Celebrating the Retirement of Melinda Stormes

Two Decades of Dedication, Leadership, and Heart

This spring marks the closure of an extraordinary chapter for Melinda Stormes, who retires after nearly 21 years of service.

Melinda joined the cooperative in April 2005 as an accountant. Before reaching her tenth year, she stepped into the role of Office Manager, beginning a chapter that would shape the culture of the co-op for years to come.

Proudest Accomplishments

Melinda’s career is marked by achievements larger than she gives herself credit for.

One of the most transformative projects she helped with was the cooperative’s fiber initiative. Working through grants, meetings, planning, and coordination, our team pushed through a complex, demanding process that forever changed the way the co-op serves its members. She humbly notes it wasn’t her accomplishment alone but the co-op as a whole

Reflecting on how things have evolved, Melinda points first to the obvious: fiber changed everything. But just as significant, she says, is how the workforce itself has shifted.

“When I started, people stayed somewhere forever,” she recalls. “It was a big achievement to work your way up within a company. Now, people chase advancement wherever they can find it.”

Still, she pushes her team toward ownership and pride in their work: “Make your job yours. Bring ideas. Push for better.”

Memories That Stay Forever

Some memories stand out because they shaped the co-op’s future. Others stand out because they made everyone laugh (or cringe.)

The ice storm, for example, is one Melinda will never forget. It was a moment that showed the true character of the cooperative: a family. Even amid disagreement and stress, the team pulled together like a “well-oiled machine,” overcoming challenges none had ever faced before.

There were unforgettable personal moments, like the infamous restroom incident during a major safety inspection, or the time she was jump-scared by a set of caroler mannequins setting outside the server room. 

Mentors Who Made a Difference

Melinda credits two people as her greatest influences:

• Carmen Hartwell, a steady, supportive mentor who guided her through challenges and transitions.
• John Greenlee, whose leadership left a lasting impression on her approach to management.

Without hesitation, Melinda says she’ll miss the people.
More than anything, she’ll miss the daily conversation, the in-between moments during long days or long meetings, where the team shared jokes, frustrations, and the kind of laughter that keeps a workplace feeling like home.

With a grin, Melinda lovingly calls her coworkers a “big bunch of babies.”
But beneath the teasing is deep gratitude: a recognition that the team, like any family, has its squabbles, but always comes together when it matters most.

Advice for Those Just Starting Out

Melinda’s wisdom is simple:

• Learn everything you can. Wear the many hats; they’ll teach you more than you expect.
• Grow thicker skin. You can’t take everything personally.
• Verify before you act. Not everything you hear is the whole story.
• Bring ideas, push for improvement, and take ownership.

“I hope people think I did a decent job,” she says quietly.
Melinda told me, she knows she couldn’t make everyone happy, but hopes she was seen as fair, respectful, and knowledgeable. She wants her team to remember that she treated others the way she wished to be treated, even when the job made that difficult.

What Melinda looks forward to most is living on her own schedule, no early alarms, no rushing out the door, and plenty of time in her she-barn, crafting and baking to her heart’s content.

She and her husband, Andy, are planning the travel they never had time for. 

One of Melinda’s longtime hopes is to be more intentional about small acts of kindness, acknowledging birthdays, holidays, and milestones, helping older or needy community members, and being there for people in ways she couldn’t always manage while juggling the demands of management.

“She’s the co-op’s grandma.”

A nurturer.
A scolder when needed.

Maybe a little spicey at times.
Melinda laughs at the title, but she likes it. And anyone who has worked with her knows it fits.

Melinda’s father was the one who encouraged her to apply for the job all those years ago. Today, she looks back with gratitude, for her family’s support, for their sacrifices during countless long days and stressful seasons, and for the coworkers who became lifelong friends.

Thank you, Melinda, for everything.

Your heart and your laughter will be deeply missed but never forgotten.

Enjoy every moment of your well-earned retirement.