Everything Co-op With Vernon Oakes

Alex Stone, Executive Director of CooperationWorks! (CW), is interviewed on Everything Co-op, by host Vernon Oakes. Vernon and Alex discuss her experiences in the cooperative movement, and how Cooperation Works! uses its national network of Cooperative Development Centers, to help revitalize communities through effective cooperative enterprise development. Alex Stone first became involved with co-ops through student housing co-ops at UC Berkeley, where she lived for three years and participated as a house-level manager and board member. She was deeply involved with the creation of the Berkeley Student Food Collective and served as the store's first Operations Manager through its first two years. Alex co-founded the Cooperative Food Empowerment Directive and coordinated its first training involving over twenty students from seven universities across the west coast. As Executive Director of CW, she looks forward to expanding CW's impact in the field of cooperative development. CooperationWorks! is the C

Jennifer Bryant, Program Manager for Community Wealth Building Initiatives at Washington Area Community Investment Fund(Wacif), appears on Everything Co-op. Jennifer and Vernon discuss strategies to preserve wealth in communities, and how worker owned cooperatives can be used as an exit strategy for retiring baby boomer executives. As Program Manager for Community Wealth Building Initiatives, Jennifer leads the DC Employee Ownership Initiative, a strategic investment to preserve legacy businesses and create new pathways to entrepreneurship. Prior to joining the staff at Wacif Jennifer worked for several years in the labor and cooperative movements. She is grounded in the belief that shared ownership and community wealth are central to building racial and economic equity. Jennifer is committed to revitalizing and expanding employee ownership in the District. She was a founding steering committee member of Cooperation DC, a grassroots group that organized trainings, learning journeys, and community popul

Gina Schaefer Co-Founder & CEO of 11 ACE Hardware Stores is interviewed by Vernon Oakes, Host of Everything Co-op. Gina and Vernon discuss how she and her husband Marc have been able to open so many stores, their path to success, their benefit packages, community participation and the value of treating people well. Gina Schaefer is the Co-Founder and CEO of 11 ACE Hardware stores located in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Maryland, and Alexandria, Virginia. She is a passionate entrepreneur who grew her company from one to eleven stores in a twelve year period, and with her husband leads a multi-million dollar small business that employs more than 250 people. Gina has tirelessly focused on the "Return to Main Street" movement in her own city of Washington D.C. to promote Shop Local campaigns and community revitalization projects in urban areas. She serves on several Boards, and is a member of the ACE Center for Excellence. Gina has received many accolades for her accomplishments including: Recipient, Wom

Host of Everything Co-op, Vernon Oakes interviews Rod Kelsay, Executive Director of Mid America Cooperative Council (MACC). Vernon and Rod discuss efforts of the Council to address the lack of unique co-op educational resources available in the Midwestern region, and the moral values and principles that will help sustain cooperative businesses. MACC is a multi-state, non-profit trade association founded in January 2003, by a group of like-minded individuals. These individuals understood the impact cooperative principles have on the sustainability of co-ops, yet they began to see a widespread erosion of co-op knowledge among co-op communities. All sectors of cooperatives were engaged in establishing MACC. The founders also wanted to address the lack of unique co-op educational resources available in the Midwestern region. Members co-aligned and co-created MACC, filling this advocacy gap. If you are a member of a co-op with new or tenured employees who need to have a better understanding of the unique differe

Amy White Abbott, Director of Community Purchasing Alliance (CPA), appears on Everything Co-op, a nationally broadcast radio show. Vernon and Amy discuss benefits provided to members of CPA, Employment opportunities to join CPA, and examples of how the cooperative has helped leverage the power of its members to address common problems. Prior to CPA Amy was a community organizer in Northern Virginia where Amy taught citizens how to build power in order to change their communities. Amy helped hundreds of people organize around preschool access and won over 800 new slots of pre-k for low-income children. Amy grew up in rural Ohio and is the product of both the immigrant and the American dream. Her grandparents came to the United States from Italy seeking a better life for themselves and their family. Because of this, Amy feels a deep responsibility to make systemic changes and seeks to address issues of inequality, racism and poverty with others who want a more just society. At Catholic Charities, Amy built su

