2025 Election

Democracy is at the heart of our co-op’s organizational structure. As an owner, you have a voice in the governance and direction of your co-op!

Meet this year’s board candidates

This year there are eight candidates running for four seats on the board of directors. The board oversees the governance of the co-op and hires and oversees the general manager. They are also tasked with supervising financial conditions and sharing the co-op vision to best serve all owners. Each board member serves a three-year term. Review the candidate bios below, then cast your ballot for your top four choices.

Karin Broecker Smith

Strategic Account Executive, Microsoft

Owner since 2018

Incumbent

Thank you! It has been an absolute pleasure serving on the Lakewinds Board for the past three years. I’ve met so many wonderful people — staff, members — and learned a tremendous amount about our local food system. I would welcome the opportunity to serve an additional term on the board.

Local food has been core to my life — with large family gardens and a small, family-owned cheese factory. I am familiar with the grit and perseverance necessary to sustain the local food movement. I would like to continue to find ways to support local growers, makers and farmers to serve our community.

Steve Caster

Retired Human Resources Director

Owner since 2023

I am interested in serving on the Lakewinds board as a longtime member of Lakewinds. Lakewinds is a treasured member of the Twin Cities community and has unique relationships with local farmers that help create and nurture a thriving natural food environment.

I have served on numerous Boards, including Lakewinds in the early 2000s, when we expanded from one store to two locations. In my career, I worked as a health benefits consultant with a number of large employers. This has helped me to understand the nature of working with various stakeholders to bring about solutions.

I believe Lakewinds faces some challenges in a very difficult cost environment. Most retail organizations do. Lakewinds has some specific advantages with relationships with local growers and producers and a well-developed bulk foods aisle, for example. None of us know how economic policies may impact Lakewinds, but it behooves us to plan as much as we can and to play to our strengths when possible.

I would love to work with the Board to ensure that Lakewinds is well positioned to thrive and grow in a very difficult economic climate.

Denise Holtz

Executive Consultant, Navigate Forward

Owner since 2008

Denise has over 20 years of experience in marketing and finance within the food manufacturing and retail industries. She is currently a consultant and coach, guiding executive career transitions. Her understanding of food production and the power of community began with her roots on her family’s 5th-generation farm in west central Minnesota. She gained knowledge of grocery store operations through a summer job during college, where she stocked shelves, bagged groceries, and was a cashier. Denise’s food industry knowledge deepened during her professional career with General Mills, where she worked across various products and channels, including grocery and other retail, as well as industrial and food away-from-home.

Denise values Lakewinds’ green mindset, including a love for local, organic, and a commitment to renewable energy. She researches her purchases, prioritizing sustainability, ingredient safety, and transparency, and supports B Corps and the circular economy whenever possible. She enjoys Lakewinds’ community environment and engaging staff and very much appreciates the allergen transparency for her family. With a strong background in finance, marketing, and consulting, as well as experience serving on nonprofit boards, Denise offers valuable skills and broad acumen to contribute to Lakewinds’ board of directors.

Jack Huerter

Partner, Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Owner since 2018

Incumbent

I hope to continue serving on the Lakewinds board of directors because of my deep commitment to the cooperative movement and its principles, which I developed during years of public service in food and ag policy. I also believe my experience as the Co-Chair of the Cooperative Law Practice Group at the Dorsey & Whitney law firm will make an asset to the board.

In my current work, I help co-ops fix problems and take advantage of opportunities. I previously worked as an ag policy advisor to United States Senator Heidi Heitkamp and at the USDA during the Obama administration alongside an amazing team of cooperative movement devotees. These experiences gave me a deep understanding of our food system and its economics, which I will bring to my service on the board.

Lastly, Lakewinds is poised for continued success, and I would be honored to continue to help chart our co-op’s course. As a director, my priorities would be to (1) deliver exceptional value to our owner-members, (2) emphasize our co-op’s strong commitment to local, sustainable, and organic food; and (3) ensure our co-op continues to be a place that attracts a talented team.

