Meet the 2023 Candidates
Learn more about the proposed Bylaw changes on this year's ballot HERE.
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Sue Phillips
My day job is as Vice President of Quality, Information, and Risk at The Connection, a non-profit human service agency with programs serving individuals and families struggling with housing insecurity, substance use disorders, and histories of incarceration, among other challenges. This translates to two fundamental “things about me.” First, I view the world through a lens focused on using data for system improvement to lead to positive real world outcomes for real people, while successfully managing the risks and challenges inherent in any potentially transformative endeavor. (I think this just translates to my being a data, policy, and procedure geek.) Second, I believe and try to live by the interpersonal values that have guided members of the co-op movement for decades: honesty, openness, social responsibility, and caring for others. (This translates to being a starry-eyed idealist even when I am old enough, and educated enough, to know better.) I was a member of a buyers’ co-op that folded into Fiddleheads over a decade ago. I volunteered in the store back when we still used member-volunteers for almost everything. I served on the Fiddleheads Board of Directors between 2011 and 2019, participating in the adoption and implementation of policy-governance, and accepting leadership roles while actively supporting the leadership and participation of other board members. If elected back onto the Fiddleheads Board my intention would be to bring my authentic self to board service, assessing where and how I can contribute meaningfully to the continued and expanding success of Fiddleheads Food Co-op. |
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Rachel (Rae) Hutchins
Rachel (Rae) Hutchins was inspired to get involved with local and organic foods after reading Michael Pollan’s In Defense of Food in 2011. This motivated her to found the Niantic Farmers’ Market in 2012. In 2016 she began working at Fiddleheads Food Co-op as the Community Connections Coordinator. In this role Rae played a critical role in building community through starting the co-ops first ownership drive and establishing unified brand standards. She believes Fiddleheads is an integral part of the local economy; it creates an outlet for community members to support local farmers and producers; valuing the quality of their food and its means of production. Additionally, co-ops provide a structure for which people can invest in, belong to, and own a business that serves the greater community’s interests—she believes by serving on the board she feels she can further the impact the co-op can make in New London and Southeastern CT. Today, Rae is the Associate Director of Communications at The Williams School and hopes to bring her marketing and communications experience to Fiddleheads’ Board of Directors to further strengthen the role the co-op plays in the local community. Rae’s favorite hobbies are cooking, baking gluten-free breads and bagels, and getting outside to the beach or hiking in the forest with her beloved rescue dog, Sadie. |
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Cassandra Campbell
What do you bring to the Board (experience, skills and abilities) that make you an effective Fiddleheads Board Director? I possess several qualities that would make me an effective Fiddleheads board member. 1)I have an open and cooperative nature. I’m happy to work collaboratively with others.I have served on other boards that provided opportunities to level the playing field for students in a diverse school district in New Rochelle, N.Y. As the organization’s treasurer - I was a very active member and was required to report financials to the board periodically, submit tax fillings and prepare the board’s annual budget. 2)As a former Coast Guard Academy, Fund Manager(civilian position)I worked directly with cadets to inform and ensure the required procurement procedures that are to be followed. I enjoy working directly with and for the Coast Guard Academy to ensure their program activities and objectives are met. I have learned to successfully navigate the multilayered political and non political agendas to accomplish the goal, successfully. 3)As a political candidate representative, for Martha Lopez ‘s campaign in New York, as her treasurer, I was part of the team to launch this fist time City Council candidate to represent her district on the City Council of New Rochelle, N.Y.- the first female Hispanic in the City’s history, as well-being recognized by many as the most acclaimed grass roots political campaign in the City’s history. 4)As a mother and parent, I have learned to be open to different and opposing points of view. I have developed excellent communication skills I have learned to leverage diplomacy and respect to conveying my own message. Why do you feel called to/compelled to serve on the Fiddleheads Board? I have found that I have developed a passion to share the importance of fresh affordable food and health options and how that benefits a typical lifestyle. I want to present those options thru creative experiences as well as formal educational programs for the community. I believe these approaches and my personal involvement would positively benefit the Fiddleheads cooperative. |
