Governance: |
Food Works is governed by a seven-member board of directors, each of whom brings unique individual insight into farming, research, policy, and food-related business practices in Southern Illinois. The board operates using a Policy Governance model that empowers organization staff to execute the mission, while empowering its board members to fulfill their responsibilities for accountability. The model has been used extensively with cooperatives and other non-governmental organizations. It creates clarity and focus which reduces the mountains of paperwork boards often feel obliged to review while allowing them to effectively steer the organization’s course. Board decisions are made on a consensus basis so that it speaks with one voice and establishes clear expectations for the organization.
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Board Members: |
Karen Schauwecker (President) Karen Schauwecker is a Carbondale native, with a Master’s degree in Geography and Environmental Resources from SIU. While at SIU, Karen co-managed the LOGIC organic garden and completed the Master Gardener’s program. She spent a year teaching K-8 standard curriculum, nutrition, and agriculture in a garden setting in Birmingham, AL, with the Jones Valley Teaching Farm. After that, she worked as the assistant manager of the University Farm in Sewanee, TN. She is currently employed at SIU and has served as the Program Coordinator in the Office of Sustainability since 2017. "Food works has supported the local food economy for many years, although much of their work is behind the scenes. The organization has been instrumental in expanding access to local, fresh produce for SNAP benefit users at farmers markets across southern Illinois. They've supported and taught new aspiring local farmers though their Farm Beginnings program. Food Works is also the organization that initiated and manages the Carbondale Community Farmers Market each winter, serving over 300 consumers each week on a typical winter. They do so much in the way of supporting this community, filling in wherever they are needed to support a vibrant local food economy- one that increases access to nutritious, healthy local food and supports the livelihoods of the farmers that grow this food for us." - K.S. Brad Genung (Vice President) Brad Genung is the owner and President of Owl Creek Vineyard, the founding producer of wine grapes in the Shawnee Hills, makers of Owl Creek wines and Apple Knocker Hard Cider. He is a strong advocate of locally grown value-added products with an eye toward sustainable practices and social responsibility to the community. After careers in journalism and capital markets/brokerage, he moved to Southern Illinois in 2002 to help develop the fledgling Shawnee Hills wine region. Owl Creek and the region have flourished, going from a handful of operations to almost 30 wineries and 60 commercial vineyards. Brad holds an MBA in finance and a Bachelor’s degree in English/Political Science from Illinois State University. The Genung family settled in the southern regions of Illinois and Indiana in the 1790s and have been farmers, business owners and trades people that have been engaged in the economic development of the region. Kim Hamilton Miller Kim Miller holds a Ph.D in Health Education from Southern Illinois University. She retired in 2016 after over twenty years in faculty positions at University of Kentucky and SIUC. A strong focus of Kim’s academic work has been on holistic approaches to health, including the role of community and community design in fostering health. Kim has long been an advocate of local foods and locally produced goods and believes that these are important not only to physical health but also in building strong community alliances. Other personal interests include belonging to the Saluki Master’s Swim Club, cooking, hiking, and reading. Marika Josephson Marika Josephson is the co-founder and head brewer at Scratch Brewing Company, a farmhouse brewery that makes beer and food with ingredients sourced in Southern Illinois, most of which are from the brewery's working farm. Marika is also the author (along with Scratch's co-founders) of The Homebrewer's Alamanac, a book on brewing with farmed and foraged ingredients, released fall 2016 from Countryman Press. Charles Walker Charles Walker has lived in Southern Illinois since 2013. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from SIU in 2015. He is currently working on obtaining his Master’s degree in Social Work from SIU. Charles is also working for SIU Undergraduate Admissions as the Campus Visit Program Supervisor. Additionally, you can find him bartending at Keepers Quarters in Carbondale. He has a background in event planning and has worked at two local wineries on the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail. He believes that supporting local business is fundamental for a successful community and that everyone deserves to have access to healthy foods. Kathryn Head Kathryn is a Southern Illinois native and her upbringing on the family’s homestead rooted her interest in provisional farming. Her BSN from University of Evansville was steeped in holistic nursing. Over time, Kathryn has become an advocate of Functional Medicine, which treats the underlying root cause of “dis-ease”, food being foundational. Synchronicity manifested in Kathryn’s life when her food/farm co-housing was realized upon her move to a (nearly) “tiny house” on Countrysprout Organics Farm south of Carbondale. Not only does she enjoy a thriving neighbor relationship, she also makes a point to support the planting, picking, weeding and bouquet making aspects of the farm. Kathryn currently holds a position within the SIH Employee Wellness Program as a certified Nurse Coach and Health and Wellness Coach. She views the gap between education and action is best filled with coaching support empowering clients to transform from unconscious consumers to owning their own health. |