Paper ballots are due by Wednesday, October 21st at 6:00pm. Online and phone voting ends Monday, October 19th at 11:59pm. The results of the election will be announced at a Special Membership Meeting that will take place at the Central Business Office (1457 E. Washington Ave., Madison) at 6:30pm on October 21st. Fill out a ballot at the kiosk near the Customer Service desk at any of our stores, vote online via the unique ballot link emailed to you (if we have your current email address), or vote by phone with the unique personal identification number (PIN) mailed or emailed to you. Candidate statements farther down on this page. Please vote for up to FOUR candidates. Only Owners’ votes are valid. One vote per Owner account. If both Owners on a Household Account vote, only the Primary Owner’s vote will be counted. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order. (If you would like your ballot to remain anonymous, use the following procedure: 1. Get a ballot from a print newsletter or a voting kiosk in our store. 2. Place completed ballot in envelope and seal. 3. Write your name and Owner number and sign across the seal. 4. Mail or deposit in the ballot box.)
Why four candidates?
One of the current Board members not up for reelection this year recently announced that they are resigning from the Board. (In a typical year there are three seats open.) The Board member who resigned had two years left in their term, so three elected Board members will have a three-year term, and one will have a two-year term. The top vote-getter will be able to decide if they want the two-year term or the full term; if they choose the full term, the decision goes to the next top vote-getter.
What does the Board of Directors do?
The Board sets governance policies for the General Manager (GM), who manages Co-op staff and day-to-day operations in accordance with those policies. The Board also helps guide the Co-op’s long-term direction, monitors organizational performance, and ensures the Co-op remains accountable to its mission, values, and Owners.
Ashwini Rao
Summary Statement
My professional experience in economic and community development gives me a cross-sector perspective on long-term needs. As a Board member, I want to help the Co-op remain financially strong, responsive to Owners, and connected to the community.
Why are you interested in running for the Willy Street Co-op Board of Directors?
I am running for another term because I care deeply about the Co-op and want to contribute to its future. Since joining the Board in 2020, I have developed an understanding of the opportunities and challenges of governing a cooperative and balancing the needs of Owners, employees, and the organization.
Through Board committees and work focused on community investment and Owner engagement, I have gained a broader appreciation for the Co-op’s role in the community. I want to help strengthen that role while ensuring the Co-op’s long-term financial health and sustainability. I also want to preserve the values that make it unique—as an employer, local purchaser, community investor, and place where people come together around shared values.
How have you been active in our local community?
I’ve lived in Madison since 2001 and value being part of the community here. Through my involvement with the Willy Street Co-op, including serving on the Board and participating in several committees and community-focused activities, I have had the opportunity to engage with Owners and community organizations and gain a deeper understanding of the people and institutions that make Madison strong. I have also volunteered at local festivals and with other community organizations. I value the connections I’ve made in Madison and the opportunity to contribute to the community in meaningful ways.
How will you use your skills and experience to further the mission and vision of the Co-op?
My experience in economic and community development gives me a perspective that can be useful as the Co-op navigates real tensions: keeping the business financially strong and products accessible while supporting local producers, maintaining environmental commitments, and investing in the community.
I have spent my career working across sectors and bringing people with different priorities together to find practical solutions. As a Board member, I would bring that perspective to questions of affordability, sustainability, local sourcing, and the Co-op’s role in the community. I don’t think these goals are mutually exclusive, but they require thoughtful choices and a willingness to look at the bigger picture.
Benjamin Becker
Summary Statement
I am a long-time cooperator and former Willy Street employee with over 15 years of experience in strengthening the local and regional food system. I’m excited to bring my background and expertise to the service of our cooperative and its members.
Why are you interested in running for the Willy Street Co-op Board of Directors?
Having spent a decade as a Willy Street Co-op employee working closely with the Board of Directors, the General Manager, and senior staff as Executive Assistant and Project Manager, I have a depth of experience to draw from in serving our co-op. I believe it is essential to serving our co-op and our mission that our directors can navigate the complexities of governance and the fiduciary responsibilities of this position. I will prioritize continued dedication to equity and diversity; fiscal, social, and environmental sustainability; making sure the co-op is a great place to work while keeping staff safe; ensuring that the co-op is a place where all owners feel they can shop; and, most importantly, engaging with our members and community.
