Our People
Meet the team dedicated to helping you find the ingredients you need to cook healthful meals at home.
Hillsdale Market Manager
Patrick Newman is an experienced Manager with nearly 20 years in the natural grocery business, born and raised in the Portland area he is a big fan of Basics’ ideas and principals behind local and sustainable food. He is driven primarily by the desire to learn new things big or small, and he takes pride in providing the best customer service experience possible. Patrick is a powerful force in the workplace and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. He enjoys taking day trips to the beach with his family, barbequing and a good ol’ fashion spicy food challenge! Need a hot sauce referral? Come say Hello to Patrick and he’ll point you in the right direction!
Hillsdale Market Manager
Patrick Newman is an experienced Manager with nearly 20 years in the natural grocery business, born and raised in the Portland area he is a big fan of Basics’ ideas and principals behind local and sustainable food. He is driven primarily by the desire to learn new things big or small, and he takes pride in providing the best customer service experience possible. Patrick is a powerful force in the workplace and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. He enjoys taking day trips to the beach with his family, barbequing and a good ol’ fashion spicy food challenge! Need a hot sauce referral? Come say Hello to Patrick and he’ll point you in the right direction!
Hillsdale Market Asst. Manager
Katie Eshleman is a calm, super organized multi-tasker with many passions. In grocery for over 26 years, her experience as an exchange student in Belgium propelled her into food – particularly her love for all things cheese (she can identify a cheese by look and taste alone!) She loves connecting people through food, and has found that grocery is a great vehicle for that. Basics holds a special place in her heart. Katie’s hobbies include camping and flyfishing with her wife, and gardening (she has her own greenhouse).
Hillsdale Market Asst. Manager
Katie Eshleman is a calm, super organized multi-tasker with many passions. In grocery for over 26 years, her experience as an exchange student in Belgium propelled her into food – particularly her love for all things cheese (she can identify a cheese by look and taste alone!) She loves connecting people through food, and has found that grocery is a great vehicle for that. Basics holds a special place in her heart. Katie’s hobbies include camping and flyfishing with her wife, and gardening (she has her own greenhouse).
Farmington Market Asst. Manager
A veteran of the natural foods business, Miguel Quiroz brings a combined 16 years of experience to the Basics team with positions as varied as meat and seafood buyer to store merchandiser. He’s excited about being part of the process of opening a new store – his expertise at building systems and putting them into place with an eye toward maximum efficiency is a real plus for the team. Miguel’s passion is to coach and mentor people and to help them grow in the company: He likes to be the go-to guy! A Beaverton resident, he’s a family man, who enjoys spending time with his wife and his three kids. Hobbies? Cooking! A meat guy, he’s a master at the grill, loves to eat, and to learn new recipes. Please say Hi to Miguel and share your favorite grilling recipe!
Farmington Market Asst. Manager
A veteran of the natural foods business, Miguel Quiroz brings a combined 16 years of experience to the Basics team with positions as varied as meat and seafood buyer to store merchandiser. He’s excited about being part of the process of opening a new store – his expertise at building systems and putting them into place with an eye toward maximum efficiency is a real plus for the team. Miguel’s passion is to coach and mentor people and to help them grow in the company: He likes to be the go-to guy! A Beaverton resident, he’s a family man, who enjoys spending time with his wife and his three kids. Hobbies? Cooking! A meat guy, he’s a master at the grill, loves to eat, and to learn new recipes. Please say Hi to Miguel and share your favorite grilling recipe!
Meat & Seafood Buyer
A Portland native, Erica Prettyman is a mom, butcher and cook with a deep interest in where our food, particularly meat, comes from. Erica works with our farms and processing teams to ensure we are in stock with the right cuts at the right times. She also partners with local producers with shared values to supplement our meat cases and provide our shoppers with the best fresh seafood around. If you do find her at one of our markets, she’s probably stepping where the team needs it – garbed in her bright red apron and cap expertly handling the bandsaw, yielding sharp knives with finesse, and creating gorgeous displays of fresh, organic meats. In the biz for over 20 years, she’s got great suggestions for selecting the best cuts, cooking tips and recipe ideas! For Erica, braised short ribs are “the best thing in the world”! Her hobbies include camping, paddle boarding, kayaking, and hiking with her two dogs.
