Meet the 2026 Candidates
Read on to meet our candidates, then visit our electronic ballot page to cast your vote!
Jana Hendrickson
About four years ago, our family moved to Marquette from the Pacific Northwest and chose it as our long-term home for a remote-working, homeschooling, and community-rooted life. It has truly become home. I am an international Executive and Leadership Coach with 16 years of experience of running my own business, and am currently completing PhD research in professional coaching, leadership development, and self-actualization. I have worked extensively with business owners, founders, and C-suite leaders navigating growth, transition, and complexity. Before founding my coaching practice, I spent a decade in large organizations, including PricewaterhouseCoopers and Experian, working across business, finance, and marketing. I am German by birth and trained as a Chartered Accountant in the UK. We are loyal Co-op owners and regular shoppers. I’m drawn to serve on the Board to become even more rooted in Marquette and to give back to the community.
Why would you like to serve on the Co-op Board of Directors?
I was encouraged to apply by Antonio, whose commitment to the community I respect, and I trust his judgment that I could contribute meaningfully. I’m also aware that sustained volunteer leadership is essential and often difficult to resource. I believe strongly in the mission of the Marquette Food Co-op and see the Board as a place where thoughtful governance can protect the Co-op’s values while supporting its evolution in a changing economic and social landscape. In my business, I focus on strengthening leaders and systems for the long term, and I’m motivated by helping organizations make grounded, future-oriented decisions that serve the whole membership.
While board experience is unnecessary, have you ever served on a board before? If so, what type of board, and how would you describe your experience?
I currently serve as Treasurer on the board of our local Homeowners Association (CRECA), where I manage bookkeeping, financial reporting, tax filings, banking, and the annual meeting. Previously, I served on the board of a Credit Union in England as Director of Marketing. In my professional work, I have also advised senior leadership teams and boards on governance dynamics, strategic clarity, and decision-making in complex environments. This experience has given me a strong understanding of fiduciary responsibility, role boundaries, and the importance of maintaining a governance, not operational, stance. I approach board service with humility, curiosity, and a commitment to learning and contribution.
Have you done any volunteer work or contributed in some way to this co-op, another co-op or similar organization in the past? If so, please describe.
I’ve contributed to community-based and mission-driven organizations through facilitation, mentoring, and volunteer leadership in international sports events, educational groups, professional associations, and nonprofit initiatives in both Europe and the U.S. Locally, I’ve been involved with homeschooling communities such as ECHO and Classical Conversations.
What strengths or talents do you feel you have that would be assets to the board?
I bring a strong foundation in business, finance, and marketing, paired with deep professional coaching skills such as strategic thinking, deep listening, and values-aligned decision support. I’m experienced in navigating ambiguity, facilitating constructive dialogue, and holding multiple perspectives without rushing to solutions. Having lived and worked internationally, I also bring a cross-cultural lens. Combined with my former background as a Chartered Accountant (CPA) and auditor, this allows me to contribute thoughtfully to conversations on governance, sustainability, and community impact.
What role do you see the Co-op playing in the community today? Over the next five years?
Today, I see the Co-op as a vital anchor for local food access, community connection, and economic resilience, especially as trust in institutions, supply chains, and affordability is increasingly strained. Looking ahead, I expect the operating environment to become more complex due to economic, technological, and social pressures. I hope the Co-op can continue balancing affordability, local sourcing, and financial viability in a way that supports members, producers, and the organization itself. For our family and the broader homeschool community, the Co-op plays an important role in educating children about healthy food, cooking, and participation in community life.
Greg Hoffmann (Incumbent)
Originally from Wisconsin, I am a Michigan Tech graduate. For the past eighteen years, I have worked as an environmental engineer for the Center for Watershed Protection, a non-profit based in Maryland that focuses on clean water solutions for communities throughout the country. Six years ago, my wife (a Negaunee native) and I moved back from the East Coast and live in Negaunee Township, where I now work remotely. When I am not in my home office staring at my computer, I love to get outside as much as I can, gardening, hiking, playing basketball, or cross-country skiing.
Why would you like to serve on the Co-op Board of Directors?
The Co-op is a unique and essential institution in Marquette. I have benefited greatly from it, both for the opportunity to shop responsibly and for the community the Co-op fosters. When I ran for the Co-op board last year, I was looking for an opportunity to get more involved in the community and meet more like-minded people. Participation on the Board has delivered both. While I feel like I have only gotten a small taste so far, I am really enjoying the work and the people and would love the chance to continue.
While board experience is unnecessary, have you ever served on a board before? If so, what type of board, and how would you describe your experience?
