Welcome to Bismarck-Mandan, North Dakota, USA!
We are delighted to have you onboard!
On this page, you will find all the info you need about the 2024 ACE Institute:
- The agenda with details about speakers, time slot and meeting rooms
- The co-op tour with details about the visits
- The Banquet: check the program!
- The important and useful information
- The sponsors, they make the ACE Institute possible, take time to read about them and visit there website!
AGENDA
17:00
Check-in
Main room
You can check-in and pick up your badge at the ACE Registration Desk at the NDAREC Center either:
- On Monday from 5 pm till 7:30pm
- On Tuesday morning from 8 am till 9am
19:00
Welcome reception
Main room
The ACE Institute opens on Monday June 24, 2024 at 7 pm Central Time at the NDAREC Center – 3201 Nygren Dr NW, Mandan, ND 58554, with a Welcome Reception.
Come meet your peers! You will be welcomed by ACE President Gary Hampton and ACE Vice-President Charity Schmidt
Dinner will be served through a buffet and you will receive a free-drink coupon when you pick up your badge.
You will then have access to the cash bar if you want another drink (not paid by ACE)
7:30
Continental Breakfast at NDAREC
Main room
8:00
Institute registration
Main room
8:45
Conference opening
Main room
9:00
Cultivating Co-operation: Economic Development, Community Building, and Nation-Building in Native Communities.
Main room
Interpreted Session (EN/FR/ES)
Carly Bad Heart Bull
(Bdewakantunwan Dakota/Muskogee Creek and Flandreau Santee Sioux citizen) is executive director of Native Ways Foundation. The foundation’s mission “is to activate informed giving to non-profits in Indian Country and Alaska through donor education and advocacy from the Native nonprofit perspective.”
Joseph McNeil
(Standing Rock Sioux) is general manager of Sage Development Corporation, a Standing Rock Sioux-owned public power authority, the first such entity owned by a single Native nation in the United States. Sage generates renewable energy and is developing a 235 MW windfarm it aims to open before the end of the decade.
Lakota Vogel
(Cheyenne River Sioux) is the executive director of Four Bands Community Fund, a Native community development financial institution (CDFI) which to date has made over $20 million in home and business loans; she is also a member of the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.
10:30
Coffee Break
Main room
11:00
Co-operative Farming At Roots Farm
Main room
Interpreted Session (EN/FR/ES)
To improve access to financing and enable marginalized groups of people to gain practical experience, a solidarity co-operative was created. The aim of this co-operative is to lease plots of land to participants wishing to acquire practical farming expertise. The cooperative provides participants with the basic infrastructure to avoid initial costs (irrigation, electricity, greenhouses, equipment, etc.). It also provides technical support and helps producers market their products. Finally, the cooperative helps participants develop a business plan so they can acquire farmland.
Pascal Billard
Pascal obtained his bachelor’s degree in agronomic sciences, with a specialization in business management, in France. Having worked on three continents (Africa, Europe, North America), he has participated in the design and management of numerous projects aimed at sustainable development in the agri-food and environmental sectors. He is President and CEO of SOL-AIR Consultants, a company that assists decision-makers in companies, cooperatives, organizations, local authorities and administrations involved in the development of agriculture, agri-food, the circular economy and the environment, in carrying out feasibility and market studies, as well as business plans for setting up or expanding companies
Empowering Marginalized Communities: Co-operative Solutions for Home Ownership
Second room
Dave’s presentation seeks to empower marginalized communities, particularly the Latino community, through cooperative solutions. By providing targeted support and fostering collaboration, we aim to create sustainable, thriving communities where residents have agency over their futures and can build a brighter tomorrow together.
Dave Berglund
Prior to joining NCF, Dave worked as a real estate agent and continues working as one in his current role. With a wealth of experience spanning numerous years in the real estate industry, Dave has honed his skills in sales and new development. As a real estate leader with a service heart, Dave is proud of the reputation he’s built as a people-focused professional, enabling him to not only close deals, but also build long-lasting relationships with those who he encounters throughout his career. Dave is excited to bring his passion for real estate and years of experience to NCF as he works to advance the mission of affordable housing cooperatives.
