Board of Directors 2020 Candidates
The Silverton Food Co-op will hold its annual meeting on August 9th at Coolidge-McClaine Park. Each Silverton Food Co-op owner is entitled to complete one ballot, which may be completed online or in-person at the annual meeting. This year, owners are asked to approve the following three candidates to fill vacancies on the Silverton Board of Directors:
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Cayla Catino
Cayla Catino joined the Silverton Food Co-op Board of Directors in January 2020. Cayla coordinates the SFC Capital Campaign Committee, and is active in the Marketing Committee, fundraising and planning events. Cayla is seeking a 3-year term with the Board.
I arrived in the Willamette Valley in 2012 as an intern at GeerCrest Farm & Historical Society which is an educational homestead five miles south of Silverton. What started as a dream to experience living off the land, has turned into a life-long passion for sustainability, organic food (or what our grandparents used to call – food), connecting with the rhythms of the Earth, and being involved in the great community of Silverton. With a background in nonprofit management & leadership, I have held various leadership roles at GeerCrest Farm, North Willamette Valley Habitat for Humanity, and Silverton Toastmasters. In my job at GiGi’s Playhouse Down syndrome Achievement Centers, I currently oversee training for staff and volunteers within the fast-growing company and formerly coached startup teams in opening their brick and mortar location. The more I learn about how co-ops provide an alternative to big companies, the more excited I get to be a part of an organization that is dedicated to nutrition, local economic systems, and energizing citizens to be change makers. Co-ops are all about power to the people and it is time for our money, resources, energy, and food to unite! Together we can create a more resilient community for years to come and that starts with one of our basic human needs – Food. |
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Becky Gilliam
Becky Gilliam joined the Silverton Food Co-op Board of Directors in February 2020. Becky coordinates the SFC Marketing Committee and is active in supporting event planning and fundraising. Becky is seeking a 3-year term with the Board.
I grew up in Silverton and moved back home in 2016. My husband Sam and I recently built our own house, and we've been enjoying living close to family and getting to know our hometown in new ways. That includes the co-op! I became an owner (#205) as a way of recommitting myself to the community and to supporting local farming. I enjoy growing food and flowers, and I feel extremely fortunate enough to live in a place where I can "leave it to the pros" and simply supplement the goodies from our CSA and farmer's market. Being engaged with the co-op is a chance to support our community's vitality and sustainability, and I'm excited to be a part of it! Micole Olivas-Leyva
Micole Olivas-Leyva has been an engaged volunteer with the Silverton Food Co-op since Spring 2020, and is especially active with the SFC Marketing and Capital Campaign committees. Micole has been nominated for a 3-year term with the Board.
My roots in Silverton are strong. My great grandmother came here from Kentucky in around 1960 to work in the fields and my family has been here ever since. We now have three generations all born in the Silverton hospital. My husband was born and raised in Northern Mexico and also came to Silverton to work in agriculture. Together we decided to stay and raise our children in this community. We are a beautiful small town farming community and I love our town. While working on some health issues and seeking healing, my health journey led me to the co-op. I have a strong interest in nutrition, local food, natural medicine, sustainable farming, and community. I see the Silverton food co-op as such an incredible asset to our community and I cannot wait to have our store. My educational background is in business. After college I went into finance, but later found that my heart was in non-profit work. Currently I am working for a non-profit organization doing financial crisis counseling. I would love the opportunity to use my skills, knowledge, and perspective to help the co-op fulfill it's goals and get the store up and running. |
Current Board of Directors
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Kelly HiltonPresident
I was born and raised in Salem. We moved to Silverton 23 years ago to raise our two boys. My ex-husband is from Silverton and he made a great choice in bringing us all here.
I worked at Silverton Hospital for 16 years and an additional 2 years when it converted to Legacy Silverton Health. My career was in hospital IT. I am now a Certified International Health Coach. I help people achieve their health and lifestyle goals and work to educate our community in the benefits of living a healthier lifestyle. I am owner #36. I became an owner at the first pop-up because I believe eating local and supporting local is always the right thing to do. I started volunteering in the summer of 2018. As an above average healthy person, I was having a difficult time finding good, healthy food in our grocery stores. I thought if I was having a difficult time then how will my clients navigate it. That is when I made the decision to become more involved with the co-op and get a store opened that I could call home and my clients would feel successful when shopping. I love this community and the people in it. Bringing this co-op to life will benefit so many of us in so many ways. I am excited to part of this movement that is going to make this community that I love more connected. Thank you for allowing me to serve you. |
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Kalia MillerVice-PresidentI am a Silverton native but have stayed in the area because of the life of our community. I get so excited about good, pure, and simple food and I am so blessed to be in an area surrounded by beautiful farms. When I meet someone new to the area I am always asking them their favorite vegetable to grow/eat and want to swap recipes and ideas about where to get the best ingredients (food nerd). I joined the committee in 2017 because I wanted to use my skills and input to help materialize a market that brings the local farmer to the local community in a way that is sustainable economically and educationally. I want to be enable people to appreciate the journey and craftsmanship of the products they buy.
