Board of Directors
‘For decades, through countless cultural and environmental changes, the co-ops have strived to do right by people, and right by the planet. Our knowledgeable and passionate staff have kept the co-ops fun and safe places to shop. Our strong relationships with farmers and vendors have kept the stores full of quality, trustworthy, local products. And our owners & shoppers have created even more community up and down the aisles of our stores. The Board thanks all of you for your ongoing support. Spending your shopping dollars at the co-ops keeps that money in the community, supports fair wages and benefits for employees, and helps sustain our local food system.’ -The TCCP Board of Directors
Twin Cities Co-op Partners is governed by a Board of Directors elected by Owners. The Board meets regularly and reports on the state of TCCP at the Annual Meeting each autumn.
Board Role and Duties
The Board of Directors has three primary duties:
- To ensure sound management of the co-op
- To act as trustees on behalf of the ownership
- To set long-range goals and plan for the future
To fulfill these responsibilities, the Board of Directors focuses on four key areas:
- Hiring and evaluating the CEO
- Financial oversight
- Long-range strategic planning
- Recruitment of replacement directors
Directors act in accordance with the Code of Ethics and Conduct
The Board also oversees elections and recommends updates to the Articles and Bylaws, the legal documents that define and guide the co-op.
Directors must look after the best interests of the co-op as a whole in a changing business environment. That means that policies and practices at the co-op may change over time.
Owners are welcome to attend the board meetings. If you want to contact the co-op’s Board of Directors, please use the contact us form and be sure to select the appropriate category.
Board Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of the board to set long-term goals and ensure planning for the future, ensure sound management of co-op resources, and act as trustees on behalf of the owners.
To fulfill these responsibilities, the Board of Directors must focus on these key areas:
- Hiring, supervising and evaluating the co-op’s CEO.
- Planning for the co-op’s future and approving management’s plans
- Approving capital and operating budgets
- Recruiting new directors to ensure a well-qualified board
- Making decisions about the mechanics of the co-op’s governance system, development of policies and guidelines and other related matters, (Note: The board does NOT make operating decisions for the store, choose products or supervise staff other than the CEO).
Expectations of Board Members:
- Understand and promote the mission of the Twin Cities Co-op Partners
- Understand the role of the Board of Directors
- Act in the interests of the all owners, not a specific constituency
- Attend meetings faithfully and serve on committees effectively (10-20 hours/month time commitment, depending on committee assignments and intensity of board work which may vary over time)
- Assess their own performance as board directors
- Act in accordance with the Code of Ethics and Conduct
- Assure continuity of the highest quality in board directorship
Current Board
President: Sarita Parikh
Vice President: Christine Page
Treasurer: Lisa Fittipaldi
Secretary: Emily Anderson
Directors: Sophia Nelson, Tom Pierson, Steve Share, Yoshi Suzuki-Lambrecht, and Mark Greene
Board Meetings
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the board is holding all meetings virtually until further notice. They continue to respond to owner questions and concerns. Please call 612-871-3993 (x1817) or email board@tccp.coop to contact them.
Board meetings are the 4th Monday of each month, and typically begin at 5:30 pm. Owners are welcome and encouraged to attend regularly scheduled Board meetings (virtual or in-person). Please email board@tccp.coop or call 612-871-3993 x1817 to RSVP. Owners who would like to contact the Board or inquire about making a presentation to the Board should email board@tccp.coop with their request
Owner Attendance & Presentations at Board of Directors Meetings
Approved regular session Board meeting minutes are available to owners upon request.
Become a Candidate
Are you a current co-op member with an interest in building community by developing a strong, local food system? Do you have a passion for working with diverse communities? Can you work collaboratively with a strategic approach? If yes, we invite you to use your talents and skills to help shape the future of Twin Cities Co-op Partners.
The Twin Cities Co-op Partners Board of Directors supports this $75 million mission-driven organization, including the operations, staff and stakeholders who make up our food community. The board supports delivering profitability and reinvestment in the business; planning strategically for the future of the co-op; and overseeing each business unit of TCCP to create positive experiences for everyone we serve: owners, employees, vendors, and the community.
The position requires an average commitment of 10–20 hours per month and offers a stipend of $7,302 per year.
Elections are held annually each fall. Interested owners should complete the application and submit it to election@tccp.coop. For more information about the joining the Board of Directors, see Board Role and Duties, Board Responsibilities and Candidate Selection Criteria.
Candidate Selection Criteria
Reasons to Consider Running for the Board of Directors:
- You want to contribute to your community
- You want to elevate the TCCP community to be more inclusive and equitable.
- You want to give something back to your favorite co-op
- You have talent and energy to share
- You want to be actively involved in a representative democracy
Criteria Considered by the Nominations Committee for Board Candidates:
- Active owner of record in good standing (may be verified with Customer Service)
- Completed application and resume submitted prior to deadline
- Ability to perform the responsibilities and expectations of board director
- Commitment to the Code of Ethics and Conduct adopted by the TCCP Board of Directors
- Ability to work with diverse cultures and people from different backgrounds.
- Good communication skills
- Leadership qualities (listed below)
- Understanding of the role of the Board of Directors
- Ability to readily understand financial issues and read financial statements such as balance sheets
- Previous board, committee or other group experience
Desirable Candidate Leadership Qualities:
The Board of Directors needs people with commitment to the entire ownership of the co-op, not just specific issues. If you possess the following leadership characteristics, or a good number of them, please consider applying.
- Able to share a vision, a purpose, an ideal
- Empowers others and delegates authority
- Respects diversity of thought
- Displays candor and has the courage to challenge respectfully
- Understands balance between bottom line and larger organizational purpose
- Able to maintain confidentiality when required
- Able to work on a team
- Able to put the interests of the whole body above the interests of a few
- Able to think long term and see the big picture without getting bogged down in details
- An understanding of finance, retail or wholesale distribution
- Experience with growth management of organizations.
- Understanding of the cooperative development business structure
Term: 3 years, beginning with the first board meeting following the October annual meeting
Compensation: $7,302 per year, paid monthly (more for officers)