How have you been active in our local community?
I’ve continued to support our cooperative by volunteering on Willy Street’s Board Development Committee because having a great co-op requires great board members with access to knowledge, training, and resources. I am dedicated to the well-being of our community and have enjoyed volunteering with CSA Fairshare, on the Friends of Lake Wingra Board, and as a team leader with the UW-Arboretum. In my professional career, I have continued to promote sustainability and resilience as a professional in conservation, agriculture, and food systems. Amongst other successes, I led the establishment of WI’s State Food Security Grant in 2025, creating relief for those impacted by the loss of SNAP while strengthening our state’s food supply chain.
How will you use your skills and experience to further the mission and vision of the Co-op?
As a former staff member who worked closely with our Board, I bring a unique perspective and experience that I can leverage to serve our cooperative’s mission. I am well-versed in our governance model and how it works. My professional and co-op background will allow me to hit the ground running in driving forward the vision and taking on the fiduciary responsibilities that come with stewarding our co-op. As a Green MBA, I have the financial and business acumen to support operations and keep our co-op thriving and accessible. As the co-op’s project manager, I led the charge on sustainability initiatives, promoted DEI practices, and built relationships with staff and customers. I will continue to champion these priorities as a board member.
Bethany Matson
Summary Statement
Community, connection, and belonging matter deeply to me. I believe in investing in our neighbors, supporting local communities, and creating spaces where everyone has a voice and an opportunity to thrive.
Why are you interested in running for the Willy Street Co-op Board of Directors?
As a human rights advocate, I believe access to safe, nutritious food is an inalienable human right, and I am deeply invested in ensuring that everyone has meaningful access to it. I am interested in helping the Co-op remain financially and operationally strong while continuing to ask important questions about accessibility, affordability, employee and Owner experience, community partnership, and support for local producers. I would be excited to contribute my experience in governance, strategic planning, organizational change, and community engagement while also listening to and learning from fellow Board members, employees, Owners, and community partners.
How have you been active in our local community?
Community and public service have been consistent threads throughout my professional and volunteer life. My entire professional career has been in public service and non-profits, working with children and families, people experiencing behavioral health needs, and community members navigating public systems.
Beyond my professional roles, I have volunteered at numerous organizations and events, including YWCA, Rape Crisis Center, and as a community co-chair for UW-Madison’s annual Racial Justice conference. I see service not simply as representing a community, but as listening to it, being accountable to it, and helping create opportunities for people to shape decisions that affect them.
How will you use your skills and experience to further the mission and vision of the Co-op?
I would bring a collaborative and curious approach to Board service. I am comfortable asking difficult questions, working through conflict, considering data alongside lived experience, and balancing immediate needs with long-term organizational health. I believe I can bring a perspective that can help the Board support a Co-op that remains sustainable, responsive, supportive, and deeply connected to the community.
Glen Reichelderfer
Summary Statement
Been a WS Coop member since 1983. 25+ years on the Luke House Board. 3+ years on the Wil-Mar Board. For 26+ years- a member of La Samaritaine (a housing Coop) using consensus decision making. Adept at process. 3+ years on the WS Coop CRF committee.
Why are you interested in running for the Willy Street Co-op Board of Directors?
We have lived on Williamson Street for the past 43+ years. My family has personally seen WS Coop grow in front of our eyes. From a single store front to the Eagle’s Club (FYI-I bowled there back in the day) renovation to 3 stores now, we have seen it become not just another “natural” food store but become a force for bringing healthy food to more and more people. Willy Street East is one of my happy places. It is a joy to see how WS Coop values what I value- respect, inclusivity and diversity. I would be honored to help guide WS Coop into a future that embraces more fully those values (respect, inclusivity and diversity) while bringing healthy food to other areas in the greater Madison area.
How have you been active in our local community?
Director of Port Saint Vincent de Paul 16+ years. (1985-2001)
23+ years on the Luke House Board. (1984- 2007)
3+ years on the Wil-Mar Board. Chaired the hiring committee for Gary Kallas- years ago.
For 26+ years- a member of La Samaritaine (a housing Coop) using consensus process for decisions.
