Our wonderful store would not 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!
Chase Anthony Jesus Fraga [not a joke]
- Nickname/Title at the Co-op: Co-op’s Billy Ocean
- Place of Origin: Detroit, MI
- Education: School of Hard Knocks
- Why do you love the Co-op/Why do you work here?: Because the Foco community is an amazing one to serve. My co-workers are by far the best and most accommodating I’ve ever worked with, and plus I really like to weigh things.
- If you were a vegetable/fruit, what would you be and why: Celery Root, because nobody REALLY knows what to do with me.
- Favorite downtime hobbies: Watching all of the movies and talking to my puppy in a baby voice.
- Other fun facts about you: You can catch me on the dance floor.
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
Kalidas
- Nickname/Title at the Co-op: Management Team Member, Kalidas/Perishable, frozen, bread buyer
- Place of Origin: Armonk, New York
- Education: B.A. Muhlenberg College & M.A. in Philosophy from University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Why do you love the Co-op/Why do you work here?: Because of the relative degree of allowance & the staff and member-owners
- If you were a vegetable/fruit, what would you be and why: Pear, because it’s the only fruit whose name reflects my geminicity
- Favorite downtime hobbies: Reading & writing
McKenzie Tharp
- Nickname/Title at the Co-op: Mack/ Baby Giraffe on Ice/ Produce Pup
- Place of Origin: Plattsburg, Missouri
- Education: B.S. in Sociology and M.A. in Sociology from the University of Central Missouri. Working toward my Certificate in Public Health at Colorado State University.
- Why do you love the Co-op/Why do you work here?: There is a sense of community surrounding the co-op that is incredibly heartwarming. My co-workers are hardworking, compassionate, and so fun to be around. I’m constantly learning new things working here!
- If you were a vegetable/fruit, what would you be and why: A pickle, because I used to be fresh but now I’m just salty.
- Favorite downtime hobbies: Photography, playing music, crafting, comedy, & bike rides along the Poudre River.
- Other fun facts about you: I’m one of the least graceful people I know, but I love to hula hoop and dance.
Oakley June Davis
- Nickname/Title at Co-op: Management Team Member, Bulk Beyonce and Herb Goddess (Bulk and Herb Manager)
- Education: B.S. in Psychology, B.S. in Family Studies and Human Services, Minor in American Ethnics (All from Kansas State University)
- Place of Origin: Land of Oz
- Why do you love the co-op/Why do you work here?: I am over-the-top in love with the Co-op. I get to meet the most amazing people everyday who share the same passions as me. I get to work with my “family” who accept me for all my weirdness.
- If you were a vegetable/fruit, what would you be and why: I am a starfruit because I AM the star of the show (I like to be the center of attention)
- Favorite co-op product: Honey Mama’s CocoNoNut Bar ….it is Heaven. Whenever I am having an emotional day, I just take a bit of that amazing chocolate bar and I am in total bliss.
- Favorite downtime hobbies: I love to make people laugh….it is my all time favorite thing. I also enjoy playing with my dog (he is part hyena/warthog/alien) and my grumpy old cat. Dancing with my life-long lover Dustin and my friends at live shows or having our own dance parties. You can’t tell a dancer not to dance.
- Other fun facts about you: I have an insane obsession with the band String Cheese Incident. If you want to see me in my happy place then find me at a magical cheese show.
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!
Trinity Bigford
- Nickname/Title at the Co-op: Management Team Member, Deli Diva
- Place of Origin: Bradford, New Hampshire
- Education: B.S. in Gerontology & Health Policy from Ithaca College
- Why do you love the Co-op/Why do you work here?: I believe in what I do & where I work & get to express myself creatively while nourishing our community
- If you were a vegetable/fruit, what would you be and why: Chirimoya: Tough exterior, but sweet on the inside
- Favorite downtime hobbies: Skiing, biking around town, cooking, & traveling
- Other fun facts about you: I really love it when people overreact about good food.
Tuesday Lee
- Nickname/Title at the Co-op: Tues/Grocery Buyer/ Ween Qween
- Place of Origin: Elgin, IL
- Education: B.S. in Zoology
- Why do you love the Co-op/Why do you work here?: I’m just a co-op person! The FCFC is the 2nd co-op I’ve worked at for a total of 7 years of co-op experience. You can’t tear me away. Ask me in person and I will go on forever about co-ops.
- If you were a vegetable/fruit, what would you be and why: A peach, because I’m sweet and covered in a fine fuzz.
- Favorite downtime hobbies: Running, reading sci-fi/fantasy, admiring my majestic black cat boots.
- Other fun facts about you: I bore the rest of the staff with random facts about Ween.
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.
Niki Barouxis
- Nickname/Title at the Co-op: .
- Place of Origin: .
- Education: .
- Why do you love the Co-op/Why do you work here?: .
- If you were a vegetable/fruit, what would you be and why:.
- Favorite downtime hobbies:
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Jakob Corbin
- Nickname/Title at the Co-op: Drummer Boy/Plays in the Dirt/The Tall Dood
- Place of Origin: Hotlanta, GA
- Education:Colo State Undergrad
- Why do you love the Co-op/Why do you work here?: Great people, working with great food, connecting a great community.
- If you were a vegetable/fruit, what would you be and why: Beet. My drum beats are the grooviest..
- Favorite downtime hobbies: Playing music and riding my bike.
- Other fun facts about you: I’ve summited Kelso Ridge in a sudden freak lightning storm, like an IDIOT. But I survived 🙂
Michael Coleman
- Nickname/Title at the Co-op:TBD
- Place of Origin: St. Louis, MO.
- Education: St. Louis University High School: Home of the Junior Billikens. (And the University of Dayton, but that doesn’t matter).
- Why do you love the Co-op/Why do you work here?: I’m brand new (March 2019), but it’s very easy to love both the patrons and employees. It’s truly a neighborhood spot.
- If you were a vegetable/fruit, what would you be and why:A banana – it’s a work horse and as good in January as it is in July.
- Favorite downtime hobbies: Cooking, hiking, cooking, seeing live music, cooking, eating, eating, eating, eating, playing with my 14 year old pug, learning to play the guitar and how to be an urban farmer.
- Other fun facts about you: My wife and I met in Las Vegas at a WideSpread Panic show and just retruned from a one year, one week and six day trip around the world. And I’m a HUGE St. Louis Cardinals Fan.