Larger Ambitions for the Columinate Job Board
Changing careers can be one of the most stressful tasks we face as adults. So much of our identity is tied up in our work, and many of us want to find a job that reflects our values or that adds something back to the world. When you start looking at the multitudes of job postings that are out there, the variety of what is available can be overwhelming. The uncertainty of personal and cultural alignment makes knowing where to look for job postings a challenge. Columinate hopes to change that.
Interim General Manager Spotlight: Introducing Brandon Kane
New Columinate consultant Brandon Kane has areas of expertise that include business development and operational and financial improvement. He offers interim general manager (IGM) services and can help assess retail performance, including developing strategic plans for rapid implementation. Kane answered some questions about what brought him to Columinate and his areas of focus.
Interim General Manager Spotlight: Introducing Chris Morris
New Columinate consultant Chris Morris has diverse areas of expertise that include retail operations leadership, training and development, and merchandising. He can help co-ops looking for a culture and diversity champion or for community partnerships. Morris also has experience and knowledge in management transitions and the FDA Food Code. Chris Morris answered some questions about what brought him to Columinate and about his areas of focus.
Dana Tomlin: Helping the River Valley Co-op team
River Valley Co-op, located in western Massachusetts, opened its second location in the summer of 2021. Amid a raging global pandemic, debilitating supply disruptions, and unprecedented worker shortages, they were able to open the doors of the beautiful net-zero facility and welcome the residents of Easthampton. The co-op saw great success in its original location, growing sales to over $30M since opening their doors in 2008. However, weaknesses of the original location carried over to the challenges of launching a second store, and within a few months of opening the Easthampton location, General Manager Rochelle Prunty was looking for some help. Enter Dana Tomlin.
General Manager Development Program Instructor Spotlight: Audrey Griffin
Today, we are highlighting another one of our talented instructors of the General Manager Development Program, Audrey Griffin. Participants can still join Columinate’s General Manager Development Program for 2022. Through this program, new (or experienced) GMs develop the core grocery management skills they need to successfully lead their co-op. The program currently offers seven modules, covering topics ranging from financial metrics to marketing, all of which are taught by an experienced team of grocery retail experts. Audrey Griffin has been a Certified Public Accountant for nearly twenty years. Working primarily with cooperatives and nonprofit organizations, she offers services that include conducting assessments, delivering financial training for boards, preparing financial projects, and completing tax returns.
Mighty Community Markets: Tools for Small and Independent Grocers
“I’m on a mission to build strong stores.” —Jeanie Wells Having the right tools to succeed in retail is crucial if you want to survive—and it is doubly crucial if your store is at [...]
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: DEI Teams Can Set a Foundation for Success
Columinate Intercultural Facilitator Darin Short has worked with a range of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) committees, task forces, and teams across many sectors. Darin recently led a workshop, “Why Some Diversity Teams Succeed While Others Do Not” at the Thought Leadership conference in Elkhart, Indiana, in May. “No matter what setting you’re in, DEI is an emotional topic,” says Short. “We need to create safe spaces where people can express their emotions and can say exactly what they need to say with respect for the collective goal.”
General Manager Development Program Instructor Spotlight: Rebecca Torpie
The General Manager Development Program works with both new and experienced general managers (GMs) to develop the core grocery management skills they need to successfully lead their co-op. The program currently offers seven modules, all of which are taught by an experienced team of grocery retail experts. Throughout this summer, we'll be introducing each of the instructors in the program. Today, we are highlighting retail grocery marketing expert Rebecca Torpie.
What You Get by Subscribing to the Columinate Compensation Database
The Columinate Compensation Database is the fastest, easiest way to understand compensation practices at similarly sized stores and benchmark with your peers. Plus, National Co+op Grocers (NCG) members receive free access to the Columinate Compensation Database and Job Board as part of their membership.
Common Signs of Financial Distress for Co-ops
Businesses of all types encounter financial distress through many different factors such as rising supply costs, increased overhead, changing consumer demand, or inadequate capitalization. Here are four warning signs that every co-op board and management team should watch for to ensure that financial risks are recognized early and necessary changes are implemented quickly, allowing your co-op to achieve its goals: