Liza Tedesco - General Manager

Liza fell in love with natural foods, herbs, and Co-ops while working as a cashier at People's Co-op in Ocean Beach, CA. In 2001, with her infant daughter in-tow, she joined the Wellness Department here at CNFC. Her expertise, enthusiasm, and motivation took her quickly from a stocker position to buyer to department manager. In July of 2008, when the need arose for an Interim General Manager, Liza stepped up to the challenge. Almost exactly a year later, CNFC was proud to announce her as permanent GM. She views her role as information and idea-exchanger, vision-builder, and "the cheerleader I never was in high school. GO TEAM!" Liza has her degree in Literature with an emphasis in Latin America History and Politics. She has also studied Horticulture, Botany, Field Biology, Entomology, and Human Biology.

Liza Tedesco Fun Facts

Bryan Shaw - Produce Manager

Raised in Red Bluff, CA, Bryan was drawn to Chico by the town's community oriented atmosphere. Enthusiastic about science and plants, he studied biology, botany, ecology, and environmental issues while obtaining his Bachelor's Degree in English. Wanting a job that aligned with his ideals, Bryan began to work as a stocker in CNFC's Produce Department in August of 2005. When the manager position became available in 2007, Bryan quickly applied, excited for the opportunity to make improvements to the department. As a new manager, his first self-assigned tasks were to secure as much local produce as possible and to ensure the quality of all offerings. Now, the goal for his department is to make it the #1 destination in the Chico area for organic produce. Take one look at the department and you will know he is well on his way to success!

In his time away from fruits and vegetables, Bryan likes to hike, mountain bike, paint and draw. He also enjoys music and plays guitar, bass, and drums.

Bryan Shaw Fun Facts

Esther Brown - Deli Manager

Born in Detroit, MI, and raised in East Los Angeles, Esther's background is full of adventures and unique experiences. As a second generation American raised by Italian and Armenian parents, Esther was continuously learning how to do things herself. Food was always kept close to home with vegetables grown in the backyard and pre-packaged foods scarce. Esther attributes her love (and talent) for cooking to both her grandmothers. Not wanting to raise a family in LA, Esther and her husband Dale moved to Hamilton City, CA where they lived for 20 years before moving to Chico. While a stay at home mom, she studied Art at CSU, Chico. In 1989, Esther took a job at Food for Less where she became Deli Manager. In 2001, she transferred to Holiday Market in Paradise where she oversaw both the Deli and Bakery. Wanting to downsize her career and enter the natural foods industry, Esther responded to an ad in the local paper for a prep cook at CNFC. She was hired in May of 2005 and quickly became a mentor to the manager, sharing her wealth of experience. In 2005, the Kitchen Department needed a new manager; Esther begrudgingly accepted the offered promotion. She began to focus on consistency in recipes, incorporated local produce, tofu, and bread, and created unique, vegan soups. She also focused on presentation. "I'm an artist first", she says and it is apparently in her beautifully designed dishes. Esther takes pride in providing customers with consistently high-quality dishes. She looks forward to continuing her department's growths and hopes to incorporate hot entrees and more variety when given access to more space.

Outside of the kitchen, Esther loves to paint, draw, garden, explore the park, and spend time with her grandchildren. She especially loves escaping to the north coast to take strolls along the beach.

Esther Brown Fun Facts

Janae Lloyd - Membership and Marketing Manager

After graduating from university in 2007, Janae wanted a job that would allow her to learn more about environmental issues and get her involved in her local community. CNFC was the ideal employer. As a cashier, Janae became committed to co-ops. Her enthusiasm for the structure, function, and mission of the co-op helped transition her from cashier to Manager on Duty to Front-End Manager. In 2009, Janae gladly accepted her current position as Membership Services and Marketing Manager, excited for the opportunity to spread her love of the co-op out to the community. She attributes her passion for natural living to growing up in an agricultural community in Siskiyou County, CA, and to having parents who enforced a do-it-yourself mentality. Her goals at the co-op are to educate customers about the meaning of membership at a co-op and to promote CNFC as the leading natural food store in the community.

Janae has her degree in English from CSU, Chico. She loves to travel, read, garden, and dabble in the arts.

Janae Lloyd Fun Facts

Rebecca Watkins - Front-End Manager & POS Scan Coordinator

Rebecca was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. At 18 years old, she headed off to explore the country; working at national parks and backpacking the states (including Hawaii!). She came to Chico to visit a friend and fell in love with the town and community. After 4 years of traveling, she settled down in her new home. Rebecca first started at CNFC in December of 2004 as a cashier. After ten months she transferred to the Produce Department and was also promoted to Manager on Duty. In June of 2008 she became our POS Scan Coordinator. Almost exactly a year later she added to her responsibilities the role of Front End Manager. In both her departments, Rebecca aims for accuracy and efficiency. She enjoys supporting the cashiers and promoting excellent customer service.

Rebecca has her BFA in Photography from CSU, Chico. She enjoys taking pictures, riding her bike, and listening to music. She also loves the community feel at the Co-op and appreciates contributing to an organization that supports sustainability and organic food options. In the future, she hopes to be a freelance photo journalist whilst pursuing her other artistic endeavors such as sculpting, alternative photo processing with glass and metal, and welding.

Rebecca Watkins Fun Facts

Ron Toppi - Grocery Manager

Ron came to CNFC from Everett, Washington, early in the fall of 2009. Although his adventure with CNFC just recently began, his role in co-ops goes all the way back to 2000 when he found out he was allergic to wheat. His allergy led him to discover a whole new realm of food. He joined Sno-Isle Cooperative and educated himself in natural foods. 6 years later he joined the Sno-Isle team in the Grocery Department . In 2008, Ron was ready for a change of scenery and started looking for a nice, small town with a warmer climate. When the position of Perishables Buyer at CNFC became available, he packed up and moved to Chico. Not long after starting, Ron applied for the position of Grocery Manager. With the opening he saw the potential to offer the Co-op his experience in a greater way. Needless to say, CNFC was happy to offer him the position. He appreciates the responsibility of providing good, healthy food for the community and continually reaffirms that he is "here to serve". Since starting at CNFC Ron has successfully re-merchandised the cheese case and revised our buying policies. He is continually striving to pass on more savings to our shoppers and members. Ron looks forward to establishing CNFC as a key player in a community-based economy.

Ron has a technical degree in Environmental Sciences from Clover Park Technical College in Tacoma, WA. He loves everything bicycles, along with being outdoors, and growing organic food.

Ron Toppi Fun Facts