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Marc van AndaTreasurerI joined the Co-op in July 2017. You can, too! Let's open the doors to a really cool community-owned grocery store. Silverton people share a strong civic spirit and an interest in growing, eating, and having year-round access to real food. What a great place for a food co-op! For 20 years I helped run a worker-owned co-op retail bicycle shop, and I saw what co-op economic and organizational principles bring to a business and to a community. When I’m not working (paralegal now) or updating Co-op spreadsheets, I’m off digging in the garden or riding my bike.
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Flora HouzvickaSecretaryI was born and raised in Southern California and moved to Lake Oswego, Oregon, over 20 years ago. I have been in the administrative field for my entire career, holding such positions as: Office Manager, Executive Assistant, Rent Assistance Analyst, and most recently, Corporate Performance Specialist. I am currently taking a career break to renovate my “old” new home here in Silverton. I am an apprentice-level beekeeper and have two cats, Charles and Frankie, and a life partner, Mike Martin. I also have two grown daughters, Donna and Desi, a granddaughter, Jocelyn, and a grandson, Wyatt.
I am a SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) volunteer (since 2014) and have served on two boards, Lake Oswego Toastmasters (Treasurer 2006 – 2008) and Evergreen Housing, Inc. (Secretary 2001 – 2004). |
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Julia KnudsenBoard DirectorI am a wife, mother, farmer and engineer. Our family came to the Silverton area in 2013 to start a farm where we could grow nutritious food, make delicious cider, and experience the joy of living off the land. Growing up in the country outside of Corvallis, my husband and I knew what it was like to be raised in a small town community and we knew we wanted the same for our children. Becoming an owner in the co-op was a way to invest in our new area and show our support for local food resiliency. The passion and spirit that the people of Silverton have for the community is inspiring and we can’t wait for the co-op to be a place we can all be proud of and enjoy together.
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Whitney UlvenBoard DirectorI am a mother of three, wife of 15 years, and professional photographer. I wake up grateful everyday to be living life on a farm that has been in my husband’s family for over 50 years. Being passionate about mindful eating and knowing where our food is sourced, our family has recently embarked on the adventure of raising our own livestock and growing a large part of nourishment here on our farm. We want our children to grow up appreciating the food we grow and bounty of amazing food provided to us by so many local farms. Excited about a place where we can get access to so many locally sourced products and support local farmers, I am looking forward to contributing where I can to a organization so in line with my beliefs.
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Cayla Catino
Board Director
I arrived in the Willamette Valley in 2012 as an intern at GeerCrest Farm & Historical Society which is an educational homestead five miles south of Silverton. What started as a dream to experience living off the land, has turned into a life-long passion for sustainability, organic food (or what our grandparents used to call – food), connecting with the rhythms of the Earth, and being involved in the great community of Silverton. With a background in nonprofit management & leadership, I have held various leadership roles at GeerCrest Farm, North Willamette Valley Habitat for Humanity, and Silverton Toastmasters. In my job at GiGi’s Playhouse Down syndrome Achievement Centers, I currently oversee training for staff and volunteers within the fast-growing company and formerly coached startup teams in opening their brick and mortar location. The more I learn about how co-ops provide an alternative to big companies, the more excited I get to be a part of an organization that is dedicated to nutrition, local economic systems, and energizing citizens to be change makers. Co-ops are all about power to the people and it is time for our money, resources, energy, and food to unite! Together we can create a more resilient community for years to come and that starts with one of our basic human needs – Food.
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Becky Gilliam
Board Director
I grew up in Silverton and moved back home in 2016. My husband Sam and I recently built our own house, and we've been enjoying living close to family and getting to know our hometown in new ways. That includes the co-op! I became an owner (#205) as a way of recommitting myself to the community and to supporting local farming. I enjoy growing food and flowers, and I feel extremely fortunate enough to live in a place where I can "leave it to the pros" and simply supplement the goodies from our CSA and farmer's market. Being engaged with the co-op is a chance to support our community's vitality and sustainability, and I'm excited to be a part of it!
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A Special Thank You!
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Jason CodnerFormer Board Director and President
The warmest smile, most inclusive personality and overflowing with generosity. The Silverton Food Co-op has been fortunate to have the leadership of Jason Codner for the past six years. As he transitions off the Board of Directors, we would like to express our sincerest thank you for all he has contributed to the community and this special endeavor. He sat at the table when the idea was first discussed, he rejoiced as the owners started to flood in, he weathered the long hours, complex strategizing, and inspired our community to dream big to create a special place that can benefit all of us. The entire Codner Family has generously given more of their time, energy and inspiration than anyone could have ever asked. And now the time has come for Jason to pass the torch to the next group of leaders and free up some time for his family. Jason’s passion for the Silverton Food Co-op does not waver, he will still guide us as we continue to build our store and we hope he will join us on the front line when we cut the ribbon!
Jason and Family, thank you for all you have given to the community and the Silverton Food Co-op. We appreciate your dedicated membership to the Board and we can’t wait to build on the great work you started! |
