Central Co-op’s Board of Trustees is a crucial element of our leadership team, overseeing short-and-long term strategic planning and ensuring stability for the Co-op as an organization.

Central Co-op’s Board of Trustees

Board of Trustees & NomCom

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.

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. Outgoing members of Board and NomCom are replaced annually by candidates who are democratically elected by a quorum of 5% of the total active membership of the Co-op (typically around 550 members).

2026 Board & NomCom

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Brian Burke (2024 - 2026)
Casey Cerretani (2023 - 2026)
Marcus Chavez (2024 - 2027)
Carey DiJulio (2019 - 2026)
Amethyst Green (2024 - 2026)
Moses Viveros (2025 - 2028)
Ezra Thomas (2025 - 2028)
Zac Zahara (2025 - 2027)
Sue Spang, Executive Trustee (2025 - )

NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Tim Callahan (2025 - 2026)
Sam Mandry (2025 - 2026)
Chair TBD

  • This governing body appoints, hires, or promotes a General Manager/CEO who steers operational progress; however, the Board of Trustees remains the legal steward of the cooperative. The Board is responsible for ensuring organizational performance on behalf of all of Central Co-op's owners. This work includes developing clearly stated expectations through written Ends; delegating responsibility for, and authority over, the achievement of stated objectives; and monitoring compliance with written policies.

  • The Board of Trustees does not make decisions about, become involved with, or take part in any of the day-to-day activities or decisions regarding the operation of Central Co-op.
    The Board's sole official connection to the operations of the cooperative is through the GM/CEO.

    Examples of operational processes that are not under the Board’s purview:

    • General operations: Store hours, closures for holidays or emergencies, maintenance and facilities issues;

    • Staffing or scheduling decisions, or personnel issues in general;

    • Product selection or guidelines;

    • Parameters for and execution of company programs, such as the Healthy Communities Program, food rescue initiatives, or community partnerships.

  • The Nominating Committee is elected by the ownership of Central Co-op for a one year term and reports directly to the Board. The Nominating Committee works throughout the year to help recruit qualified candidates for the Board of Trustees and the Nominating Committee, nominate the most qualified candidates for the annual election, and oversee the election process. The Nominating Committee is also expected to maintain an active pool of potential candidates for appointments to the Board or Nominating Committee. In order to fulfill these duties, Nominating Committee members are expected to network at Co-op and community events to help in identifying potential qualified candidates.

  • The Nominating Committee does not choose who is elected or appointed to the Board of Trustees. The Nominating Committee does not make decisions about, become involved with, or take part in any of the day-to-day activities or decisions regarding the operation of Central Co-op.

Board Calendar

The Board Calendar is approved at the first meeting of the year, which is currently in February.

Typically, the Board meets six-seven times a year, on the fourth Monday of each month there is a meeting.
The 2026 Calendar for Board Meetings will be published here after it is approved.

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.
The 2026 Annual Member Meeting date is TBA.

In consideration of the fact that our Board Members are local to both Seattle & Tacoma, the majority of meetings are held over Zoom. Members in good standing are welcome to observe the open session of Board Meetings, and can request to do so by sending an email to info@centralcoop.coop at least 48 hours previous to the board meeting. Members who qualify to attend will be sent a Zoom link to observe within 48 hours of start of the meeting.

Can Members Attend Board Meetings?