Board Report

Greetings from the Wedge Board of Directors! I hope the new year finds all of you well. I am saddened that I must use this issue of the newsletter to report to our membership that, after 15 years with the Wedge, General Manager Dan Foley has submitted his resignation to the Board of Directors so that he may explore new opportunities in his life and career.

It's difficult to summarize the tremendous contribution that Dan has made to the success of the Wedge. We've seen substantial change and growth under his leadership. Since Dan's arrival in 1989, Wedge membership increased from 300 to 11,070, with a corresponding increase in revenue from $1.6 million per year to $24 million. To accommodate this phenomenal growth, Dan oversaw the move of the Wedge to its current location, as well as two subsequent expansions that doubled the size of our store and allowed for the start-up of our own in-house bakery operation. We have an effective organizational structure in place, with a very talented group of managers and staff.

While this is the first time in 15 years that the Wedge has been faced with the loss of its General Manager, planning for this eventuality has been underway for the past few years, with a formal succession planning strategy completed in 2004. A hiring team, comprised of three Board members and the General Manager, along with the assistance of the Wedge's HR department, has already begun implementation of this process, with the goal of finding the best-qualified candidate available to take over the management of the Wedge by April 1 of this year. The Board is committed to ensuring stability and a smooth transition during the recruitment and hiring process, and would like to thank Dan for his willingness to remain on the job until a new General Manager is hired.

Big changes can often be accompanied by concerns about what the future holds for the organization. During his tenure, Dan helped make the Wedge a leader in the local and national co-op movement, with a commitment to a philosophy of excellent customer service and efficient business operations. Just as important, he has worked to create an environment where staff is highly valued. The Board is committed to ensuring that the new General Manager continues the Wedge's unique culture and focus on these values, as well as the maintenance of our sound financial position.

Change can also bring about opportunities for new growth and new direction. We thank Dan for providing the leadership needed to bring nationally recognized success to the Wedge, and look forward to continuing this tradition with our next General Manager.

The Board values your input into the process. Please feel free to contact us at bodadmin@wedge.coop with any questions or feedback you might have as we move forward with the recruitment.