Meet the Managers: Valley’s Own Bakehouse Manager, Renee
Meet the Managers of Valley Natural Foods
October is National Cooperative Month and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate all month long.
We wouldn’t be what we are today without our shoppers and member-owners, we wouldn’t be who we are without the leadership of our managers!
This month, we’ll be introducing all of our store managers and give you a glimpse into who they are, why they love being a part of VNF, and what they love outside of the co-op.
Please meet Renee– manager of Valley’s Own Bakehouse!
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How long have you been at Valley Natural Foods/Valley’s Own Bakehouse? I have been at Valley’s Own Bakehouse for a little over 6 years. For the first 3 ½ years I was the Sales Account Coordinator and then I took over the General Manager position after that.
Why do you love being a part of a co-op? I enjoy being a part of the co-op because of the diverse and talented individuals that I work with, and the team approach is not only preached but practiced every day. I also have a strong connection with the co-op values.
What’s your favorite product from VOB? This is such a tough question!! When I first started here, I couldn’t get enough of our sugar cookies, then that evolved to banana bread but now I think the item I purchase the most is our dinner rolls. As a celiac myself it is very difficult to find great bread items and our dinner rolls are to die for. When I was a child my mom called me her bread and butter girl because that’s all I ever wanted to eat. Now I finally have that bread item that I can have at almost any meal!
What’s your favorite way to spend a day off? I usually like to spend a little extra time with my dog and take him to the dog park and then just get together with friends to catch up and solve all the world’s problems in a single afternoon. We call it our round table discussions – LOL!
What are a couple of things you can’t live without and why? I could never live without television – I can’t go to bed at night without it. I go to bed, set the timer on the TV, and before you know it, it’s morning.
I couldn’t live without music or radio either. I find music to be so motivating, whether I am driving into work in the morning, going for a walk on the treadmill, or cleaning my house. It always seems to get me moving and energized.
Lastly, I couldn’t live without Valley’s Own Bakehouse – and I don’t just say this because I work here. As a celiac, there isn’t another brand that offers so many great gluten-free products as Valley’s Own does. Our brand includes cookies, cakes, cupcakes, buns, dinner rolls, chow mein noodles, croutons, pies and so much more. It’s celiac heaven.
What was the last TV show you binged or book you read? I just binge-watched a bunch of old Dateline episodes. I just find it so interesting how they solve these cases sometimes. I think I would like to be a detective in my second life.
What’s your go-to coffee/tea order? I am a big-time green tea drinker but I like my occasional caramel-flavored coffee drinks. The Caramel Apple Frappe that was just featured at VNF’s Coffee & Juice Bar was fabulous.
Any pets? I have a fox red lab named Koda. He is 5 ½ years old and a 101lb lap dog. And yes I am one of those crazy “dog moms”, Koda is my baby and he is spoiled rotten, in his mind he rules the household.
Anything else you like to share about why you love Valley Natural Foods? I can honestly say that my six years here at Valley Natural Foods/Valley’s Own Bakehouse have been the best of years in my career. I enjoy my co-workers at VNF, my team at the bakehouse and my days just fly by and it just doesn’t feel like work. What more can you ask for in a job?!