This just in from the Co-op:
“The Board of Directors is very pleased to announce that Lee Bradford will be our Co-op’s next General Manager.
Lee will start on March 21st following his move back east from Fresno, California, where he has been Vice President of Customer Service/Customer Experience, as well as the General Manager of FreshKo Produce Services, dual roles for C&S Wholesale Grocers. Lee had previously served C&S from its Brattleboro and Keene locations, and he and his family are eager to return to the area.
In his two-day visit to the Co-op in February, Lee won over both the Board and the management team with his attentiveness, his articulate and heartfelt responses to a variety of challenging interview questions, and his personable, easy manner.
The Board of Directors also recognizes Whitney Field, our Store Manager, who has served as the Interim General Manager since January 1. She is providing steady leadership during this transition to a new General Manager. Following Lee’s two-day in-person visit and interview at the Co-op, Whitney said, “Lee came across to me as someone who is humble and listens to and hears people’s concerns and really wants to help make a difference.”
The search for a new GM has been a long and careful process. It began last summer with the development of a list of qualifications that the Board felt were essential in a General Manager at this time. A Search Committee made up of a subset of the Board has met weekly since last summer, and held its final meeting this week.
Lee and his family are excited to be returning to home territory. And speaking of home, if anyone has a lead on a 3 bedroom apartment or house for rent or for sale, preferably in the Windham Southeast Supervisory Union, drop sarahb@bfc.coop a line.
We will share more about Lee in the March 1st Food for Thought e-newsletter.”
And a press release
And an official press release, as well…
“For more information: Sarah Brennan sarahb@bfc.coop
Brattleboro Food Co-op hires Lee Bradford as General Manager
The Brattleboro Food Co-op Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Lee Bradford has been hired to be our next General Manager. Lee will begin work on March 21. He replaces Sabine Rhyne, the Co-op’s General Manager from 2015-2021. Lee brings over 26 years of business management expertise in a variety of industries. Most recently he held dual roles for C&S Wholesale Grocers in Fresno, CA as Vice President of Customer Service/Customer Experience, as well as General Manager of FreshKo Produce Services, a $100 million produce sales and distribution company, with over 150 employees.
The Board of Directors also recognizes Whitney Field, our Store Manager, who has served as the Interim General Manager since January 1. She has provided steady leadership during this transition to a new General Manager. Following Lee’s two-day in-person visit and interview at the Co-op, Whitney said, “Lee came across to me as someone who is humble and listens to and hears people’s concerns and really wants to help make a difference.”
Please join us in welcoming Lee Bradford to the Brattleboro Food Co-op. We believe that exciting opportunities lie ahead.
The Brattleboro Food Co-op was formed in 1975 as a small buying club, and now occupies a 16,000 square foot store in a four-story building right downtown that also includes offices, a community room, a cooking classroom, a commissary kitchen, and 24 apartments owned and managed by Windham and Windsor Housing Trust. Over 8,500 people own this vibrant organization dedicated to supporting a sustainable food system, built on cooperative principles.
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