Let’s Dig Deeper
Curious about co-ops but still feel unsure of how to advise your clients and constituents? This professional development opportunity is for you!
The Keystone Development Center (KDC) is presenting a 6-session webinar series from March – June for economic and business development professionals. “Let’s Dig Deeper” is a follow-up to their program last year, “There’s a Co-op for That”, which introduced the cooperative business model as a solution for securing market access, fresh local food, affordable housing, business succession, and strong local economies. See last year’s presentation recording, slides, and handouts.
“Let’s Dig Deeper” presents several aspects of business from the point of view of specialists in their field. The sessions are:
- Favorable Conditions for Cooperative Businesses, Thursday 3/27, Recording, presented by Nicole L. Tommell, Director, Cornell Cooperative Enterprise Program
- Legal Considerations for Cooperative Businesses, Friday 4/11, presented by Komal Vaidya, Esq. Associate Professor of Law at Villanova Unviersity’s Charles Widger School of Law and Director of the Clinic for Law & Entrepreneurship. Reach out to admin@kdc.coop for webinar access!
- Mitigating Risk in Cooperative Businesses, Thursday 4/24, 11 am, presented by Corinne Elliott, Business & Risk Management Specialist, Agricultural Business Development Center, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
- Tax Basics for Supporting Cooperatives, May 15, presented by Mavery Davis, CPA and organizer with New Economy WV
- Lenders’ Perspectives on Cooperative Businesses, Thursday 6/5, 11 am, presented by Gerardo Espinoza, Executive Director, Local Enterprise Assistance Fund, and Dami Odetola, Vice President – Corporate Banking, National Cooperative Bank
- Preserving Business by Selling to Employees or Customers, Thursday 6/12, 11am, presented by Jason Flowers, Business Intermediary/Acquisition specialist/Business Broker, Murphy Business & Financial Corporation
Participants who sign up for all six sessions, attend live or watch the recordings, and present a plan for disseminating the information among their networks will receive a certificate of completion from KDC. You will also be invited to a follow-up meeting where participants can share their efforts and get feedback and affirmation. Or just attend the sessions that interest you most – all are welcome, and the recordings will be publicly available.
Boost Camp!
Spring is a good time for a refresh – join the Keystone Development Center for Boost Camp, a biweekly series from March 19 to June 11. Each 1-hour evening session will feature a seasoned, knowledgeable professional who can give you the low-down on what you need to know. Join us for all 7 sessions or drop in for as many as you want. Thanks to a grant from the Cooperative Development Foundation, KDC has a limited number of $15 food vouchers to help you take the time to invest in your co-op knowledge – just let us know you’d like to opt-in when you register.
Who’s this for? Those who are a bit new to cooperatives, including early-stage co-ops and new co-op board members.
All sessions are on Wednesday evenings at 6 pm. The session line-up is:
- 3/19: Capitalizing Your Co-op’s Next Big Move, presented by Kate Khatib of Seed Commons and Dami Odetola of National Cooperative Bank
- 4/2: Tips from Seasoned Cooperators, presented by Jim Johnson, Ben Ledewitz, and Ajowa Ifateyo
- 4/16: Making Membership Meaningful, presented by Leslie Watson of CDS Consulting Services
- 4/30: Taxes for New Cooperatives & LLCs, presented by Mavery Davis, CPA, New Economy Works WV
- 5/14: Leadership Development to Keep Your Co-op Strong, presented by Amber Jones of Namberjo Consulting
- 5/28: “Oh wait! I forgot to ask…” Legal Q&A, presented by Will Pillsbury, Esq.
- 6/11: Marketing Your Cooperative Advantage, presented by Audrey Broomfield, Maryland Department of Agriculture
Sign up for just one, or as many as you want – you can sign up for multiple sessions here.
Presentations will be recorded and publicly available, but if you want your burning questions answered, it would be great to show up.
Co-op Academy
Join a cohort of new cooperators from across the Mid-Atlantic in this virtual learning series. Cooperative groups will be guided through the phases of cooperative development – start to finish. Learn key concepts along the way through hands-on, collaborative work, guided by an expert KDC Co-op Developer and experienced cooperative members.
Registration cost is a $100 deposit per participant, capped at $300 per team. Upon successful completion of the program, your deposit will be returned. If payment of a $100 deposit presents a hardship, please note that in the registration window.
The Co-op Academy program is tailored to address the unique challenges and highlight best practices of starting and managing a cooperative enterprise for emerging cooperative leaders. This program is recommended for groups looking to start a cooperative or convert a business to a cooperative.
Below is the schedule from our most recent co-op academy- stay tuned for more information on our 2025 session!
