Management
Paula Harris, General Manager
Concord Cooperative Market & Kearsarge Cooperative Grocer
pharris@concordfoodcoop.coop
Paula brings more than 35 years of experience in the grocery store business, having held many positions over the years. Before she came to the Co-op, Paula was the Food Service Director of northeast Ohio's largest all natural food retailer, the Mustard Seed Market & Cafe. She majored in Interior Design at the University of Akron, and her artistic eye helps keep the Co-op looking great.
Paula has been serving as General Manager of the Concord Food Cooperative, Inc. since 2005. Paula also serves on the Board of the Concord Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Main Street Concord and also serves as the promotional chair of the latter organization. Paula is also one of the founding members of Green Concord, an alliance of local businesses that offers and promotes environmentally friendly products and services. She is also one of the founding members of the Neighboring Food Co-op Association, a network of food cooperatives committed to a shared vision of a thriving regional economy rooted in a healthy, just and sustainable food system and collaboration among co-ops.
Peter Deleault, Finance Manager
Concord Cooperative Market & Kearsarge Cooperative Grocer
admin@concordfoodcoop.coop
A New Hampshire native and lifelong resident, Peter brings a more than 25 years of finance and business experience. He attended St. Anselm's College in pre-med and later continued his education in finance and business studies at the University of New Hampshire in Manchester while furthering his career at the Bank of NH. Peter started his first business in 1992 here in Concord and, after 15 successful years, sold it in 2007. He continued his education again in 2001 at Hesser College in Manchester in Computer Science and shortly after started a computer repair business on the side. He also started and sold another successful business here in Concord during his 15-year career as a business owner. Peter has been married for 28 years to his wife Therese and together they have two daughters.
Beverly LaPage, Human Resource Manager
Concord Cooperative Market & Kearsarge Cooperative Grocer
blapage@concordfoodcoop.coop
Beverly is a lifelong resident of New Hampshire. She resides in Gilmanton with her husband, Jody, and their Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Buddy. Beverly is a graduate of Southern New Hampshire University and has a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resource Management.
Lori Myers, C.H.S., Health & Beauty Manager
Concord Cooperative Market & Kearsarge Cooperative Grocer
lori@concordfoodcoop.coop
Lori brings a wide and varied background in both management and healthcare. She has attended nursing school, started a very successful floral business, managed a bookstore, and most recently was employed by The Prescription Center in the Natural Pharmacy and as the Outreach Coordinator for Concord Hospital campus before coming to the Co-op. She is a Certified Health Specialist having completed coursework from Trinity School of Natural Health. Lori and her husband reside in Bow. They have four children and four grandchildren.
Christy Carafa, Store Manager
Kearsarge Cooperative Grocer
ccarafa@concordfoodcoop.coop
Christy joined the Co-op to open our New London store in the summer of 2008. She has a cheerful, customer-oriented attitude and 14 years of experience in retail management. She grew up in the New London/Lake Sunapee area and has lived here for almost her entire life. Before coming to the Kearsarge Co-op, she managed retail outlets in Tilton. She says she’s thrilled for the more holistic environment. “I’m really into organics,” Christy says. “In college [at Colby Sawyer], I majored in athletic training and sports science, so I’m really interested in nutrition. And my daughter is almost a full vegetarian.” Although the natural foods industry was new to her, Christy’s family has owned country stores and restaurants including the café at Colby Sawyer. Working in the family businesses has given her a solid background in food service. Christy, along with her husband and daughter, enjoy all things outdoors, including hiking and biking.
Nick Schneider, Assistant Store Manager
Concord Cooperative Market
nick@concordfoodcoop.coop
Nick was born in Concord, New Hampshire. He graduated from Bishop Brady High School in 1998. Nick has worked at the Concord Food Co-op since 1995. He has had numerous positions at the Concord Co-op, making him amongst our most indispensable employees. The knowledge Nick has in natural foods is extensive.
