Seward Community Cooperative Names Raynardo Williams General Manager
Raynardo Williams, the new GM at Seward Community Cooperative
Ray holds an undergraduate degree in business administration from National American University and a master’s degree in management from Hamline University. He has held management roles at both Blue Cross Blue Shield and Securian Financial.
After leaving the corporate world, Ray was an entrepreneur, running his own business as a personal fashion consultant. He’s been recognized by both the “Star Tribune” and “Vita.mn” for his exceptional sense of style.
Minneapolis (February 1, 2023) Seward Community Cooperative is proud to announce its board of directors has selected Raynardo (Ray) Williams as General Manager.
Ray’s experience in the last seven years at Seward Co-op includes Store Manager (Friendship store), Operations Manager and Senior Human Resources and Operations Manager. Over the past four months, as interim General Manager, Ray has excelled and demonstrated his readiness for the role.
“After a year of celebrating our 50th anniversary, we cannot diminish the historic nature of Ray stepping into his role as the first Black GM in Seward Co-op’s history. Together, Ray and Seward Co-op are making history and showing the world what modern cooperative leadership looks like,” says Seward Board President, LaDonna Sanders Redmond.
About Seward Co-op
For more than 50 years, Seward Co-op has been a community owned, consumer co-op where everyone is welcome to shop. Cooperatives are very different from privately owned discount clubs, which charge annual fees in exchange for a discount on purchases. Discount clubs are owned and governed by the shareholders. Profits of the business go to the investors. In a cooperative, community members purchase stock in exchange for ownership and the profits belong to the community of owners.
Owners may exercise their ownership by shopping at the grocery stores, running as a candidate in the board of directors election and voting for the board of directors. The overarching goal of the cooperative movement is to create a cooperative economy comprised of businesses that exist to serve the needs of the people who use them. Cooperative businesses provide goods and services in a way that keeps community resources in the community. Learn more about locations and offerings at: https://seward.coop
“This is a monumental step for our co-op that exemplifies our ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion within the cooperative movement.”
WHO
Raynard Williams, General Manager
WHERE
WHEN
Beginning February 2023
WHY
Read More about SEWARD
