Independent grocers and co-ops face formidable challenges to survival, from WalMart to dollar stores, while often lacking the resources they need. Columinate’s Jeanie Wells is providing these retail operations with essential skills and tools. At the June 2023 CCMA conference, Wells’ Mighty Community Markets (MCM) training program was held up to its national audience as an outstanding example of cooperative innovation and achievement. (Go to the link to view a presentation by Wells on the MCM program.)

Mighty Community Markets (MCM) provides a six-part Grocery Store Bootcamp remote learning program comprising essential training and tools that small grocers need to survive. The first MCM series in 2022 had over 100 participants. In 2023 the series will be offered twice, as well as offering a few topic-focused intensives that will be announced in the fall.

Previous CCMA award winners and a committee of co-op leaders choose a winner from the current year’s candidates for Cooperative Innovation and Achievement, based on program results and the testimony of its users. At the 2023 CCMA conference, before a large audience and added remote viewers, Mark Goehring and Michelle Schry were pleased to present this award to Jeanie Wells and Mighty Community Markets.

Wells joined the consulting co-op in 2009 and has had a wide impact over her 25-year career. Along with strong success in managing Community Mercantile in Lawrence, Kansas, Wells was a leader in developing regional and national co-op associations and currently is a member of the board of Food Co-op Initiative. This work became the springboard for national contributions through Columinate and its program for General Manager Leadership Development.

Following are statements from letters recommending MCM and Jeanie Wells for the 2023 Cooperative Innovation and Achievement award:

Jeanie’s class became an essential ingredient of the significant growth we’re experiencing in 2023…. Her online sessions were a balanced combination of data, visual references, student communication, and addressing specific answers for individual participant questions. She empowered students by assuring them that they can learn the grocery business, and then providing them with that opportunity with clear thinking strategies.

Brad Elliott, general manager, Dahlia & Sage Community Market in Cloverdale, California

Jeanie was there for me for so many challenges over the years: expansion, deli changes, leadership team development, Covid response, the list goes on and on…. She helps with humor but also frank honesty to help us be the best leadership team we could be.

Glen Lower, general manager, Middlebury Co-op in Vermont

I personally know of her passion for the issues facing small retailers (managers and staff), and her heartfelt commitment to offering support to these stores.  I hold her in great esteem as a gifted consultant and cooperator.

Kevin Edberg, Cooperative Development Services executive director

Jeanie Wells is a great grocer. She has it all… the passion, the “eye” to see it how the customer sees it, the understanding that grocery retail is a magic mix of food and service to people, a knack for listening, attention to detail, systems and organizational design. But Jeanie deserves high honors for her real super power: helping others succeed as great grocers, meeting their own full potential and empowering them to provide great food and service to their communities.

Mark Goehring, Columinate manager