Board of Directors
Susan Quarles
Susan has been a member of the Co-op since 2005, when she moved to Bozeman with her family from New York City. Susan is an attorney who is a graduate of Purchase College and New York Law School. After graduating from college, Susan worked at NBC News in New York, where she met her husband Geoff Stephens. Susan spent several years as a litigator for a Wall Street law firm before deciding to become a full-time, stay at home mother to her children Ben and Katie. After moving to Bozeman, she spent several years as an adjunct instructor at MSU and was a member and President of the Bozeman Public Library Foundation Board. She currently is a board member of the Bozeman Actors Theatre and volunteers to provide legal assistance to low income clients. Susan is an avid home cook who is always interested in learning new ways to shop for, store and prepare food in a responsible and conscientious manner.
T.L. Buck Buchanan
Buck was born and raised on a small cattle ranch north of Boise, Idaho. He graduated from Meridian High School in 1973, moving to Montana in 1976. He attended Montana State University from 1980-1985 graduating with a Bachelors’ degree in Earth Science and a secondary school teaching certificate. He also earned a Master’s degree in Secondary School Administration in 1994. Buck taught in Belgrade, Montana for 22 years, retiring in 2007. He currently resides in Manhattan with his wife Carol. They have been gardeners since moving to Manhattan in 1980 and avid composters for 20 years. He started raising bees four years ago, hoping to aid in pollination and bee diversity.
Carmen Byker Shanks
Carmen Byker Shanks has been a member of the Co-op since 2011 when she moved to Bozeman. After visiting her extended family local to the Gallatin Valley throughout childhood and dreaming about one day calling Bozeman home, she was fortunate to secure a faculty position of Food and Nutrition and Sustainable Food Systems at Montana State University. In that role, she educates students and conducts research that focuses on ensuring healthy and sustainable diets for all. Carmen is also a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Her favorite Bozeman days involve spending time with her husband (Justin) and son (Finn) outdoors and then sharing a meal made of Co-op food.
Hyun Kim
Hyun is a stay-at-home mom to a six-year-old who attends Irving Elementary. She recently moved to Bozeman a little over a year ago from Phoenix. Here, she has found a true community of active, happy people who love where they live. She loves to cook and feed people healthy meals. Whether it’s biking, hiking, skiing, walking or ice skating, she loves to get outside and explore this area. Hyun is committed to spreading and keeping the spirit of community alive here in Bozeman.
Jennifer Madgic
Jennifer moved to Montana in 1995 and has since worked for city, county, state and federal government. She recognizes the importance of supporting our local economy and has been a strong advocate for community-owned businesses, protecting local farms and sensible land use planning. Jen loves the outdoors, gardening, time with friends, good food, riding bikes, traveling, yoga and animals. Working with fellow board members and Co-op staff has been a privilege and great joy.
Cameron Hildreth
Cameron Hildreth has been a Working Member of our Coop since she moved here in 1995. Elected to the Board in 2001, she has served on every Board Committee except the Finance Committee. She has enjoyed being a part of the three major expansion projects during her tenure and in the last 2 years, she served on the Design Team for the Coop: the Whole Block. An avid knitter, Cameron owns Stix, a retail yarn store located downtown. She and her husband, Peter, share their home with Severus, a Wheaten Terrier who has stolen their hearts, and 3 young(er) adults when they are home.
Matt Skoglund
Matt Skoglund has lived in Bozeman with his wife, Sarah, since 2008. Along with Sarah, Matt is the founder and owner of North Bridger Bison, a bison ranch rooted in Regenerative Agriculture principles located 30 miles northeast of Bozeman in the Shields Valley. Prior to starting North Bridger Bison, Matt was the Director of the Northern Rockies Office for the Natural Resources Defense Council, where he worked on various conservation issues in Montana and the Northern Rockies for a decade. Matt is a graduate of Middlebury College and the University of Illinois College of Law. He is passionate about local food, and he loves to hunt, garden, cook, and forage for morel mushrooms in the spring. But, more than anything, Matt is proudest to be the dad to his and Sarah's two kids, Otto (7) and Greta (4).
Lori Petermann
Lori Petermann has been with the coop since 2007 when she started as a lead deli cook. She is currently the Prepared Foods Manager for the Co-op's production kitchen. Lori has more than 20 years of experience in the culinary arts field. She's done almost everything imaginable in the restaurant world from pastry chef to caterer. When she’s not cooking, you can find Lori enjoying the outdoors with her husband and dogs, listening to live music, playing in the garden and practicing permaculture.
Jim Madden
helps coordinate the monthly Co-op Board Meeting and assists with planning and facilitating of the Board’s annual three-day retreat. Jim has been a Co-op member for many years and began acting as the facilitator in 2002. He enjoys working with the Board and values the Co-op’s efforts towards fostering strong community ties. Jim is an artist whose principal medium is painting, and his work can be seen in numerous locales around the Gallatin Valley. He lives five blocks from the Co-op, which he considers one of the greatest benefits of living in Bozeman.
