KODIAK HARVEST FOOD COOPERATIVE - Key Persons
Erin Strand works for the Fish and Wildlife Refuge, and is passionate about local, sustainably grown food and our Island's food security. She likes bears and dogs and mushrooms. And hiking and being outside.
Originally from Hawai'i, Jenny first came to Kodiak in 2013 for commercial fishing. She loves this "northern Hawai'ian island" for its outdoorsy living, big-hearted people, and wild spaces. Although her background is in the maritime industry, Jenny is now a small business owner, self-employed bookkeeper, and part time crewmember.
Food is important, and good fresh local food has great power for good. Mark developed food sensitivities about 20 years ago, and he became a food fanatic due to medical necessity. For him, in particular, junky industrial food is toxic, but he thinks wholesome food is a lot more important for everyone than many people recognize.
Mark thinks Kodiak Harvest's role in the broader community should be to promote and educate on the value of fresh local food, and to provide a market that can connect providers with customers.
Miranda embraces tiny home living with her husband and four young children. They share a love of horses and the western lifestyle, and can often be found riding together. They enjoy homeschooling, raising livestock on a small scale, and improving their backyard garden a little more each year. Eating real, whole foods and plants is critically important to Miranda both personally (supporting a child healing from autoimmune disease) as well as professionally (as a former teacher and current nursing student). Miranda is particularly interested in the intersections of children and agriculture as it relates to local sustainability and a food secure future. She is enthusiastic about the future of KHFC and looks forward to helping increase the quality and quantity of food that is raised, produced, and distributed by members of the Kodiak community.
Job Titles:
- Kodiak - Grown Board Member
Myra Scholze is a Kodiak-grown board member who is passionate about food security, accessibility, and equity. She enjoys growing and harvesting food, hiking with her half-pint dogs, experimenting in the kitchen, creating art, and curling up with a good book. Myra is excited to see Kodiak Harvest grow through community engagement and support, and believes that the co-op is a cornerstone in providing local, sustainable, fresh food to the community that she loves.
Sophie has been exploring the mountains, coves, and alpine lakes of Kodiak for 3 years. As a fisheries biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, she is passionate about sustainable, nourishing foods that can be harvested right here on Kodiak!
Sophie grew up on a small farm in PA and recognizes the importance of understanding where your food comes from and wants everyone in the Kodiak community to be able to form a connection with their food and their local farmers. She is excited to be a part of the growing community support of Kodiak Harvest.
You can find Sophie skiing on Pyramid, paddleboarding around Crooked Island, harvesting bull kelp to make pickles, or petting any cute dog she finds on the Near Island trails.
Stephanie is one of the founding KHFC board members. She is a Washingtonian transplant and happily calls Alaska home. Witnessing co-op models thrive and benefit communities firsthand in WA gets her all excited about co-ops making their appearance in Alaska. She believes bringing a co-op to Kodiak would be a significant investment in our island, our people, our environment, and the food security issues we face.
Stephanie has a background in Community Psychology and Environmental Stewardship. She looks forward to help bring healthy food with minimal environmental impacts and packaging to the island and into your warm bellies.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer
- Project Coordinator at Kodiak Area Native Association
Tyler has been a Project Coordinator at Kodiak Area Native Association since 2014. He has extensive General Management experience, including: operations, budgeting, logistics, communication, sales, and marketing.
He is interested in environmental projects and improving the food access in the entire Kodiak region.