I have one year of experience on the Marquette Food Co-op Board. When I lived in Maryland, I was treasurer of the start-up Catonsville Cooperative Market for four years. It has been interesting to see the difference between the two organizations. In Maryland, as a start-up organization, with no paid employees, every board member was intimately involved in every aspect of running the small store, including sourcing products, stacking shelves, organizing volunteers, paying vendors, preparing financial reports, and planning fundraisers and member events. This experience gave me a thorough understanding of how a small store operates. Serving on the Marquette Food Co-op has been very different, where I’m learning to serve in more of an advisory and oversight role, rather than a direct action role.
Have you done any volunteer work or contributed in some way to this co-op, another co-op or similar organization in the past? If so, please describe.
As mentioned above, I have served on this board for one year, and I have several years’ experience serving on the board of a small co-op in Maryland. In addition, my day job as a program director at a non-profit has provided me with invaluable experience with organizational management. While the Co-op is not a non-profit, there are several similarities. Both are overseen by a Board of Directors with day-to-day operations run by a general manager/executive director, and both have a mission to fulfill while also staying solvent as a functioning business.
What strengths or talents do you feel you have that would be assets to the board?
I have several strengths to contribute to the Board: I have been described as level-headed and even-keeled; I am good with numbers and familiar with basic accounting practices; and I am willing to both give and receive feedback and constructive criticism. My biggest strength is simply that I follow through on my commitments. Knowing that someone will do what they said they would do is an essential aspect of any volunteer group. Finally, I am a very detail-oriented person, but I have an ability to focus on the details while keeping the big picture in mind. In other words, I can see the trees without missing the forest.
What role do you see the Co-op playing in the community today? Over the next five years?
The most important role for the Co-op now and in the future is to continue to do what it does so well – provide high-quality, unique, and sustainable products to the Marquette community. As Marquette grows, and more people discover the Co-op, growth and change at the Co-op will be inevitable. Any efforts at growth and change have to be undertaken without losing sight of the main mission – so some things will always stay the same.
Bailey Lewis
I am a Marquette local who is deeply invested in food systems of the UP as a whole. I currently work for Feeding America West Michigan as their Upper Peninsula Partnerships Coordinator, and have been in this role, as well as Marquette, for the last 3 years. I have worked with the Co-op for the entirety of that time on initiatives for nutrition education and food security. Serving on the board would allow me to invest even deeper into local food and agriculture systems and to help the co-op identify more nutrition and food equity based initiatives in the area. I work with the Co-op on community initiatives occasionally for my job, but this regularity of this work has decreased in the past year.
Why would you like to serve on the Co-op Board of Directors?
I believe the co-op is a wonderful space for community, education and an equitable supplier for organic produce for the Marquette community. The mission aligns with my values and I hope my experience can add value to the goals of the co-op and what they want to do in the community.
While board experience is unnecessary, have you ever served on a board before? If so, what type of board, and how would you describe your experience?
I have not served on a board prior, but I have worked for non-profit boards throughout my career. I took minutes and administrated meetings for United Way of St. Clair County as well as my current at Feeding America West Michigan.
Have you done any volunteer work or contributed in some way to this co-op, another co-op or similar organization in the past? If so, please describe.
Because of the nature of my job, I have worked with the co-op on several occasions, but this was not volunteer work. I worked with Sarah Monte on the Recipe for Success grant initiative for 2023 and 2024, helping hand out samples and recipes at FAWM Mobile Food Pantry distributions in the area. I still have a working relationship with the co-op, albeit not as much as I have in years past.
What strengths or talents do you feel you have that would be assets to the board?
I have a strong belief for food equity, food justice and food sovereignty. I have invested years of my career in the charitable food system, as well as local agricultural/food systems. I believe I would bring a new perspective to the board, and be able to lend my knowledge of local food needs and potentially find ways to make aspects of the co-op more accessible for those who may not be able to afford it at the present.
What role do you see the Co-op playing in the community today? Over the next five years?
I would really love to see the co-op invest even more in the community, which I think they do well right now, but I think it could expand even more in the years to come. In my experience, I think we are seeing that Yoopers are in need of nutrition education at all levels, children, adults and seniors. I would hope to see even more opportunities for low-income residents to be able to have access to this kind of education provided by the co-op. I am thinking specifically cooking classes, classes on different kinds of ethnic food, classes specifically for children and senior nutrition, provided to the public and little to no cost.
Susan Shear
I love food, cooking, learning about food, shopping for food, and making food more accessible to our community. For several years I worked in the IT department for Delhaize America and through providing business analysis and analytics, learned a great deal about the grocery industry from customer experience data to categorization and finance. I love our co-op, the quality of food that it provides and the experiences it cultivates to bring our community together through education and interaction with local food sources. On a recent trip to Scotland, I learned about their community co-ops and visited a variety of markets, green groceries, specialty shops, and supermarkets. I travel a lot both internationally and within the US and enjoy learning from other cultures about what unique experiences they provide in regard to food preparation, preservation, sales, and education.
