Meet the Board
2026 Elections
The Board of Directors is made up of Co-Owners who volunteer their time to the Co-op. The Board meets monthly & acts on the community’s behalf to bring the cooperative vision to life. Applications for the 2026 Board of Directors Election are now open. Owners will approve the incoming Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting on May 16, 2026. Access the online Board application here.
Tera Ashley
President
A Nashville transplant, Tera has participated in the city’s local food movement since graduating from Trevecca University in 2008. A former farmer, she has nine years of regenerative, organic agriculture experience, including specializations in no/low-till intensive vegetable production, agroforestry, and carbon farming. In 2022, she founded Sweet Radish, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that matches CSA shares from regenerative farms to families experiencing food insecurity. Tera holds a Master of Science in Sustainability from Lipscomb University and currently works to dismantle both cost and proximity barriers to nutritious food as Director of Food Access at The Nashville Food Project. In her free time, she collects cookbooks and tries to play the theremin.
What got you interested in the Co-op:
The only way to build and strengthen our local food system is through collaboration and cooperation! A food co-op in Nashville will increase revenue pathways for both beginning and seasoned growers in Mid-TN while also combating the supply gaps experienced by our residents.
Alex Abels
Alex holds a Doctorate and MBA from Trevecca Nazarene University and brings experience spanning entrepreneurship, business development, and strategic analysis.
Stephen Ussery
Stephen is the founder of Stewards Unlimited, a small business that helps farm and food businesses grow with confidence by securing grant funding and designing strategic development plans.
With an agricultural engineering degree from Purdue University, international development experience through the Peace Corps, and working relationships across hundreds of food-focused enterprises, Stephen specializes in business development that pursues environmental sustainability, farmer profitability, and a more equitable society.
He now lives in Nashville, TN with his wife Taylor, where he’s often found going out of his way to introduce himself to neighbors—much to their discomfort.
John Haubenreich
John joined the Nashville Food Co-op because he wants to support local and sustainable food sources as a means of building community as well as addressing environmental and social injustices such as food deserts, non-sustainable farming practices, and corporate control of food systems. He is an avid gardener, cook, and baker and lives with his 2 children, 4 chickens, 1 dog, and 1 cat in East Nashville.
William Crenshaw
William is a finance and M&A professional, with agricultural roots. Raised in western Kentucky in a farm town, he has been interested in the agriculture industry since childhood. He moved to Nashville in 2013 and has been shopping and supporting local producers of Middle TN since then. In 2023, he became a local producer – William owns and operates Greener Roots Farm, providing year-round fresh leafy greens, herbs, and microgreens. Utilizing indoor hydroponic framing techniques, Greener Roots Farm produces roughly 40 tons of fresh goods, distributed in TN, GA, and KY.
Stephen McClure
Stephen is a longtime Nashvillian with a strong foundation in corporate marketing. He joined the co-op after experiencing what locally-owned grocery cooperatives can bring to other cities. He especially appreciates how they can build community among members and strengthen local food provider networks.
Board interest
Serving on the Board of Directors
Interested in participating on the Board? The Board is elected by the Co-Owners of the co-op. Elections generally take place in February of each year. For further questions, reach out to us at info@nashvillefood.coop to find out more!