Doug Close - Treasurer (2022-2024)
“Communities need to take back control and invest in their local food systems (aka Food Sheds) by building organizations that focus on localization….. history has clearly demonstrated that cooperative models empower local communities, everyday people and build democratic processes.”
Born and raised in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Doug went on to graduate from Eastern Illinois University with a B.A. in Communications. Doug currently resides in Huntley with his wife Kathie and family. Doug currently enjoys a successful career as an SVP for a national IT solutions company. Prior to Doug’s career in the computer industry, Doug owned and operated a small business for thirteen years.
Doug came to learn the true importance of local resilience efforts during and after the global financial crisis of 2008. Doug continues to research global risk in the areas of economics, energy and the environment and advocates that localization is the best step to proactively address risks caused by our current unsustainable practices. Doug states that “we live in a world of increased complexity and centralization directly competing with local, sustainable and decentralized systems which elevates the risk to communities by forces outside their control. A local food cooperative will be the spark for many more local initiatives."
Doug, one of the original Food Shed Co-op Steering Committee members and first Board President, is committed to ensuring the food cooperative store is a success and is inspired by the progress and community support to date. Doug also believes cooperation is the key component to a resilient future and history has clearly demonstrated that cooperative models empower local communities, everyday people and build democratic processes. Cooperatives also keep wealth in the communities well beyond just money to include a sense of place, empowerment, leadership, and charity.