Vernon Oakes, host of Everything Co-op interviews Roberta MacDonald, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Cabot Creamery Cooperative. Vernon and Roberta discuss the 2019 Cooperative Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony, the ABC's of Cooperatives, and much, much, more! Roberta thrives on her 40 years of marketing experience. She and her much beloved fellow Farmer Champions throughout Cabot Creamery Co-op have spent the last thirty helping a nearly bankrupt, small farm family owned dairy cooperative become a national player. Thanks to award-winning cheese and indelible, award-winning, and occasionally, over-the-top trial campaigns. Roberta previously served as Vermont's first Marketing Director, a position created for her by Governor Kunin in 1984. Over her career, Roberta has accepted many awards on behalf of the Cabot farmers for design, promotions, and high-impact public relations programs, including the Tal Haussig Award - the highest individual award given by B Corps. Prior to moving to Vermont, Roberta ser

2019 Co-op Hall of Fame Inductee, Richard Ensweiler is interviewed on Everything Co-op on May 2, 2019. Vernon and Richard discuss his career, and the many contributions he has made to the cooperative movement. Richard Ensweiler's legendary, 50-year career in cooperative finance began in college, where he planned to score a career in basketball coaching. Instead, he took a summer job at State Central Credit Union. Soon, he was a management trainee headed for the top position at Harley Davidson Credit Union. In 1995, Richard joined the Texas Credit Union League. Today, it's the largest regional credit union trade association in the country, comprised of more than 540 credit unions that serve close to 9 million members. In 2013, Richard led an effort to merge the Texas Credit Union League with the Credit Union Association of Oklahoma and the Arkansas Credit Union League, forming today's Cornerstone Credit Union League. At the time, credit union league membership was dwindling and leagues were struggling to

Vernon interviews 2019 Co-op Hall of Fame Inductee, Anne Reynolds, Director of the University of Wisconsin Center for Co-ops, retired. Vernon and Anne discuss her career, and the many contributions she has made to the cooperative movement. In 1996, Anne joined the staff of the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives, as the center was beginning to transfer its internationally renowned cooperative library online. Anne's role at the center transitioned over the years; by 2014, she was Executive Director. A fixture of the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Center for Cooperatives-the U.S.'s premier cooperative research center-Anne has contributed significantly to scholarship on cooperatives. Her career has not only spanned co-op sectors, but bridged gaps: between academics and business leaders, between strategic thinking and practical application and across deep ideological and cultural divides. Anne Reynolds retired in 2018 from her position as the Executive Director of the University of Wisconsin

2019 Co-op Hall of Fame Inductee, Richard Stammer is interviewed on Everything Co-op, a nationally broadcast radio show. Stammer is the former President and CEO of Agri-Mark Inc. and Cabot Creamery Cooperative. Vernon and Richard discuss his career, and the many contributions he has made to the cooperative movement. A leader in the U.S. dairy industry for half a century, Richard Stammer helped New England dairy cooperatives sidestep bankruptcy with a daring merger that today generates sales approaching $1 billion, and worked to shape public policies to protect the economic interests of the nation's diary farmers. Richard began his career as a tenured professor of Agricultural Economics at Rutgers University, but left to put theory into practice at a pivotal moment in the dairy industry. The 1980s and 90s were tough times for the milk industry in New England; family farms were shuttering and dairy co-ops were collapsing. With no value-added products, Agri-Mark was hit hard. At first, it seemed like Cabot

Kristen Barker, Executive Director of the Cincinnati Union Co-op Initiative (CUCI, discusses how the Union Co-op has helped Cooperatives to Form, Grow and Transition from Employer to Employee owned businesses. Kristen Barker is a social entrepreneur. She is Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Cincinnati Union Co-op Initiative, and is a Co-Founder of 1worker1vote. She designs and leads participatory education events with English- and Spanish-speaking co-op workers, and helps worker-owners make their businesses more successful. Kristen also helps CUCI's design team determine the feasibility of potential co-op businesses, helps retiring business owners determine whether they can sell their business to their employees, and helps viable co-ops access the capital they need to leverage their ideas. Kristen has done groundbreaking work in adopting the Mondragon model to the U.S. context, and hosts delegations from around the country, including the participants in CUCI's semi-annual Union Co-op Symposium. Kris

