About the Ypsilanti Food Co-op's Board of Directors

It is the mission of the Ypsi Food Co-op to provide high quality food and goods, produced ecologically and sustainably, while practicing cooperative economics. Our membership owns the Co-op building and Co-op members comprise the Board of Directors which oversees its operation.  The Board ensures that the Co-op continues to provide excellent service and quality products, while fulfilling our commitment to the greater community. The Board members are volunteers who set long-term goals and policies for the Co-op and work regularly with the staff and general manager to ensure that the Co-op's health, stability and service to its member-owners and community remain in top notch shape.

2011 Board of Directors – Click on the name to read a bio.

•    Thomas Kula
•    Karin Keim
•    Jeff Clark
•    Mike Gelletly
•    Liz Dahl MacGregor
•    Paul Fisher
•    David Choberka

Thomas Kula is a native of Iowa who moved to Ypsilanti in 2006. He works as a programmer at the University of Michigan, where he sometimes likes to describe his job as “breaking computers so that others don't have to.”

In the past, Thomas has served on the steering committee of Time for Peace, a peace organization at Iowa State University; been a DJ at KURE (the ISU radio station); staff advisor for both the Ames Free Unix Group and Skateboarders Anonymous; and wrote the bylaws for the Central Iowa Linux Users Group.  Since moving to Michigan, in addition to serving on the YFC board, Thomas volunteers with Bike Ypsi and participated in the group that helped write our community’s non-motorized transportation plan.  He further volunteered to serve on the City of Ypsilanti’s Non-Motorized Transportation Advisory Committee; assisted in the creation of the Ann Arbor Bicycle Polo group; and helped organize the Shadow Art Fair. 

Otherwise Thomas likes spending his free time with photography, cinema, zines, drinking tea and wandering about.  Contact Thomas.

Karin Keim has been a long-term member of the Co-op, working and shopping here since 1983. She is married and has two children, Jon & Kait (both of whom “grew up at the Co-op”). Karin earned her CPA license in 1979 and worked at First Federal Savings & Loan, as well as several CPA firms.

Involvement with the Co-op has remained a constant for Karin on a variety of levels throughout the past 28 years: she has provided general office work, helped with inventory, on projects and events, provided accounting and financials for the Board of Directors, done fair shares management, and served on committees.  Working for the Co-op has allowed Karin to keep up with her computer and accounting skills, while still allowing her to spend time with her children as they were growing up.

Along with other long term member-directors, Karin brings organizational memory and continuity to the Board. Contact Karin.

Jeff Clark is originally from Oakland, California.  He has lived in Ypsilanti since 2005.  

He makes his living as a graphic designer. Contact Jeff.

Mike Gelletly is a Co-op fair share member, board member and resident of Ypsilanti. He is married, has two grown children and three grandchildren. Born and raised in Detroit, he moved to Ypsilanti to attend EMU in the fall of 1969 after completing three years active military service and acquiring enough transfer credits from a community college. He and his wife were active in the original “bag co-op” in the early 1970s that was the root of our current YFC.

While living in Ypsilanti, Mike worked as a Speech Therapist (now retired), served with the Ypsilanti Historic District commission, and continues to serve with Boy Scout Troop #290, and sings with the Ypsilanti Community Choir.

Mike first joined the Co-op’s board in 2000 and currently serves as its president. Contact Mike at 734-483-5458.

Liz Dahl MacGregor is an attorney that lives in Ypsilanti, is married, and has two young children.  She works as a part time Contract Attorney at Michigan Poverty Law Project and Parent Liaison for Washtenaw Success by 6.

Liz has been a member of the Ypsilanti Food Co-op since 2006, when she was expecting her first child. Motherhood has increased her concern about the state of the world we're creating for ourselves and our children. This has led her to become more interested in a sustainable lifestyle based on supporting the local economy and making healthy choices for her children and herself. Liz serves on the FSEP Food Policy Committee, which is working to develop a Washtenaw County Food Policy Council.

Prior to opening her practice as a licensed attorney, Liz worked for Growing Hope, an Ypsilanti non-profit dedicated to improving people's lives through gardening and healthy food access. Her goal is to make a living advocating for sustainable food policies and serving her neighbors’ legal needs.  She tries to be an active and involved member of the Ypsilanti community, although this is challenging with two small children demanding her attention. Contact Liz.

Paul Fisher is a homeowner and has lived in Ypsilanti for many years.  He has been a member of the Ypsilanti Food Coop for over 10 years.  He has spent five of those years serving on the YFC Board of Directors.  He is currently a special education teacher for the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools.

Paul spent 25 years in software development (20 of them in management) overseeing the development of products. This has meant involvement in finance, publicity, planning, etc.  His five years of on the Board in the past gives him a unique perspective and skills.  He believes strongly in the principles and goals of co-ops and wants to devote his volunteer time and effort to helping the YFC continue to succeed and grow. Contact Paul.

David Choberka lives with his partner, Erica, and daughter, Elektra, in the Normal Park neighborhood of Ypsilanti.  He teaches in the German Department of the University of Michigan.  He’s lived and commuted to Ann Arbor (by bus & bike) for 10 years and is a devoted customer of the YFC.  David’s family is dedicated to spending the bulk of their food dollars here—beyond what they can grow at home in their extensive garden and in their plot at the Recreation Park Community Garden. 

As an educator, researcher, writer, and gardener, David sees his role as bringing significant experience to the YFC’s mission to educate the community about local, healthy, natural, and sustainably produced food.  In addition to his dedication and knowledge about local food and food politics, David is interested in creative approaches to store layout, customer service, and marketing.  He wants to help make our Co-op the best it can be for its members, even as it becomes an increasingly important shopping option for the broader Ypsilanti community. Contact David.