Want to know more about the candidates? Mark your calendar for the Annual Meeting! October 27th, from 1-4 pm at the Olympia Ballroom. Great food, candidate speeches and the first round of member discussion on recent research into whether the Co-op should change our legal status (currently, we are a not-for-profit under RCW 24.03.) We look forward to seeing you there!
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Board Candidate: Casey Kilduff
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Why do you want to be on the
Co-op Board of Directors?
I am interested in joining the
co-op board of directors because I enjoy the challenge of collaborating with
diverse groups of people while seeking the greater good for the larger
community. I recently graduated from the Masters of Public Administration
program at Evergreen and have found that I have a lot of free time. I would
like to fill my free time with meaningful work. Joining the Olympia Food
Co-op’s board of directors would utilize my existing skill set and afford me
the opportunity to build new skills. I believe that I have a lot to offer the
cooperative and would be proud to be elected.
What general abilities
would you bring to the Board? What specific abilities and experiences would you
offer to help provide direction in dealing with the Co-op’s challenges?
From 2008 to 2013 I served on
the board of directors of a worker-owner cooperative in Olympia, WA. Prior to
that, I have served on the boards of various local non-profit organizations. I
am skilled in mediation, collaboration, and strategic planning. I attended the
Western Worker’s Cooperative Conference in 2011 and acquired cooperative
specific skills in meeting facilitation, developing a strategic plan, conflict
resolution and anti-oppression. I spoke on a panel at the 2012 Co-op conference
held at TESC and have spoken in classes at TESC about the value of the
cooperative model. Additionally, I have experience interviewing, hiring,
supervising and terminating staff. I strongly believe in the cooperative model
and would like to help to ensure the success of the Olympia Food Co-op.
What do you see as
current strengths of the Co-op that you would like to see maintained? What
would you like to see changed?
I see
the co-op as a staple in the Olympia community. Having access to local and
ethically produced products is important for the health of our community. Over
the years, the co-op has diversified by developing educational opportunities,
outreach and collaboration with other cooperatives. I believe that these are
strengths of our co-op. I think that improving member engagement is something
that all cooperatives can improve on and would like to be involved in
activating our membership.
What vision do you have
for the Co-op for the next five years?
My vision is that we will
utilize the strengths of the members and board to determine what is best for
the co-op in the years to come.
