Luke Schell came to our co-op in February 2023 as a turnaround manager. He was scheduled to be here for approximately 3 months. The staff at the store had some real concerns and hesitations because of prior consultants. Upon his arrival, we immediately met with someone who not only had the experience we needed but had a great personality and really took an interest in what the co-op was doing. He set out to first understand where the store was, what the store was lacking, and where it needed to change to grow and continue to operate. He created an easy-to-understand action plan, that included input from the entire staff, but also met with our board’s approval. Not only did he take input from everyone, but he observed and worked alongside the staff to evaluate the operations, staff challenges, and areas of opportunity. Once the plan of action was created, he led the way to accomplish the tasks at hand, regardless of if it was store cleanup (from dumpsters to cleaning chemicals), or financial reports, budgeting, or connecting the staff to other professionals where and when needed. Luke made a significant impact, not only on the operations of the store but on the morale of our entire team. He led by example, worked 6 days per week and it wasn’t long before he became part of our family. I can honestly say he has been the best consultant that I have ever worked with. In the end, he provided us with exactly what was needed to change, start to grow, and continue to operate. If Luke asked me to come work with him, I wouldn’t hesitate. He is truly missed!

Joe Doura, Interim General Manager, Urban Greens Co-Op