2019 Co-op Hall of Fame Inductee, Terry Appleby is interviewed on March 28, 2019. Vernon and Terry discuss his career and many contributions to the cooperative movement. Mr. Appleby started his co-op career at Puget Consumer Co-op, in 1980. He worked in several areas at PCC, starting as a clerk, department and store management, merchandising director and general management, and also served two terms on the PCC board of directors during a period of rapid growth. After leaving PCC in 1992, he became the general manager of the Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society and worked there until his retirement at the end of 2016. During his tenure at Hanover new approaches to interactions with local farmers led to significant benefits for farmers, the co-op and consumers. Three additional store locations were opened, an off-site food production facility was created, local products available to consumers dramatically increased, and revenues were increased from $15 million to $75 million. While at Hanover Mr. App

As Everything Co-op continues its celebration of Women's History Month, Julian Rowand honors his mother, Nancy Rowand, the first site manager of Beecher Cooperative, and other women who helped to establish the cooperative. Julian Rowand was a long-time member of the Beecher Cooperative and is now the cooperative’s site manager. He and Vernon also discuss the role women have played in the establishment of cooperatives in the Washington DC area, and throughout the world. Julian shares the history of how Beecher Cooperative came into existence as a result of tenants claiming their building when the owner of Beecher gave its tenants an eviction notice on Christmas eve in 1977. The tenants banded together and in 1979 they purchased the building from the owner and formed Beecher Cooperative. Today Julian is the current site manager of the cooperative that his mother co-founded when he was only 1-years old. This is a true story of a community overcoming and continuing to thrive.

In celebration of National Women's History Month, Everything Co-op honors women in the cooperative movement. The 2019 theme for Women's History Month is "Visionary Women: Champions of Peace and Nonviolence." This week Vernon interviews a visionary woman, Dr. Jessica Gordon Nembhard, Dr. Gordon Nembhard is Chair of the Department of Africana Studies at John Jay College, City University of New York, and Professor of Community Justice and Social Economic Development. She is also author of "Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice." Mr. Oakes and Dr. Gordon Nembhard discuss the role that African American women have played in the cooperative movement, and the contributions of Nannie Helen Burroughs, Helena Wilson, Freedom Quilting Bee, Ella Jo Baker, Fannie Lou Hamer and the Young Negroes Cooperatives league. Dr. Gordon Nembhard, is a cooperative ambassador, political economist and community economic development expert. She is also an Affiliate Scholar, at the

LaKeisha Wolf, Executive Director of Ujamaa Collective discusses the history of the collective and its plans to expand. Vernon and Lakeisha also discuss the role that Ujamaa Collective plays in the community, and how it has incorporated the needs of the community to create other cooperatives, which is in keeping with the meaning of it's name. Ujamaa is the fourth of the seven Nguzo Saba principles of Kwanzaa, and it means Cooperative Economics. Vernon and Lakeisha also discuss the other six principles of Kwanza and how their meanings are used as guiding principles of life. As a first-generation Pittsburgher, LaKeisha Wolf has developed her roots across the community working at the intersection of social justice, arts, culture and entrepreneurship. She is a founding member of the Hill District based non-profit Ujamaa Collective, serving as Executive Director since 2013. In this role, LaKeisha focuses on the business affairs and cooperative development of emerging Africana women-owned craft industries. S

Deb Trocha, Executive Director of the International Cooperative Development Center, and Stuart Reid, Executive Director of the Food Co-op Initiative, are interviewed Live by Vernon Oakes at the Up & Coming Conference on February 28, 2019. They discuss the sessions offered at the conference, the history of the conference and the different audiences that may benefit from the conference. Held each year since 2010, Up and Coming is coordinated by the Indiana Cooperative Development Center, and its partner Food Co-op Initiative. Each year the conference is hosted by a food co-op, This year, the local food co-op host is Outpost Natural Foods. The 2019 conference had over 50 workshops and 45 speakers. There was "Something for Everyone!" If you are in the initial stages of planning to open a food co-op, then this conference is for you. It was an honor for Everything Co-op to broadcast live from the Up & Coming Conference. This conference seeks to serve everyone. This year attendees came from 35 states, 12

