Our Board of Directors is made up of Co-op Owners, elected by fellow Owners, who volunteer their time to act on the community's behalf to ensure a vibrant cooperative vision for the store. They develop and maintain policies to provide overall direction and ensure the long-range security and viability of the Co-op, developing policies necessary to carry out the Board's duties and the Co-op's functions.
The Board does this through the following:
- Creating and sustaining a relationship with the Member-Ownership.
- Hiring and overseeing the work of the General Manager.
- Planning yearly goals for the organization.
- Creating committees to accomplish large-scale projects.
- Ongoing education, training, and recruitment for the Board.
- The Board of Directors does not make decisions about or become involved with any of the day-to-day activities or decisions regarding the operations of the store. The Board’s sole connection to operations is through the General Manager.
The Board and General Manager report to you, the Owners, on the state of the Co-op at our Annual Owners' Meeting. Most importantly, you support the growth and mission of the Co-op through your patronage and loyalty. If you'd like to find out more, board meetings are open to all Owners as observers. Board meetings are currently being held in hybrid form, both in-person in the Community Room and virtually via video conference. If you'd like to attend, click the Contact the Board of Directors button below to request a link for the next meeting.
Meet Our Board of Directors
Spoma Jovanovic, President
Spoma moved to Greensboro in 2001 to work at UNCG as a professor in the Department of Communication Studies and shortly thereafter became an owner and supporter of Deep Roots. Her enthusiasm for community, ethics, justice, and democracy has been put to use to help establish community gardens, secure more bus benches and shelters, introduce Participatory Budgeting to the city, and support the Greensboro Truth and Community Reconciliation Project. She served on the city’s Commission on the Status of Greensboro and has volunteered with many neighborhood organizations and local nonprofits committed to having conversations and taking action to make the future better for all, not just some. She is married to retired civil rights attorney Lewis Pitts and lives in College Hill with their beagle puppy, Bernie. In addition to spending time playing tennis, reading, and attending protests and rallies for racial and economic justice, Spoma enjoys cooking with products found at Deep Roots but admittedly, she likes eating those creations even more.
Drew Dix, Vice President
Drew is the Director of Sales Development for the nation's leading office and home fruit delivery company, The FruitGuys, founded in 1998 to help companies provide fresh produce and healthy snack options to their employees. The FruitGuys (a certified "B Corp") has regional hubs across the United States that network local farms for their produce. Drew has 30 years of business development and performing arts experience and has worked with the American Press Institute, Times-Shamrock Communications, the Specialty Food Association, and the NY Botanical Garden, among others. He founded and directed a not-for-profit theater company in New York City, co-directed a major NJ outdoor music festival for 14 years (Maplewoodstock), and is a member of Actors Equity performance union.
Brittany Peters, Secretary
Brittany began her journey in the cooperative food movement in 2013 at the Dill Pickle Food Co-op in Chicago. Through her participation in the Co-op, her life was radically changed. She moved to Greensboro (because it had a food Co-op) in 2016, and started to work at Deep Roots. She continued to work for the store until 2023. She is enthusiastic to serve the store in her new role as the Boards Secretary. She runs Sun and Soil Farm with her husband in Madison, NC where they organically grow an assortment of vegetables, herbs, fruits & flowers. Brittany's life passion is creating a vibrant local food system that supports producers, farmers & the community. Brittany's other hobbies include homesteading, winemaking, camping, quilting, cooking, learning, reading & spreadsheets.
Joel Landau, Treasurer
Joel has 30 years of experience in natural foods retail management; 18 of those years were as Deep Roots Co-op’s General Manager. He’s planned and opened 2 new stores, one of those being Deep Roots' current location. Joel also planned and opened his own natural products store, which he managed for 7 years before selling it in 2002. He's been through multiple Board of Directors trainings and has served on several nonprofit Boards. Landau also served 4 years on Greensboro's Planning Board, plus helped establish Greensboro's Sustainability Commission, which he co-chaired for 8 years. Joel's been on Deep Roots Board of Directors since May 2016 and was Board President from January 2017 to 2022. He occasionally provides business consultation to small businesses, nonprofits, and startups, helping with financial projections/spreadsheets, business plans, operational procedures/efficiencies, and Board trainings.
Khaila Daye, Assistant Treasurer
Khaila has a strong connection to the Co+op. She began her journey as a cashier while pursuing her graduate studies at NC A&T. Currently, she is a passionate marketing specialist at the NC Department of Agriculture. She has experienced firsthand the impact of cooperative values on community well-being. Deep Roots serves as a beacon of inclusivity and support, providing a safe space for all individuals to come as they are, which are important values to Khaila. As a supporter of local nonprofits, Khaila understands the importance of giving back and valuing people over profits. Deep Roots has not only changed her life, but it inspired her to advocate for cooperative principles and community engagement.
Cecelia Allen
Cecelia discovered Deep Roots to promote her family's health and prevent hereditary issues. She and her husband have been loyal supporters since the early 80s. Cecelia is the President of Bezingy, Inc., a small honey supply business established by her son in 2010, which sells raw honey online and in-person while relying on landowners committed to natural farming practices.
She holds a B.S. and an M.A. in Mathematics from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University and UNC-Greensboro, respectively, and retired from a successful 28-year career at Wells Fargo. Cecelia and her husband, Levern Allen Jr., are certified beekeepers and active members of the Guilford County Beekeepers Association. In her free time, Cecelia enjoys quilting, collecting cookbooks, gardening, canning, and creating healthy recipes.
Mollie Blafer
Mollie Blafer (she/her) is originally from New Jersey but moved to Greensboro 5 years ago to work at Guilford College. She immediately fell in love with the community and became a member of Deep Roots Market. She is passionate about creating inclusive communities, both personally and professionally. She is excited to support Deep Roots Market in continuing to create a healthy and sustainable future by serving on the board. Currently, she serves as a Program Manager for a national nonprofit, the Association of University Centers on Disability. Previously she was the Network Data and Systems Specialist for a Guilford County-specific initiative to improve maternal and early childhood access to resources at Ready for School, Ready for Life.
Mollie holds an M.Ed. in College Student Personnel Administration from James Madison University and a B.A. in Sociology from SUNY Cortland. Outside of work, Mollie supports reproductive justice efforts, enjoys vintage/antique shopping, and patrons local coffee shops and breweries.
Debra Clark Smith
Debra Clark Smith El has lived in Greensboro, North Carolina, for 20 years and has been married to her husband Dennis for 22 years. With over 15 years of experience in accounting, she has a strong track record of providing exceptional service and optimizing operations for executives and managers across multiple locations. Her skill set includes administrative support, client relationship management, and effective communication, both independently and in team environments.
Debra earned an Associate Degree in Global Logistics Technology from Guilford Technical Community College in 2012, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Strayer University, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 2018. She completed her Master’s Degree in Accounting with a concentration in Forensics at Strayer in 2022, also graduating with honors.
An active member of several honor societies, Debra possesses a strong analytical mindset and a deep understanding of financial principles. She is also the owner of Smith El Tax and Business Center, supporting small businesses in her community.