2026 COMMUNITY
OWNER BOARD CANDIDATES
Make your voice heard
As a community owner, one of the most powerful ways you can shape the direction of Commongrounds is to serve on the board. And if that's not the right fit right now, your vote is the next best thing. Make it count.
Meet our current applicants below. Applications are open through May 30 — there's still time to put your name in.
2026 Community Owner Board Candidates
Katy Bean-Larson
Why are you interested in serving on the Commongrounds board?
I would like to see Commongrounds involve more owners, residents, businesspeople, in more activities. I would also like to see more "radical transparency".
What strengths and skills would you bring to your role on the Commongrounds board?
I like to talk to people, and I like to try tweaking things to make them better. I want to think that I listen to what other folks say, and try to implement their good ideas.
If you were a bird, what species would you be, and why?
I would be a crow or a chickadee. Crows are very social and they do lots of interesting things. Chickadees are also very social and they are recognizably (at least to me) cheerful and bright!
Robert DeGabriele
Why are you interested in serving on the Commongrounds board?
I have been associated with Commongrounds as a volunteer since the day it opened. The quality of the management team has impressed me, and the Mission of C.G. provides a unique opportunity for me to become a more involved community member. My lifelong skills should also support this management team.
What strengths and skills would you bring to your role on the Commongrounds board?
40 years of business experience. 30 years of active, deep community volunteer involvement with TCAPS band programs, the State Theater, Commongrounds, and the Alluvion.
If you were a bird, what species would you be, and why?
Snowy Owl. They are impactful, ruminative, stately (good looking!).
Rene Hardtke (Incumbent)
Why are you interested in serving on the Commongrounds board?
I actively serve on the Commongrounds board as the Vice Chair and I'd like to continue this service. I have several years of intimate knowledge of the board and the state of the business. My relationships across the board, the organizations that call Commongrounds home, and the staff are well-established and built on trust and mutual respect. Commongrounds requires a unique balance between commitment to a shared community mission and operational precision to maintain stability. I understand this and am committed to supporting this.
What strengths and skills would you bring to your role on the Commongrounds board?
In addition to my experience serving the Commongrounds community as an active board member, I bring an extensive background in business operations, marketing, and branding. From global enterprises to high-growth startups, I've led teams and initiatives to support operational rigor, financial stability, and growth.
If you were a bird, what species would you be, and why?
A Pileated Woodpecker so I can soar in the treetops while playing a critical part in the forest ecosystem.
Key dates
Board applications close: May 30, noon
Voting opens: May 31
Voting closes: June 10 noon
New board members announced at the Commongrounds Annual Meeting, June 10
Interested in serving on the board?