Jess Buttimer

Biography

 Why are you interested in serving on the Prairie Food Board of Directors?  I believe strongly in the mission of the Prairie Food Co-op and want to be a part of the vibrant team that is working diligently toward its success. Employment: Please tell us about your Past or Present Employment  Currently a stay-at-home mom, I enjoyed eight years as a user experience research consultant with User Centric, Inc (now a part of GfK). As a Senior Research Director with GfK, I sold, designed, and managed large global usability research and design engagements.  For five years prior to that, I designed, developed, and implemented web-based customer relationship management (CRM) systems as a programmer for Nuveen Investments.  Rounding out my portfolio of gainful employment, I have been a horrible waitress, an unimpressive administrative temp, a too-nice bill collector, a lost ‘gopher’ of insurance documents, a freezing-cold jar scraper for a cheese factory, an excellent sandwich artist, and a loving, though exhausted, babysitter. Volunteer: Membership/Affiliations past and present In addition to volunteering for Prairie Food Co-op at events and performing website updates, I currently volunteer in the same capacity for the Abraham Lincoln PTA and The GardenWorks Project. What experience, education, and skills do you have that you feel will contribute to your effectiveness as a Prairie Food Director?  Years of client management experience has taught me how to work well with others, be open to multiple perspectives, and collaborate towards consensus. In addition, reading non-fiction, learning, organizing, and concise communication are a few of my favorite things and will contribute to my effectiveness as a Prairie Food Director. What are your personal goals for Prairie Food Co-op? As a board member, I have no personal agenda for the Prairie Food Co-op. Rather, I am most interested in adhering to our mission of creating a marketplace for local, sustainable, organic, and transparently labeled food. What do you hope to achieve from your board experience?  I hope to better understand the inner workings of the co-op and our sustainable food chain, deepen relationships with fellow owners, and actively contribute to the successful opening of The Prairie Food Co-op.

Research Interest

 Management and Design