DEEP ROOTS MARKET - Key Persons
Brittany began her journey in the cooperative food movement in 2013 at the Dill Pickle Food Co-op in Chicago. Through her participation in the Co-op, her life was radically changed. She moved to Greensboro (because it had a food Co-op) in 2016, and started to work at Deep Roots. She continued to work for the store until 2023. She is enthusiastic to serve the store in her new role as the Boards Secretary. She runs Sun and Soil Farm with her husband in Madison, NC where they organically grow an assortment of vegetables, herbs, fruits & flowers. Brittany's life passion is creating a vibrant local food system that supports producers, farmers & the community. Brittany's other hobbies include homesteading, winemaking, camping, quilting, cooking, learning, reading & spreadsheets.
With the mission to keep her family healthy and delay the onset of health issues that had plagued her family, Cecelia found Deep Roots. Cecelia and her husband have been members of Deep Roots since the early 80's. They have continually supported Deep Roots for decades. Cecelia serves as President of Bezingy, Inc. a honey supply and apiary company, established by her son in 2010. The company has remained small while still providing raw honey through online and in-person sales to retail customers. The company faced challenges in its attempt to locate suitable land to house beehives, thus relying on benevolent landowners who were committed to maintaining a natural environment free from herbicides and pesticides. Cecelia is a graduate of North Carolina Agricultural Technical State University with a B.S. in Mathematics and an M.A. in Mathematics from UNC-Greensboro. She retired from Wells Fargo after a successful career spanning 28 years and is married to Levern Allen Jr. Cecelia and her husband are certified Beekeepers and members of the Guilford County Beekeepers Association. He is Vice President of the Guilford County Beekeepers Association, an N.C. State Beekeepers Association journeyman, and a product of the Guilford County Agricultural Extension Master Gardener program. Cecelia enjoys quilting, collecting cookbooks, gardening, canning, cooking, and creating healthy recipes for her family.
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- Director of Sales Development
Drew is the Director of Sales Development for the nation's leading office and home fruit delivery company, The FruitGuys, founded in 1998 to help companies provide fresh produce and healthy snack options to their employees. The FruitGuys (a certified "B Corp") has regional hubs across the United States that network local farms for their produce. Drew has 30 years of business development and performing arts experience and has worked with the American Press Institute, Times-Shamrock Communications, the Specialty Food Association, and the NY Botanical Garden, among others. He founded and directed a not-for-profit theater company in New York City, co-directed a major NJ outdoor music festival for 14 years (Maplewoodstock), and is a member of Actors Equity performance union.
Eric Smith is a professional Santa Claus and owns a small business in Downtown Reidsville. He was in aviation for a number of years and still looks up every time he hears an airplane. He is very active in the local community serving and volunteering with various organizations. He is also an actor and an avid Baseball and Hockey fan. He recently provided color commentary and stats for the Reidsville Luckies baseball team. Eating healthy and promoting a sustainable food system is important to him as he is now a proud grandfather and has another grandchild on the way.
Joel has 30 years of experience in natural foods retail management; 18 of those years were as Deep Roots Co-op's General Manager. He's planned and opened 2 new stores, one of those being Deep Roots' current location. Joel also planned and opened his own natural products store, which he managed for 7 years before selling it in 2002. He's been through multiple Board of Directors trainings and has served on several nonprofit Boards. Landau also served 4 years on Greensboro's Planning Board, plus helped establish Greensboro's Sustainability Commission, which he co-chaired for 8 years. Joel's been on Deep Roots Board of Directors since May 2016 and was Board President from January 2017 to 2022. He occasionally provides business consultation to small businesses, nonprofits, and startups, helping with financial projections/spreadsheets, business plans, operational procedures/efficiencies, and Board trainings.
