INFRA News & Events

Congrats on your promotion, Ruthanne!

Growth Operations Manager

As we continue to re-evaluate how our team can best serve members, we’ve decided it’s time for Ruthanne to take on a larger role in guiding the growth of INFRA’s membership! We can’t think of anyone better for the job – Ruthanne’s innovation, creative problem-solving, and dedication to serving members will make her the perfect fit for this role. Congrats! 

Congrats on your promotion, Meggie!

Director of Communications

Meggie’s incredible ambition and vision have been driving INFRA’s communications for 7 years, so it was about time she took on a bigger role in leading our communications! We can’t wait to see what exciting directions she will lead us in next. Well deserved, Meggie! 

Congrats on your promotion, Taylor!

BI Manager

As our Business Intelligence needs have grown, we couldn’t think of anyone better to lead our growing BI team. We are confident that Taylor will steer us towards even more useful and impactful data insights. Congrats, Taylor!

Congrats on your promotion, Hannah! 

Community & Events Manager

For 3 years, Hannah has contributed her stellar organizational skills and attention to detail to put on fun and informative events for INFRA members. We can’t wait for her to step into her new role as Community & Events Manager where she will continue to make INFRA’s events shine! 

Sarah Super

Hello, my friends! I am beyond excited to be back at INFRA as a Wellness Strategist. My passion for natural food retail started nearly 20 years ago when I became a manager for a local co-op, and I’ve loved it ever since! I started at INFRA in 2014 as a Category Manager, but I’ve spent the last 7 years working on the brand side with a focus on supporting independent retailers. Now I am back and so happy to help our amazing retailers and their wellness departments thrive. I appreciate this opportunity to continue to do what I am passionate about and can’t wait to see what we will accomplish together! 

I have lived in Minnesota most of my life and love to travel, hike, and experience new things. I have a great husband, wonderful daughters, a beautiful granddaughter, and awesome friends!  

Penni Ruben

Hello! I’m so excited to be joining the INFRA team as Senior Growth Strategist. The world of natural foods has been a constant in my life, thanks to growing up in a retail family. From managing the day-to-day operations at Lakewinds Co-op to experiencing the distribution side of things as Sr. Business Development Manager at UNFI, I bring a wide breadth of experience across the natural industry to this role.

INFRA’s mission speaks to me because I know from experience how crucial grocery stores are to communities – they’re more than just stores, they’re the pulse of where we live. One of my most valued experiences working in retail leadership was being there for my community during a bird flu outbreak. Witnessing how independent grocers unite in times of need is nothing short of incredible, and I’m excited to extend INFRA’s reach to more retailers nationwide.

Outside of work, I am an avid rock collector – I’m a proud member of the Apache Junction Mineral and Gem Foundation! I am also a certified herbal therapist and enjoy creating herbal remedies for friends and family in my time off. You can also find me walking my beloved pups around my neighborhood in AZ!

Jen LaValley

Hello! I am thankful to be joining INFRA as the VP of Finance and Administration. I bring over twenty years of experience with me from varied industries, from the service sector to distribution and retail, which I will leverage to help me support and grow the finance and administrative team at INFRA. From Finance to Technology, People & Culture to Communications, I’m excited to work beside the team to further the mission of INFRA. Not only does our team focus on internal support, but it also makes sure that members and vendors are fully supported in whatever they may need from us. I’m excited for the challenges and adventures to come!

I am a product of the Midwest and have lived in five different states but have made Minnesota my home for the last 20 years. I live with my husband, Dustin, and our two daughters (Ady 13, and Sam 10) and we love to stay active and spend a lot of time enjoying the outdoors, especially with our dog, Sky. If we aren’t watching our girls at a cheer competition, soccer, basketball, or softball game, we love spending time with friends and family. Leaving the world a better place for my children and the next generation has really become a focal point for me. I feel INFRA is a perfect fit for leaning into that passion.  

Connor Ferris

Hello! My name is Connor Ferris, and I am thrilled to be joining the team at INFRA as a Junior Developer. While I just started my development journey last year in 2023, I bring eight years of information technology experience from other roles including security analysis, engineering, and system administration.

My journey to natural, sustainable, and humane foods has been a long one. I was never a picky eater, but since I was young, my favorite foods were always the “bad” foods: bacon, cheeseburgers, pizza, and chocolate. I maintained poor eating habits through college and most of my 20s. All of that changed when I met my partner, Alyssa. She is passionate about the humane treatment of animals during food production and practices vegetarianism. She introduced me to the world of healthy, sustainable foods and opened my eyes to the horrific conditions many livestock & poultry endure. I’m so thrilled for the opportunity to support members who promote healthy, sustainable, and humane food options.

Outside of work, I like to devote my energies to creative projects. I’ve always been interested in music, technology, and games. In 2022 I released music to streaming platforms (shameless plug!), and now I’m working on a 2D open-world game in Unity. Otherwise, I enjoy spending time with Alyssa and our two cats, supporting Minnesota sports teams, taking trips to national parks, and walking around the neighborhood together.

Gabe Glasco

Hello, INFRA! I am absolutely thrilled to join this incredible community as a Data Analyst and Software Development Apprentice! I have long felt a love for and connection to natural foods and food sustainability practices, and combining this with my passion for mathematics and technology is truly a dream job for me. By harnessing data and technology, I believe we can make meaningful strides towards a more eco-friendly and socially responsible food ecosystem.

Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of working with diverse communities and learning about their unique culinary cultures and needs. My experience as a buyer for Whole Foods Market and later as a math teacher for ESL students has honed my analytical and communication skills, which I'm eager to leverage to help our members thrive.

