2020 Election Candidates
Mike Burton
Mike Burton has more than 20 years of experience in the organic food industry, along with degrees in economics and law. He moved to Roanoke two years ago from an organic farm in Floyd County; his products used to appear on the co-op shelves! As a founding board member of SustainFloyd and its first Executive Director, Mike dedicated himself to supporting and developing the local, regenerative agriculture in Floyd and the region. He became a local food system consultant building on his work in the region and now serves as Managing Director of the Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT), a national non-profit leader in educating the public and change-makers about the dangers of GMOs and associated pesticides.
Mike is committed to clean food and a healthy environment and wants to support the co-op’s mission with his background and passions.
Bryan Hantman
Bryan Hantman served on Roanoke Co+op’s Board of Directors 2012-2019, most recently as Vice President. Bryan has been working with cooperatives for roughly 18 years. His experience includes working with cooperatives and collectives in: College Park, Md. (Maryland Food Collective, 1992-1996), Madison, Wi (Madison Community Cooperative, 1995-1996), and Washington, DC (City Garden, 1999-2002; Beehive Collective, 1999).
Food-wise, Bryan has an interest in farm-to-table restaurants (Local Roots and Lucky are favorites) and biodynamic agriculture. Bryan lives on 4-acres in Southwest County with his wife Doreen and poodle, Mochi. He can be found most days keeping busy by working out or making up new recipes he never writes down.
Shannon Shaffer – Incumbent
Shannon Shaffer lives in Raleigh Court with her dog, Cisco. She has served on the co-op board since 2016. Shannon received her BA in Sociology from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. She has extensive business, management, leadership and marketing experience. Currently, Shannon is a Supported Employment Supervisor for Rehabilitative Services and Vocational Placement, Inc. She is a fifteen year active member of the Junior League of Roanoke Valley, having served as President in 2015-2016 and on the board for two additional years. Shannon is a respite foster parent for Roanoke County Department of Social Services. She is a current participant (2019-2020) in Leadership Roanoke Valley through the Roanoke Regional Chamber.
In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering as a puppy sitter for St. Francis Service Dogs, as a mentor with House of Bread, and exploring local and new areas. She loves spending time with her daughter, Adair, who is a first year student at The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. In addition, Shannon was raised on a dairy farm in rural Pennsylvania and has a passion for supporting local businesses and farmers.