PFC Meeting of the
Board of Directors
April 25, 5 p.m.
May 23, 5 p.m.
June 27 5 p.m.
July 25, 5 p.m.
August 22, 5 p.m.
September 26, 5 p.m.
October 24, 5 p.m.
November 21, 5 p.m.
December 19, 5 p.m.
For the meeting link and agenda please
email Perrin Iacopino by noon on the day of the meeting
Board of Directors
Elizabeth Leighton
President
I grew up in Winona, MN and moved away briefly for college. I moved to La Crosse to get a Master's in Biology. I grew fond of La Crosse in that time and have stayed. I currently work as a laboratory technician. I used to work in the grocery department and have a soft spot for People's. Always feel free to ask a question and I will help, and represent you on the board, as best I can.
Andrea Niesen
Secretary
I have been a member of the co-op since the Rochester store moved to its current location. Shopping at the co-op is important—good/safe food, locally sourced, and supportive of the community. I am honored to be on a board with many diverse backgrounds and perspectives, all working to promote the co-op mission. I am an attorney at Klampe, Delehanty, Pasternak & Niesen, in Rochester, with a focus on general litigation and employment law. My family is passionate about food and travel.
Lana Christian
I love what PFC offers to its customers, including how it takes into account the international clientele it serves. I'm passionate about giving people better access to organic food.
Michael Sersch
I joined this coop shortly after I started working at the La Crosse location as "the dairy gnome," a role I held for about eight years. My final year of working at the coop, when I was also doing my practicum as a counselor, I transported product from La Crosse to Rochester location and did some light maintenance. During some of that time I was also a union shop steward. I decided to serve on the board to provide another level of service to the coop. Otherwise, I am a mental health and substance use counselor at Gundersen, an adjunct instructor at Western Technical College, and a used book seller.
Robin Roberts
Treasurer
I’m excited to be back in La Crosse where I grew up. I’ve spent the last 47 years in the Twin Cities transferring to the U of M as a junior in the accounting program. That is where I learned about food cooperatives, visiting the Seward Coop just two blocks from my dorm on the West Bank.
Professionally, I’ve spent over 40 years in the banking industry, beginning as the mail boy at First Federal in La Crosse to starting a new bank in Minneapolis. It was quite a ride.
Along the way I served on numerous boards—non-profit, my church, international sales & marketing, and have extensive experience building businesses and non-profit organizations.
I look forward to helping our food cooperative in any way I can
Verna Simon
I’ve been an active member and shopper of food co-operatives since just after graduate school and I’ve always been interested in good food. As a vegetarian, I try to make good tasting, healthy food a big part of my regular diet. I enjoy cooking and entertaining, especially when I can showcase healthy food in the process. I generally keep myself busy by serving on my housing board, now serving on the Co-op board, sports, classic car shows, reading, listening to music and dancing (Middle Eastern dance and recently, Mohiniyattam). Professionally, I’m trained as a biologist and I work at the Mayo Clinic where I do genomics research.
Liz Gamble
I recently moved back to Rochester after spending several years in Zurich, Switzerland for a culinary arts program where I learned to appreciate quality ingredients and the farmers and producers who help bring them to our table. I’m really excited to be back in my hometown and look forward to contributing to the community. The city has changed so much since I left nearly 15 years ago, and I can see how the location and offerings of PFC have contributed to making the community better. With an MBA specializing in Marketing Strategy and International Business, I am in tune with modern digital marketing strategies and feel comfortable reading and interpreting financial statements. I look forward to being part of a team and working with others towards a common goal. I am a good listener and always strive to include everyone in the conversation to be sure that all voices are heard.
Thomas Halada
Vice President
I have enjoyed being a part of the PFC community for many years. I am a strong believer that environmental sustainability should be at the forefront in all aspects of our lives. It is important that we realize the connection between good, sustainable food and health while striving to make this resource accessible to all. I have an advanced degree in nursing leadership & management and serve in a nurse leader role at Mayo Clinic.
Brett Townsend
In the past, I participated in a local CSA as a worker-share for three summers which gave me a deeper understanding of what life and operations are like for our local growers. I teach the course “Mathematics for Business” at UWL which will help me organize and understand the financial aspects of serving on the board. Additionally, I regularly serve on committees at the university which operate in a similar manner to the Board of Directors.