Staff

Amy Fields is the General Manager of EFC. She has worked in natural foods cooperatives for thirteen years (ten as a general manager), and has worked in the nonprofit sector for all of her professional life. Prior to coming to EFC, Amy worked at The Community Mercantile in Lawrence, Kansas, where she launched the co-op's first major relocation and expansion. She subsequently led The Merc through a tenuous financial phase, which set the stage for an even larger expansion and relocation in 2000.

Kristina Gronquist has been EFC’s Assistant Manager since the store opened. She is responsible for finances, human resources and marketing.  As if that weren't enough, Kristina recently added EFC's general merchandise department to her responsibilities, which she manages with a focus on fairly-traded and environmentally-responsible items.

Treshy has a degree in film and an affinity for computers and systems. She first joined the Eastside Food Co-op as part of the opening front-end crew as shift leader; prior to that, she worked at coffee shops, and for 10 years at the Marriott as banquet staff. Treshy began working as administrative assistant in 2005, and now is responsible for the operational systems at EFC, including cleaning services, security services, and repairs and maintenance. She lives in Northeast Minneapolis.

Jean started working one shift a week in our produce department in July of 2004; in April of 2005, she was hired as produce manager. Prior to her experience at EFC, Jean was the deli and bakery manager at Linden Hills Food Co-op for 16 years; she left LHC to take a general manager position with D’Amico Inc., a fresh foods restaurant and catering business in the Twin Cities. Jean left D’Amico within the year, as the corporate environment was not a good fit for her, and pursued a life-long love of produce at Valley Natural Food Co-op in Burnsville for two years.

Robert graduated from St. Bernard’s High School, and attended the College of Associated Arts at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. His professional experience ranges from a bicycle courier with On Time Delivery to repairing and building cycles at Croll Cycles to work as a custom builder with Gardner Hardware. Robert’s previous jobs have taught him to prioritize work based around the needs of customers and co-workers.

Peter was an executive chef, catering director, and general manager at Bon Appetit in Minneapolis for eight years, and buyer, operations manager and deli manager at Northcountry Cooperative Grocery for six years, prior to arriving at Eastside in January 2008. Peter’s food service background includes training in margin management, sales growth and marketing, personnel, and data management. He has a current Food Manager certification.

Brandy began working in co-ops in 2004 at Deep Roots Market in Greensboro, North Carolina, starting as a cashier and moving into the grocery department. Brandy soon went from being a grocery stocker to the Assistant Grocery Manager, due to her deep commitment to and interest in the co-op and its members. Upon moving to Minneapolis in 2007, Brandy promptly began work at the Seward Co-op as an evening shift-lead and a bulk buyer before coming to Eastside Food Co-op as the grocery manager.

Jesse is originally from South Minneapolis, but now proudly considers Northeast her home.  She lives almost exactly one mile from the co-op, with her husband Russell, son Frankie, and their two dogs.  Without even realizing it, she started her career in co-ops in 1998 at Linden Hills.   Between then and now she finished her B.A.