12:00
Lunch
Main room
13:15
Plenary Session - Decolonizing Co-operative Economics Education
Main room
Interpreted Session (EN/FR/ES)
This workshop will address ways to incorporate racial justice, ethnic justice, gender justice, language justice, etc. into the ways we teach cooperative economics/business development. Settler colonialism has brought eurocentrism, white supremacy, genocide, racism and other oppressions to North America, and the US has normalized such discrimination and attitudes towards non-white, nonbinary, and/or people with disabilities, and women. Cooperatives often reflect and reproduce these inequalities and biases, often unintentionally. And some co-ops in history have helped to further settler colonialism, privatization and enclosure. This workshop will explain what decolonizing means and why it is important to our co-ops and the co-op movement. Jessica will ask questions and identify elements to help decolonize our co-op economics/business education curricula. We will review concepts that help us understand institutional/structural racist, classist, sexist, hetero-patriarchal, and ableist explicit and implicit biases and microaggressions that keep co-ops reproducing inequalities and discriminations. I will work with sample participants’ introductory modules to help them revise them to make diverse learners feel comfortable seeing their identities, culture, experiences and/or language reflected in the curriculum.
Jessica Gordon Nembhard
Author of Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice (2014), and 2016 inductee into the U.S. Cooperative Hall of Fame, Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Ph.D., is Professor of Community Justice and Social Economic Development, in the Department of Africana Studies, John Jay College, City University of NY. Dr. Gordon-Nembhard is an internationally recognized and widely published political economist specializing in cooperative economics, community economic development and community-based asset building, racial wealth inequality, solidarity economics, Black Political Economy, and community-based approaches to justice. Recipient of numerous awards in social economics and cooperative studies, including the 2022 ACE Contribution to Cooperative Education Award.
Johan Matthews
As Ecosystem Strategy Manager, Johan cultivates regenerative relationships and co-designs strategies that facilitate the development of equitable co-op ecosystems across the northeast. He also provides culturally responsive technical assistance to ensure that communities traditionally excluded from economic investment can engage in cooperative enterprise.
Johan joined CFNE in 2021 after over a decade of collaborating with local leaders and institutions in emerging communities to design and implement equitable change strategies.
He holds a B.A. in Philosophy from SUNY at Buffalo, a Certificate of Graduate Study in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from Rockefeller College, as well as an M.S. in Strategic Design and Management from The Parsons School of Design Strategies.
Bijiibah Begaye
As Cooperative Catalyst’s Executive Director, Bijiibah helps to build generative partnerships, develop new co-op curriculum and training, and is leading the organization’s work to organize and expand CCNM’s cooperative development and ecosystem-building efforts in communities across the Southwest.
A true believer in supporting community at every stage of development, prior to joining the leadership team at CCNM, Bijiibah served as the Executive Director of Tse Ko Community Development Corporation and as a Program Director for the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. She has extensive experience in youth and community development, working on the Cayuga and Onondaga Nation, the Tonaneesdizi Chapter of Navajo, and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. In Mongolia, she also served as a researcher for the Asia Foundation.
14:45
From Crisis to Community: The Role of News Co-operatives and Not-for-Profits
Main room
Interpreted Session (EN/FR/ES)
Increasing distrust and decreasing journalistic integrity, media monopolies and concentration of power, layoffs, sell-offs, news deserts, a dearth of local news, and defunding of public broadcasting—as the fourth estate crumbles, the time to harness the potential of news co-operatives is now. Starting with an overvieW of the global news co-op sector, this panel unpacks the advantages of news co-operatives—community-based, democratically governed, empowering not exploitative models driven by member benefit, not profit, empowering not exploiting labour, mobilizing social and economic capital—through the perspectives of frontline news co-operative practitioners and educators. From developing news co-operatives to changing how news is reported, panelists will share their experiences and inform a discussion on the pivotal role of news co-ops in communities and democracies. Editor-in-chief of the North Dakota Monitor Amy Dalrymple, North Dakota Living editor Cally (Musland) Peterson, former newspaper owner and co-chair of the North Dakota News Co-operative Steve Andrist, and associate professor of journalism Mitch Diamantopoulos will discuss the successes, challenges, and the role of co-op educators and communities in tapping the potential of news co-operatives.
Moderators: Steve Andrist and Natalie Kallio.
Amy Dalrymple
is editor-in-chief of the North Dakota Monitor, a nonprofit newsroom that launched in December 2023 with a focus on covering state government. She is based in Bismarck and previously worked as editor of The Bismarck Tribune. She also held reporting positions with Forum Communications, including covering the Bakken oil boom as a correspondent in Williston and reporting on higher education and other topics for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. She is past president of the North Dakota Newspaper Association.
Mitch Diamantopoulos
is Associate Professor of Journalism at the University of Regina. He is also a Research Fellow in Media, Culture, and Co-operative Innovation with the Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, at the University of Saskatchewan. He devoted fifteen years to independent journalism in Saskatchewan, where he co-founded two city-papers (Prairie Dog Magazine in Regina in 1993 and Planet S Magazine in Saskatoon in 2002). Mitch also played a leading role in developing the news co-operative’s structure—as an alternative to journalism’s failing business model.
