Cooperative Leadership Training Program

Cooperative leaders from around the state have come together to provide Director training to cooperatives within the region. The QBCC Executive Education Committee’s mission is “To serve North Dakota and Northern Plains cooperatives through education for cooperative leadership to ensure the success of our cooperative system and its interests. The focus and curriculum will be directed to those with the greatest need as determined by the QBCC Executive Education Committee.”

To do so the Quentin Burdick Center for Cooperatives alongside CoBank, North Dakota Farmers Union, CHS, North Dakota Grain Dealers Association, Widmer Roel, North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives, North Dakota Cooperative Manager’s Association created its first Director Training in 2019. There was a clear need for more training within the region so the committee moved forward to plan a second year. The 2020 program included a similar Foundations level from 2019 and included a more advanced track or an Enhanced Level for those wishing to continue on from where the training left off last year.

The Foundation Level program emphasizes core knowledge and skills required to be an effective leader within a cooperative. The issues covered are neither simple nor basic, but focus on the most important capabilities required to make sound business decisions for the cooperative and its members.

The Enhanced Level program targets issues and/or problems commonly faced by cooperative business leaders. This level provides more detailed education on specific challenges confronting cooperatives. Effectively dealing with these issues often moves average performing cooperatives to high performing cooperatives.

The Capstone Level program builds upon the knowledge and experiences of cooperative leaders to address the most difficult challenges confronting cooperative businesses. The program concentrates on selected topics that have been identified as critical issues by cooperative board members and management.