Chris Bartlett - General Manager

The Company Shops board is thrilled to announce that we have selected our new GM. After reviewing numerous candidates we feel that have found the right person to lead our co-op in our mission of providing wholesome food options, supporting local agriculture and strengthening our local community.

Chris is coming to us from Newport, New Hampshire where he has been the 'Center of the Store Manager' for Hanover Food Co-op for many years. The Hanover Consumer Co-op was started during the years of the Great Depression and is now among the oldest in the United States. Chris is coming to us from a thriving co-op with a long history. We believe that our co-op will benefit from the knowledge and experience that Chris will bring with him.

Chris will officially begin his new post as General Manager of Company Shops Market on December 1st but he is already working with the CSM Board. Specifically he is actively engaging with the producer committee to develop producer guidelines and to line up meetings with farmers and other local product producers who are interested in partnering with Company Shops.

Chris says: "Working with such a dedicated team of Board Members who have given so much of their time and resources for this community project is very exciting and promising. I eagerly anticipate the starting of my new position and look forward to working with you all. Thank you for this great opportunity to lead Company Shops Market."

Please join us in welcoming Chris Bartlett, his wife Tracy, and their children, Jacob, Jaclyn, and Joshua.

Leila Nesson Wolfrum - Operations Manager

Leila has served for the past two years as the market manager for the Eno River Farmers Market in Hillsborough. Before that she was the kitchen manager at Locopops. Leila feels passionate about local foods and small food business. She looks forward to putting together a strong network of local producers to supply Burlington with the best food North Carolina has to offer.

Leila will manage the daily operation of the Produce and Meat/Seafood Departments, ensuring sound operation, growth, profitability and a high level of customer service in line with the stated goals and policies of the cooperative. Leila will also serve as the Manager on Duty in the General Managers absence and act as lead manager for management team.

Leila says: "I am thrilled to join the Company Shops team. As a resident of Burlington, I am so excited about the possibilities for this Co-op and for our whole community. Chris and the whole board have been so welcoming. And I just can’t wait to get the doors open!"

Leila lives in the Glencoe Mill Village in Burlington with her husband and their two-year-old twins, Max and Sasha.

Liz Mathews - Prepared Food Manager

Originally from Delaware, Liz graduated from Elon University and later Alamance Community College with a Culinary Degree. She has worked in the pastry shop at the Carolina Inn and as an event planner at The Burke Manor Inn. Most recently she has managed at the Blue Ribbon Diner in Mebane since they opened in 2006. Liz is excited to bring healthy ready-made food options to the co-op. As the prepared foods manager, she looks forward to making it easier for busy families to eat well and understand from where their food comes. In her free time she enjoys cooking, travelling and spending time with friends and families. She lives in Burlington with her son, Nicholas.

Sarah Cook - Website Manager

Sarah Cook is the woman behind the Company Shops Market website. For that last three years, Sarah has volunteered countless hours keeping the website updated with the latest goings on at the co-op. She has 12 of years experience as a web development professional.

Sarah and her husband, Nate Perry, moved to Graham, NC in the summer of 2004 after living in the Atlanta metro area for several years. "Lured by Weaver Street Market and the small town community feel, we initially started looking for a place in Carrboro. When we had little luck finding the right house in our preferred price range, our Realtor suggested taking a look at Graham. And I'm so glad we did! We love the community but really miss having a local co-op grocery store nearby."

In May of 2006, Sarah met founding board member, Eric Henry, at the Haw River Festival. "I was thrilled to find a growing group of people and businesses in Alamance County who are interested in building local community, supporting local agriculture and local economy, promoting sustainability and who see the merits of environmental and social responsibility. I was very excited when Eric told me about the plan for Company Shops Market and asked if I would be interested in volunteering website design services."

From August 2009 - August 2011, Sarah was the Manager of Communications & Brand Management for Company Shops Market.  With the launch of the CSM Investment initiative, the Board felt it was time to take public image, brand awareness, and web communications to the next level. "In August of 2009, after 2.5 years of (mostly) joyfully volunteering my time to keep the Company Shops website up-to-date, Sharon Dent approached Nathan and I with the idea for this position."

"If you've attended any of the co-op events, you've likely seen us around. If we haven't actually met, we hope to meet you at future get-togethers! We are long-time supporters of the co-op, all the way back to March of 2007, right about the time founding members of the would-be coop decided “Let Do This!” We're excited about the opportunity to do even more to establish a great community cornerstone that offers healthy and delicious products from our own backyard." -Sarah

Since the opening of the Market in Spring of 2011 (Horary!), Sarah has passed her communications and brand management responsibilities on to the newly hired in-store marketing manger. She continues to maintain and update the website.

Sarah is the owner of Think Web Solutions, a local website development company and Luck Photogaphy.