All of us here at the Co-op are wishing a proud, fond farewell to Laurie Niles, who is leaving our Board of Directors after seven years of service. In that time, Laurie has been an absolute superstar. She's held just about every Board office--including president! Laurie's leadership and dedication wasn't limited to BOD meetings: she was always ready to volunteer for a project, to help lead Owner Meetings, to show up in the store to promote the Co-op, Board Activities, the Capital Campaign, and whatever else she was needed for.
Laurie helped guide the Co-op through many transitions and changes during her long tenure on the BOD. She was a rock-solid supporter to countless new Directors over the years and was a reliable source of institutional knowledge about the governance of the business. She helped lead CNFC through years of great growth and of challenging sales, of the Capital Campaign and COVID, of owner drives and customer surveys. Through it all, everyone in the community knew that Laurie had a deep knowledge and an infectious energy for everything Co-op.
Laurie's dedication to improving Chico goes beyond her role at the Co-op. She brings her resolute determination, genuine joy, and glowing enthusiasm to all her endeavors, from promoting cycling in Chico to running several garden programs at local schools. Anyone who has worked with Laurie on a project (and that's a lot of folks!) can vouch that she brings so much to the table. The Co-op has been blessed to have her on the Board for so many years, and we will continue to work hard in all aspects of the store to live up to the high standards she has set for us.
