PCC 2026 Elections
Elections are approaching for the PCC Board of Trustees. The board — composed of 11 trustees — has oversight responsibilities for the operation of the co-op. Meet this year’s candidates in our 2026 Election Guide, which will go live on the PCC website on March 17.
Voting in the annual Board of Trustees election is a way PCC members can make their voices heard and support their values. The election results will influence the future of our co-op, and we want to hear your voice. Watch your email for updates on when and how to vote (or refer to the 2026 guide), and read on for more basic information on the roles and responsibilities of trustees.
Q: What are the key responsibilities of PCC’s board?
A: Trustees are required to fulfill their responsibilities in accordance with what are known as “fiduciary duties.” One, the duty of loyalty, requires trustees to put the interests of PCC and its members ahead of all other interests, including their own, and to maintain the confidentiality of information discussed by the board. Another, the duty of care, requires trustees to make decisions after careful study, discussion and debate.
More generally, the board helps craft and oversees PCC’s vision and strategy. It makes sure PCC is meeting the needs of members and the community. It hires the CEO and then provides leadership for the CEO. The board is not involved in the co-op’s day-to-day operations.
Q: What does the job look like in practice?
A: The entire board meets at least four times a year with full-day meetings, and there is typically also a two-day annual retreat for strategic work. Board members also serve on committees that meet regularly, typically working with a staff liaison, including a finance committee, a governance committee, and a management and compensation committee.
Q: How do you recruit candidates for the board, and who is eligible?
A: The number one eligibility requirement is that you need to be a member of PCC. Other requirements include being at least 21 years old and meeting the overall Board Eligibility Criteria.
In addition, each year, the Board and leadership identify the skills currently lacking on the Board that would be most helpful in addressing future challenges. For 2026, the Board sought applicants with executive-level experience in retail innovation and growth strategy, and in grocery and/or fresh foods supply chain.
The Board officially puts a notice out for applicants and typically provides at least a full month for interested people to complete and submit an application. The Governance Committee then reviews all of the applications that come in and looks at how the applicants align to the identified needed skills, then does interviews and comes back as a committee to decide who to recommend to the board as the slate of candidates. The Board of Trustees votes on that recommendation. The Board generally approves a slate where there are more candidates than there are available Board seats, in which case, the number of candidates equal to the number of seats up for election who get the highest number of votes are elected.
Q: Does a Board candidate have to be a resident of Washington state or the Puget Sound region?
A: No, local residency is not a requirement, and as the Board identifies particular needed skill sets, such as those tied to experience in the grocery industry, members can expect to see some out-of-state candidates. This is because the Board’s Eligibility Criteria makes individuals who are competitors to PCC ineligible to serve on the Board because of the conflicts of interest caused by that competition. That means that eligible candidates with the needed skill sets might only be found outside Washington state. The Board does not want non-local residency to be a barrier to finding qualified candidates.
Q: How can members reach the board?
A: Our members are owners of PCC, and board members want to hear more from them. Members can email the board at board@pccmarkets.com.