The Chicago Market Board of Directors is delighted to welcome Lance Rantala to the Board.

Rantala, an experienced co-op manager, is filling the Board position recently vacated by the wonderful Nisha Kapadia Bhesania. Nisha brought much wisdom and enthusiasm to the Board during her tenure, but had to step down because she moved to the Bay Area with her husband. 

Rantala is the CEO of Blue Hawk, a purchasing cooperative for the heating-ventilation-air conditioning industry. He also worked with a drywall distribution cooperative and even a bicycle retailers' co-op. 

"My career as a co-op manager has allowed me to experience the advantages of member-owned purchasing cooperatives for family-owned businesses," Rantala says. "The cooperative business model is the most-trusted business model available to business owners and consumers. This is why I decided to get involved in Chicago Market."

Rantala ran for the Board during our last election. When seeking a replacement for Nisha, the Board unanimously agreed he would be a good fit. 

The Board looks forward to mining Lance's expertise as we work to build Chicago Market.