BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATES 2024
Brianna Menard
I’ve been a proud owner of the co-op for almost ten years. I became a member in my first year at The University of Texas. Since that time, Wheatsville has nourished me and taken care of me as my home grocery. I’ve spent my career serving in the Texas Legislature and working on political campaigns across the state with the goal of making Texas a healthier and more equitable home for all of us. I’m also a foodie and a committed vegan! I love to cook and share food with others, something Wheatsville makes possible by offering a variety of locally sourced, plant based whole foods. I’ve dedicated my career to serving our state. Now I want to serve my home community. I think I could bring a fresh perspective to the Board, and I would love to give back to the community that has given me so much.
Lisa Mitchell
I’ve lived in Austin for 24 years and have been on the Board a total of four years. I’ve served as Board Treasurer, and on three Board committees: Nominations, Owner Engagement, and Audit Review. It’s been interesting to see our co-op adapt to changes that came with COVID. And although much has changed, Wheatsville remains my go-to store. Wheatsville still feels like home. I love the fresh foods and local products. I am energized by uplifting chats with staff and fellow owners every time I shop. No other grocery store embodies the Austin most of us want to live in – a place that welcomes and respects everyone, gives back to and engages the community, and is democratically operated. If re-elected, I will work to engage owners and recruit new ones so Wheatsville continues to grow and remain viable—while retaining its co-op values—as Austin expands.
Mindy Nobles
I grew up in diverse social and geographic environments that shaped me to seek a kind, just world. Somehow, food became central. I joined my first food coop in the early 1990s. When I first walked into Wheatsville Co-op in the mid-1990s while visiting my son at UT, it was a revelation. My son joined Wheatsville in 1995. When I moved to Austin in 2013, I joined the co-op as one of my first commitments to the city. I regard Wheatsville as a kind of home place. When the board candidate call came this year, I decided that it was time to give back to Wheatsville some small portion of what the co-op has given to me and the larger community over the past 47 years. Wheatsville survived the pandemic. I hope to help steer the co-op into the next three years and on to its second half century.
MeriJayd O'Connor
I have been honored to serve 2 terms on the Board. During which I have fallen in love with Wheatsville even more than when I first discovered the co-op 28 years ago as a college student. I love shopping at Wheatsville for the quality of products, friendly staff, and sense of community. I am a mom, a CranioSacral Therapist and wellness educator. I love gardening and sharing my harvests with friends and neighbors. I appreciate what an experienced Board can bring to Wheatsville. With Board continuity, we can focus on strategic planning, owner engagement and future expansion. I am especially passionate about educating the community about the cooperative advantage and engaging owners to spread the word about Wheatsville to ensure financial health. It is also important to capture Wheatsville’s history and invigorate the younger generation of cooperators.