By Greg Osoba, CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca

Mary Lavelle took the general manager’s reigns at the Cortes Island Natural Food Co-op at the beginning of this year. She says she had big boots to fill after former general manager Eric Hargrave moved on after a nine year tenure.

Lavelle’s approach has been a horizontal style of management: rather than imposing top-down leadership, she’s committed to consultation, she says, which involves the board of directors, employees and customers. She does this, in part, by having direct contact on the store floor with staff and customers on a daily basis.

Lavelle also believes that setting boundaries is important and don’t promise what you may not be able to deliver when it comes to products, schedules, or hours of operation.

With summer approaching, the Cortes Natural Food Co-op is struggling with having enough staff to meet the increased demand as family, friends and tourists descend on the island.

Top image credit: General Manager Mary Lavelle stands outside the Cortes Natural Food Co-op. Photo by Greg Osoba.