Lisa Lorisch
Board President
Term Ends 2025
Lisa Lorisch
I have lived in Winona for over 25 years and am proud to be a part of our thriving community. I have nearly 20 years of retail and management experience and am proud to give back to the community in an area that I am passionate about. My current “day job” as HR Manager serves as a solid foundation for my role on the Board. I am a proud single mom (widow) and live in Winona with my two children Benjamin (17) and Bethany (15). Volunteerism has always been important to me and I am proud to serve on the Coop board.
Vanessa Perry
Board Vice President
Term Ends 2026
Vanessa Perry
I have a passion for creating sustainable and resilient communities, and love the ability of food to bring people together. I am so pleased to be able to serve our community as a Bluff Country Co-op Board member!
I have worked in natural resource management for nearly 25 years, with a particular focus on supporting individuals and communities as they navigate challenging resource issues, including water management and climate change impacts. I have a background in facilitation, strategic planning, supported decision-making, and project management.
I have been an employee and volunteer at Twin Cities Co-ops, and for a time in college I worked on a small family farm and ran a farmers’ market stand on behalf of an Amish family that I was close to. This direct experience in the food system positions me to better understand the day-to-day functions of the co-op and farmer relationships.
I look forward to connecting with members and building a stronger tie between the Coop and local community.
Brenna Curry
Board Member
Term Ends 2025
Brenna Curry
I have been a member of the Winona community since moving here for school in 2011 and have served on the board of directors for the Co-op since the end of 2021. During my time on the board, I have enjoyed the opportunity to meet fellow community members and contribute to the Co-op’s growth and success. I love exploring new products and treats that can only be found at the Co-op! As I look forward to completing my last year on the board, I am excited to continue on maintaining those connections with the community and supporting the Co-op’s mission.
Ann Prochowicz
Board Secretary
Term Ends 2027
Ann Prochowicz
Ann Prochowicz lives in her hometown of Trempealeau, Wisconsin, but comes to Winona often for shopping and socializing. Starting her second term on the board, she enjoys working with this diverse group of individuals coming together to help the co-op succeed in its various missions. Retired from a 35-year career with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Ann is an avid fiber artist, baker, and gardener; and enjoys biking, hiking, and swimming. Her current cat kids, George and Gracie, are a constant source of amusement.
Dr. Pingping Zhang
Board Treasurer
Term Ends 2025
Dr. Pingping Zhang
Pingping joined the Winona Community as a faculty member in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Winona State University in 2014. She primarily works with K-12 teacher candidates on teaching and learning mathematics. During her free time, she enjoys gardening, painting, learning foreign languages, playing video games, and walking two Shiba Inus with her family. Her biggest passions are sustainable living and helping the community.
Brian Pruka
Board Member
Term Ends 2026
Brian Pruka
Hello everyone. I started working at BCC at the end of January 2022, first as a cashier and stocker, then as Receiving Coordinator, and for over a year now as “Chill Buyer,” – i.e., the guy who buys product for and stocks the Refrigerated, Frozen and Bread sections. I would like to help fellow Board members understand our co-op from an employee’s point-of-view.
I am interested in: 1) encouraging more Educational Presentations in our community room, 2) addressing Policy Issues, like how can we promote local growers who cannot afford organic certification 3) addressing Community Outreach issues, like how can we get new people to walk into our store for the first time, or how can we dispel the misconception that everything we sell in our store is too expensive for working class folks.
My skills include: being a newsletter writer and editor, writing a bi-weekly newspaper column for three small-town newspapers, and working two field seasons as a vegetable grower for CSA farms. I currently serve on three other boards/committees here in Winona – the River City Dancers, the WSU Arboretum, and the Winona Unitarian Fellowship.
My final and most important skill: I like to dress up in vegetable costumes as one of the co-op mascots.
Violet Yoon
Board Member
Term Ends 2026
Violet Yoon
I’m an assistant professor at Winona State University. I’m new to this community and looking for opportunities to engage in the Winona community. Bluff Country Co-op has had positive impacts on the Winona area by providing quality products and facilitating a sense of community.
I’m a professor of Recreation and Tourism at WSU. I’m teaching how recreation and tourism programs can contribute to local community development and how to maximize this contribution. My expertise in this area can give the board insights into owner outreach program development. Besides, my research interest is destination marketing. My background in marketing can contribute to the Co-op’s strategic development.
I have lots of group work experience. Most of my research was done in a team. I have 4 administrative service experiences and 4 volunteer experiences for the community, and I have worked at about 10 different companies. All the teamwork experiences were great. It was a good chance for me to learn about human diversity, and it was always rewarding when we achieved the goal together.
I have various industry experiences as well. These include retail stores, movie theaters, wedding venues, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, and restaurants. This suggests that I have a sense of how business works in reality. These backgrounds will help me learn quickly about the Co-op operation.
Dr. Christopher Phan
Board Member
Term Ends 2027
Christopher Phan
Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Chris completed a Ph.D. in mathematics at the University of Oregon and then spent a few years as an academic nomad, living in Chicago, Glasgow, and central Pennsylvania before moving to Winona in 2012. He spent his first six years in Winona as a mathematics professor and the next six years as a stay-at-home dad; he found the latter position to be the substantially harder one. Recently, he has rejoined the world of paid employment as a part-time math teacher. He has two children, Max (age 11) and Emmy (age 6). Chris’s hobbies include computer programming and trying to learn Vietnamese (his father’s native tongue). Chris believes that co-operatives such as the Bluff Country Co-op provide a much-needed alternative to large corporations that mainly serve to concentrate wealth in the hands of a few.
Jennifer Monsos
Board Member
Term Ends 2027
Jennifer Monsos
Stacey Huber
Board Alternate
Stacey Huber
I believe serving on the Bluff Country Co-op Board of Directors would allow me to contribute my expertise and passion for promoting sustainable, community-driven agriculture and local businesses. I’m dedicated to helping the co-op achieve its mission and support our community’s needs.
I bring a diverse range of volunteer experience and expertise to the Bluff Country Co-op Board of Directors. My background in accounting equips me with financial acumen, ensuring responsible management of the co-op’s resources. Additionally, my e-commerce expertise can help the co-op adapt to modern market trends and enhance its online presence. Furthermore, my previous role as the President of the PTA at Bluff View Montessori has honed my leadership and organizational skills, providing me with valuable experience in fostering community engagement and cooperation. I’m excited to leverage these experiences to benefit the co-op and its members.
My experience working collaboratively is well-demonstrated through my roles in various organizations. As the President of the PTA at Bluff View Montessori, I’ve successfully collaborated with parents, teachers, and administrators to organize events, address concerns, and improve the school community. This experience highlights my ability to lead and work closely with diverse groups of people. Furthermore, in my professional life, my background in accounting has required me to collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure financial transparency and efficiency. Combining this with my e-commerce expertise, I’ve engaged in collaborative efforts to develop and implement strategies for business growth. These experiences have honed my ability to work effectively with others, and I’m eager to apply these collaborative skills to the Bluff Country Co-op Board of Directors to advance our shared goals.
In addition to my financial, e-commerce, and leadership experiences, my deep commitment to sustainability and community development drives my desire to be on the board. I have actively volunteered for local initiatives, underscoring my dedication to creating a more sustainable and interconnected community. My passion for these values is not only a professional pursuit but a personal one, and I’m motivated to help the Bluff Country Co-op further its mission of promoting sustainable practices and nurturing a thriving, close-knit community. Being on the board would allow me to turn this passion into meaningful action and be a catalyst for positive change.