Long Beach deserves community-owned institutions that match the strength and character of its residents, and the Co-op is an opportunity to build that together. Our city’s diversity, civic history, and creative independence are real structural advantages, especially when we use them to create community infrastructure that allows residents to define our food future instead of waiting for someone else to do it.

Sheila has called Long Beach home since 1992 and joined the LBGCo-op as Owner #004. Sheila dove in whole-heartedly in 2020 wearing several hats to help the movement along.

As a marketing manager, collaboration is an essential part of my job. I believe the co-op model is virtuous and beneficial to society when done correctly. I think providing access to food should not be a solely profit-seeking enterprise, and the best way to achieve this is to ensure it is controlled by the community it serves. Co-ops are a great way to foster community and help people connect with their neighbors in positive ways. Ultimately, I think bringing a grocery co-op to this great city is a cause worth contributing to, and I want to do whatever I can to make it happen.

I believe deeply in the cooperative model’s power to create community-owned solutions for healthy, sustainable, and affordable food. My extensive experience managing a financial cooperative – a credit union – has given me practical expertise in strategic planning, financial oversight, and policy development that I’m eager to contribute toward ensuring our co-op remains financially strong while staying true to its mission. I am centered on collaborative and consensus-driven leadership.

Dodie Reddington is a long-time resident in Long Beach, CA sharing her home with family and three cats. She generously volunteers for several non-profit organizations, is an active member of numerous museums and cultural centers and enjoys nurturing and harvesting her “mini farm” of fruit bearing trees and vegetable garden. Dodie is also a co-curator of Gallery 28.

Dodie is operating her own company “Reddington” that provides business support services to small and entrepreneurial start-ups in addition to being a Notary Public and Notary Signing Agent that offers mobile services. She has an extensive background in operations, event planning, project management, and bookkeeping. She admires Long Beach for its rich history, diversity, culture, and sense of community.

I’m a Writer-Director, activist and long-time environmentalist. I grew up in small-town Canada, surrounded by boreal forests and natural freshwater lakes. I spent my childhood outside all year (yes, even in winter) enjoying and valuing the outdoors. I’m passionate about changing people’s perception of food. I’m passionate about creating a grocery model that is the most inclusive and sustainable it can be in all of its operations; from membership and community engagement, to refrigeration, bulk refills, receipts and bagging.

Chef Paul Buchanan is the co-founder of Primal Alchemy Catering and Events, a full-service catering firm specializing in Seasonal, Sustainable and Local cuisine. Primal Alchemy has enjoyed ‘Making Memories and Marking Milestones’ for corporate and social clients for 24 years.  As the first State Certified Green Business in Long Beach 6 years ago, Primal Alchemy was recently re-certified at the Innovator level this year.

Chef Paul is a fixture in the regenerative farm movement, supporting local, seasonal, and sustainable food systems.  Paul champions for putting scratch cooking back in schools, eliminating single use plastics and is an advocate for doing what is needed to caretake our planet.

I have lived in Long Beach for over 40 and have a deep love for our city. Opening LBGC would be a meaningful asset for our residents and surrounding communities. I'm passionate about being part of something that creates a positive, lasting impact in peoples lives. I believe in eating for health and in providing education that supports healthy lifestyles while strengthening community connections. A co-op can offer an inclusive space where everyone has access to nourishing food, shared learning and a sense of belonging- while also supporting our local farmers and artisans.