Meat & Seafood Buyer
A Portland native, Erica Prettyman is a mom, butcher and cook with a deep interest in where our food, particularly meat, comes from. Erica works with our farms and processing teams to ensure we are in stock with the right cuts at the right times. She also partners with local producers with shared values to supplement our meat cases and provide our shoppers with the best fresh seafood around. If you do find her at one of our markets, she’s probably stepping where the team needs it – garbed in her bright red apron and cap expertly handling the bandsaw, yielding sharp knives with finesse, and creating gorgeous displays of fresh, organic meats. In the biz for over 20 years, she’s got great suggestions for selecting the best cuts, cooking tips and recipe ideas! For Erica, braised short ribs are “the best thing in the world”! Her hobbies include camping, paddle boarding, kayaking, and hiking with her two dogs.
Grocery Buyer & Retail Merchandiser
After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition Science and Dietetics, Christi Reed found her niche at her local natural foods store. With nearly 20 years of experience in the industry, she has spent the last 15 leading grocery store tours, teaching nutrition classes and helping shoppers find foods and recipes to meet their nutrition goals. As Retail Merchandiser, she is now an important liaison between our procurement and market teams as we work to bring new and exciting offerings to our communities. Christi finds joy in feeding people and especially loves offering solutions to those with restricted diets. Her latest food related hobby is growing her own backyard garden.
Grocery Buyer & Retail Merchandiser
After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition Science and Dietetics, Christi Reed found her niche at her local natural foods store. With nearly 20 years of experience in the industry, she has spent the last 15 leading grocery store tours, teaching nutrition classes and helping shoppers find foods and recipes to meet their nutrition goals. As Retail Merchandiser, she is now an important liaison between our procurement and market teams as we work to bring new and exciting offerings to our communities. Christi finds joy in feeding people and especially loves offering solutions to those with restricted diets. Her latest food related hobby is growing her own backyard garden.
Wine & Beer Buyer/Merchandiser
Born and raised in Portland, Hilary McCown brings a wealth of retail, wine and beer buying, and merchandising experience to team Basics. With a keen eye for displays and extensive contacts and deep roots within the local winemaking community, Hilary looks forward to sharing her expertise and in depth knowledge of wine making with our shoppers. She has traveled throughout WA and Or wine country, and visited wineries and vintners overseas in Europe, S. America and Spain honing her tasting skills. A certified WSET Level 3 Wine Awardee, she has a comprehensive knowledge of grape growing, wine styles, and wine making. On the beer side, she’s all about local, with exciting plans to expand our local selections and focus on small local breweries. Look for insightful descriptions, wine pairing tips and recipes, and ongoing promotions in our wine and beer departments. In her downtime, Hilary grows heirloom tomatoes and hot peppers, and loves to preserve and cook them up into confits, conservas and hot pepper sauces. A self-described homebody, she lives with her husband and adorable corgi Kingsley.
Wine & Beer Buyer/Merchandiser
Born and raised in Portland, Hilary McCown brings a wealth of retail, wine and beer buying, and merchandising experience to team Basics. With a keen eye for displays and extensive contacts and deep roots within the local winemaking community, Hilary looks forward to sharing her expertise and in depth knowledge of wine making with our shoppers. She has traveled throughout WA and Or wine country, and visited wineries and vintners overseas in Europe, S. America and Spain honing her tasting skills. A certified WSET Level 3 Wine Awardee, she has a comprehensive knowledge of grape growing, wine styles, and wine making. On the beer side, she’s all about local, with exciting plans to expand our local selections and focus on small local breweries. Look for insightful descriptions, wine pairing tips and recipes, and ongoing promotions in our wine and beer departments. In her downtime, Hilary grows heirloom tomatoes and hot peppers, and loves to preserve and cook them up into confits, conservas and hot pepper sauces. A self-described homebody, she lives with her husband and adorable corgi Kingsley.
