Peter Nolan is currently the Board President. He is honored to bring his extensive knowledge of food marketing, and his passion for community building, to help the Sugar Beet thrive. Peter has been in the food business for over 20 years, holding marketing leadership positions at several innovative companies.  He began his career as a Scoop Truck Driver for Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream and grew to lead all of the consumer promotions at the values-driven company.  Peter moved on to lead the marketing efforts of Potbelly Sandwich Works and Roti Mediterranean Grill.  Currently Peter is running his own business - 5th Marketing - a consultancy focused on small, entrepreneurial food companies. Peter proudly serves as a Super Mentor at Chicago's Good Food Business Accelerator.  A Chicago native, Peter studied Mass Communications at UC Berkeley. He and his wife Karen Steward-Nolan have two daughters.  They live in Oak Park.

Dr. Beth L Dougherty holds a Ph.D. in sociology, teaches part-time at Loyola University Chicago, and serves as a research consultant. Beth is a long-time Berwyn resident with her spouse, kiddo, and cat. Elected to the board in 2021, Beth serves on the Administrative Committee. She believes that the Sugar Beet serves as an essential link in connecting food and community, and service on the board is one way that Beth can use her expertise to expand and support that pillar.

Johnny Mathias is honored to represent you on the Sugar Beet Food Co-Op Board! He relocated to Oak Park from Oakland, California in the Summer of 2021 with his wife Kamilah. He hopes to deepen his connections to this thriving community while pursuing his interest in just food systems. He currently works as the Director, Corporate Engagement and Strategy at Consumer Reports. Previously we worked for 10 years at Color Of Change, the largest online racial justice force in the country. From his work at a civil and consumer rights organizations, he brings a set of skills that supports the operation of Sugar Beet Food Co-op including digital organizing, community engagement, and racial justice practice. On the board, Johnny focuses on owner engagement and is eager to help the co-op tackle future challenges to grow membership in an environment of increasing competition from stores moving to Madison Street. Johnny sees Sugar Beet as a grocery store that can distinguish itself by living its principles and attracting more owners eager for a grocer that shares their values.

Bill Gee is honored to be rejoining the board after serving a previous term on the original board when the store first opened. Bill has thirty years of past experience owning a bakery business and has also invested in and mentored other entrepreneurial startups in the local good food sector. Now retired, Bill and his wife Sue work with nonprofit organizations that focus on good food initiatives through a social justice lens which aligns strongly with what a big part of the Sugar Beet mission is all about. The Sugar Beet has made a positive impact on our community and Bill hopes that the store can continue to broaden its reach at the same time, improving upon its depth of inclusiveness. Bill is a native of Chicago and after he and Sue raised their family in OPRF they moved “down the road” to Lincoln Park, but still consider the Sugar Beet their go to destination for all their grocery needs.

Sam Dali joined Sugar Beet to pursue her quest for nutritious food and an eco-friendly, sustainable lifestyle. Originally from India, Sam has lived in Oak Park for more than a decade. She has also served as a commissioner on the Oak Park Farmers' market. Sam is a financial analyst, serves on the finance committee  at Sugar Beet and hopes to use her expertise to make Sugar Beet a thriving business.

Jim Doyle has been a Sugar Beet Food Co-op member with his wife Ana since before the doors opened and has delightfully served on the Board since 2017. Throughout his 35-year career in finance, he has gained considerable experience in the consumer packaged goods and grocery industry having spent over 17 years with PepsiCo, many of those years focused on brands such as Tropicana, Naked Juice, Quaker, and Gatorade. From mid-2022 to 2023, Jim worked closely with the Sugar Beet team as the General Manager. That experience provided him with a deep foundational respect for the team and the day-to-day operations in the store, including the dedication, love, and inspiration that goes into it being the fabulous place and community we all know and love. Jim and Ana are passionate about healthy eating, supporting local businesses, and leading sustainability efforts. Being a part of the Sugar Beet allows them to be more in touch with the source of their food and the practices with which it is grown, harvested, and prepared while connecting to and supporting the local food community. Jim returned to the Board in late 2023 and was re-elected for another term on the Board of Directors in 2024. Jim always looks forward to engaging with the Sugar Beet, its community, its owners, and its staff.

Zeeshan Butt, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and since 2020, an Owner at the Sugar Beet Food Co-op. Zee spent the first 15 years of his career on faculty at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, before being recruited to join a healthcare technology company. He now serves as a consultant to a variety of groups, providing expertise in behavioral health and outcomes measurement. He's excited to serve on the Board of Directors to serve our mission of building community through food, both within the brick-and-mortar co-op and throughout the neighborhoods we serve. 

Eric Medina is a dedicated member of the Board, passionately committed to advancing the coop's mission of promoting sustainable, healthy, and accessible food options for the community. He focuses on collaborating with local food sources to ensure nutritious food is within reach for everyone. Eric joined his first food coop while living in Oregon in 2010 and appreciated the unique, personable approach to offering locally sourced foods. As a trained chef, he has embraced the art of cooking and strives to inspire others with a "yeah, it’s that easy to make" mentality, encouraging families to explore their culinary creativity. His background is in Corporate Finance and EPM/ERP systems across various industries in global organizations, including consulting. Eric has been a Sugar Beet member since 2016.

Rey Rosa has been a proud Oak Park resident since 2002 and brings a deep appreciation for community connection to his role on the Sugar Beet Food Co-op Board. Inspired by memories of his childhood neighborhood grocery stores, Rey was drawn to Sugar Beet and other local institutions as essential pillars of community life. The COVID-19 pandemic reignited his commitment to supporting local businesses and engaging more intentionally with his neighbors.

Rey’s community involvement began with coaching youth baseball for OPYBS Mustangs, where he built lasting friendships and found meaningful ways to connect. Professionally, Rey has over 20 years of experience in the commercial insurance industry, with a focus on internal due diligence and risk management. His consulting and research-driven approach brings a valuable perspective to the board, particularly in supporting long-term sustainability and operational resilience. Rey sees his board service as an opportunity to help steward and strengthen the neighborhood connections that make Oak Park—and Sugar Beet—so special.