AlyssaMarie Link
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1. Why would you like to serve on the Board of Directors of Pullman Good Food Co-op?
I sit at a unique intersection in the local food community. I am a Co-op member, a local farmer, and a board member of the Pullman Farmers Market. My unique perspective can be an asset to the Board of PGFC as we build for the future. The new partnership for the Pullman Farmers Market and Pullman Good Food Co-op brings an exciting path for community engagement and outreach that is mutually beneficial for both entities. I believe having a board member dedicated to this partnership will help bring awareness to the needs of the PGFC in our local food community.
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2. What professional experience, training, education, or other board experience have you had that would contribute to the Board’s work and the mission of Pullman Good Food Co-op?
I have served on the board for the Pullman Farmers Market off and on for the last decade in various positions. I believe working on engaging with the Pullman community to provide local food is perfectly in line with the mission of the PGFC.
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3. What skills and qualities do you have that uniquely qualify you for the Board of Directors?
I am both personable and professional. I like to listen to the needs of others and consider those needs when making decisions.
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4. Think about a situation that demonstrates your ability to create a climate that values cultural diversity. How would you encourage sharing different perspectives?
I have been a vendor at the Pullman Farmers Market as well as built my own farm business in the last 10 years. Our local community has a diverse population especially among the university population. I have enjoyed getting to know people of many different cultures from around the world through a shared passion of good food. Finding common ground is the first step to valuing diversity that serves as the foundation for being welcoming of everyone.
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5. Describe any experience you have in reading and understanding financial statements.
In addition to taking economics classes as part of my WSU curriculum, I also passed a Farm Financials course when we started our farm business 10 years ago. Since then as a small business owner I have actively participated in creating, reading and making decisions for our farm based on the data. What I do not know now, I believe I have a foundation on which to learn more as needed.
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6. Describe your applicable experience in any the following: Capital Campaign & Fundraising, Ownership Development, Accounting, Real estate, Local agriculture, Local government or WSU.
I work on completing the accounting needs for my personal farm business over the last 10 years. Local agriculture is my passion that I live every single day when managing my personal farm and homestead. I have also worked for a local grain and legume farm family and understand the agriculture of the Palouse region. I am also an alum of WSU, have worked there and have a spouse who has worked there for over 30 years, as well as a son currently enrolled full time - we are a Coug family.
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7. Describe the applicable experience, skills or knowledge you have working with any or all of the following: cooperatives; policy governance; non-profit or for-profit boards; a group that used active member participation to achieve its goals.
I have a BA in political science and have studied policy governance. If I wasn't a farmer, I'd have become an environmental lawyer. I have served on the board of the Pullman Farmers Market. I have been a manager for both my personal farm and another local company where I have actively worked with others to achieve goals using my organization and planning skills to create step by step plans to reach a goal.
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8. Describe your connections with the community, including volunteer work if applicable.
I have lived on the Palouse since 1999, lived in both Pullman and Palouse during the last 25 years. I have raised my family here along with my husband. I attended WSU and earned 2 Bachelors Degrees. I have volunteered for years at a couple of the local churches in the past. I have participated in our local farmers markets in the area. My growing farm business has customers reaching all over Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. My network of connections and length of residency runs vast and deep.
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9. Describe any business or entrepreneurial experience you have.
10 years ago our family started our farm business Link'd Hearts Ranch. We started out with eggs and pasture raised broiler chickens. We have added turkeys, vegetables and hand crafted items over the years. This year we added a weekly farm stand to our business and are working to build a facility for the next level of processing license. We are excited for what the next decade holds for our farm as we grow to better serve our local food community. As a small business owner, I have learned skills in website creation, advertising design, social media, email campaigns, planning and execution to reach goals, time management, customer service, and people skills.