Debbie Trocha, Executive Director of the Indiana Cooperative Development Center (ICDC), is interviewed by Vernon Oakes. Vernon and Deb discuss the Up & Coming Food Co-op Conference on on February 14, 2019. The Up and Coming Food Co-op Conference is focused on helping communities start and launch their own food co-ops. This event also offers resources and workshops for co-ops in the first years of operation, with the aim of helping them achieve success. The 2019 conference will be hosted at the Hyatt Rency Milwaukee, 333 W. Kilbourn Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203, on March 1 - 2, 2019, with optional workshops on February 28. Click on the link below to register. http://upandcoming.coop The Indiana Cooperative Development Center (ICDC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that promotes cooperatives as a vibrant model to address the economic and social needs of Indiana’s communities. It began offering services in 2003 and was incorporated in 2006. ICDC provides assistance to a wide variety of cooperatives includi

David Hincapie, Economic Development Specialist and Veteran Business Development Officer for the Washington Metropolitan Area District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration, and Debbie Trocha, Executive Director of the Indiana Cooperative Development Center (ICDC) are interviewed by Vernon Oakes on Everything Co-op, February 14, 2019. For more information on the Up & Coming Conference visit http://icdc.coop/up-coming-2019. Vernon and his guests discuss recent developments regarding the enabling legislation that requires SBA to guarantee loans to cooperatives (Main Street Employee Ownership Act of 2018), and the Up & Coming Food Co-op Conference, which will be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on March 1-2, with (with optional workshops on Feb. 28).

Everything Co-op begins it's celebration of Black History Month by embracing the 2019 theme of Black Migrations, as declared by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History with Co-op leader and author David Thompson. David returns to the mick to discuss a different aspect of his upcoming book, Cooperatives and the Civil Rights Movement, by focusing on the cooperative affiliations of leaders who planned and participated in the March on Washington. David Thompson, has worked for national cooperative organizations of the United States, Britain and Japan as well as the United Nations. He served as Vice President of the National Cooperative Business Association and Regional Director of the National Cooperative Bank's Western Office. He specializes in funding the capital needs of cooperative housing, and the nonprofit and cooperative development sectors. He was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame in Washington D.C. in May 2010, and continues to work with cooperatives. An excerpt fr

Mike Houston, General Manager of TPSS Co-op, discusses how the food co-op supported its members throughout the recent Government shutdown. Mike has been the General Manager of TPSS since August of 2018. Prior to joining the Co-op, Mike was Store Manager at Dawson’s Market in Rockville for six years. Not only does Mike have many years of management level experience in the natural food industry, he brings a passion and strong commitment to environmental stewardship. Under his leadership, Dawson’s was awarded the outstanding Leadership in Environmental Practices from the Rockville Mayor and City Council in 2017. Mike also brings a commitment to community and to supporting local suppliers. Dawson’s also received a Community Partnership award in 2015. We believe that Mike will be a great General Manager and are excited to have him on board.

Anthony Demangone, COO of NAFCU (National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions) discusses how NAFCU members supported its members throughout the Government shutdown. He also talks about the benefits of co-ops, and invites listeners to consider co-ops as an option for their banking needs. Anthony Demangone is executive vice president and chief operating officer at the National Association of Federal Credit Unions (NAFCU). Demangone oversees day-to-day operations and manages the association’s education, membership, human resources, building facilities, finance and information technology functions. He also authors NAFCU’s executive blog, Musings from the CU Suite. Before assuming the COO position, Demangone served as NAFCU’s vice president of regulatory compliance, where he led a staff of compliance attorneys and managed the day-to-day affairs of NAFCU’s compliance assistance program.