Why would you like to serve on the Co-op Board of Directors?
I would like to participate in guiding how we provide high quality foods, connect with local and near local food sources, provide educational services, and provide a place were our community can come together. I think my background in analytics can help guide informed decisions. My experience with international food markets and food culture might also generate some ideas to think outside the box.
While board experience is unnecessary, have you ever served on a board before? If so, what type of board, and how would you describe your experience?
I have served as the director of missions at a church and also on the board of a charter school designed to mainstream children with persistent development disorder. I enjoyed both experiences and I’ve learned that the most valuable skill is listening. Providing ideas and input are essential, but if we don’t truly listen to one another, misunderstanding and miscommunication lead to disunity.
Have you done any volunteer work or contributed in some way to this co-op, another co-op or similar organization in the past? If so, please describe.
I have volunteered serving food in food pantries. I would definitely like to learn more about volunteering at the co-op and would like to volunteer on a regular basis.
What strengths or talents do you feel you have that would be assets to the board?
My experience in analytics in the grocery industry, my many visits to co-ops and markets internationally and in the US, and most of all my desire to make this community asset a place for Marquette to come together and eat at the table together.
What role do you see the Co-op playing in the community today? Over the next five years?
It’s a vital source of food for many in our downtown district. It is a place for high quality foods, food knowledge, and people to come together. I would like to see this grow in that we are an integral part of community events, presenting nutritional information and cooking classes in schools, going out into the community and bringing the community in. I would like to see the co-op spearheading food accessibility and affordability issues in our area and also work toward a community food garden or allotment parcels.
Angela Stebbins
Hi! I am a clinical psychologist and the Department Head of the counseling center at NMU. I am a community centered leader, and I have a professional background in student wellbeing, mental health advocacy, and cross-departmental collaboration. Currently, my work in higher education focuses on building inclusive systems, supporting people through complex challenges, and strengthening community connections. I value cooperative principles, local sustainability, and shared decision making. I bring a thoughtful, people first perspective, strong communication skills, and experience working with diverse stakeholders. As a board member, I would be committed to supporting the Co-op’s mission, listening to member voices, and helping ensure the organization remains accessible, ethical, and community driven.
Why would you like to serve on the Co-op Board of Directors?
I want to serve on the board because I believe in cooperative models that prioritize people, shared ownership, and community wellbeing. The Co-op plays an important role in strengthening our local community, and I want to be part of stewarding the work thoughtfully. Through my professional experience in higher education and wellbeing leadership, I have seen how strong governance, transparent decision making, and listening to diverse voices create healthier and sustainable organizations.
While board experience is unnecessary, have you ever served on a board before? If so, what type of board, and how would you describe your experience?
I have served on numerous committees and advisory groups focused on holistic wellbeing, with an emphasis on supporting students and staff who may be struggling. My work has centered on identifying gaps in support, improving access to resources, and developing collaborative, prevention-focused approaches to wellbeing across organizations. Through this committee and advisory work, I have contributed to policy discussions, program development, and cross-functional decision making that prioritizes mental, emotional, and community wellbeing. These experiences have strengthened my understanding of shared governance, ethical responsibility, and the importance of centering people in organizational leadership.
Have you done any volunteer work or contributed in some way to this co-op, another co-op or similar organization in the past? If so, please describe.
I have actively volunteered at a variety of community events, including local races and dog sled races. I have enjoyed supporting community engagement, helping events run smoothly, and contributing to shared experiences that bring people together. Volunteering has strengthened my connection to the community and reinforced my commitment to service, collaboration, and supporting initiatives that benefit everyone.
What strengths or talents do you feel you have that would be assets to the board?
I bring a combination of leadership, collaboration, and a people first perspective to the board. My professional experience in holistic wellbeing has honed my ability to identify needs, support diverse stakeholders, and develop thoughtful, practical solutions. I am skilled at facilitating conversations and listening to different perspectives, ensuring that decisions reflect the best interests of the entire community. Additionally, my experience serving on wellbeing committees and volunteering in the community gives me a strong understanding of organizational governance and community engagement.
What role do you see the Co-op playing in the community today? Over the next five years?
I see the co-op as a community hub that brings people together around shared values, sustainability, and mutual support. It provides access to quality goods and services while modeling cooperative principles like transparency, equity, and collective decision-making. The co-op plays a role in fostering connection, education, and community engagement.