Meet Jim Dobis
What do you do at the Co-op and how long have you been working here? My current job is retail operations manager and I’ve been here for 34 years in September.
What brought you to the Co-op?
Good food and a connection to the alternative lifestyle community.
What do you like best about your job?
Wonderful people! I like retail sales and particularly natural foods- and my job has a lot of variety and challenges.
How has working at the Co-op affected your life?
It is what my life is all about. In the beginning we were fighting for people to take us seriously, not just call us that “hippie place across the river.” Organics were more of a dream than a reality. Now, we are considered a leader in the community when there are food issues. I see natural and organics thriving all across the retail food sector. Small independent natural foods and organic manufacturers are big businesses now and little ole First Alternative has had something to do with that growth and success.
What are some of your favorite products at the Co-op?
The decaf coffee is swell for a dollar with your own cup. Grab and Go selection. The blue cheese section. Bulk foods in general (the first department I managed). Fresh and local fruit and veggies. Local packaged products. Our magazine selection. Bulk garden seeds. Bulk personal care products. I better stop now!
What do you like to do outside of work?
I like to garden. We moved in from the hills about 3 years ago and my goal is to get rid of all the grass on our acre place and turn it into flower beds. I try to get out once or twice a year for a sea kayaking adventure. Still smacking racquetballs around. And woodturning has become my artistic passion.
Where did you grow up/where have you lived in your life?
Born in Chicago, raised in San Diego and moved to Benton County in the 70’s.
Tell us something about yourself others might not know?
I was crowned Mr. Corvallis at a fake men’s beauty contest at OSU in the 80’s~now that‘s a story!
Where are some of your favorite travel destinations?
Lake Powell-kayaking in the slots, Hawaii-snorkeling, Baja California-laid back life style, Columbia gorge
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Still at the Co-op! But as a customer, I’m sure my employee shelf life will be expired by then! I really like this area, and see myself growing old gracefully and staying active and fit.
What music is playing in your car, home, or head?
Uh-oh, this will really age me, I’ve been humming Michael Jackson songs since I watched his documentary, This is it. At home, on my ipod, Hewey Lewis and the News, The Who, AC/DC, the Scorps, Police, well you get the picture, 70’s Rock and Roll.
What are your top 5 favorite things about Corvallis?
Incredibly friendly people, the river, educational opportunities, great area for gardening and of course, First Alternative.
What is one thing you would change at the Co-op?
More owner and community involvement- that’s the connection that makes this place hum.
|
Meet Zac Cartwright
What do you do at the Co-op and how long have you been working here?
I get the opportunity to enjoy the customers first hand, to provide that service that goes the extra mile and to give the front-end staff the tools in order to do the same thing. It’s my pleasure to be the Front End Assistant Manager of one amazing place to work and I have been rocking it since mid July!!
What brought you to the Co-op?
After graduating from Oregon State University with two degrees and a minor, having lived on all sides of Oregon and missing my family and wanting to get back to a lifestyle where there is a community that cares for sustainability, helping the environment for all that it gives us and the prospect of working for a company that is in the heart of it all and more, I could not turn it down nor would I want to.
What do you like best about your job?
The ability to work in a place where not only all the staff care for one another and each individual’s opinion, but a place where they also care for the community and the many great people in it!!! That simple and yet great fact puts a big smile on my face everyday that I come to work and makes me want to work even harder.
What are some of your favorite products at the Co-op?
First of all, to have so many local products in our store and with the Local 6 program, AWESOME!!! It’s truly amazing, to bring those products home and enjoy the goodness…yummmm. Also as an individual that loves food and to cook, I have to give a huge shout out to our produce - I love the local, fresh and organic variety that it has to offer!! I would also like to say that I love the product that our staff has to offer, the great customer service and the fact that they really care about the customers and the community; I remember shopping here as a non employee and just enjoying the atmosphere and the feeling that I could come in the store pick up some great products, maybe even a bite at the deli and feel welcomed by the staff.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
The fact that I get to go home every day to the most gorgeous woman ever and to the unlimited imagination of our five-year-old son, where our journeys and experiences are limitless!! Besides that little fact, we are currently and have been working on many wedding projects since our wedding is less than a month away. But wedding aside, I love to get out doors and backpack, kayak, mountain bike, golf, disc golf, take family trips, enjoy time with family and friends, mow the lawn, cook, read, work on the house, landscape… I like to keep busy, but I also enjoy my snuggling time with my fiancé – soon to be wife.
Where did you grow up/where have you lived in your life?
As a true Oregonian, I was born and raised in this beautiful state. Spending most of my school years in the awesome landscapes that Central Oregon has to offer. I then continued my education in the valley at OSU where I found a true belongingness, but I came to this realization once I had moved away to Eastern Oregon. Now, thankfully, I have returned to this great community, lifestyle and belongingness that I love!!!
Where are some of your favorite travel destinations?
As a student of anthropology, I love to travel and experience many different cultures, their way of life, their beliefs, and of course their food!!! One of my favorite trips thus far was being able to live in Hawaii for three months to help build a school while enjoying the local culture and definitely the landscapes, water and wildlife.
What are your top 5 favorite things about Corvallis?
1. The people/community!!! Its good to live amongst intelligent, proactive and genuinely nice people!
2. Family and friends with the great prospect of meeting many new and awesome friends.
3. The outdoors and various outdoor activities that are readily available.
4. The fact that the valley is truly central to the landscapes that I love, the coast, the Cascades and of course Central Oregon.
5. Last, but definitely not least… the Co-op. I am truly grateful to work for a place that makes you feel as if you are family, a place that spreads its roots deep within the community to offer support, a place that is proactive in its actions of sustainability.
|
