Current Board Members

Heidi Beierle

Elected to the Board in 2022. Current term expires 2026.
Board Development Committee

Long-range and strategic planning are part of my toolbox as a community planner. I gravitate to projects, programs, and initiatives that focus on equity and support holistic community health. In the recent past, my efforts were trained on people who do not or cannot drive, visitor use management on federally managed land, and advancing efforts to improve women’s understanding of and fluency with financial matters.

I moved to Bellingham full time four months before the pandemic began, but I began volunteering with the Whatcom Land Trust when I was still a part-time resident. I participated in invasive removal work and helped establish the Land Trust’s Stewardship Reserve Fund. A writer and artist, I’m excited that my debut book, Heidi Across America – One Woman’s Journey on a Bicycle through the Heartland, was published in 2024. I am curious, creative, collaborative, empathetic, unafraid of thorny problems, and contribute my time and energy to support slow travel and people living in a mindful relationship with the planet.

Margaret Gerard

Elected to the Board in 2016. Current term expires 2025.
Farm Fund Committee Chair

As one of the longest-standing Board directors, I am committed to contributing to a thriving local food system. What we eat has a huge impact on all life. I strive to facilitate eating that has a positive impact on the consumer, the grower, and the earth. I have worked toward this goal by being an organic farmer for 15 years, a member of the Whatcom County Food System Committee, and a farmers market board member. As a Board director, I work to preserve and strengthen the Co-op’s focus on food and farming issues.

The local food system development goal interests me the most. As a health promoter of people and the planet, I see that the two are inextricably connected. Food grown in a manner that feeds the soil, and that is grown close to home, is what makes our bodies and our environment thrive. A vibrant local food system is a necessary component of that picture. I enjoy applying my knowledge of the local food system to contribute to the Co‐op’s goal of strengthening this system.

Jessica Gillis

Appointed to the Board in 2024. Current term expires 2025.
Board Development Committee

I became a Co-op member in 1999 while finishing my Environmental Education degree at WWU. Membership was a birthday gift from my then-boyfriend, Mataio, now my husband of nearly 25 years! Together, we combined my passion for environmental stewardship with Mataio’s love of food to create Ciao Thyme, a catering company and restaurant that reimagined traditional restaurant models. At Ciao Thyme, we prioritized sourcing from local farmers, fishermen, and producers, showcasing seasonal menus to celebrate the freshest ingredients year-round.

Our commitment to the local food community extended beyond our business. We founded the first local Slow Food chapter and organized the beloved Harvest Dinner for many years, a cherished event honoring our local farmers.

After 20 fulfilling years in the food industry, I transitioned to the non-profit sector as the Food and Farming Program Manager at Sustainable Connections. In this role, I continue to champion our vibrant local food community. My work involves supporting the Eat Local First campaign and putting on events like the Eat Local First Trade Meeting, Whatcom County Farm Tour, and September Eat Local Month.

Now, as a member of the Co-op’s Board of Directors, I am honored to support the organization in achieving its Strategic Plan goals. The Co-op is uniquely positioned to strengthen our regional food shed by supporting locally produced foods. As supply chains grow more complex and grocery monopolies expand nationally, community-owned options like the Community Food Co-op are more vital than ever.

In my free time, you’ll find me cooking, dancing, reading, walking along the boardwalk, or enjoying time with my family and friends.

Erin Grant

Elected to the Board in 2024. Current term expires 2027.
Member Affairs Committee Chair

I first became passionate about local and organic foods when I took a sustainable agriculture course in college and learned the benefits of organic and regenerative food systems. From there, I fell in love with farmer’s markets and my local co-op at the time in Davis, CA. I then followed this passion beginning my career as a natural foods broker, expanding my knowledge of organic and natural foods as well as business and leadership within the natural foods industry.

When moving to Bellingham in the summer of 2023, I became a member of Community Food Co-op with the U-Haul still in our driveway, knowing that the Co-op would be a frequent stop for us. I was then delighted a few months later by the idea of joining the Co-op board, as I was looking for ways to be more involved in this special community and to put my natural foods and business experience to use. In joining the Board, I hope to contribute to the Co-op’s financial success and commitment to making high-quality, wholesome, and local foods accessible to the community.

When not shopping at the Co-op or engaging with the natural food world, you can find me riding any form of bicycle with friends and family, spending time around Lake Whatcom and Whatcom Falls Park, and playing saxophone with friends near and far.

