Our wonderful store wouldn’t be complete without the quirky personalities of the employees who work at the Food Cooperative. Our amazing staff dedicates their hearts and souls to providing the best customer service possible. If you are interested in joining our spectacular team please fill out an application.
Below are some short descriptions of the wonderful people who make up our team!
Chris Coen
- Nickname/Title at Co-op: Management team member! Produce buyer! Nickname: “poofybuns” based on an Ingrained Bakery Product—really!
- Education: B.S. in Biology from University of Michigan, concentration in water quality. 24 years working in Co-ops! (AKA “school of co-ops)
- Why do you love the co-op/Why do you work here?: I love everything about the co-op! Small, intimate, friendly, community-based, not-for-profit and bulk oriented. I love to cook and to talk food, and to help folks find just what they’re looking for!
- If you were a vegetable/fruit, what would you be and why: Are you kidding? This is like asking a mother to choose favorites amongst her children.
- Favorite co-op product: Ela Family Farms (Hotchkiss, CO) ripe peach in season!
- Other fun facts about you: Loves: spending time with my best friend/husband Rick, my ancient kitties, cooking, hiking, Japanese puzzles, meditation
Stephanie Bublitz
- Nickname/Title at the Co-op: Management Team Member, Cheese/Bodycare/Supplements/Management Team
- Place of Origin: I’m a local!
- Education: B.S. in Political Science from Colorado State University
- Why do you love the Co-op/Why do you work here?: So many reasons! The Co-op Community is amazing! Also, I love that I get to live my values here everyday.
- If you were a vegetable/fruit, what would you be and why: An heirloom tomato because I’m old school.
- Favorite downtime hobbies: Anything that lets me play in the dirt such as gardening or hiking. Also, cooking and making crafty things!
Zack Steffel
- Place of Origin: Wisconsin
- Education: B.S. in Psychology from University of Wisconsin-Platteville
- Why do you love the Co-op/Why do you work here?: Not to sound cliché, but this is one of the only jobs that I can say we’re family, not just “like family”
- If you were a vegetable/fruit, what would you be and why: I would be a watermelon radish because they’re awesome and a little bit spicy
- Favorite downtime hobbies: Music, bass/guitar, home-brewing beer, cigars (the good ones, not the gas station cigars), hiking, bicycling, cuddling with my cat Coco.
- Other fun facts about you: I’m a huge fan of the NHL team the Philadelphia Flyers. “But Zack, you’re from Wisconsin, why the flyers?” Oddly enough, Wisconsin doesn’t have an NHL team. My uncle, who introduced me to hockey, got me a hockey videogame with John LeClaire on the cover and they have been my team ever since.
Samuel Clark
- Nickname/Title at the Co-op: Social Media Coordinator
- Place of Origin: Jackson, NJ, home of the best pork roll sandwich you’ll ever have in your life.
- Education: B.A. in English & an M.F.A. in creative writing.
- Why do you love the Co-op/Why do you work here?: I visited the co-op on my first day here in Fort Collins and saw the basket of free pronoun buttons up front. From that point on, I knew that I needed to work here.
- If you were a vegetable/fruit, what would you be and why: Sugar snap peas, because I’m better raw than boiled.
- Favorite downtime hobbies: Reading, writing, lurking in coffee shops – all the cliché English major things.
- Other fun facts about you: I’m the queer trans witch Tucker Carlson warned you about.
Torrey Egan
- Nickname/Title at the Co-op: Torrey/Tor
- Place of Origin: Arvada, CO
- Education: I’m working on getting my B.A. in Environmental Sociology
- Why do you love the Co-op/Why do you work here?: I love the inclusivity, equity, and local nature of the co-op.
- If you were a vegetable/fruit, what would you be and why: Garlic, because I can be spicy but versatile.
- Favorite downtime hobbies: Cooking, reading, hiking, skiing, and hanging with my dogs!
- Other fun facts about you: I was born on Friday the 13th in October on a full moon . . . with red hair! And then it grew out blonde.
Damon Gonzales
- Nickname/Title at the Co-op: Damon
- Place of Origin: Old Town Lafayette, CO
- Education: High school diploma, and am currently majoring in math & science at FRCC.
- Why do you love the Co-op/Why do you work here?: I love the sense of community!
- If you were a vegetable/fruit, what would you be and why: I would be a plum. They’re one of the more goth/vampire-esq fruits out there, I think.
- Favorite downtime hobbies: Creating art with a multitude of mediums, as well as playing the piano, guitar, and drums.
- Other fun facts about you: I like taking naps outside. If you haven’t napped in a pile of leaves . . . I highly recommend it.
Katelyn Wagner
- Place of Origin: Great Bend, KS
- Education: I’m currently in high school.
- Why do you love the Co-op/Why do you work here?: I love the community! Everyone is amazing. We have great goals and values here. My co-workers make working here so fun.
- If you were a vegetable/fruit, what would you be and why: Kiwi, because Damon said I was.
- Favorite downtime hobbies: Reading, writing, running, walks with friends, hanging out with my amazing dog and sisters.
Elizabeth Radman
- Place of Origin: Fort Collins, CO
- Education: I’m currently an undergrad at CSU.
- Why do you love the Co-op/Why do you work here?: I just love the atmosphere and the people it attracts.
- If you were a vegetable/fruit, what would you be and why: A kumquat, because I’m a bitter, spiteful person on the outside, but inside I’m really sweet (or I try to be, at least).
- Favorite downtime hobbies: Bass guitar, contemplating the downfall of my enemies.
- Other fun facts about you: My favorite color is orange (controversially).
Jecca Bennett
- Nickname/Title at the Co-op: Bulk, Herb, Coffee & Tea Buyer
- Place of Origin: The Land of Diamonds
- Education: Duel Degree: B.S. in Human Dietetics & Integrative Medicine
- Why do you love the Co-op/Why do you work here?: I love the ethos of a co-op, and I love working with everyone here.
- If you were a vegetable/fruit, what would you be and why: Mustard Greens . . . seems fitting for a southern girl?
- Favorite downtime hobbies: Fiber crafts
- Other fun facts about you: I own two stinkin’ adorable cats: Cat & Minnie.