How can mission-driven business founders retire while ensuring company intent and values live on? How can they honor the people who are creating the value, including workers and communities in which they operate, also share in the benefits? How can they invest in growth without “selling out,” and enshrine their values for the long-term? A growing number of retiring business owners are deciding against “business as usual” and instead pivoting to an innovative model for business transition: Perpetual Purpose Trusts. Hear from three Purpose Trust owned food businesses about the “why,” “how” and “what’s next” as they forge a new path in business ownership and governance.
Gavin moved to Eugene in 1969 to study Comparative Literature at the University, He eventually became disillusioned with the academic bureaucracy and fell in love with working in natural foods co-ops. In 1983 he became an owner of Sundance Natural Foods. In 2023 he donated his ownership to an Oregon Stewardship Trust and now serves as a both a steward and as the General Manager of Sundance.
Mike Neubeck is currently the Director of Purchasing at Organically Grown Company (OGC). His interest in organic practices started in his early 20’s while living in Honduras and witnessing the damage that agricultural chemical use inflicted on the people and the land.
After returning to the Northwest, he interned with an organic market grower then found a home at OGC receiving product and stocking coolers. Over the next 25 plus years with OGC Mike has filled roles including Driver, Quality Assurance Manager, and Buyer.
Mike has a strong interest in ownership structure and work culture and served on the Board of Directors during OGC’s ownership transition to a purpose trust. He currently serves a role in trust governance as the Trust Enforcer committee chair.
Charlie Tilt is CEO of Hummingbird Wholesale, an employee owned and operated Oregon business focused on being a positive force for change in the food industry. Since 1972, Hummingbird has endeavored to serve people and the planet by providing the highest quality, most nutritious Organic foods, grown as farm direct and regionally as possible. Charlie brings to the food business realm his perspective and experience in permaculture and organic agriculture, and a desire to create and maintain health in our lives, work, and ecosystems. Hummingbird’s business model strives for maximum benefit for both customers and farmers. Charlie and the Hummingbird Team have worked to build long term relationships with PNW farms and to support them in providing healthy food for our community.
Moderator: Stacy Kraker is the Director of Sales, Marketing and Sourcing at Hummingbird Wholesale. With more than 20 years of experience in Sales, Marketing and Communications, Sales and Service, Stacy has spent her career working with mission-driven, food and agriculture businesses and non-profits. Prior to working at Hummingbird, Stacy was the Director of Marketing and Communications at Organically Grown Company (OGC) where she was also one of the lead organizers for the celebrated Organicology Conference, from its inception in 2009 until 2017. Stacy has served on both non-profit and business boards, including Provender Alliance and Organically Grown Company, and as the Board Chair for the Oregon Organic Coalition (OOC) for 8 years, where she led state-level policy advocacy and engagement with Oregon’s organic trade. She remains on the OOC Board as the Board Secretary, and serves on the Policy and Administration Committees. In her current role as Director of Sales, Marketing and Sourcing at Hummingbird Wholesale, she leads a team of Customer Service, Sales, Marketing and Sourcing pros, is a member of the Leadership Team and serves on Hummingbird’s Board, in support of the company’s transition to an Employee Owned Purpose Trust. Stacy holds a degree in American Studies, Social Justice and Human Relations from St. Cloud State University. A change agent by nature, Stacy believes in the power of business to act as a force for doing good in the world. She is motivated by a life-long passion for organic farming and food, and is inspired to co-create systems that support positive personal and community growth through authentic human connections. Stacy finds an abundance of peace and joy in the outdoors – camping, hiking and kayaking beautiful mountain lakes and coastal rivers, and traveling with her family, friends and dog companions.