A General Manager for our Medford Food Co-op. His name is Emile Amarotico. Emile brings with him special talents. Over a dozen applicants were screened. Our screening committee consisting of Barry Robino, the General Manager of the Grange Co-op, Richard Katz, the General Manager of the Ashland Food Co-op, Janet Shalda, who was Human Resources Director for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Karen Fronek, a public relations specialist for “Make it Happen”, and our Co-op’s V.P., John Miele and President, Jim Sims, were unanimous in Emile’s selection. His selection was confirmed in an interview with the Medford Food Co-op Board of Directors and member-owners.
Emile is a retired CPA. He was co-founder and General Manager of a full service restaurant: Standing Stone Brewing Co. in Ashland. He has managed real estate development, project build-out, and start-up of the business. He developed a working staff of 50 people. He formulated business policies and procedures. He developed marketing and promotional strategies. He managed accounting records, complied financial statements, and administered business, legal and tax matters.
Emile has been an adjunct instructor of Accounting and of Food and Beverage Management at Southern Oregon University. He is an honors graduate of Culinary Institute of America. He served on the Ashland Food Co-op Financial Committee, on the Oregon Restaurant Education Foundation Board of Trustees, on the Ashland Family YMCA Endowment Board of Trustees, on the City of Ashland Audit Committee, is an active member and past Treasurer of the Rotary Club of Ashland, and for several years has had a private practice as a management consultant.
Emile’s wealth of experience in business start-up, successful business management, financial specialties, culinary expertise, restaurant and food management background, and knowledge of our local economy will serve our start-up Co-op well as we prepare to open our doors in a few months and will keep us successfully moving in a direction that is attentive to our customer’s organic and locally grown food preferences.
Construction is happening inside our Co-op building at 945 So. Riverside. Emile will be co-coordinating interior construction, building layout and design, procurement of equipment, hiring and training of staff, selection of vendors, coordination with Ashland’s Food Co-op, and will establish and implement our Food Co-op’s operational policies and procedures.
We’re looking for a Grand Opening by the first of the New Year, construction permitting.
If you haven’t purchased booster shares yet, this is a good time to do it. Share purchases make our start-up dollars stretch further. We’re on a very tight budget. Member loans at 4% interest are still available, too.
