From the General Manager
I am thrilled to have been selected as Lakewinds’ next General Manager. As I write this column, my first day at Lakewinds is still a few days away. Still, I feel like I know the organization. I have been a Lakewinds member for many years, I’m a regular shopper at both stores, and I’ve served on Lakewinds’ Board of Directors for the past five years, several of them as treasurer.I’m bringing my experience as a successful entrepreneur to Lakewinds. I’m also bringing intense commitment to the co-op movement. We have a successful and vibrant co-op in Lakewinds, providing us with opportunities to pursue our vision of “Inspiring people and communities to enjoy a healthy and sustainable future.”
We can also make great progress toward fulfilling our mission, which states “We are a member owned food cooperative committed to outstanding service to our members, patrons and the greater community, leading the way with education, healthy food choices and sustainable products.”
Service and leadership are key words in our mission statement. Lakewinds has an experienced and dedicated staff that makes these concepts evident in the shopping experience. Lakewinds is a purveyor of good food and ethically produced products. We’ve come to expect that from our co-op.
The challenge now is to maintain the forward momentum of the business while uncovering or creating new ways to fulfill our mission, engage our membership, and continue to exceed the expectation of our member-owners. More than ever, people are concerned with what they eat and how it is produced. We’ve been addressing those concerns at Lakewinds for a very long time.
I look forward to working with Lakewinds’ staff, members, suppliers and partners as we continue to thrive as your locally owned and operated cooperative.
Dale Woodbeck, General Manager