By: Dan Jackson  We’ve been hard at work this winter in preparation for the upcoming market season. One of our greatest feats was bringing on a new employee to our team. We are thrilled to introduce you to our new Finance Manager and Assistant Market Manager, Liz Braun! Liz should be a familiar face to most as she has been heavily involved in our organization as a volunteer for the past year.  We are elated to continue having her support as we strive to grow our market. If she’s a new face to some, we are happy to share more about her!
Liz has been living in Portland since 2019, making her way into the East Portland neighborhood in 2020 after purchasing her first home with her husband. Working hard as a Financial Planning Specialist, Liz began to feel a strong desire to become involved in the community with work that better aligned with her personal goals and values. She decided to leave her job and pursue more passionate volunteer opportunities. Enter RBFM! Liz began shopping with us and fell in love with the Rocky Butte Farmers Market community. “We attended as shoppers in 2021 and I loved the grassroots feel of the market. I loved how large the space for the market is, so I never felt too overwhelmed by other shoppers.” One day she noticed that the market had advertised a volunteer opportunity for assistance with accounting and bookkeeping. She quickly filled out the volunteer interest form, and the rest is history! “I volunteered regularly in 2022 as the bookkeeper and assisted our wonderful market manager, Marcy,” she explains. “I'm incredibly thankful that the work I did as a volunteer in 2022 has now been built into a paid role with the market.” Liz currently focuses on her duties as our Finance Manager, handling all things money related. “That means I'm tracking donations from individuals, sponsorships and grants, our SNAP and Double Up Food Bucks program, and more.” When the market starts back up in the spring, she’ll add to her plate as she steps into her role as the Assistant Market Manager, aiding in the operational challenges of the weekly markets. She is excited to bring her biggest strengths to her new responsibilities. “I am operationally focused and enjoy getting the nitty gritty behind-the-scenes work done! I feel that when I set out to do something, you can count on me to get it done.” As you can see, Liz works tirelessly with the rest of the team to ensure that the organization can continue to grow and succeed well into the future. She hopes that new vendors and shoppers continue to get involved in our organization. She feels that one of the greatest aspects of the market is our support in welcoming in new vendors. “There can be barriers that keep many new vendors from being able to participate in farmers markets, but one of our main goals is to eliminate those barriers,” she explains. “Our shoppers are incredibly friendly, supportive, and patient – they come to our market because they want to support local up and coming businesses, and it shows!” So, tell your friends, family, and colleagues to come see for themselves! A few of Liz’s favorite items to buy at the market are below:
On the weekends, you can find Liz at home, curled up with her cats while enjoying an entertaining book, or out on her bike exploring some of her favorite Gateway neighborhood shops, such as Jet Black Coffee, Food Fight, Rad Magic, or Lily’s Market. If all else fails, she may be off organizing other community events as she serves at the co-chair to her neighborhood association. The Rocky Butte Farmers Market starts back up on June 3rd , 2023, hosted in the parking lot of the Mannahouse Church. Come by and say “Hi” to Liz, thank her for her hard work in keeping the market running smoothly, and take time to explore all the amazing items our vendors have to offer!
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