Approach + Experience
As career food and retail professionals, our work in the retail food industry spans over several decades and hundreds of stores. seven roots was formed in 2018 to create an integrated team, helping community-focused independent grocers navigate the feasibility and store development process.
Currently, much of seven roots’ project portfolio is focused on projects in traditionally redlined and food insecure areas, seeking to contribute to positive change within our food system. We are working with many groups that are part of a wave of grocery organizing that is pioneering new models of ownership and capitalization, pointed at improved food access for food deserts, food swamps, and similar areas.
Our approach is focused on operational feasibility and long term business sustainability. From feasibility to design - “how to do create a viable solution?” is the focus of our work.
Team
Heather Lazickas
Managing Partner, seven roots
Heather has worked with community organizations throughout her career, implementing projects that promote healthy food access, empower local producers, and leverage the strength of people working together.
As the driving force behind seven roots, Heather combines strong analytical skills with the ability to both visualize complex systems at a high level and identify critical components at a detailed level. She brings strong team leadership, a career working with independent retail grocers, farmers and small producers, and hands-on work with community-focused organizations.
Kevin O’Donnell
Partner, seven roots
With decades of experience working across food service and grocery, Kevin currently serves as Operations Manager at Hunger Mountain Co-op in Montpelier, VT, and a partner at seven roots.
As an experienced manager of grocery and food production businesses, Kevin’s perspective marries financial realities with operational needs, yielding uber-practical wisdom and insights.
His breadth of experience and connections, as well as his focus and vision for operational management, define his contributions to every project.
Joel Kopischke
Partner, seven roots
Joel is a process-oriented, systems-focused, solutions-driven leadership expert. He supports clients in strategic planning, governance, leadership coaching, training, and facilitation. His analytical strength and background in software development, systems analysis, and project management ring through in his work.
Joel has helped dozens of startup and existing cooperatives build their organizational structure foundations and worked with numerous non-profit groups and associations to solve problems in fun, collaborative, and people-centered ways.
Nicole Klimek
Partner, seven roots
A career grocery and food distribution professional, Nicole has developed a data-driven approach to store development that has made her an acknowledged expert in the independent and grocery industry. Nicole began her career with UNFI, a major North American food distributor, where she worked with hundreds of stores throughout the nation with varied models, focuses and designs.
She brings years of store design and development experience to the team, providing insights into the practical realities of market and site analysis.
Nicole has an MBA and brings a data-driven approach to every project, applying creative solutions that are rooted in real world financial feasibility.