Billie Pritzker
Why do you want to serve on the Eastside Food Co-op Board of Directors?
I was appointed to the Eastside Food Co-op Board in January 2025 and have served as a Director for the past 6 months. During this time, I learned SO much about retail grocery, cooperatives/cooperative governance, and Board leadership, all of which I hope to build upon in a second term. Being a Board Director has deepened my commitment to Eastside and the value we offer our owners and the NE community.
Share any skills, interests, and experience you would bring to the board. Examples may be drawn from any personal, educational, professional, or volunteer experiences.
Separate from my tenure as an Eastside Board Member (referenced above), I have a Masters in Business Administration from the Carlson School of Management and have worked in strategy and business development functions in my current and previous roles. As the co-op considers "what's next," I can support with deep strategic planning, financial analysis and business case development experience.
Eastside is founded on the 7 Cooperative Principles (https://www.eastsidefood.coop/about-co-ops). Choose one of the principles and describe how you think the board can encourage and foster this in our cooperative.
3- Member's Economic Participation-- One of the principles that is top-of-mind for me right now is considering how to make co-op ownership more accessible to all members of our community. Though the Board represents Eastside's OWNERSHIP, we also have a duty to consider the perspective of those who shop at the co-op regularly or occasionally and attend our events, as that too is economic participation.
One of the board’s main responsibilities is to plan for the cooperative’s future. Please describe any experience with long-term strategic planning and/or collaborative decision making.
My whole day job revolves around long-term strategic planning! I am experienced in collecting and aggregating multiple data sources (including "voice of customer" data) to create roadmaps for growth and optimization. To move past the corporate jargon... I am an empathetic leader with the experience to support the Board through decisions big and small.
Eastside Food Co-op is “Here for Good.” What does that mean to you?
Eastside offers quality product, a pleasant shopping experience, and a source of community for the long haul.