Rising Tide’s Board of Directors

 

Ed Ross, President, and his wife, Sandra, have been year-round Damariscotta residents since 2010, but Rising Tide customers since 1980. They recognize that the member-owned co-op is one of the organizations making Lincoln County a great place to live. With his business background, Ed has a special appreciation for the hardworking farmers and small businesses partnering with Rising Tide so locally produced products can be offered. Ed continues to be a positive contributor to Rising Tide’s board.
Sam MacGown, Vice President, is a local food enthusiast who homesteads in Nobleboro. He is passionate about creating and supporting a local food system. Sam’s family has shopped at Rising Tide for the past 15 years when visiting family in the area. In 2019, they decided to move to mid-coast Maine. Rising Tide was a large factor in choosing Nobleboro as their home. Sam has extensive experience in sales and finance. He currently services and advises merchants with their credit card processing. Sam looks forward to deepening his community connections and supporting the growth of Rising Tide as an active board member.
Sean O’Neill, Treasurer, is a dedicated member of the Rising Tide Co-op Board, bringing his passion for food and his scientific expertise to the team. With a background in science, Sean is committed to promoting sustainable and healthy food choices within the community. He has been a member-owner for nearly 10 years and his deep appreciation for nature and good food drives his work at the Co-op, where he aims to make a positive impact on both the environment and the local food landscape. 
Sofia Doe, Secretary, and her husband, Noah, moved to the area by twist of fortune during the pandemic years. She quickly fell in love with the trails, waterways and stunning beauty of how this community takes care of each other. Rising Tide was the first place to anchor them to their new home.
 
Community and culture has always been of driving importance for Sofia. She has worked for small businesses in both the Hospitality and Horticultural Industries. It is her passion is to create nourishing spaces by connecting people to themselves, each other, and the natural world. When not working with plants, you can find Sofia swimming in wild water with her dog, Vesta.
Jane Bjerklie-Barry is honored to be a member-owner of the Rising Tide Co-op. She and her husband moved to the Damariscotta area because of everything this part of Maine represents: nature, healthy community values and an abundance of wellness-focused engagement – all elements of living a life of well-being and happiness. Supporting community is a passion for Jane, having served on various municipal boards and non-profit organizations for over two decades; she currently serves the Inn Along The Way volunteering with committee work. With a background in combined higher education and business, Jane believes strongly in fostering growth, ethical decision-making and collaboration and is eager to support the Co-op using such value sets. Jane lives in New Harbor with her husband, Mike. She enjoys working the garden, yoga and meditation, using sourdough starter and swimming year-round with the Pemaquid Mermaids.
Elizabeth Jane Dunn (Betsy) grew up on the north shore of Massachusetts to a family of ten children, a live-in grandmother and a rotating stream of foreign exchange students.
 
I moved to Maine as a part of the back to the land movement in the 70’s, chopped wood, carried water, gardened organically, had home births, participated in early co-ops where we bought wheels of cheddar, buckets of tofu and peanut butter, I attended the second Common Ground Fair, and many from there on in, subscribed to The Maine Times.
 
Moving onward I lived on Vinal Haven Island opening Betsy’s Food Shop, later cooking at The Market Basket, at Dot’s, with Swan’s Way Catering. Shifting gears, I obtained my real estate license, a property manager’s license, and started buying, renovating and selling properties. By that I mean, moving into a fixer upper and living and working in a job site. 30-40 homes/projects later I am just finishing up what may be my last (?) in Nobleboro, and happy to be settling in.
 
There was a SW Florida chapter, living in a little fishing community on Pine Island, a chapter on the St John River owning and operating a marina, and many years in real estate sales.
 
Co-ops seem to be a part of the fabric of Maine. They help to create community, to support “makers” and farmers, and they reach for higher standards. I moved to this area in part because of the Rising Tide and all that this community has to offer in the way of nature and natural beauty.
 
Leifa Gordon returned to Lincoln County two years ago after some time away. Leifa is originally from Farmington, though spent much of her childhood visiting her grandparents in Round Pond, living there on and off over the years. After working at Rising Tide in the produce department many years ago, she has stayed connected to the Co-op, and now is a member and partner on a professional level. Currently working in public health and food systems at Healthy Lincoln County, much of her work is around supporting people in increasing their access to healthy, local food. She looks forward to working with Rising Tide in a new way while becoming more connected with the community.
Patricia Matrai (Paty) has been a member of Rising Tide since 1995 when her family moved to the area. As a field scientist, I often negotiated the needs and safety of people by first listening and then acting. Retirement in late 2022 has freed my time. I can now offer expertise (board, financial, personnel, team and time management) and excitement for a cause that I am very fond of and that has been so important to the well-being of my family (spouse, children and grandchildren). We have had our own summer and winter vegetable garden for many years and we deeply appreciate the hard work, health and beauty provided by locally-grown produce. This time I simply wish to help further Rising Tide’s mission and goals wherever my expertise may be an asset.
Deb Singer moved to Maine in 2021, she was looking for a life closer to nature. Discovering Rising Tide felt like finding home. The co-op’s mission to support local food and healthy living resonated deeply with her values—and with the way she’s always approached her work.
 
Deb has spent her career championing sustainability, from leading Whole Foods’ groundbreaking plastic bag ban in 2007 to helping retailers across the country reduce single-use plastics. For the past three years, she has proudly served on the Rising Tide Board, a role she deeply enjoys. Being on the board has allowed her to connect more closely with the co-op community and contribute to its growth in meaningful ways. Excited about what’s ahead, Deb is running again and looks forward to continuing this work.

At home in Nobleboro, Deb shares life with her partner Bruce—who has been a Rising Tide shopper for over 15 years—and their lively crew of two cats and a dog. For Deb, Rising Tide is more than a place to shop; it’s a community she’s proud to be part of and eager to help nurture into the future.

 

The Rising Tide Policy Register contains the most concise definition of the Board’s role: “Acting on behalf of our member-owners, the Board ensures that our co-op produces benefit and value while avoiding unacceptable actions and situations.” The Board does this by completing monitoring reports in collaboration with the General Manager. The Board is also responsible for communicating to the membership updates, and plans for the business. Together, the member-owners, the Board, and the General Manager chart the course for Rising Tide and its vital role in an increasingly dynamic business climate.

Board meetings take place at 5:30pm in Rising Tide’s Community Kitchen. All member-owners are welcome to attend! If you’re interested in attending a board meeting via Zoom or have any questions for the board, please get in touch with them at board@risingtide.coop. We hope you will join us!

2026 Board Meetings:
January 27 – meeting minutes
February 24 – meeting minutes
March 31 – meeting minutes
April 28 – meeting minutes
May 26
June 30
August 25
September 29
October 27
November 17
December 15