Outside work, my family and I love exploring new places, trying different cuisines, and enjoying outdoor activities like biking, ice skating, and walking our dogs. We also love to cook and bake as a family and frequent the St. Paul Farmers' Market in the summer. Whenever we can, my husband and I love to go out to see live music, although it rarely happens these days! Having lived in St. Paul for nearly two decades, we've built a deep connection to our community, but still love to explore and are always up for an adventure!

Bekah Kropp

Hello! I am excited to start at INFRA as an Associate Category Manager. My journey in the food retail world has taken me from being a refrigerated grocery buyer at Mississippi Market Co-op and a wellness buyer at Valley Natural Foods Co-op to hands-on work on organic vegetable farms as both a farm worker and educator. I have also spent time in the non-profit sector, helping new and emerging farmers grow their skills as an education specialist in a farm incubator program.  I am deeply aligned with INFRA’s values and mission to support natural food retailers and promote healthy food. I am eager to bring my love for natural foods, industry insights, and diverse experiences to my new role.

My interest in organic and local foods began as a teenager when I started to question the origins and growing practices of my food. This curiosity was not inherited; I did not grow up frequenting co-ops or natural food stores- it was a path I chose on my own. In the summer of 2017, I worked on an organic vegetable farm in Prescott, WI, where I discovered my passion for farming and providing my community with fresh produce. I fell in love with connecting to the land in such a significant way. This experience reinforced my desire to adopt a holistic view of our food system, focusing on farms, co-ops, and natural food stores as ways to access healthy food options, clean ingredients, and support local farms and businesses.

I was raised in the suburbs of the Twin Cities, where big box stores dominated our grocery shopping options. Finding natural food retailers or food co-ops meant driving into the city or nearby towns. I often dreamt of living in the heart of the city immersed in the local food scene or the complete opposite, in a rural setting surrounded by nature and endless opportunities for outdoor recreation.  Outside of the food retail space, I am passionate about hiking & the outdoors, traveling to warm places (specifically AZ, UT, and HI) and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen (I just made buckwheat bread, and it was delicious)!

Caleb Mingus

Hey everyone! My name is Caleb Mingus, and I am the new Purchasing Program Specialist. I am excited to be joining this passionate community where I will be supporting the Everyday and Deals programs. For the last five years, I was the Program Manager at a basic needs nonprofit where I was responsible for planning and executing the food programs.

During that time, I recognized my passion for mission-driven work and food accessibility. I am very excited to engage that passion by assisting with the Everyday program and helping make sustainable food more accessible. I thoroughly enjoy building relationships and am excited to get to know the INFRA members and support them however I can.

When I am not working, I am typically hanging out with my wife, friends, family or at church. I enjoy hiking, running and basically anything that takes me outdoors. Since childhood, playing soccer has been one of my favorite activities. As a diehard fan, I spend far too much time tracking the Timberwolves, Twins, and Vikings.

Henry Slocum

Hello INFRA-verse! I’m excited to be INFRA’s new Office Manager, taking on all things related to INFRA’s HQ and supporting the staff who work there. I am new to the world of natural foods, but I’ve got plenty of peripheral connections. For the past 10 years, I worked in bicycle retail- starting as a mechanic before growing into a variety of administrative roles as a Worker-Owner at the Hub Bike Co-op. I know first-hand how important visionary, independent businesses are to building and supporting community vitality, so I’m thrilled to have a new opportunity to contribute to their success through INFRA.

I grew up in central Massachusetts and moved to Minnesota about 15 years ago- I now consider myself more a Minnesotan than anything else. I’ve called the Corcoran neighborhood in South Minneapolis home for almost 10 years, where I live with my two cats Ripsey (the sweet one) and Ahab (the wild child). I’ve been gardening since I moved into my house in 2020, and love growing a range of fruits and vegetables, from juicy raspberries to fiery ghost peppers. I’ve recently taken on the project of transforming my front yard into a micro-prairie. When I’m not tending plants, I’m still likely to be outdoors- whether hiking, trail running, or riding a bike.

John Campbell

Howdy folks, I am beyond excited to be joining the INFRA organization as the newest Promotions and Merchandising Advisory Specialist. I bring over 20 years of Natural Foods experience and a love for all things local and sustainable with me. I have spent my fair share of time working in both locally owned food cooperatives and independently owned-food stores.

I have developed a strong operational background from my years in Natural Foods, I am most excited to bring my promotions and merchandising expertise to INFRA and our member stores. Looking forward to getting to know your stores and providing them with support to strengthen existing programs and help create new impactful promotional and merchandising strategies. 

Outside of work, you will usually find me, outside. With the family at the park, on the sidelines of a soccer field, or exploring nature together. Once per year, you can find me playing the great sport of Can-Jam at an annual event/tournament put on by good friends. Always the same game, never the same theme!

Katie Herrick

Hi everyone! My name is Katie Herrick, and I am thrilled to be joining INFRA as a Communications Operations specialist. With a background ranging from foreign policy to social services, to public health, I hope to use my diverse skillset to help INFRA realize its vision of strong, healthy, and sustainable local communities.

I possess a deep conviction that everybody deserves access to fresh, local, meaningful food, and that this food should be nourishing to both our bodies and our planet. I began striving towards this vision through direct service with nonprofits before entering the healthcare world and working at the intersection of food security and public health. I’ve just recently returned from several months of farming in Ecuador and am so excited to leverage my skills to help INFRA and our Members stand out as pillars of a just, sustainable food system.

When I’m not at work, you can usually find me throwing sticks for my sweet but hyperactive dog, trying new coffee shops and breweries, or nerding out about vegetables or geopolitics. I also love jamming out to live music and cheering on my favorite sports teams. Whenever life starts to feel a little too comfortable, I throw some things in a backpack and head off to a new, exciting destination. I’m always looking for my next adventure, and I can’t wait to see where my adventure with INFRA takes me!