3+ years on the WS Coop CRF committee.
Associate Minister at Christ Presbyterian Church 2002- 2017. (Lots of community outreach and committee work there.)
How will you use your skills and experience to further the mission and vision of the Co-op?
Because I was part of the weekly meeting of La Samaritaine Coop, I am skilled at group process.
I know how to listen carefully, how to clarify, how to remind people to stay on track. Sometimes personal feelings can erupt which can derail a meeting due to a values conflict. I have experience in respectfully working through that part of a group process.
I am open to hearing new perspectives and learning more about an industry that is at the forefront of societal change.
I know how to function on a Board level. I have enjoyed being a member of the WS Coop CRF committee and desire to take my participation in WS Coop to the next level.
Mary Bechtol
Summary Statement
I’m a stay-at-home parent and will represent the perspective of families on a budget. Purchasing natural foods and attending community programming at the Co-op shouldn’t feel like a splurge, it should feel like you’re investing in a healthier future.
Why are you interested in running for the Willy Street Co-op Board of Directors?
Being a member of the Co-op has turned errands into experiences for me and my family. When our kids were babies, sometimes getting to the store and back was the big event of the day. From the free piece of fresh fruit to the coloring sheets and the kid-sized carts, these small details reinforce a sense of welcome belonging to families. I’ve been a stay-at-home parent for the past five years and care deeply about giving back to the community of which we are a part. I am running for Board of Directors because I care about ensuring the long-term health of the Co-op. Owners know that it is more than a grocery store: it is a cornerstone of Madison that represents the vision for a cooperative and just society.
How have you been active in our local community?
I constantly seek ways to connect with people across my community. When I don’t know something, I invest time and energy into learning about it and prioritize sharing those findings with others. For example, the desire to know more about policing in Middleton led me to complete the Citizens’ Academy through our local Police Department. This same curiosity coupled with the willingness to learn led me to apply for city committees. I am in my second year serving on Middleton’s Public Works and Conservancy Lands Committees. I am energized by advocating on behalf of people and causes. I was raised in a military family where public service was our ethos; I proudly serve as Secretary to our local Auxiliary to William “Sonny” Simon VFW Post 8216.
How will you use your skills and experience to further the mission and vision of the Co-op?
My experiences as an active pedestrian and parent of young kids led me to recognize a very real problem for patrons of Willy West (and other businesses in Middleton’s Parkwood Plaza) – the lack of a safe pedestrian access point from Park Street to the Co-op’s shared business frontage. Over the past year, I was in contact with the Co-op GM about creating a curb cut so that vulnerable users have a safe way to get from the sidewalk to the business frontage. I am proud to say that due to shared efforts, action is currently being taken on this small yet crucial infrastructure project. As a driven neighbor with the willingness to see projects through, I will employ data gathering and communication skills to further the Co-op’s mission and vision.
Meagan Vargas
Summary Statement
I bring previous co-op board experience and 20+ years in leadership, public service, policy, and operations. I hope to put that experience to work for Owners while helping Willy Street Co-op strengthen our community and local economy.
Why are you interested in running for the Willy Street Co-op Board of Directors?
I have seen firsthand how a strong cooperative can strengthen both its Owners and the community it serves. As a former Bloomingfoods Co-op Board member, including service on its Finance and Annual Meeting Committees, I gained valuable experience in cooperative governance and developed an even greater appreciation for the cooperative model. I am running because I want to bring that experience, together with more than 20 years in leadership, public service, policy, and operations, to Willy Street Co-op. I would be honored to help protect what makes the Co-op special while thoughtfully planning for its future and ensuring it remains a strong, sustainable community institution.
How have you been active in our local community?
Service has been a consistent thread throughout my life. In addition to serving on the Bloomingfoods Co-op Board and its Finance and Annual Meeting Committees, I have volunteered with the USO for more than a decade and have been involved with the VFW Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary, Elks, and sorority alumnae organizations. Professionally, my work in university communities has placed me in roles requiring collaboration with students, employees, local officials, public safety agencies, contractors, and vendors. I also make a point of visiting cooperatives when I travel, learning how other communities support local businesses and put cooperative values into practice.