Job Titles:
- Interim General Manager, Center Store & Promotions
Mollie Blafer (she/her) is originally from New Jersey but moved to Greensboro 5 years ago to work at Guilford College. She immediately fell in love with the community and became a member of Deep Roots Market. She is passionate about creating inclusive communities, both personally and professionally. She is excited to support Deep Roots Market in continuing to create a healthy and sustainable future by serving on the board. Currently, she serves as a Program Manager for a national nonprofit, the Association of University Centers on Disability. Previously she was the Network Data and Systems Specialist for a Guilford County-specific initiative to improve maternal and early childhood access to resources at Ready for School, Ready for Life. Mollie holds an M.Ed. in College Student Personnel Administration from James Madison University and a B.A. in Sociology from SUNY Cortland. Outside of work, Mollie supports reproductive justice efforts, enjoys vintage/antique shopping, and patrons local coffee shops and breweries.
Spoma moved to Greensboro in 2001 to work at UNCG as a professor in the Department of Communication Studies and shortly thereafter became an owner and supporter of Deep Roots. Her enthusiasm for community, ethics, justice, and democracy has been put to use to help establish community gardens, secure more bus benches and shelters, introduce Participatory Budgeting to the city, and support the Greensboro Truth and Community Reconciliation Project. She served on the city's Commission on the Status of Greensboro and has volunteered with many neighborhood organizations and local nonprofits committed to having conversations and taking action to make the future better for all, not just some. She is married to retired civil rights attorney Lewis Pitts and lives in College Hill with their beagle puppy, Bernie. In addition to spending time playing tennis, reading, and attending protests and rallies for racial and economic justice, Spoma enjoys cooking with products found at Deep Roots but admittedly, she likes eating those creations even more.
As a relative newcomer to North Carolina from the west, Suzanne brings a cooperative, creative, and generous spirit that has been practiced and tested throughout her life. "I believe in people, in our ability to communicate, problem solve, create, and evolve," she reflects. Suzanne has a passion for supporting local economies, in particular local food/ag, with the conviction that localization is critical to a more healthy, peaceful, truly democratic and free future. In 2000, Suzanne founded a nonprofit organization, CommunityWorks, Inc., where students
participated in camps, community gardens, and ultimately ExplorationWorks, a science center, was born, where she was Executive Director for 12 years. ExplorationWorks was one of the first two LEED-certified commercial buildings in Montana, and it was built, in part, with community labor. Neighbors came together to stack bales and stucco straw bale walls, school kids decorated ceramic tiles installed in the building, and experts in their fields helped develop exhibits. Later, Suzanne worked as a nonprofit consultant and trainer/educator across the big state of Montana, guiding nonprofit organizations toward best practices in governance, financial management, fund development, and np marketing and communications. She has served in all aspects of nonprofits- as director, board member, staff, grant writer, grant reviewer and consultant/trainer. Suzanne loves people and values diversity in all aspects. She believes that our differences are the source of our best, most creative lives, and while none of us are perfect at dealing with difference, our lives are more rich when we invite and embrace diversity and commit to all that involves. She believes we are moving toward a more heart-centered time on this planet earth.
Job Titles:
- President
- Founder & CEO of Ashlen Staffing Solutions
V. Ashleigh Odom, MBA, is the founder & CEO of Ashlen Staffing Solutions, an innovative and strategic medical staffing agency. Prior to founding Ashlen Staffing Solutions, Ashleigh was a trusted Senior Global Sourcing Buyer and Team Lead at Volvo Group North America after launching her career with Harley Davidson and Syngenta Crop Protection. Her complex roles in global sourcing and planning, portfolio management, leading strategic negotiations, and human resources provided support in executive leadership, operational development, and leading high-performing teams. Ashleigh earned her bachelor's degree from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Transportation Logistics and Operations. Ashleigh now serves as a donating member of the Aggie Athletic Foundation (AAF), a former college athlete and senior student body treasurer. In addition, Ashleigh holds a master's degree in Business Administration from Temple University and is a proud member of the Fox School of Business Alumni Association (FSBAA). Ashleigh's family has a rich agricultural history in NC and SC, where her grandfather supplied fresh produce to community members. Upon her return to NC, as a tribute to her grandfather, she became an owner of Deep Roots Market in August 2020. Outside of work, Ashleigh is heavily involved in her community. She is a devoted member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and The National Urban League. In addition, she enjoys sports, volunteering, reading, the arts, traveling, and all things related to fashion.