PCC Community Markets Announces Board of Trustees Election Results
2026 News
PCC Community Markets, a 72-year-old retail grocery cooperative serving the Puget Sound region, concluded this year’s Board of Trustees election, with three Trustees elected by PCC’s member-owners to serve on the Board.
Newly elected Trustees Alissa Leinonen and Errol Schweizer will join the Board for the first time, while incumbent Megan Karch has been reappointed to a third three-year term.
“PCC’s member-elected Board represents the diverse voices of our co-op community, and we are thrilled to welcome our three Trustees,” said Krish Srinivasan, PCC’s President and CEO. “Each brings invaluable expertise that will support our continued growth in an ever-changing market. For this year’s election, the Board sought candidates with experience in retail innovation, growth strategy, and grocery and fresh food supply chains. Our new Trustees bring that expertise, along with a deep commitment to PCC’s mission, vision, and values.”
Alissa Leinonen, a fourth-generation Seattleite, is the Founder and CEO of Gourmondo Co., a Seattle-based food company she established more than 30 years ago and built into one of the largest women-owned hospitality businesses in the Pacific Northwest.
Errol Schweizer brings more than 30 years of experience in the food industry, from stock clerk to senior leadership roles. From 2002 to 2016, he held regional operations and buying positions at Whole Foods Market before moving to Vice President of Grocery from 2009 to 2016. He has decades of knowledge and experience in the natural and organic food industry and has deep passion for the important role of cooperatives in the U.S., and communities around the world.
Incumbent Megan Karch has served as a PCC Trustee since 2020, and she currently serves as President and CEO of IslandWood, a nonprofit focused on environmental education. Megan’s experience spans more than 30 years and includes 18 years as CEO of FareStart and 12 years as a Vice President at Humanim.
PCC’s Board of Trustees is comprised of 11 Trustees, including two unionized staff members, each democratically elected by the co-op’s membership, which includes more than 123,000 active member-owners. The Trustees serve three-year terms, with a maximum of three consecutive terms. The Board of Trustees provides critical oversight of and assistance to PCC’s Leadership Team in setting and achieving the co-op’s financial, operational, environmental and social goals. The Board participates in long-range strategic planning and annual financial budgeting, approves material changes in the co-op’s operations, reviews the results of ongoing strategic initiatives and ensures that the co-op is functioning in line with its stated vision, mission, and values.
As a cooperative, PCC Community Markets is guided by the principle of democratic member control, ensuring that governance decisions are made by elected representatives who reflect and serve the interests of its member-owners, including its staff.