The Board of Directors

The present Board was elected in December 2009.  Prior to that time the Steering Committee had been serving as the Board of Directors.  Elections occur every year during the fall or winter.

Monthly meetings occur on the second Tuesday of each month at 7PM.   If you are interested in attending or have something you'd like to add to the agenda, please contact membership@lvfood.coop!

Producer-Members:

Gayle Ganser - Eagle Point Farm 

Heather Sklorinko - Suyandulla Farm

Buying-Members: 

Dave Howard  -  

I'm the executive editor of Bicycling Magazine, a Rodale publication
produced right here in Emmaus. Prior to that I was an editor at Backpacker,
a magazine about hiking and the outdoors. I have written and edited stories
that have involved the environment and climate change for years. I grew up
in Connecticut, have lived in the Lehigh Valley for almost six years, and
my son attends kindergarten at the new green-focused Seven Generations
Charter School. I've recently become involved with Rodale's "Green Team,"
which has implemented a variety of environmental initiatives. My family has
belonged to the co-op since its creation.

I'm excited about what the co-op can mean for this area. I strongly believe
that local farm-grown foods can be a solution to many of the most serious
problems we face as a society--climate change, obesity, the explosion of
junk food and processed food in American diets, over-reliance on foreign
petroleum. And I think the Lehigh Valley is potentially on the verge of
something big. With the co-op, the new charter school, a thriving
restaurant scene, and Rodale's organic orientation, this area is beginning
to form an identity as a kind of hotbed for environmental living--a kind of
Portland, Oregon of the east that people in surrounding cities (New York,
Philly, Baltimore) would see as a destination. We just need to keep pushing
ahead with that agenda, and the co-op can be a big piece of the puzzle

Melinda Kohn

I have been fascinated by co-ops ever since shopping at the Park Slope Co-op in Brooklyn.  I saw how the Co-op reduced waste, eliminated harmful products, and  built community along with reducing prices and supporting local agriculture.  I am delighted that we are working  towards those same goals here at the Lehigh Valley Food Co-op and would enjoy helping to guide that.
 
Lisa Mallimaci

Lisa is a certified paralegal in the estate and tax planning group of a large Lehigh Valley law firm.  She is hard working, detail oriented and dependable as her profession dictates, and those qualities along with her business background and commitment to promote healthy whole foods has been an asset to the co-op.  Lisa has been an active “hands-on” member/volunteer of the co-op since our storefront opened in July.  Stop by our Emmaus location and meet her any Thursday evening or Saturday.

Sherry Kramer, President

Founded the Co-op group 2 years ago and remains totally committed to its success. Sherry, a Registered Nurse with an accent on Business, has experience in both conventional and alternative medicine. Sherry realized early on that healthy food is “Strong Medicine”. Sherry has been married for 23 years to Eric Kramer and has three teenage sons. Sherry worked at Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. in the Purchasing Department before becoming a nurse. She formed a Buying Club with a few families when her three sons were younger and realized the benefit of purchasing cooperatively. Sherry was active in helping to form the Total Health Store in Breinigsville, PA working with nutritional therapy, chelation therapy and herbal medicine along with a small retail healthy food store. Sherry graduated with honors with an Associates Degree in Applied Science and Liberal Arts, and is working toward her BSN. Sherry is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society. Sherry has marketing, sales, networking, and fundraising experience in the cooking equipment industry, and health and beauty industry.

Justin Collins, Vice President

Justin Collins aims to participate in the shifting of the food supply chain towards a network that is more socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable. He has been involved in various activities in pursuit of this end. This includes working in restaurants, on a year-round farm in Canada, managing the Emmaus Farmers’ Market, and completing a B.A. in Geography and Urban Studies. He also enjoys foraging for wild plants, caring for obscure edible fruits, and working with others!

Laura Kutzko, Treasurer

Laura was a Business major who is a retired employee of AT&T. She has a successful Photography business with her husband John that has been in business for 30+ years. She recently sold a successful sign business and is also in the Real Estate industry. Laura is quite the entrepreneur. She has great organizational skills.

Janet Tammero, Secretary

Board Member, Store Manager – George Street Cooperative. After raising a family, I returned to work at a private school for children with speech, hearing, and emotional disabilities for 9 years. I witnessed first hand the positive effects dietary and environmental changes had on children and their behavior. My interest in natural food, and my studies in organic gardening, vitamins, and herbal and homeopathic medicine, took root shortly thereafter. I attended many seminars at the Kapala Institute, as well as private training classes in alternative medicine. I have studied with herbalist Rosemary Gladstar, as well as ventured into private research into alternative medicine. I have experience in all aspects of the natural foods retail, including managing produce, grocery, perishables, vitamin and herbal supplements, and health and beauty aids for over 10 years. I assisted in opening a recycling tire business in Albany N.Y. and worked as a consultant with a turn around expert for troubled cooperatives. I have managed the George Street Cooperative in New Brunswick, NJ for the last two years. My consulting assistance in troubled cooperatives across the country, alongside my husband, has given me a diversified experience in both natural foods and cooperatively owned business practices. I not only enjoy helping people with their health challenges, but also enjoy working in a cooperative environment.

Don Hirko, Director 

Don has a background in marketing and is enthusiastic about eating a healthy diet.  At a recent event he highlighted how often we don’t take what we put inside our bodies seriously enough.  He pointed out that such an attitude causes problems to our health in the future, so what may look like cheaper food today, becomes quite expensive—once the health care bills are included.