How will you use your skills and experience to further the mission and vision of the Co-op?
tI would bring a combination of cooperative governance and more than 20 years of leadership, policy, operations, and project management experience. My career has included serving the White House and federal and state government, managing large university residential operations, drafting policy, navigating regulatory requirements, overseeing budgets and complex projects, and bringing diverse stakeholders together to solve problems. Those experiences taught me to listen, ask difficult questions, evaluate information carefully, and remain accountable for decisions. Combined with my previous co-op board experience, I can contribute immediately as Willy Street advances a sustainable, accessible and equitable food system.
Mike Engel
Summary Statement
Former Co-op Board Member & Vice President who collaborated on our West, North, and off-site kitchen expansions, I will reinvest my cooperative knowledge. I bring strong skills in Policy Governance, agriculture, and budgets.
Why are you interested in running for the Willy Street Co-op Board of Directors?
I am running to ensure our Co-op remains a resilient, community owned alternative during an important financial cycle. Serving on the Opportunities Committee that developed our West, North, and production kitchen sites gave me a deep personal stake in their success, and I want to return to the board to see these locations thrive. That foundational work taught me that collective vision requires active listening to members and community. I am personally motivated to bring this consensus driven leadership to our board as we collaboratively resolve structural budget deficits and optimize operations across our cooperative over the next three fiscal years, ensuring we remain financially stable, equitable, and whole.
How have you been active in our local community?
My community work is about listening to neighbors and supporting our local food system. Serving as a board member and President of my neighborhood association, I focused on bringing people together to solve local safety issues, and build a stronger, more connected community. For example, I collaborated with a local artist to create four unique park benches crafted completely from salvaged materials, including wood from trees in a neighboring park.
Beyond neighborhood work, I have spent over twenty years building relationships with Wisconsin farmers to help them protect their soil, water, and land, while volunteering locally to restore native pollinator and other wildlife habitat.
How will you use your skills and experience to further the mission and vision of the Co-op?
My fiscal management of federal agreements and grant budgets will support the board’s work in monitoring operating budgets and reversing deficits. Seven years of board service means an immediate understanding of how to respect the boundaries between oversight and operations, ensuring our work remains focused on our mission and vision. My background as a neighborhood association president gives me the knowledge of gathering community input, balancing neighborhood interests, and channeling local voices into decisions.
Finally, a career built on finding common ground will help the board navigate complex owner priorities such as retail affordability with fair compensation for local suppliers.
Om Devi Malla
Summary Statement
27 years of working experience in the cooperative sector from primary level to national level in Nepal . Worked as chairperson in the National cooperative Federation of Nepal (NCF) and also as a ICA Board of Director at global level.
Why are you interested in running for the Willy Street Co-op Board of Directors?
I am interested in running for the Willy Street Co-op Board of directors because I care deeply about the success and long term sustainability of our co-op. I believe that serving on the board would give me an opportunity to represent the interests of members, support in decision making and help ensure that the co-op continues to operate in a transparent, financially responsible and member focused manner. I am committed to work collaboratively with other Board members and management to strengthen the co-op and create value for all members. As a Board member, I value the services and benefits the co-op provides and would like to contribute to its growth and effective governance.
How have you been active in our local community?
I have moved to the USA from Nepal in September 2025 and living in Madison since July 20, 2026 with my family. Yes, i had been active in local community through volunteering. participating in community events and supporting local initiatives whenever possible in Nepal. I believe that being involved in the community helps me better understand needs and concerns of our local community. Through my 27 years of experiences, I have developed a greater appreciation for collaboration, communication and community service. I would bring these values to the co-op Board of Directors and work to ensure to use my passion for the benefit of my local community in Madison as well.
How will you use your skills and experience to further the mission and vision of the Co-op?
I worked in cooperative sector for 27 years starting from primary cooperatives to district level union and national apex organization of Nepal (NCF). I have experience of working as chairperson of NCF where i had successfully implemented laws and bylaws of cooperative to achieve mission, vision and objective of cooperative movement of Nepal. Addition to this I had also worked in principal and identity committee of ICA as a Board of Directors successfully. I make you sure these skill and experience which i had acquired, would be beneficial for achievement of mission and the vision of the Willy co-op.