Watchen Marshall-Campbell

Contracting Navigator, Hennepin County

Owner since 2020

As a breast cancer survivor, my healing journey brought me to Lakewinds. I started shopping here as a way to support my body through juicing and healthy, organic foods. As I became a weekly shopper, what I found was more than nourishment — I found a community co-op rooted in values that align with my own.

I bring over 14 years of experience working in local government, supporting small businesses and nonprofits. My work centers on identifying priorities that reflect the voices and needs of the communities they serve. I also run a consulting business that helps mission-driven organizations tell their stories and secure funding through grant writing and program development.

Lakewinds’ commitment to high-quality food, local farmers, and cooperative values resonates with me. As a board member, I would bring a community-centered perspective, a collaborative approach, and a strong understanding of how to align vision with meaningful impact. I’d be honored to support and shape the future of a place that played a role in my own healing — and continues to nourish others.

Cindy Nelson-Kaigama

Founder, Healing Virtue LLC

Owner since 2009

Lakewinds was a great support to my family during one of the most difficult seasons of my life. While I was caregiving for my husband whose life ended as a result of cancer, serving in a leadership role at a large pediatric health system, and parenting my two children, I was able to purchase quality food, and the store served as a type of temporary respite. That personal connection gives me deep insight into the real-life challenges customers face. I bring a unique ability to listen with empathy, connect authentically, and apply human-centered design to improve systems and experiences. My professional expertise in community and public health, strategic partnerships, and food access initiatives complement this lived experience. I understand how food and community intersect to promote healing, and I want to ensure Lakewinds continues to be a place of friendly faces, nourishment, and a local gathering spot for people to not just purchase food but cultivate relationships that increase connectedness. As a board member, I will champion community voice, drive innovation, and contribute to strategies that foster sustainable growth and a strong, compassionate brand.

Pam Werley

Recipe Developer & Content Creator

Owner since 1999

Incumbent

As a longtime Lakewinds member, food lover, and local food advocate, I’m excited to seek a second term on the Board of Directors. I’ve proudly represented you and helped launch Let’s Connect, an annual event that strengthens community ties and deepens board relationships through themes like outreach, co-op education, and connecting owners with local farmers and makers. I bring a blend of business leadership and food-centered community engagement to the board. I led customer strategy for multi-billion-dollar divisions as a Global Market and Customer Insights Leader at 3M. Today, I follow my food passion through Our Table 4 2, teaching cooking classes, and serving as Volunteer Coordinator for Normandale House, supporting families moving from housing instability to independence. Through it all, I remain grounded in what Lakewinds stands for: nourishing people and communities through local, sustainable food. I see my role as representing you — engaging in conversations and championing the in-store experience that matters in these changing times. If re-elected, I’ll continue bringing energy, creativity, open ears, and a deep belief in co-ops’ power to build strong, connected communities.

Jennifer Wilson

Senior Development Specialist, Polaris

Owner since 2021

I’m interested in serving on the Lakewinds Board of Directors because I share your passion for healthy, sustainable food. I care about where my food comes from, what’s in it, and how it fuels me. Food is not only fuel, it’s comfort, connection, and culture.

Professionally, I bring over a decade of experience in leadership development, organizational communication, learning/training, and strategic thinking. I have a master’s degree in Organizational Communication and currently work in talent management and leadership development, helping organizations align strategy with people and culture.

I’m passionate about meeting people where they are in their learning — especially when it comes to food. Whether someone is just starting to explore healthier options or already deeply invested in local, organic choices, I’d love to support efforts that help customers feel informed, welcomed, and inspired.

My husband and I joined Lakewinds in 2021 never knowing the impact this place would have on our health, routine, mindset, and life. As a board member, I would bring a customer-focused perspective, a strong commitment to Lakewinds’ values and long-term success, and a passion for food.

Cast your ballot

In-store and online voting will be available Sept. 1-13, 2025, and from 1 to 1:10 pm at our Annual Meeting at Gale Woods Farm on Sunday, Sept. 14.

Click here to cast your ballot online.

Troubleshooting

Can’t log in to cast your vote? Your address may be outdated in our system. First, you can try an old address’ ZIP code. If that does not work, please contact us at marketing@lakewinds.coop by 5 pm on Sept. 12, or by visiting the customer service desk at one of the stores.