2026 Board Candidate
Rich Potvin
How many hours per month could you realistically commit to board work, including meetings and committee tasks?
4-6 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.
Growing up in a farming community and near the Burnett Dairy I have seen the co-operative model as friends were member owners. Personally I have been a member of a sporting goods co-op for 20+ years. The concept of member owners has also been part of my career as I spent a number of years working for a credit union.
Please share an example of supporting local food, sustainability, or community initiatives.
Over the years I have been involved in the community on various boards and volunteer opportunities. I have been a board member of Polk County Kinship, Rotary Club of St Croix Falls, Crosswalk Community Church, the Frederic Chamber of Commerce and part of the steering committee for the Frederic Grocery Co-op. Being part of a small community I feel it is important to give my time when I am able to help keep the community strong.
What do you see as the biggest challenges facing a grocery co-op, and how would you approach them?
Initial funding for the grocery co-op to be able to purchase the store and get it off the ground will be the biggest challenge that I can see. Community awareness and communicating the need for membership is an issue that will require immediate attention. Getting in front of as many people as possible is key and more events are needed as soon as possible to raise funds. More cooperation with community ed and any other local organizations will be key to getting the funding needed to get the co-op functioning.
If you joined the board, what would you hope to contribute to the co-op’s long-term vision?
Being able to see the big picture without ignoring details is a key skill that I feel I have as well as working together with board members has been a strength I feel would help with the long term vision/needs for the the co-op. Cooperation and unity of purpose on a board is critical to organizational success.
Have you worked with budgets, financial statements, audits, HR, legal, operations, or project management? If yes, please describe.
Yes. In my board roles throughout the years I have helped with development of budgets, presenting the budget to members of the organizations and communicating needs as they arise.
How do you approach decision-making when there is financial or operational risk?
Cautiously. Decisions made can have both short and long term implications and I prefer to see conservative projections to help in making decisions.
Do you have any experience in start ups, self-driving fundraising or organizing large fund raising efforts? If yes, please describe.
I do not have a lot of fundraising experience but am willing to help at events to help with awareness and member enrollment. One thing that I have been able to be successful with is making connections between organizations and those that may have the ability and desire to help with the mission.
Please share an example of disagreeing with a group decision and how you handled it.
Since everyone comes into situations from different backgrounds and experiences it is important to not discount the thoughts or ideas of others. It has always been my practice find a way to come to resolve differences when there are disagreements as long as the ultimate goal of the organization is not compromised. Sometimes the best way for that to happen is to table an issue, if possible, to give all involved time to consider the situation. Quite often the differences are able to be resolved when I have had a chance to back away and look at it with fresh eyes.
How do you balance advocating for your perspective with supporting collective decisions?
It is important to be able to hear all points of view and have input from all involved. As long as the ultimate decision is in the best interest of the organization I can support it as long as all perspectives have been heard and considered in a respectful manner.
How would you help attract new members or volunteers?
By helping others to understand the need to keep an affordable grocery option that is locally owned and operated. It is about more than just the success of the co-op. Keeping our community vibrant is important so that it is a place that people want live and shop. Having a local option for healthy, quality food is a key part of keeping Frederic a place that people want to live.
Do you have local networks or connections that could support the co-op’s growth?
Yes. Having lived and worked in the area for many years there are many connections that may be able to leveraged to help with growth of the co-op.
How do you approach learning new skills or responsibilities outside your expertise?
Look to others that have experience as well as asking questions and reading what I can to help me get comfortable with new skills and responsibilites.
Are you comfortable asking for guidance when needed?
Yes.
Have you faced an ethical dilemma in a volunteer or professional role?
If so, how did you resolve it?
There was a time when I was on another board that there was a contract with a member that had terms favorable to the organization and when there was an economic change a proposal was made to renegotiate now that the terms were no longer as attractive as in the past. In the end it was determined that even though it was not easy after deliberation it was decided that the agreement needed to be honored because it was the right thing to do.
What would you do if you suspected a board member or staff member was not acting in the co-op’s best interest?
Rather than letting things fester I have always felt that the first step is to talk to the person to get their perspective on what has happened. Sometimes they do not realize that their behavior is having negative consequences. If the behavior is not altered then it needs to be brought to the board for resolution before the situation has negative results for the organization or causes a loss of unity of purpose for the co-op.
Is there anything else you would like us to know about you?
Only that I feel very strongly that we need to keep local ownership in the grocery store to insure that it will be a service to the community for the foreseeable future.