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2025 Suri Network Election |
Welcome to the online information center for the 2025 Suri Network Board of Trustees Election! Here you will find information on each of the candidates running for a seat on the Board of Trustees, as well as an outline of the electronic voting process. Below the Trustee Job Description, you will find this year's Trustee Candidate Statements. More information on how and when to vote will also be emailed directly to each member by Simply Voting, the organization managing our election process.
This year we have 5 candidates running for 3 Suri Network Board of Trustee positions, each with 3 year terms. The 2025 candidates for the Board election are Karen Ball, Jean Van Effen, , . Chris Fredericks, Candy McMahan, Leslie Rebtoy and Laurel Shouvlin, will be returning to the Board. Nikki Griffith and Randy Brealey are completing their terms and Karen Ball is seeking re-election.
Scroll down to view the 2025 Suri Network Board Trustee Candidates' statements. Members will be notified when the electronic vote opens mid May. Links to vote will be included in that email. Votes must be cast within 2 weeks of the start of the vote. Results will be tabulated and announced shortly after the voting period is completed. Please watch for the upcoming election email.
Suri Network Board of Trustees – Trustee Job Description
The Suri Network, is a 501(c)(5) organization, governed by a seven member Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees has legal responsibility for all activities of the organization. Responsibilities of Board members include, but are not limited to:
2025 Suri Network Board of Trustees Candidates' Statements
The Trustee Candidates were asked the following questions:
1. In your opinion what makes the suri breed unique and marketable?
2. What do you feel you bring to the Suri Network Board that would enhance and strengthen the Suri Network's support of Suri breeders?
3. If you had one sentence to summarize your potential contribution to the Suri Network, what would it be?
4. What would you like the Suri Network to look like in 3 years and how will you help it get there?
5. What is one strength of the Suri Network that you feel should be built upon and how can you help do that?
6. What is one challenge that the Suri Network faces and how do you believe you can help to address it?
7. What skills or experience do you feel you have that could be a benefit to the Suri Network board?
![]() | JEAN VAN EFFEN In your opinion what makes the
suri breed unique and marketable? What do you feel you bring to
the Suri Network Board that would enhance and strengthen the Suri Network's
support of Suri breeders? If you had one sentence to
summarize your potential contribution to the Suri Network, what would it be? What would you like the Suri
Network to look like in 3 years and how will you help it get there? What is one strength of the
Suri Network that you feel should be built upon and how can you help do that? What is one challenge that the
Suri Network faces and how do you believe you can help to address it? What skills or experience do
you feel you have that could be a benefit to the Suri Network board? |
MAUREEN MACEDO I am writing to express my interest in becoming a part of the Suri Network and contributing to its continued growth and success. As the owner of Macedo's Mini Acre in Turlock, California, I have had the pleasure of owning and working with alpacas for over 20 years. With my husband, Larry, we offer a variety of educational experiences, on and off the ranch, as well as operate mill equipment.. The Suri breed stands out to me due to its unique and marketable characteristics, including its lustrous fiber that takes dye exceptionally well and retains its smooth, cool hand. The commanding presence and standout quality of the Suri alpacas are also notable, making them highly desirable. As a member with a diverse background in genetics, nutrition, and fiber arts, I believe I can bring a unique perspective to the organization, particularly in leveraging this expertise to inform and enhance our use of Suri fiber. In the next three years, I envision the Suri Network continuing to grow, with a focus on the fiber area and expanding markets for it. I am particularly interested in pursuing this goal, and I am confident that my background and experience make me a strong candidate to help achieve this objective. One of the Suri Network's greatest strengths is the level of education it provides. I would like to see this valuable resource brought to the attention of others outside the organization and believe that I can assist in spreading the word. A challenge facing many organizations today is membership growth. To address this, I propose that the network increase its online presence and engage in various marketing strategies to effectively communicate its value and benefits to potential members. I graduated from the University of California at Davis with a BS in Genetics. Following graduation, I went to work for Ralston Purina Company, first in Quality Assurance at their Sparks, Nevada production facility, at corporate offices in St Luis, Missouri. While there I worked in Research and Development, was heavily involved in formulation and nutritional analysis. Changed hats yet again, earned a teaching credential and taught Science, Yearbook and Leadership before retiring to work full time on our ranch. I am a certified AOA Spin Off judge, as well as a judge in another camelid organization. I feel that this wide range of life skills brings a unique perspective and set of life skills. |