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Mark Braunstein
Fiddleheads was just an idea in search of a home when I became a charter member in 2007. During its fledgling years, I volunteered my imaging and graphic design skills. And until the café walls came tumbling down, I organized the art shows. Add to my co-op résumé my membership since 1996 in Willimantic Food Co-op. After 32 years as an art academic at RISD and Connecticut College, I no longer am a member of the oppressed working class, so am prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice by serving on the Board. A budding foodie before the word was coined, in high school I worked in a produce store. In grad school, I worked in health food stores in Manhattan. Experiencing firsthand the joys and sorrows of employment in natural food stores, I learned that my coworkers provided the joys, certain customers the sorrows. Perhaps age has dulled my mind, as gazing at the produce at Fiddleheads now stands among my great pleasures. Two of my books popularize how to grow sprouts and microgreens from seeds from our bulk bins. Nationally, I have written countless magazine articles about food and nutrition. Locally, I channel my community engagement into penning numerous guest editorials, such as twice on the front pages of the Hartford Courant and a year ago in Connecticut Magazine. As ours is a food store, I wonder why candidates don’t pitch their diets, so I’ll pitch. Nearly everything I eat is OG, thanks to Fiddleheads and Willi. A vegan since 1970, even worse, I shun caffeine, alcohol, white flour, and white sugar. But I dare not plot to rid Fiddleheads of your favorite booze or snacks, else you run me out of town. What can I bring to the table? I hope something enriching and nourishing. |
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Melissa Doukas
I am a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) and have a degree in Psychology and Communicative Disorders. I use the specific skills of MI (Motivational Interviewing) in guiding individual and group sessions to elicit motivation and make positive behavior changes. My role is to facilitate deep exploration and the creation of goals. I have advocated for people with disabilities for over 6 years and have lobbied at the Connecticut State Capitol with the individuals served by UCP and other local non-profits. I have volunteered my personal time to lead and organize projects that result in more equal access to rights for those with disabilities. I am also a mom of a 14-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter. I have a life-long love of fur-babies and have a dog who has special medical needs, plus a very snuggly cat. I am a wife to a hard-working and loving husband. I am an adult with a disability. My experience as an advocate, as a Health Coach and as a mother and wife will allow me to leverage my values of fairness, autonomy, equity, and prudence. The new experience of serving on a board would give me an opportunity to exercise my strengths of creativity and love of learning. Fiddleheads is a place my children and I have visited for many years. It’s a place where we know we can access high quality items that have minimal harm to the planet and to people. It offers greater access and greater choice to the residents of New London and surrounding towns. My life experience has taught me that one must support and stand up for the things that are important to them. Fiddleheads is an important resource for our community; what an impactful act it would be to support the Co-op, and the autonomy and wellness of local citizens by serving on the Board of Directors. |
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Brian Conkey
Brian Conkey moved to the New London area in 2020 and has been a Co-op member since 2021. He currently works in the grocery industry since 2004 and has been a Food Broker for the past ten years. Brian brings vision and critical thinking and enjoys financial number crunching. He looks to utilize his skills as a food broker and experience at his current company as a national trainer of over 175 employees to the Board. In addition, he served previously on his college’s Board as a student representative in 2003. Brian is passionate about food, work-life balance, and spending time with his wife, a food advocate, and two young boys. Outside of work, Brian enjoys gardening, chess, being in the community, getting to know others, and helping. What does the Co-op mean to you? I believe Co-op stands for the countless opportunities in our community that we all share through food. Why do you feel called to/compelled to serve on the Fiddleheads Board? I want to ensure that our excellent Co-op is here for future generations and continues to be a pillar of opportunity for our community. |
To Be Ratified (Terms Ending 2024)
Olivia Jenkins
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Susan Zimmerman
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