Through leadership and development programs for boards, managers and staff delivered in regional meetings, conferences, workshops and study tours, we bring people together from different cooperative industries to share knowledge, generate new ideas and find new strategies for addressing common problems.
CDI offers a range of education and training programs designed to help your staff, board and members work together effectively to bring more benefits to your members and strengthen your bottom line. With an emphasis on involvement, connection, focus and fun, our trainers share the "best practices" of successful cooperatives around the country, helping you analyze and improve the performance of your cooperative.
CDI can customize training programs to meet your co-op's specific needs or representatives from your co-op can attend open-enrollment programs designed for managers, staff or boards of directors.
Co-op 101: An Introduction to Cooperative Business Principles and Structures
Audience: general public, groups considering starting a cooperative, existing cooperatives, economic development specialists
Time: 1 to 4 hour course
Purpose: to help groups decide whether to incorporate as a cooperative or as another legal structure
Agenda: basic cooperative principles and legal structures, accounting and tax considerations of various business structures, the role cooperatives play in our economy, and the process for cooperative business development.
Also available as a distance webinar.
Co-op 201: Technical Assistance Sessions for Cooperative Business Development
Audience: Serious start-up projects and existing cooperatives considering market or business expansions (Co-op 101 and application required)
Time: This 48-hour course consists of eight 6-hour sessions. Click here for an outline for each session.
Management Training
Managers with little cooperative experience will benefit from this CDI management training program. Successful cooperative leaders provide training on cooperative accounting and finance, law, business planning, member relations, board relations, management theory, and strategic planning in a dynamic, participatory, cross-co-op-sector environment.
Board Training
Dynamic boards add value to their cooperative each time they meet. This CDI Cooperative Board Training Program helps individual board members understand the roles and responsibilities of management, board, staff and members and learn strategies for: linking effectively with members; building a strong partnership with the General Manager; planning for the future; using clear policies to guide and control their cooperative.
A typical CDI board training is four half-day sessions. Board members from all types of cooperatives are invited to participate.
Board, Management, Staff and Member Training Programs
Board members, managers, staff, and members can become an effective team, providing leadership for their cooperative and working together to accomplish its mission, if they invest time in building relationships and planning. CDI offers several programs that bring board members, managers, staff, and members together to look at ways to Make Membership Meaningful, Build Shared Vision, Market Our Cooperative Advantage and constructively address key issues facing their cooperative.
Other Management and Staff Education and Training programs include:
Financial Management
Information Systems
Marketing Management
Mergers and Acquisitions
Inventory and Facilities Management
Project management
Supervisory Skills
Assertiveness Training
Leadership Training
Customer/Member Service
Technical Skill Development
Welcoming Diversity
Time Management & Stress Reduction
Conflict Resolution
Communication Skills
Sales
Secretarial and Administrative Support
Member Relations
Purchasing
Events Coordination
Alternative Food Co-op, Wakefield, RI, www.alternativefoodcoop.com