JULIE ROY 1. What makes the Suri breed unique and marketable? 2. What do you bring to the Suri Network Board? 3. One-sentence summary of your contribution: 4. Vision for the Suri Network in 3 years & your role in it: 5. One strength to build on, and how you’d help: 6. One challenge and how you’d address it: 7. Skills or experience you bring: |
SUE KING Hello, my name is Sue King, and I am asking for your vote to serve on the Suri Network Board of Trustees. I previously served on the SN Board two consecutive terms from 2016-2021 as President of the Board, chair of the Symposium/Fleece Show planning committee, chair of the nominating committee and other important activities to support the Suri Network and our members. I have over 38 years of experience in finance, accounting and operations in senior management and executive positions with CH2M, KPMG and other firms. I graduated from Montana State University with a BS degree in accounting and was a CPA early in my professional career. The skills I developed over my career include financial and operational analysis, team building, strategic planning, start up organizations, mergers and acquisitions, and general management skills. In 2008, I retired from CH2M and since have been engaged in finance/operations consulting on a part time basis and beginning in 2010, managing our alpaca business, Big Timber Alpacas. I have broad experience in serving on both corporate and not-for-profit boards and committees. I served on the CH2M board of directors and committees for ten years prior to my retirement and served on the corporate board of SSOE Engineers for six years after my retirement. My nonprofit board experiences include the Union Gospel Mission, Rose Haven, Sherwood Community Senior Center, Sherwood YMCA, World Affairs Council of Oregon, Samaritan Counseling Center of Portland and Portland Impact. My husband, Kevin and I have been married 47 years. We were raised in the Midwest, attended college in Montana and moved to Oregon in 1980 after college. Although I spent most of my professional life in the corporate world, I have agricultural roots, as my parents and past generations were dairy farmers in the Midwest. I have a deep respect and love for the livestock industry. We purchased our first Suri alpacas in 2011 after falling in love with their fine, luxurious fiber at the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival. We focus primarily on breeding high quality Suri alpacas, but have a few high end huacayas as well. We maintain a herd size of about 50 alpacas. In 2024, we partnered with Gerald and Colette Peterson to further advance our mission of creating the highest quality Suri alpacas with superior fleece traits, exceptional conformation and outstanding service. We participate in alpaca fiber and product sales through primarily regional sales outlets including retail stores and fiber festivals. In addition, I utilize our fiber into my weaving projects through Big Timber Weaving Studio. |
KAREN BALL Hi my name is Karen Ball and I am running for my second term as a Suri Network Board Trustee. Although I raise both huacaya and suri alpacas I feel both have very unique qualities and should be marketed that way. Suri’s in full fleece are unbeatable, in my opinion, as the most luxurious fiber breed out there. Their fleece as it drapes and rocks and rolls as they walk has the same quality when processed to end product. That being coupled with its cool slick sheen makes this fiber very unique and should be marketed as such. In my first term (3 years) on the board I feel I have been a valuable member of the trustee team. I have served as the committee chair on both the marketing committee and more recently the education committee. The marketing committee was a new committee that was pulled together when I started my term . While on the committee we developed the beautiful 3 part banners that are displayed at shows and fiber events to market the breed and the Network. Currently the marketing committee is in the process of developing a video clip similar to the video clips the fiber committee created a few years back. This video will be of the animal itself to be made available to all members for use. Also in the works is a fashionable landing webpage developed to match the elegance and uniqueness of the suri breed as a marketing tool to new potential breeders. I feel I have made my best effort to work as the liaison for the board and committee to bring these projects towards fruition. I make a strong effort to make every meeting and to answer our emails in a timely fashion. I am also currently serving as the treasurer. In the next term I would like to see the Suri Network increase in membership and bring more suri breeders into our industry. I would also like to see our marketing efforts become more current and relevant within the internet and social media options. Of course maintaining a solid economic foundation is also important. I think the biggest challenge to the Suri Network, and to the suri industry is nurturing new suri breeders to success. The network offers some really great resources such as the SHIP program, many, many educational videos that can be accessed on the website and new breeder support. I would like to see the Network come up with successful procedures to get this information out and onto more platforms. I think I have done a good job as a trustee and would be honored to serve a 2nd term if I am voted in. |