General Manager

Kira (she/her) 

I live in Brewerytown with my partner, my foster puppy (Odie), and my sassy cat (Olive). I was on the soccer and softball teams through high school, and I was honored to be selected varsity captain of the soccer team my senior year. In college I played rugby! I have been surrounded by food for most of my life; my parents were avid vegetable gardeners. Working at the Co-Op gives me opportunities to connect with farmers, small business owners, and consumers and to listen to their stories. Here at the Co-Op we help share those stories! I believe that good food comes from happy animals and plants, and that being responsible stewards of the land includes respecting and honoring its animals and plants. I am very happy that we make a commitment to seek out and support vendors who have the same values.  

Managers

John Adams (he/him)

Department(s): Prepared Foods, Deli, Meat, and Seafood 

I picked this kind of job because every day is different; I get to be creative and can experiment with food—especially because I love trying to turn anything into a sandwich! At home I have a lovely wife, two wonderful children, and a dog.  I like basketball, which I try to play when I can, and I enjoy listening to Motown, classic rock, and hits from the 80s and 90s.  I believe that the energy one puts into something is the same energy that will be fueling the outcome.

Dave Blanda (he/him)

Department(s): Grocery, Dairy, Frozen, General Merchandise, Bulk Foods 

I like to keep things hassle-free, whether it’s a relatively simple meal (like pasta with spicy arrabiata sauce and grated parm) or traveling locally to Delaware and Maryland beaches—easy places to get to with tons of great places to eat! To me, the Co-Op is a great and supportive community that understands the importance of supporting small local businesses; it’s a breath of fresh air compared to a corporation. At work I always like to be as transparent as possible, and I am very big on talent enhancement and teaching the philosophy behind why we do what we do.  I’m a big fan of anything comedy-related, video games, video game streaming, and I like almost all music from the 80s, as well as punk and post-punk (favorite bands include Faith no More, Soundgarden, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Xmal Deutschland). 

Shaina Ragamat (she/her)

Department(s): Front End and Membership 

I grew up in Okeechobee, FL, “The Bass Fishing Capital of the World.” Working at the Co-op is rewarding because it allows me to directly contribute to promoting sustainability, supporting local businesses, and providing access to fresh, quality food for everyone in the community. At work I try to always keep learning, growing, and rolling with the punches—it’s all about getting better every day! I enjoy making Filipino food, and eating Vietnamese and Mexican food, and I like trail running, disc golf, sewing, and going to concerts.

Vlad Stefanovich (he/him)

Department(s): Produce and Specialty 

I was born in Grodno, Belarus, just a few miles away from Poland. I have two beautiful long-haired cats named Masha and Dasha. I’ve been playing soccer regularly since I was 8 but I love badminton and rock climbing as well! I am passionate about advancing sustainable causes, and I feel that working at the Co-Op provides me with the perfect opportunity to marry the theoretical concepts that science has taught me with the practical applications of running a small business centered on developing local economies of scale. I believe strongly in leading by example and spearheading tangible impacts. I appreciate that the Co-Op has a collection of bright, open-minded individuals who are an absolute pleasure to work with, and who make ambitious projects a reality. I love making steak, grilled fish, fried veggie medleys, salads of any variety, and anything pickled or fermented! 

Managers-on-Duty

Aidan Cunningham (he/him)

Department(s): Grocery and Marketing 

I love food (particularly pad thai, pizza, and pasta, and baking bread, pastries, and cookies) and any type of art—photography, drawings, paintings, music, movies…you name it!  I like working at the Co-Op in part because of how small the business is.  It gives me a chance to connect with all the other employees as well as the customers. I’m a graphic designer and I am lucky to be able to use this skill at the Co-Op to create a lot of our marketing materials, both in the store and on social media!  I’d love to travel to Italy, France, Ireland, and New Zealand. 

Amanda Ervin (she/her)

Department(s): Front End

I work in customer service at the Co-Op in part because I really value connection; I appreciate that my job allows me to connect with people throughout the day and build meaningful relationships with customers and coworkers.  I like working at the Swarthmore Co-Op specifically because it’s a low stress environment and there’s a unique sense of community here that makes me happy.  Outside the Co-Op I like to bake my own bread AND make raw farm cheese!  I enjoy painting and being in nature—one day I’d love to travel to Washington and see the beautiful trees. 

Carl Marissen (he/him)

Department(s): Deli, Meat, and Seafood 

I lived in Vermont for over a decade, but I grew up right down the street from the Co-Op—it’s great to be back. I love whipping out breakfast sandwiches when there’s a rush in the morning; I enjoy the coordination it takes to handle a crowd in the deli. I’m happy to be a Co-op team member, and my hope is that I make work easier for others around me. I’m a diehard Flyers fan and I play hockey myself, too.