STEVEN SCHULTZ

I was born in Buffalo and grew up in the Town of Tonawanda graduating from Kenmore East Senior High. From there my education led me to SUNY at Binghamton followed by Cornell University where I graduated with a degree in Veterinary Medicine. I practiced in New Jersey for several years, and then I moved back to WNY where I owned a companion animal practice for 30 years.

I sold that practice and began a house call practice limited to veterinary hospice and in-home euthanasia.
 

I have been married for 40 years to my wonderful wife Sara. We have 3 grown children and 7 grandchildren. Our pastimes, other than grandchildren, include traveling, hiking, backpacking and biking. We try to eat healthfully and Iive in a “green” manner as Sara is on the Executive Committee of the local Sierra Club. Our home is heated and cooled with a geothermal system powered by solar panels, and Sara drives a fully electric vehicle. All of this leads to my interest in helping to develop a successful cooperative in the village.

MARK STORCH

Eight percent of produce consumed in New York State is grown in the state.  Most is grown and transported thousands of miles.  This process provides lower food quality, the produce is harvested very early, a higher carbon footprint due to fuels burned during transporting produce, and typically uses a greater amount of pesticides.  This system needs to be altered for many reasons.  

I believe an increase in locally grown produce that is helpful to the local economy using less carbon in production and transporting produce with the harvesting location known to the consumer will be the next evolution of our farming industry.
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I have lived my entire life in Western New York and the past 25 years in Williamsville.  I have spent much of my professional career doing business development in the planning, architecture, engineering and construction world.  

Currently I am a partner in two businesses - Acadia Energy (a microgrid developer that produces energy using multiple sources of renewable and nonrenewable energy at a given location for multiple
users) and Beyond Green (an indoor farming business that uses hydroponic, aquaponic and indoor soil-based farming technologies to create year-round production of produce and fish for consumers).

MARY ELLEN HAEFNER

Born in Buffalo, NY and raised in Snyder/Amherst, NY, I returned in 2010 after leaving in 1983. The vision for a locally sourced food cooperative market is compelling to me and a good fit for the Northtowns. A cooperative includes a participatory process for all member-owners and a fair share of the earnings, and these are key to the strength and longevity of the business.

I truly believe our upcoming food market cooperative will be a pinnacle in the community. As many of us have learned the past 2 ½ years, food, farms, and agriculture are enduring challenging times. We have the opportunity to give back to the community and contribute to the a more hopeful future.