BECOME A BOARD MEMBER

A Board of at least 5 Directors is required for our co-op. Members are voted in at our Annual Member’s Meeting for 2 year terms to govern and oversee the health and wellbeing of the co-op. Speak to one of our current Board Members if you are interested in joining the Board.

Board Meetings

Board meetings are held monthly and are open to any member who would like to attend. Currently, Directors review co-op business, collectively develop operations, vote on important issues, and provide vital direction and advice for Growing Our Co-op Together.

Officers - 2025

• President – Shawn Grider (2024)

• Vice-President - Nikki Needham (2024)

• Secretary – Catherine Dodge Smith (2024)

• Treasurer – Alton Earnhart (2025)

Directors - 2025

• Karine Bouis-Towe (2023)

• Lucy O’Leary (Chair 2024)

Thank you to our former Board Members!

• Dan McManus (2018-2024)

• Erin Henley (2023)

• Danette Koke (2023)

• Marc Clifton (2023)

• Elizabeth Angelo (2012)

• Jennifer Shiffman (since 2020)

• Gabriel Zeltzter (since 2020)

• Mayor Clarence Speed (2012)

• Jim Cashen (2012)

• Jeff French (2012 - 2013)

• Laura Summer (2014 - 2015)

• Irene Young (2014 - 2016)

• Charlie Doheny (2015 - 2017)

• Linda Van der Muelen (since 2018)

• Abby Laufer (since 2015)

• Michelle Koch Botta (2019)

• Lynda Akerman (since 2015)

• Bambi Bishop (since 2017)

• Eileen Ordu (2019)

• Elizabeth Angello (2012)

• Erin Corrigan (2023)

• Roxanne Wilkes (2023)

Thank you to our owner-members who formed the Collaboration Team to develop the Philmont Cooperative and its business plan.

• Kathy Abeyatunge

• Elizabeth Angello

• Sally Baker, Philmont Beautification, Inc.

• Faith Benson

• Sheri Bolevice

• Irene Young

Board Member Bios:

Board President - Shawn Grider

I am the owner/president of Regeneration Contracting LTD, a residential remodeling and construction company. I am expert in all phases of remodeling ,renovation and restoration. I have been a resident of Philmont since 2018 and a member of the Philmont Coop since 2020. I have a long and strong interest in healthy, local, natural food and nutrition. I am passionate about cooking and eating an organic and whole foods diet sourced as locally as possible. I am currently perusing a certificate in permaculture design and permaculture education. Locally one of the projects I am most proud of is the Giving Garden at Free Columbia located at 11 Maple Ave. The giving Garden is a cooperative gardening project focused on Healthy Biodynamic food, organic gardening education and local food security. Our goal is to cooperatively raise abundant vegetables for ourselves and to share with our neighbors. I believe in living a principle centered life based on honesty and integrity that embraces community and finds the best in all of us.

Vice President - Nikki Needham

Treasurer - Alton Earnhart

Secretary - Catherine Dodge Smith

As I’ve lived in Philmont the last six years. I’ve watched the Philmont Coop grow and go through many changes over time . I’ve been an ardent supporter of the Coop and the life it brings to our village. I’ve spent my life being an actress, a photojournalist, a mother of a child with Down Syndrome, and a Camphill coworker at Camphill Soltane.

From 1986-1996 I was a founding member of a cooperative of progressive photographers around the world. It was called Impact Visuals. I helped run the coop and was also a photographer, based in NYC and traveling the world.

For ten years I was co-owner and CFO of Basilica Industry in Hudson NY.

2000-2010. The 1850’s forge and foundry building was a place for community to gather, a place of public assembly, art, music, theatre and circus, to name a few. The city of Hudson wanted to tear it down and put up a parking lot. We were able to intervene and begin an idea of reclamation. and culture.

From 2011- 2016 I was a teacher and co-worker at Camphill Soltane, where I was responsible for many young individuals with special needs.While I ran the day house, I learned so much about working with all different personalities and abilities.

Board Meeting Chair - Lucy O’Leary

8/12/1973

Born in The Royal Forest of Dean in England in a Medieval castle! Parents divorced aged 3. Moved to Papua New Guinea at age 6 with mother & step-father. ‘Commuted’ back and forth between PNG and UK for the next 8 years (father was in UK) Back to England in 1987, finished school and went to Warwick University- studied English Language and Literature-BA. After Uni, spent the next 4 years traveling and working around the globe. In late 20’s settled into a career in the YHA (Youth Hostel Association). Was managing the largest hostel in England, located in London, when I decided I wanted to volunteer in America.

After researching different volunteer organizations, I decided upon Camphill, Triform, in Columbia County. This was at the ripe old age of 30, in 2003. I settled into community life immediately, and decided this was my path. I love building community.

After leaving Camphill life in 2021, I landed in Chatham, and very quickly made a relationship with the managers at the Co-op, who invited me to apply for the Co-Manager position. My main focus at the Co-op is outreach, membership, marketing & community building, but I am deeply involved in every aspect of running the store- buying, pricing, HR, training, merchandising, and I attend all Board Meetings. I organize the yearly Member Meeting. I organize community events and I manage our social media pages as well as writing our monthly newsletter. I love working at the Co-op. I am excited about being on the Board of the Philmont Co-op, as I believe I have expertise to offer, as well as a belief that Cooperatives are stronger together.

Director - Karine Bouis-Towe

Karine has been passionate and a dedicated cooperative market shopper since her first days on her own in Asheville, NC and continuing in Washington, DC where there are several cooperatives to choose from.  She spent a few years working as a Project Manager trying to help a community group create a new food co-op in the H Street, NE DC neighborhood, this cooperative did not come to fruition but gave her experience in forming food co-op feasibility studies, business plans and cooperative business grants.

Karine is a part-time farmer, she owns and manages Retrograss Farm on Rigor Hill Rd. about 10 minutes from Philmont.  In addition, she works part-time in the IT profession and has worked as administrative support and developing new initiatives at the Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School.  She has also held the position of Board Treasurer for other community initiatives over the past few years.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PROGRAMMING

Philmont Beautification, Inc., provides ongoing grant writing & administration, and technical assistance and program development continuing our long-term collaboration with the not-for-profit community development organization who funded the re-adapt renovations of the co-op building and site, equipped the kitchen and market, and was a member of the Collaboration Team. To make a donation to support ongoing technical assistance and educational programs for the Philmont Cooperative contact PBI at info@pbinc.org.