mix • Twin Cities Natural Food Co-ops • September/October 2012 • 5

if Matt Ludt were a product being sold at his local co-op, his packaging would say “100 percent co-operative friendly.” The River Market Community Co-op board member also serves as an attorney at Atticus Law Cooperative, a general prac-

tice co-operative law firm that handles everyday legal needs for Stillwater and Twin Cities residents.

He also is a founder of coopcommonwealth.com, a blog focused on issues related to co-ops.

“I’ve always been in favor of alternative business structures,” says Ludt. “For example in college, I sought out the credit union because I didn’t want to use a bank.” Ludt, who moved to Stillwater eight years ago, says he decided to serve on the River Market board because it suited his skills. “I’m comfortable with boards—the way discussion happens and decisions are made— with both short-term planning and long-term vision.”

He describes the current nine-member board as one that operates with a lot of “gusto,” and adds that efforts in recent years to “pick up the pace and commit more time to improve our overall processes” have been met with success. The directors have diverse backgrounds and abilities, he adds, noting among the members several nonprofit professionals, a musician, a retiree, a bookstore manager, a self-employed consultant and an executive assistant.

As with any volunteer job, Ludt says he’s found that he gets back as much as he puts in. “There are personal benefits to serving on the board, especially in being close to the business strategy, analysis and operations of the co-op. It’s been nice to take those examples and lessons back to my own firm,” he says.

One of his favorite times of year at River Market is the annual meeting in September. “It’s a lot of fun, with music and vendors,” he says, “and also because it provides an additional sense of community. It’s a chance to talk more with employees you see all the time and to connect with neighbors. I find that members know each other from their neighborhood, church or gym. The annual meeting is another place for them to connect.”

Ludt lives on a hobby farm in Horse Creek, Wis., about 30 miles from Stillwater, with his wife, Tamara. Their property includes an organic garden and a dozen chickens. Their summer’s work includes building a greenhouse, where Ludt hopes to grow citrus fruits.

He and Tamara are loyal River Market customers. “We always buy fish and shrimp and visit the bulk department for granola, coffee, spices, and pasta.” Tamara enjoys Organic Valley

French vanilla creamer, and he confesses to a weakness for a particular offering from the deli counter. “It’s call Charlie Brown’s Fantasy, a sandwich with peanut butter, alfalfa sprouts, raisins, cream cheese and apples, on multigrain bread. It’s delicious!”

Julie Kendrick is a Minneapolis-based freelance writer who focuses on family, business and lifestyle reporting for a number of local sites and publications.

River Market board Member Matt Ludt: 100% Co-op Friendly

B y J u L i E k E N D R i C k

PH

oT

oG

RA

PH

by

PA

uL

A K

ELL

ER

Matt Ludt, attorney and River Market board member, shares a hobby farm with his wife, Tamara, and a dozen chickens.