Joshua Bourassa, Customer Service Manager
Concord Cooperative Market
csm@concordfoodcoop.coop
When Josh began working at the Co-op, he quickly found that the Co-op way of doing business was just what he had been looking for both as a shopper and as an employee. He enjoys the opportunity to visit co-ops across the country (24 in 11 states so far) to make new friends and learn new ideas to bring back home. He has played an active role in the Co-op’s 2005 expansion in Concord and 2009 opening of the Kearsarge Cooperative Grocer.
Mike Cook, Executive Chef
Concord Cooperative Market Celery Stick Café
deli@concordfoodcoop.coop
Mike was born in Rhode Island but has spent more than two decades living in New Hampshire. At age 14, Mike started his restaurant career working for the Highlander Hotel in Manchester and has not left the business since. During his four years of college at the Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, Massachusetts, Mike continued to hone his cooking skills at Shorty's Mexican restaurant in Bedford, New Hampshire and worked his way to Head Chef and General Manager of Whippersnappers Restaurant in Londonderry. Mike enjoys all styles of cooking and has had the opportunity to dabble in many. He loves to experiment with flavors, color, and texture when developing and presenting dishes. Mike is married and has two step daughters. When Mike is not working at the Co-op, you will find him hammering away in his Weare blacksmith shop designing and fabricating items out of steel and sheet metal.
Lloyd Pickering, Produce Manager
Concord Cooperative Market
produce@concordfoodcoop.coop
Lloyd was born in Laconia, New Hampshire, where he now resides with his wife, Joanne, and their eight children. A graduate of Laconia Night Academy, Lloyd has more than 30 years of experience in the retail business, successfully fulfilling many management positions. Lloyd has also operated his own sports apparel store and currently holds a New Hampshire Real Estate License. Lloyd has certificates in drafting and home construction as well as photography from the Laconia Technical College (his two favorite hobbies). In his spare time, he enjoys league bowling with Joanne and spending time with their children.
Shane Smith, Outreach Coordinator
Concord Cooperative Market & Kearsarge Cooperative Grocer
outreach@concordfoodcoop.coop
Shane was born and raised in Concord, New Hampshire, and he graduated from Concord Christian School in 1988. He had attended California State University, Fullerton where he studied Anthropology until 1994. Shane went on to work as a counselor for at-risk teens in Orange County, California, and then he continued counseling in Concord, New Hampshire. Shane has worked at the Concord Food Co-op for nine years in numerous positions since 1999, including our long-time bulk buyer, and he is currently our outreach coordinator.
Audrey Burghard, Health & Wellness Coordinator
Concord Cooperative Market & Kearsarge Cooperative Grocer
audrey@concordfoodcoop.coop
Audrey Burghard came to the Co-op in 2011 with vast experience and multiple certifications in health and wellness. She has taught group classes in strength training, aerobic fitness, indoor cycling, pilates, and yoga since 2001. She is also a Personal Trainer. Audrey is a certified Nutrition Manager and also teaches lifestyle change. She previously worked as the Health Outreach Coordinator at the Concord Hospital Center for Health Promotion assisting local businesses in developing wellness programs for employees as well as coordinating and facilitating the Capital Area Wellness Coalition. Audrey is a role model for our community because she has maintained a healthy, active lifestyle for many years. She shares her enthusiasm for healthy foods, exercise, and mental well being through her many talents professionally and personally.
Buyers
Eustaquio Gonzalez, Frozen & Dairy Buyer
Concord Cooperative Market
frozen@concordfoodcoop.coop or dairy@concordfoodcoop.coop
Eustaquio was born in Havana, Cuba and has lived in many parts of the United States for many years. He served our Country in the USMC from 1979 to 1984. Eustaquio has come to us with extensive grocery experience. He also has an associate degree in automotive, small engine repair, and marine technology from NHTI in Laconia. His interests include reading, writing and music, and he is fluent in many languages.
Doris McGurrin , Bulk Food Buyer
Concord Cooperative Market
bulk@concordfoodcoop.coop
Doris has worked at the Sant Bani School, and was a silver/goldsmith for 12 years in her husband, Tom’s, jewelry business. For several years Doris has painted a project for The Friends Program Auction held in the spring. She has been a vegetarian for about 40 years. She's held several positions at the Co-op since she started here in 2006.
