Ron Eherenreich, Cooperative Federal Credit Union
Travis Hance, Syracuse Real Foods Co-op
Naqia Edwards, Eat to Live Food Coop

Ron Ehrenreich is CEO of Cooperative Federal, a community development credit union serving Syracuse. He is responsible for financial management, strategic planning, policy development, and executive oversight. Ron is President of the CNY Chapter of the Credit Union Association and is engaged in community revitalization, business development, and social change. He teaches workshops on business topics.

Travis got his start in the cooperative sector in 1999, working at the Syracuse Real Food Cooperative, where he has served as General Manager for four years. In his career, Travis has had many opportunities to travel and see other co-ops in action, and he has been humbled to work with a great many helpful mentors, as well as being afforded the opportunity to help other co-op leaders grow and develop themselves. Travis is also a director aof the Cooperative Grocer's Information Network (CGIN.coop) a non-profit 501(c)6 organization who's mission is: To strengthen all retail food cooperatives by creating community and facilitating the sharing and development of resources among members.

Naqia Edwards is a wife, mother of five (5), is the Board president of the Eat To Love Food Coop - currently preparing for ground breaking in April and planning to open the doors in October 2012. They are currently working on membership and marketing materials (ie, website and member packet).  Naqia is also the founder of Nappy Logic, Inc. established in 2003 as a grassroots community- based social enterprise devoted to empowering youth to be successful in society by providing opportunities to learn and earn. Nappy Logic provides direct services to many inner-city youth through programs, advocacy, and research.  Through Nappy Logic programs and projects, such as financial literacy and anger exploration; Naqia focuses on addressing the needs of participants by increasing public awareness of the obstacles and challenges our young people face, such as poverty, lack of education, crime, and drugs. Naqia makes educational excellence and economic empowerment key components for achieving success. Naqia has recently collaborated with B.O.S.S. (Building Opportunities for Self Sufficiency) to create Gang Green®, an urban cooperative ecology program that focuses on sustainable growth and development within inner-city neighborhoods.