Diane Krapf

Elected to the Board in 2022. Current term expires 2027.
Board Vice Chair, Board Development Committee Chair

I am passionate about health and wellness. I worked in the natural and organics industry for over 38 years in the roles of Nutritionist, Home Economist, Category Manager, and Director of Sales, Marketing, and Procurement before retiring five years ago. My career in the food industry has helped me develop strategic thinking, organizational, and communication skills and given me experience working with nonprofit, privately and publicly held companies. Now, I would like to increase my involvement in the community that is my home.

I have done volunteer work with the Seattle Public Schools PIPE program, including individual tutoring. I have also volunteered with the American Heart Association, the Bellingham Public Schools Junior Achievement program, and the Sudden Valley Barn Theatre. I am currently in my fifth year as both a volunteer and Board Secretary for Animals as Natural Therapy.

Alexander McIntyre

Appointed to the Board in 2024. Current term expires 2025.
Member Affairs Committee

Born and raised in Skagit Valley, place and orientation have become a big component of my identity. By being exposed to an area that offers a unique perspective on agriculture, early on I began to learn more about the diverse and distinct crops in the surrounding region. May it be the many years of digging up the front yard or guerrilla gardening in vacant lots, I constantly found myself planting seeds in spots that sat empty. Whether it was an excuse to play in the soil or just be outside, I gained a deeper connection to nature and the flatlands because of it.

My upbringing of being centered around fields and farming has helped show me the beauty of where I come from. Growing up in such a magical environment has shaped me into the person I am.

After relocating to Whatcom County, I continued my endeavors by studying urban planning and sustainable development at Western Washington University. Here I focused on food systems design and land management, spending time volunteering at the Outback Farm. There was something so empowering about feeding students with this tiny space on campus; to be able to have some control over what we consume. Shortly after, I partnered with the Bellingham Food Bank and built garden beds for low-income households. These efforts make me think back to when I may have truly started to acknowledge and appreciate the power of the cooperative model: when we are working together in order to give some autonomy and ownership back to the people who are invested.

Randy Rydel

Elected to the Board in 2018. Current term expires 2027.
Finance Committee Chair

As a longtime Community Food Co-op member, I am thrilled by our impact on our local community and excited to serve on the Board of Directors working to implement the organization’s long-term goals. I am a Certified Public Accountant and thrive on numbers, so I enjoy the challenge of balancing the Co-op’s goals of providing healthy food access to all while still maintaining its economic resiliency.

On a workday, you will find me sitting in front of a computer, managing the finances of the Whatcom County Public Works department. When I am not computer-bound, I may be found with my family riding the trails up at Galbraith, enjoying the cool waters of Lake Whatcom, or exploring our National Parks, most likely with an organic apple in hand.

Tony Vernon (Staff Director)

Elected to the Board in 2023. Current term expires 2026.
Finance Committee

I first moved to Bellingham in 1999 and joined the Co-op shortly after arriving in town. Though I’ve moved about a bit, I’ve had fixed Bellingham roots for the past 16 years.

I began working at the Cordata location in 2021 (after four applications and four interviews). Becoming a Co-op member was motivated by a desire to access quality, sustainable products and to support the community-based, ethical business model. Becoming an employee was a way to make my livelihood an action in support of those same things.

As a Board Member, I hope to learn more about Co-op operations and to help it continue to be strong financially, remain competitive in the industry, and to be a destination business that improves the lives of employees, customers, providers, and the community at large.

Laura Weiss

Elected to the Board in 2019. Current term expires 2025.
Board Chair, Finance Committee

My favorite thing about the Co-op? The bulk section! I am a waste-conscious shopper so buying in bulk and using my own containers means our household creates less trash!

I am recently retired but spent most of my career working on environmental policy and advocacy in the nonprofit and government sectors. Before retiring, I started and ran a mission-driven business in Portland to reduce waste from single-use take-out containers.

I serve on the Finance Committee, which has given me an appreciation for what it takes for a grocery store like the Co-op to successfully manage its financial health.

I believe the Co-op plays an increasingly important role in providing local, healthy food while supporting a sustainable environment and economy. I enjoyed working with the Board on the new Strategic Plan that will guide us into the next five years. I hope we can continue to play a leadership role in promoting the growth of sustainable agriculture, energy efficiency, waste reduction and resource conservation.

In my free time, I enjoy hiking, biking, taking yoga and ballet classes, and spending time in my garden.