Liz Gamble

Incumbent

1. Reasons for Running

I am motivated to continue serving the PFC community. I’ve served on the PFC board for the past three years and am excited to continue furthering the mission of our co-op.

I am excited about food and good ingredients. In 2020, I left my corporate marketing job and completed my culinary arts training in Switzerland. This experience has made me appreciate quality ingredients and the farmers and producers who help bring those to our table.

I love the shopping experience at PFC. My family and I truly enjoy shopping at PFC and visit the store every week. I like the store layout, the product selection, and am continually impressed with the staff!

 2. Relevant Skilss

Inclusive Team Player: I enjoy 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. I also love representing PFC at community events and greeting customers at the store open houses.

Business Background: I have an MBA from NYU with a specialization in Marketing Strategy and International Business. I feel comfortable reading and interpreting financial statements, and currently serve on the Owner Engagement Committee.

Culinary Skills & Interest: I attended culinary school in Switzerland in 2020 and have a deep appreciation for local foods and fresh ingredients.

Creative & Positive: I am enthusiastic by nature and like to express my creativity in many ways – mostly through my writing. In fact, I worked with the PFC marketing and kitchen teams to produce the PFC 50th Anniversary cookbook in 2024.

Local with a Global View: I have local roots but have lived in several places throughout the world. I am originally from Rochester, but I have lived in Shanghai, New York, and Zurich. Living as an expat as well as in large cities has given me a different perspective and has certainly changed the way I view grocery shopping!

3. Relevant Experience

I have served on the PFC board of directors since 2022, and look forward to continuing to serve our co-op community. I have also served as a board member and Co-Chair of the St. Olaf Alumni Board, NYC Chapter. My professional background is in marketing, and I worked in NYC for 11 years in the financial services industry. I also earned my MBA from NYU Stern School of Business.

4. Upcoming Challenges

Profitability: Over the past several years, PFC has special focus on families. Engaging a younger audience not only helps our growth potential but creates a ripple effect in the community with children and young adults who are knowledgeable about sustainability and local food production.

Competitive landscape: Competition from online and larger grocery groups will likely still pose a significant challenge to PFC in the coming years. With the economy slowing down, shoppers will undoubtedly seek ways to save and optimize their grocery shopping – perhaps by purchasing more cost-effective individual items or by shopping at large warehouse/ bulk stores.

Supply chain issues: Many businesses are impacted by the recent supply chain issues, and the grocery industry is not immune. Changes in supply of products and other operational materials could lead to cost and price increases across the board, impacting the bottom line of the business.

5. Opportunities for PFC

Capitalizing on location: I think that PFC should continue working closely with other downtown organizations, and making use of the excellent location in Rochester. Downtown Rochester is continuing to be revitalized and PFC could capitalize on that by being a destination for the lunch crowd, as a stop-off on the way home after work, and as a leader in the local food space.

Facilitating quick stops with self-checkouts: To encourage shoppers to stop in for a quick bite for lunch or for the “grab and go” items, I think we need to streamline the checkout process and offer a self checkout line for 10 items or fewer.

Developing a robust events calendar: The past year, PFC has done an excellent job of offering consistent classes, open houses and several community events. I think we need to continue engaging customers in these settings and spreading our mission.

Engaging families: I believe it is especially important to attract a larger, diverse customer base with a special focus on families. Engaging a younger audience not only helps our growth potential but creates a ripple effect in the community with children and young adults who are knowledgeable about sustainability and local food production.

Working with local hospitality figures: Lastly, I think the co-op has done a tremendous job of highlighting and partnering with local, diverse suppliers. To continue to develop these types of relationships, PFC could consider teaming up with a nearby restaurant, hospitality group, or an up-and-coming chef for a pop-up charity event.