Manager of Food Service, Meat & Seafood
Born and bred in the city of New Orleans, Michael Mouton grew up in a vibrant and festive household all about food, heritage and people. Sicilian on his mom’s side, his dad is 100% Cajun, and his great grandparents owned a fish and poultry market – the apple does not fall far from the tree! A food lover since he could barely walk (he vividly remembers visits to his local meat market at the tender age of 3) he has deep culinary roots and years of experience cooking and butchering. He’ll be using his talents to lead the team to create new recipes and develop new products for our delis and meat departments, so look for new and exciting offerings in our cases to make it easy for you to enjoy good food at home.
Manager of Food Service, Meat & Seafood
Born and bred in the city of New Orleans, Michael Mouton grew up in a vibrant and festive household all about food, heritage and people. Sicilian on his mom’s side, his dad is 100% Cajun, and his great grandparents owned a fish and poultry market – the apple does not fall far from the tree! A food lover since he could barely walk (he vividly remembers visits to his local meat market at the tender age of 3) he has deep culinary roots and years of experience cooking and butchering. He’ll be using his talents to lead the team to create new recipes and develop new products for our delis and meat departments, so look for new and exciting offerings in our cases to make it easy for you to enjoy good food at home.
Brand Steward
A Basics brand steward, Meredith Eggert contributes to store development, design, marketing and community outreach to help keep Basics as focused as possible on what matters: increasing access to healthy foods and helping more people cook at home. Beyond the store, Meredith mentors youth, and manages our partnerships with local elementary schools and food banks, helping share extra food from our farms and operations with local families and students.
Brand Steward
A Basics brand steward, Meredith Eggert contributes to store development, design, marketing and community outreach to help keep Basics as focused as possible on what matters: increasing access to healthy foods and helping more people cook at home. Beyond the store, Meredith mentors youth, and manages our partnerships with local elementary schools and food banks, helping share extra food from our farms and operations with local families and students.
President
Joel Dahll is one of the most experienced, selective grocery buyers in the Pacific Northwest. For more than 30 years, he has discovered and supported top West Coast farmers and makers, introducing their products to a generation of natural foods shoppers. At Basics, Joel sources pantry staples, produce, supplemental dairy and other items that round out the stores’ healthy offerings. Passionate about fitness and committed to the region where he has lived his whole life, Joel is proud to leverage his experience in order to build Basics’ network of thriving West Coast partners and increase access to fresh, healthy food.
President
Joel Dahll is one of the most experienced, selective grocery buyers in the Pacific Northwest. For more than 30 years, he has discovered and supported top West Coast farmers and makers, introducing their products to a generation of natural foods shoppers. At Basics, Joel sources pantry staples, produce, supplemental dairy and other items that round out the stores’ healthy offerings. Passionate about fitness and committed to the region where he has lived his whole life, Joel is proud to leverage his experience in order to build Basics’ network of thriving West Coast partners and increase access to fresh, healthy food.
Founder
Chuck Eggert has attracted an experienced collective of farmers, retail experts and brand builders to launch Basics, a new type of small-footprint grocery working to promote the role of fresh food and cooking in nurturing health and wellness. Organic farmer, regenerative ag practitioner, natural foods pioneer, Chuck is committed to increasing access to locally grown, nourishing foods; partnering with health professionals to strengthen the role of food as medicine; and helping nurture rural communities by investing in new agricultural-rooted enterprises.
Founder
Chuck Eggert has attracted an experienced collective of farmers, retail experts and brand builders to launch Basics, a new type of small-footprint grocery working to promote the role of fresh food and cooking in nurturing health and wellness. Organic farmer, regenerative ag practitioner, natural foods pioneer, Chuck is committed to increasing access to locally grown, nourishing foods; partnering with health professionals to strengthen the role of food as medicine; and helping nurture rural communities by investing in new agricultural-rooted enterprises.