Board Members
Colleen Valko, President
TERM: First elected in April 2017; Current term expires April 2025.
After growing up in southeast Michigan, Colleen studied Food Industry Management at Michigan State University. Her career has been rooted in the natural and organic food industry where she is currently a business analyst for a purchasing cooperative that supports natural foods stores nationally. In her spare time, Colleen enjoys challenging herself with new recipes and finding ways to enjoy every season in Northern Michigan.
Kaitlyn Burns, Vice President
TERM: First elected to the board in April 2012. Term expires April 2026.
Kaitlyn is a consultant for Cloud for Good, working with non-profits and higher education institutions. She holds an MBA in Design and Innovation Management. In her spare time, she can be found outside adventuring with her family.
Kathy Baylis Monteith – Treasurer
TERM: Elected to the board in April 2018; current term expires April 2027.
Founder and owner of Center for Body Awareness providing Physical Therapy, Feldenkrais and Pilates-based rehabilitation. Kathy and husband Scott enjoy cooking, skiing, paddle boarding, and navigating the waters of the great lakes.
Tricia Phelps – Secretary
TERM: First elected to the board in April 2022; Current term expires April 2025.
Tricia Phelps is the CEO of Taste the Local Difference, a women-owned and operated local food marketing agency for the state of Michigan. She loves swimming in fresh water lakes, reading fiction, and cooking new things in the kitchen.
Cy Agley
TERM: Elected to the board in June 2020. Term expires April 2026.
Cy Agley manages eCommerce and Brand Partnerships for TentCraft. Outnumbered by his wife Emily and three girls Grace, Emersyn, and Hazel (as well as two female dogs Elsie and Sadie), Cy appreciates a good tea party but also spending time outside enjoying outdoor adventures.
Marty Heller
TERM: Elected 2021. Current term expires April 2027.
Marty Heller works as a sustainability consultant for the US food and agribusiness sector with the Dutch firm, Blonk Consultants, and is a senior research specialist with the University of Michigan’s Center for Sustainable Systems. He also has experience as a local farmer. When not studying food system sustainability or chasing his 2 young kids, Marty might be gardening, djing and producing music, biking, cross country skiing, or marvelling in the natural beauty of northern Michigan.
Parker Jones
TERM: Has served on the board since April 2023; Current term expires April 2026.
Parker Jones is a food business consultant for Michigan State University Extension. He holds an MBA from the University of Wisconsin. In his spare time, Parker enjoys mountain biking, doing puzzles, and practicing yoga.
Chuck Mueller
TERM: First elected to the board in April 2015; Current term expires April 2025.
Chuck has been married 45 years and has two children and five grandchildren. Chuck is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a MSW, class of ’77. His career has been working with families and children at Community Mental Health, Child and Family Services and TBAISD. Chuck enjoys spending time with family, volunteering in the community, and enjoying our natural resources.
Samuel Reese
TERM: First elected April 2024; current term expires April 2027.
After 17 years as a professional brewer and brewery director for Bell’s and Upper Hand, Sam is delighted to be back in the Grand Traverse area where he spent his childhood. Sam loves experimenting in the kitchen (especially with fermentation and food preservation), hiking as an excuse to forage for wild edibles, photography, small-displacement motorcycling, and smothering his dog Valerie. He is currently the Director of Operations for Northport-based Red Truck Orchards.
Sarah Christensen, General Manager
Sarah started at Oryana January 1, 2024. While new to working at our co-op, Sarah is no stranger to food co-ops. Prior to being hired as our CEO, Sarah was the General Manager at GreenTree Co-op Market in Mt. Pleasant, where she worked for the last 20 years. Throughout her career, Sarah has served on numerous community, non-profit, and co-op boards and committees. She currently serves as the Board President for National Co-op Grocers, of which Oryana is a member. Sarah attended Central Michigan University and obtained a degree in Health Sciences and Community Development.