Management
Paula Harris, General Manager
Concord Cooperative Market & Kearsarge Cooperative Grocer
pharris@concordfoodcoop.coop
Paula has served as General Manager of the Co-op since 2005. The Ohio native fell in love with New Hampshire during her childhood vacations. When an opportunity opened for her at the Co-op, she was excited to join the staff.
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.
Paula majored in Interior Design at the University of Akron, and her artistic eye helps keep the Co-op looking great. She not only runs the store, but she is also a community presence for the Co-op. She works with Main Street Concord on the Promotions Committee, and she is one of the founding members of Green Concord. Paula also gets involved in community outreach events promoting the Co-op.
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.
Karina Giordano, Marketing Manager
Concord Cooperative Market & Kearsarge Cooperative Grocer
karina@concordfoodcoop.coop
Karina joined our team in February, 2009 after working for a graphic design company doing advertising and web design. Although she was initially hired as a Marketing Assistant, she was promoted within a few months to Marketing Manager. She has a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts in graphic design from Plymouth State University and says she is most inspired by pop art because it’s bold, bright, creative, and straight to the point. Karina designs or oversees almost everything you see that represents our Co-ops: our newsletter, website, brochures, signs, name tags, ads, and more. She enjoys her multifaceted job which includes planning and orchestrating special events hosted or attended by our Co-ops. “I really like working here because I had no idea about anything – literally – about natural foods, local foods, sustainability, and all of that when I came here. The employees are a good source of information. I’ve learned a lot, and I think I’ve changed how I look at food and how I eat.”
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, Chef & Cafe Manager
Concord Cooperative Market
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.
Scott Bardier, Grocery Manager
Concord Cooperative Market
scott@concordfoodcoop.coop
Scott joined the Concord Co-op in August 2009 with nine years prior experience in retail management. He grew up along the coast of York Harbor, Maine and graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Communications and Political Science. He has a diverse background. Scott was a production manager and senior director for WMUR-TV for 16 years, but he decided to opt out of the high-stress environment. He enjoys spending time outdoors -- skiing, hiking, biking, boating, and playing volleyball -- with his two daughters and dog. His favorite hobby is woodworking. You may have seen some of his wood crafts decorating the store, and Scott even built his home himself. Scott is inspired to work in natural foods. "I've learned there is a whole other world aside form the normal grocery store we've all grown up with. What I thought was a place for the 'crunchy people' is actually a store designed for everyone interested in a healthy earth and healthy living," he says.
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.
Buyers
Greg Billingham, Health & Beauty Buyer
Concord Cooperative Market
haba@concordfoodcoop.coop
Greg came to the Concord Co-op in February 2009 as a cashier. When we opened our Kearsarge Co-op, Greg was among the first employees. He quickly took to the health and beauty department, ordering for that department while also working as a cashier. When the health and beauty buyer position opened at our larger Concord store, Greg took on the new role and greater responsibility. The Hopkinton native has a degree in English Literature and American Studies from the University of New Hampshire, and he particularly enjoys writing, reading, music, and playing guitar. "I've learned a lot working in this department and am looking forward to learning more about the seemingly endless possibilities and uses for various herbal supplements and homeopathics," he says.
Brendan Cofrin, Dairy Buyer
Concord Cooperative Market
dairy@concordfoodcoop.coop
Brendan was born and raised in Henniker, New Hampshire until the age of eight, when his family moved to Concord. He began working as a grocery clerk at the Co-op in early 2008 while he was studying music education at the University of New Hampshire. Brendan, a jazz singer and electric bassist, still enjoys a variety of music including jazz, blues, and ’60s/’70s rock. He had never worked in natural foods before he came to the Co-op; however, he has been a vegetarian since 2007. He says the best part of the job is the people. "My fellow employees make it great to come in every day." His favorite Co-op foods include Back to Nature mint chocolate chip cookies, Amy's cheese pizza snacks, and the Celery Stick Café’s egg salad.
Eustaquio Gonzalez, Frozen Buyer
Concord Cooperative Market
frozen@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.
Kinsy Harris, Meat Buyer
Concord Cooperative Market
meat@concordfoodcoop.coop
Kinsy left her hometown of Akron, Ohio to join our staff in the summer of 2007. She's been "jill-of-all-trades," helping out in the kitchen, bulk, and produce, and making signs for the store. She was promoted to meat buyer in 2008 and added bread buying to her duties shortly after that. In Ohio, Kinsy worked at the Mustard Seed Market & Cafe, a natural gourmet store. She's interested in nutrition and herbs. "Working here has taught me a lot. It's made me stop and look at what I'm putting in my mouth and buying and think about the long-term effects," she says.
Shane Smith, Bulk Food Buyer
Concord Cooperative Market
bulk@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 year and is currently the bulk buyer.
