Run for Central Co-op’s Board of Trustees
Interested in doing more for your Co-op? Central Co-op’s Board of Trustees is a crucial element of our leadership team. Learn more about how you might play a role with us.
Board Leadership at the Co-op
The Board of Trustees and the Nominating Committee are crucial components of our democratically-elected leadership structure at Central Co-op. Board and NomCom members are elected annually from our membership in Seattle & Tacoma. Board Members serve three-year terms, while NomCom members serve one-year terms.
Central Co-op’s Board is comprised of three Consumer-Members, three Worker-Members (staff who elect to be full-equity Members of the Co-op), the General Manager/CEO, and up to two additional appointed members. A non-voting staff Board Liaison also attends meetings and helps with administrative tasks. Our Nominating Committee, comprised of a Board Member who acts as chair, as well as an elected Consumer-Member and an elected Worker-Member, assist with the processes of recruiting and vetting future potential Board Members.
Central Co-op holds an election each year where the membership of the Co-op votes on new Board and NomCom members to replace those with expiring terms. While this election has taken place at the end of the year the last few years, the Board has elected to move it back to Spring in 2026; the election will begin in June of 2026.
Call for Candidates for 2026 Elections
We are now accepting applications for the 2026 Election that will begin in June, for 2026-27 Board Members beginning service in September 2026. All applicants must be current Central Co-op members in good standing. Worker Member Candidates require at least one continuous year of service at Central Co-op and invested equity in the Co-op.
We are seeking Board Members whose values and passion for food and people resonate with ours, and whose experiences and talents align with the strategic challenges of running a small, low-profit-margin business in HCOL areas.
Desired qualifications include:
Strong financial prowess
Project management and leadership experience
Prior service on non-profit or for-profit boards
An interest in engaging with the community on behalf of the Co-op
Connections/experience with other local and cooperative organizations, and
Familiarity with small business operational management, particularly grocery/food retail
The Landscape for Central in 2026
Food Co-ops occupy a unique position, at the intersection of running a successful business operation in the extremely challenging grocery industry, and providing a community-centric and values-oriented space in which all are welcome. Central Co-op is no exception to this, and the past few years have required flexibility, creativity, and a great deal of skilled fiscal management to meet the many challenges to our industry, alongside the escalating costs not only of doing business, but doing business in an intentional, people-forward way.
More than 85% of our staff are members of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union, our average wage is more than $5 over minimum wage in both locations (with Seattle having the highest minimum wage in the US in 2026, at $20.76/hr), and our full-time employees are offered excellent Health, Vision and Dental insurance at no cost to them.
Apply for the Board/Nom Com
Below is the application packet for Board and Nominating Committee.
Please review the Application Packet prior to beginning your application to run for the Board or NomCom.
After you have reviewed the application packet, download and fill out the application (PDF), and send to nominatingcommittee@centralboard.coop. If you have questions about the application or its contents, you may also email those to nominatingcommittee@centralboard.coop.
Note: Applying to run for the Board/Nominating Committee does not guarantee that you will be placed on the ballot for the Election. The Nominating Committee will contact select candidates for interviews, beginning in late April, and from there, will choose their top candidates to present to the Board for approval prior to the Election.
Board Calendar
The 2026 Central Co-op Board Meetings will be on the following dates. All meetings begin at 6:30pm.
February 23, 2026
March 23, 2026
May 18, 2026
June 15, 2026 (tentative date of Annual Owner Meeting)
September 28, 2026 (first meeting for New Board Members)
October 26, 2026
November 16, 2026
Central Co-op also holds an Annual Member Meeting, where members are invited to attend alongside Board Members and staff, and receive operational and financial updates on the Co-op, typically focused around the previous year’s performance.