board will need to be able to think outside the box and needs at least a few directors with business experience. Entrepreneurs are great at problem solving and thinking out of the box!