Chad Rickman is an insurance agent at Security State Insurance in Iron River where he helps people protect their assets by providing various personal, business, and health insurances.  He has lived in Ashland since 2004 after moving there from Duluth, MN.  He previously served on the board for Thrivent Financial in Ashland as Secretary and later as the Vice President.  He was elected to the board for Chequamegon Food Co-op in 2010 and is the current Vice President.

Though originally from Freeland, Michigan, Chad spent every summer growing up at his relative’s farm near Iron River, WI where he fell in love with this area and all it has to offer.  He and his wife Kathy have been married over 13 years and have two children. They enjoy camping, hiking, & fishing together as a family.

Originally from the other Bay Area (San Francisco Bay Area, that is), Sara Lehr made her way to the Midwest in 2008 and to Ashland two years later.  She loves the natural beauty, ample skiing, mountain biking, and hiking opportunities, and wonderful people in the area.  With a background in both accounting and public health, Sara works at The Lakes Community Health Center in finance/quality improvement and is passionate about access to quality, healthy food, and the influence of food on health.  Sara lives in Ashland with her husband, Randy, and son, Braden

My husband Matt and I have lived in Ashland since 2005. Since the very first week we moved to Ashland, the Coop has been an important part of our lives: from food, to friends, to education -  I love the Cheq Food Coop. I am serving my third and final term on the Board, it has been a great ride so far  and I am very excited to see what the future holds for the Coop. In 2010 we welcomed our daughter Cora into the world and look forward to showing her the beauty of vegetables and how fun it is to play in the dirt. I enjoy gardening, mountian biking, kayaking, and sewing. I currently work for the City of Ashland in the Parks and Recreation Department as the Activities Coordinator. Thanks for letting me serve the Coop.

Born in Ashland, matured and educated at UW-Madison, seasoned by living for fifteen years in the U.P. of Michigan and finally able to come back home.  A Wisconsin undergraduate degree in Economics is complemented by an MBA in Finance.  Beirl has worked in financial institutions for thirty years – from large holding company banks to small community banks.  He has been a small business lender in Ashland at Northern State Bank for the last ten years.  Beirl lives in Ashland, in the older house he grew up in, with his wife Denise and their two labs, Holly and Emma.  Their two daughters, are in their twenties -- Carol is in Green Bay and Jessie is maturing and, hopefully, getting educated at the UW-Madison.

                             Joe Russo is a 36 year retired technology education teacher having served 34 years at Washburn High School. His educational background includes a BS Degree in Technology Education and a MS Degree in Vocational Education from U. W. Stout. In 1992 Joe was selected by the International Technology Education Association to represent the US at the first education conference between the US and China in Beijing. He also received the Senator Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Fellowship Award for Teaching Excellence in 2009 and the Washburn Area Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010.
Experience in building trades, contract negotiations, and commitment to community are three assets he brings to the Chequamegon Food Co-op Board.
Joe built his home and raised his family of four children in the Finn Settlement,Town of Bayview just northwest of Washburn. Joe plans to spend the rest of his life in beautiful northern Wisconsin.