BRATTLEBORO — After a nationwide search, the Brattleboro Food Co-op decided to stick close to home for a successor to longtime General Manager Alex Gyori.
The co-op's board of directors announced Tuesday that Sabine Rhyne will be the new general manager, effective July 1.
She is currently the manager of shareholder and community relations for the co-op.
Rhyne was selected by unanimous vote of the board. She was recommended for the position by the General Manager Search Committee, comprised of board members, shareholders and co-op staff.
A news release from the co-op board said that Rhyne “brings longstanding commitment to the cooperative movement generally and to the Brattleboro Food Coop specifically.
Rhyne was previously interim general manager and sales and marketing director for Northeast Cooperatives, and operations director for the Brattleboro Music Center.
As manager of shareholder and community relations for the co-op, she has been instrumental in the development of the Food for All and other community partnership programs, and has supported the expansion of the co-op's education outreach programs.
“I am very excited and humbled to be offered this opportunity,” said Rhyne in a prepared statement. “Our cooperative is such a foundation in our downtown community as well as a testament to its priorities by its many shareholder members and staff over 40 amazing years. Our long-term leadership has ably guided our organization through many challenges and developments.
“I hope to preserve the work of all who have contributed so much, while exploring more ways to integrate our work into our community. We have such a marvelous co-op here, and it deserves to be extremely well known and loved!"
Gyori will be retiring at the end of June after 33 years at the helm of the co-op. The co-op plans a celebration of its 40th birthday, as well as a send-off for Gyori, on Saturday, June 27.