2025 Candidates
Meet the candidates running for 3 open seats in 2025’s Election for the Board of Directors. Candidates are Co-op Members who work to represent the interests of the Co-op’s membership. Learn about each candidate running below.
Sam Conselman
Nice to see you again! My name is Samantha Conselman and for the past six years I’ve had the honor of serving on the Davis Food Co-op (DFC) Board. Today, I am asking for your vote for another three-year term so that I can help continue the great work the Board is doing. I am excited for and believe in the future of the DFC and want to continue to grow the DFC’s ability to meet our Ends, to serve as a community hub, and to be a model of a successful, vibrant, cooperatively run business.
I am uniquely qualified to take on this position based on my prior involvement with the DFC as Board president and having held positions on numerous Board committees. Looking ahead, I am excited to discuss expanding the Davis Food Co-op’s impact and how we can leverage the cooperative business model to support other businesses and entrepreneurs.
Outside of the DFC, I work as a Writer for the Integrated Pest Management program in UC Agriculture and Natural Resources. I enjoy coaching youth soccer for AYSO United Davis and perusing Davis’ bountiful parks and community events with my husband and dog. I love calling Davis home and am excited for the opportunity to serve on the Board again. If you have questions about any of the above please reach out to me at [email protected] for a conversation.
Yours cooperatively,
Samantha Conselman
Carolina Conte
I am excited to introduce myself as a candidate for the Board of Directors of our Davis Food Co-op. My passion for food, sustainability, and community-driven initiatives has led both my personal and professional journeys, and I would be honored to contribute to the success of this organization.
Originally from Panama, I moved to Davis in 2022 to pursue a PhD in Food Science, researching sustainable alternatives to toxic pesticides. Before that, I founded Panama’s first zero-waste store, working with local farmers to promote regenerative agriculture and connect consumers with the origins of their food. This experience deepened my commitment to sustainable food systems and strengthened my appreciation for the cooperative model.
My background uniquely qualifies me for this role. I bring a science-based perspective on sustainable agriculture, hands-on experience in food systems, and a deep understanding of business operations and community engagement. These skills align with the co-op’s mission to serve both people and the planet.
Since moving to Davis, the co-op has been an essential part of my life. My husband and I visit multiple times a week, benefiting from its high-quality food, sense of community, and environmental impact. I want to ensure that members continue to experience these benefits while welcoming new members into this vibrant space.
I would be honored to serve on the board and contribute my expertise and passion to the co-op’s continued success. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Kristin Kiesel
I am a proud member of and frequent shopper at the Davis Food Co-op. I am also an Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at UC Davis. My research focuses on the economics of food consumption with an emphasis on information effects and applications to labeling regulations and other policy interventions meant to promote healthier and more sustainable food choices. While my analyses primarily focus on developing a better understanding of consumer behavior, they also consider strategic firm responses and marketing opportunities for manufacturers or retailers.
Furthermore, I am strongly committed to excellence in both undergraduate and graduate teaching, striving to empower my students to think critically and creatively about the economic, social, and environmental challenges of our times. When advising both undergraduate and graduate students on their research and when teaching a variety of courses including a course on Cooperative Business Enterprises and Marketing, I create an active learning environment that extends beyond the classroom and embraces a constant role reversal of who is the learner and the expert on a specific subject matter. I would look forward to bringing research insights to life in my own community. It would be an honor to serve on the Board!
Tara Lu
By volunteering as a board member, I will leverage my personal passions and professional experiences to be a valuable contributor to the continual growth of the Davis Food Co-op.
The DFC has been an integral part of my life in Davis for over 25 years by being a favorite place to shop as a college student, being a provider of community events as a young professional, delivering cooking skills for my growing family, and continuing to be our favorite place to shop. It is truly a model for serving a community with sustainable and healthy products and community events.
My career trajectory has also focused on sustainability in communities by volunteering in the Peace Corps as an Integrated Pest Manager for small farms, working as a researcher developing agricultural products derived from nature, and by providing governance for quality business processes and systems for a global agricultural business. Through these career experiences, I have developed skills that will make me a valuable contributor to the co-op community: to collaboratively work to achieve goals, to coordinate people with diverse skills and abilities, and to deliver on a shared vision.
I am excited about the opportunity to bring passion and relevant skills to my community by becoming a more integral part of the Davis Food Co-op by becoming a board member.
Vince Ortiz
As a dedicated member and employee of the Davis Food Cooperative for the past 13 years, I’m seeking your support for my candidacy for the Board of Directors. My experience within the cooperative, including a previous term on the Board and active committee participation, has equipped me with an understanding of our operations, governance, and the unique challenges and opportunities we face.
I’m passionate about our mission of sustainable and ethical food practices, and I believe in the power of our community-owned model. If elected, I pledge to leverage my knowledge and skills to ensure the cooperative’s continued success, working collaboratively with fellow board members to guide our future growth and uphold our core values.
Your support would mean a great deal to me, and I’m confident that together we can build an even stronger cooperative for our community.
Luke Reynolds
I would appreciate your vote.
My day job is as a regional manager, managing my group’s operations across the western states. I have worked at my employer for over 26 years, including many years managing large teams (as first and second-level supervisor), and I’m a two-time winner of a national Manager of the Year award. I have also served as a contract oversight manager, overseeing millions of dollars of contracts. I am passionate about ethics, not just because it is part of my job, but because it is fundamental to trust and fairness.
While serving on boards, I have worked collaboratively to save tens of thousands of dollars and improve service. My past volunteer experience also includes serving as pro bono legal counsel, helping stand up a new farmers market, and fostering/volunteering with animal rescue groups.
I am a vegetarian and seek to buy local. Naturally, I greatly appreciate the Co-op being here.
I would explore how to future-proof the Co-op, including from digital competitors. We must continue to offer a compelling reason to travel for groceries instead of use an app for delivery. Agentic AI is here; are we ready. Just as we must guard against complacency, we must also guard against unrealistic ambition. I was a member of another co-op that ran into painful financial peril through once-alluring expansion.
That won’t be us. We will not just survive, we will thrive.
I will work to ensure the Co-op continues to be successful. Thank you for your consideration.
Lara Sozer
As current Treasurer, I am honored to run for another term on the Board of the Davis Food Co-op! Over the past two years, I have dedicated myself to ensuring the co-op’s financial health and future planning. Our co-op’s success is rooted in its mission to provide healthy, affordable, and local food to our community. If re-elected, I will continue our work of strengthening our long-term sustainability through our co-operative practices. A thriving co-op makes for a stronger Davis community.
Voting begins May 2nd!
Voting begins May 2nd! Members can vote online (check your email!) or in-store at the Customer Service Desk. Learn more about our Elections and Board of Directors below.