2026 Board Candidate
John Swedberg
How many hours per month could you realistically commit to board work, including meetings and committee tasks?
6-8 Hours
Are there any times of year when your availability might be limited? If yes, please explain.
No
How familiar are you with cooperative principles and the member-owned model? Please explain.
My experience has been what I have learned from attending 2 community meetings and doing my own research. It is limited, however with my state policy experience in the state of MN, I feel like i can navigate Wisconsin's cooperative legislation effectively.
Please share an example of supporting local food, sustainability, or community initiatives.
My community initiatives are tied with my personal hobby.
I am regularly contacted and have made products for fundraising for, Cushing community club, Minnesota deer hunters association (Isanti county chapter) humane society of Burnett County, polar plunge for special Olympics MN, invisible wounds project MN etc.
What do you see as the biggest challenges facing a grocery co-op, and how would you approach them?
Figuring out ways to make local products available and affordable to local residents.
Its easy to turn to big box stores to save a few dollars on a product, however doing that reduces local tax revenue and the ability for businesses to be able to give back to the community. My approach would be to try and volunteer my time and have fact based information about communities impacted by loss of food accessibility and to share that information with the community.
If you joined the board, what would you hope to contribute to the co-op’s long-term vision?
A way forward where reliance on big corporations is reduced.
As someone who has lived in communities that lost privately owned grocery stores, I know what disrepair looks like and have seen what it snowballs into.
I want to help shape a grocery store the community is proud to represent.
Have you worked with budgets, financial statements, audits, HR, legal, operations, or project management? If yes, please describe.
In my career I am not a project manager but I have managed workflow and delegated tasks appropriately while being actively engaged in those projects.
How do you approach decision-making when there is financial or operational risk?
With communication between involved parties and attempting to make felt like fact based decisions.
Do you have any experience in start ups, self-driving fundraising or organizing large fund raising efforts? If yes, please describe.
Not commercially. I’ve raised fairly respectable amounts for charities such as the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics in a very short amount of time based on my networking abilities.
Please share an example of disagreeing with a group decision and how you handled it.
In sept of 2025 I had a fairly large disagreement at my place of employment.
It involved a promotion I was unaware of and a large lack of leadership. I did not get the promotion and I sucked it up and moved on. I continue to work towards efficiency and profitability for my company.
How do you balance advocating for your perspective with supporting collective decisions?
Respectful communications is key.
That's why a majority rules collective is crucial.
I'm a very black and white viewing person, however I've been known to adjust my views based on a proper respectful debate
How would you help attract new members or volunteers?
By showing my personal energy and potentially using my traveling hobby to give it more exposure. (Board approved of course)
Do you have local networks or connections that could support the co-op’s growth?
Potentially using my vendor shows as a network.
How do you approach learning new skills or responsibilities outside your expertise?
By finding an adult. Haha
Or someone who knows what they are doing.
At work thats what my job is EVERY day.
With the world at our fingertips we can figure out how to do just about everything.
Are you comfortable asking for guidance when needed?
See previous question.
Have you faced an ethical dilemma in a volunteer or professional role?
If so, how did you resolve it?
As a previously successful correctional officer for the state of Minnesota, More times then I can count.
I try to lead with my track record of integrity.
While employed for the state of MN, if there were discrepancies in reports, and I was involved usually i would be contacted to provide my account of the situation. No matter the outcome I always took pride in the level of trust my peers and superior officers held about me.
What would you do if you suspected a board member or staff member was not acting in the co-op’s best interest?
Address the situation if immediately necessary, then follow steps outlined in policy. Notify the board.
Is there anything else you would like us to know about you?
I'm very straight forward, often known as blunt. I will always have the cooperatives best interest in mind, even if my delivery isn't the greatest. I am personally working on that. I have seen my community grocery store fail, and we weren't given the opportunity we have here. I want to believe in the kindness and closeness of this small community. It will take a lot of work, but Im ready to be an asset to make this cooperative a reality.