Virtual Meet the Board Candidates and Happy Hour

Join us for a virtual Meet The Board Happy Hour on Thursday, May 21st at 5:30 p.m. Connect with fellow owners, hear from the Board and ask questions. The online ballot and event registration can be found here. The candidates are:

Vibhat Nair is a long time resident of Swarthmore excited to participate as a board member of the Co-Op. He is a strong believer in the institution and the unique role it plays and can continue to play in the Swarthmore community. He is most excited about joining other like minded Swarthmoreans who volunteer their time on the board and help strengthen our local community.

Vibhat has worked at JPMorgan Chase & Co. for the last 12 years in several management roles.  Prior to that, he was a business consultant for several years. He hopes to bring some of that experience to bear in helping shape and secure the future for the Co-Op. Most recently, he joined other like minded Swarthmoreans in extending a no interest loan to the coop to help purchase an alcohol license.

He lives at 135 Guernsey with his wife Jing Wang, 2 kids Daksha (12) and Nandan (9), and dog Rani (1).  In his free time, he is a hobby woodworker and enjoys traveling.

Lauren Shohet has lived in Swarthmore since 1995. A native of New England, where her family raises organic beef and hay, she has a life-long interest in foodways, cooking, markets, and small-scale organic agriculture. She is Professor of English at Villanova University, where she specializes in Shakespeare, Milton, Renaissance women writers, and the long history of media change. She has shopped, cooked, and lived in France, Germany, Italy, and England. She has served on the board of Trinity Cooperative Day Nursery, where she chaired the program committee for many years, and the Swarthmore Recreation Association. Recently, she has begun volunteering as a copy editor for the Swarthmorean. She and her husband Robert Richardson have 2 daughters, Sophie and Phoebe, who graduated from SHHS in 2010 and 2015. You can spot her walking around town with her black dog Ivy, notable for her oversize pointy ears.

Jim Godderz is a practicing attorney and serves as General Counsel for a global telecommunications services company and a valuation and financial services firm. Jim is also a founder of General Counsel on Demand TM , an innovative legal services network combining the accessibility, approach, and affordability of in-house counsel with the sophistication and expertise of global law firms.

He is a serial specialist in many legal subject matters including commercial transactions, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, and employment matters. Jim has served as a director on various boards of directors of non-profits and professional organizations, as well as a term on Swarthmore Borough Council.

Jim moved with his wife and three children to Swarthmore in 1998. He is passionate about food, small businesses and entrepreneurship and wants to help the CO-OP successfully prepare for its next chapter through a challenging environment. Jim received a B.A. in Economics and a minor in Computer Science from Rutgers College, a J.D. from Widener University School of Law, and is licensed to practice law in PA, NJ, and TX. While in law school, he was Articles Editor and Administrative Board Member of the Law Review and a member of the Moot Court Honor Society.

Chris Galbraith grew up in central New Jersey near the shore.  His earliest culinary inspirations came from picking vegetables and apples in his grandfather’s back yard and then helping his grandmother cook their harvest.  After studying history in college, Chris embraced his true calling and attended the New England Culinary Institute, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in culinary management.

Chef Chris subsequently started his career in New England, learning from some of Boston’s best chefs and honing his skills feeding celebrities on Martha’s Vineyard.  His first opportunity to explore his culinary voice came when he launched a successful neighborhood café in Charlestown, Boston.  Chris then took his career to New York City, working in the Michelin rated kitchens of PUBLIC and later helming the food programs for skyscrapers in Times Square and the financial district.  Prior to moving to Philadelphia, he was the executive chef for The Greene Grape in Brooklyn, a high-end market and café focused on highlighting local, sustainable meat and produce.

Once in Philly, Chris became the chef behind Bar Hygge, a seasonally inspired brewery and restaurant where he received “Two Bells” from the Philadelphia Inquirer.  Since Hygge, Chris has worked as a private chef and restaurant consultant.  He now resides in Swarthmore with his wife Lauren, 1 year old son, and three dogs, Salt, Roux, and Dashi.

Donna Francher has served on the Co-op Board for 3 years and as President of the Board for the last two years.  She has lived in in Swarthmore for almost 30 years. She spent most of her career in the Pharma industry.  After retiring from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals where she was a Vice President in the Oncology therapeutic area, she started her own consulting company as a consultant for late stage drug development. Donna is a member of the Crozer Keystone Hospital System Institutional Review Board and a business advisor in the University Science Center’s QED program supporting biotech innovation. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Cancer Care Community of Greater Philadelphia and has mentored women in science for many years. Donna is an avid cook, baker, and gardener and enjoys playing mahjong. She is married to Pat Francher and has a dog and 2 cats.

Stephanie Edwards has served on the Co-op Board for 3 years and as Treasurer of the Board for the last two years. Stephanie spent over 10 years working in various roles assisting companies with their internal controls, financial reporting and analysis for US and foreign organizations. After leaving her corporate role to spend time with her family, she has focused on supporting local small businesses and non-profit organizations in a number of roles. She grew up in Delaware county and currently lives in Wallingford with her husband and son. She enjoys outdoor activities, reading and cooking.