BOARD of DIRECTORS CANDIDATES 2023
Cameron Tepper
Oh, hey there, didn't see ya! My name is Cameron Tepper (he/him). Six years ago, during my first week in Austin, I visited Wheatsville and got a hug from an employee who said, "Welcome Home, Brother." I knew at that moment that Wheatsville was a special place built in cooperation, by and for the community. I would be honored to serve on the board to support the vision of Wheatsville, and work to ensure its place in Austin for another 46 years with an emphasis in equity, transparency, and communication. My hope is to expand participation in the co-op and find more moments of connections for owners and potential owners to further impact and expand the cooperative model in Texas and beyond.
You might be asking yourself, "Yeah, this guy loves that popcorn tofu, but what makes him qualified to run?". For the past 8 years, I've worked in higher education supporting students in their college career in different positions such as managing a dorm at UT Austin, working in a disability services office, and academically advising students at St. Edwards. Recently, I changed fields, and work in recruiting for a local company. In all these positions, I approached the work through an equity lens. What has made me successful is having a varied background to approach all concerns with empathy, flexibility, and a positive perspective.
Thank you for your time and see you in the produce section!
Brandon Hines
For the past 30 years I have been a loyal shopper of Wheatsville as my primary grocery store. I have had the honor of serving on the Wheatsville Board of Directors for the past five years, with this most recent year serving as Board President. I am excited about the prospect of continuing to serve on the Wheatsville board. For my background, I attended the University of Texas at Austin receiving a Bachelor of Science in Communication and a Master in Business Administration. I have extensive experience in technology and media and have worked across industries such as health care, entertainment and finance. I believe that I bring a unique perspective and strong passion in representing Wheatsville members and promoting cooperative principles.
Over the past five years serving on the board, I have learned so much about the co-op. As a director, I focused my efforts on financial stability, owner outreach and inclusion & diversity initiatives. Working with management we have seen a year of profitability, the board has hosted a successfully community connect session, and both staff and the board have embraced diversity training. As board president I have expanded my focus to also include expanding the cooperative economy and board perpetuation. We have been largely successful with these initiatives but have much more work to do. I hope to have your support and vote to continue my work on the board on these important initiatives.
Cody Atkins
Hi, my name is Cody Atkins and I’ve been connected to Wheatsville for almost fifteen years. I started shopping here before the Guadalupe store renovation and was hired as an employee in 2010. I spent 11 years working in various roles from Department Manager to Category Manager. I was a part of many big projects during that time which increased the efficiency and profitability of the co-op. I’ve almost certainly met many of you in the aisles at one time or another!
Prior to my employment at Wheatsville, I worked at another Texas-based grocery store for 10 years, with two of those years in their natural foods division. Since I left Wheatsville in October of last year, I have been working on the manufacturer’s side of the grocery business so I’ve been in and around the industry for 20+ years! I believe my experience will serve the co-op well if elected.
My wife and I currently live just east of town on a few-acre homestead with our two children. We enjoy gardening, DIY projects, and spending time outdoors.
Lisa Mitchell
I have lived in Austin for nearly 25 years, and I have been a Wheatsville owner for several years. When I’m not working at my day job, I’ve been involved in organizations that serve the humans and animals of Austin, including my prior service on the Wheatsville Board. The pandemic has helped me focus on how I want to spend my precious free time and where I want to direct my efforts.
The pandemic has made me value Wheatsville more than ever. It is one of the few places I feel safe frequenting, and I have at times used and very much appreciate the curbside service. Wheatsville’s response during the pandemic motivated me to get involved again in the Board's work. I want Wheatsville to continue to thrive and serve as a center of community. These last few years have shown the resiliency of our co-op, and I want to help try to ensure its continued success.
Joelle Williams
Though currently in the tech industry today, my first career path and passion were in retail- store operations specifically, for 20+ years. I also took some time to complete an MBA in Strategic Design- the intersection of business and design. The thread that runs through each of these experiences is continuously working to have a deep and insightful understanding for the end user/client/customer- that is my ultimate passion. My skill and thought leadership as a strategic transformation consultant has resulted in successfully helping people understand opportunities and design clear, actionable solutions over time.
Having been in Austin 5ish years, I’d like to make an impact broader than my current reach. I’ve been an owner of the COOP since I moved here and instantly felt aligned with the values of Wheatsville and the community; which speaks to my desire to apply to be a part of the BOD.
An aspect I truly appreciate about Wheastville is that you already represent what many are just beginning to talk about today- Environmental- Sustainability- Government with a side of social justice and D&I. I classify Wheatsville as an early adopter and therefore a leader of Austin’s future- a microcosm how many would like to see their day-to-day community and I would like to be a part of this future vision.