Why Growth Matters at Viroqua
Jan Rasikas, General Manager Viroqua Food Co-op, Viroqua, WI Hear why the Viroqua Food Co-op believes growth matters.
Why Growth Matters
Sarah Christensen, General Manager Green Tree Natural Grocery, Mt. Pleasant, MI According to Green Tree Natural Grocery GM Sarah Christensen, planning for growth is not an option. You've got to 'Grow or Die'. This is an excellent short talk to incite and inspire.
Why Grow Co-ops: The Social + Economic Benefits
Doug Hoffer, State Auditor of Vermont In terms that economists and policy-makers can appreciate, Doug Hoffer enumerates a handful (but certainly not all) of the benefits to local communities and economies of growing cooperative enterprises of all sorts.
Why Equity is Part of the Co-op Difference
Seward Co-op's GM, Sean Doyle, has a passion for finances, and he's here to share his passion with you! Sean discusses some unique lending avenues available to many co-ops and why equity may just be the key to the cooperative difference.
Why does Participation Matter?
CE Pugh, Chief Operating Officer National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA), Iowa City, IA CE Pugh sheds his perspective, from the national level, on the importance of Participation in helping our cooperatives thive. There are many interesting questions we can explore if we look at data and trends from a national perspective and CE guides us along.
Who Is Helping Who?
In his role as Executive Director of a Non-Profit Young Kim, Board President at Outpost Natural Foods in Milwaukee, WI explores implicit biases that we may bring with us while reaching out to "aid" communities of various ethnic and class distinctions. His is a cautionary tale that warns against bringing in our own preconceptions and baggage while at the same time attempting to erode [...]
When Local Government Cooperates
Clem Nilan, General Manager City Market Onion River Co-op Ed Antczak, Economic Development Specialist City of Burlington Community & Economic Development Office Look at what is possible when there's the political will to cooperate! The City of Burlington, VT, and the Onion River Co-op, in a brilliant display of cooperation on a civic level, have forged a partnership now 10 years strong.
What Will Our Co-ops Lead us To?
Holly Fearing, Board Member at Willy Street Cooperative in Madison, WI breaks down the barriers to being strategic, making hard choices, and being fearless. And beware the 'killer but'!
What We’ve Been Learning About Creative Destruction
Within our organizations, we spend much time trying to do more and add on to things, in an effort to feel like we’re making progress. We have more money, let’s hire more staff! Not enough people from the neighborhood are shopping, let’s offer a new benefit. We got in trouble for not carrying an East African staple in our grocery store, now we have so many that we are a new competitor to the East African market on the other side of town. We add, add, and add.