Cally (Musland) Peterson
has been editor of North Dakota Living, the state’s largest-circulated publication and statewide electric cooperative magazine, since February 2019. She currently serves on the board of the North Dakota News Cooperative, a three-year-old nonprofit whose mission includes providing in-depth reporting about North Dakota to North Dakotans, and is secretary-treasurer of the National Electric Cooperatives Statewide Editors Association, which supports electric cooperative statewide consumer publications and the people who produce them.
Sixty Years of Collaboration for International Co-operative Development
Second room
Collaboration is one of the most underrated tools for change. International development organizations combining knowledge and working together to drive a common goal has been at the core of the U.S. Overseas Cooperative Development Council (OCDC) since it was organized in 1982. Ten member organizations across the U.S. apply their unique sector expertise to strengthen international cooperatives and credit unions with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Cooperative Development Program (CDP).
The proposed presentation intersects with many of ACE’s focus areas such as agriculture, environment, and marginalization. The presentation will detail information on several OCDC member collaborative activities, including:
- Land O’Lakes Venture37 and GENEX- joined forces on a study exploring business models in crisis in East Africa. They compared advantages and disadvantages of the cooperative model over those of privately owned businesses in organizational resilience of firms in the dairy sector.
- NCBA CLUSA and the International Cooperative Research Group (ICRG) worked together to review, adapt and expand the framework of the Cooperative Law and Regulation
Initiative to establish more enabling environments for cooperative development, benefitting from the expertise of a working group of development and legal professionals from around the world. - Social Systems Network Analysis was the focus of the collaboration of ICRG with Global Communities, NCBA CLUSA, and WOCCU. Named the Ushirika Hub – after the Swahili word for “cooperative” – it connects cooperatives, members, and sector players to service providers and facilitates valuable information sharing.
- Collaboration outside of OCDC members included the development of the Mapping International Cooperative Development Programs. This site was created jointly with the International Cooperative Alliance and contains information on over 420 international cooperative development projects around the world.
Moderators: Steve Dubb.
LuAnn Werner
LuAnn Werner is an international development professional serving as the Deputy Executive Director of the US Overseas Cooperative Development Council (OCDC). This is a member-based organization of international cooperative development organizations. An enthusiastic networker, she is passionate about
using her cooperative knowledge and management skills to promote effective international cooperative development.
Ms. Werner has worked for cooperatives and non-profits throughout her career including leading two international cooperative development programs focused on increasing incomes and stimulating economic growth of farmers in several East African countries. Her market access, agriculture and youth development experience span multiple countries throughout Southern and Eastern Africa as well as Asia. Ms. Werner also serves as a Director on the board of My Credit Union in Minnesota. She holds a Master of Arts in Sustainable Development from SIT Graduate Institute and a bachelor’s degree in social work.
16:00
Coffee break
Main room
16:30
Co-op Education Challenges to Developing Worker Co-ops among previously incarcerated people
Main room
Interpreted Session (EN/FR/ES)
Jessica Gordon Nembhard
Author of Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice (2014), and 2016 inductee into the U.S. Cooperative Hall of Fame, Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Ph.D., is Professor of Community Justice and Social Economic Development, in the Department of Africana Studies, John Jay College, City University of NY. Dr. Gordon-Nembhard is an internationally recognized and widely published political economist specializing in cooperative economics, community economic development and community-based asset building, racial wealth inequality, solidarity economics, Black Political Economy, and community-based approaches to justice. Recipient of numerous awards in social economics and cooperative studies, including the 2022 ACE Contribution to Cooperative Education Award.
Real Estate For Us, By Us, Through Community Investment
Second room
The panel will feature experts in affordable real estate, discussing experiences and future directions. Hive Mind CIC will discuss forming a diversified community investment fund in northeast Georgia. Duo Development will share Chicago initiatives for generating community wealth. Street Well will present Detroit examples in affordable housing and DCIF platform creation. A rep from National Coalition for Community Capital will comment on national conversation, policy, and needs to combat gentrification’s impact on marginalized communities.
Matthew Epperson
Matthew Epperson is a US Southern cooperator by passion and by training, having invested ~10 years within the US consumer-owned grocery retail co-op movement, before moving on to work in finance and platform research co-ops. He now serves as the Employee Ownership Domain Expert for Zolidar, which is a startup app company building the “easy button” for small to medium enterprises to convert their business to EO. In 2017 he founded the Georgia Co-op Development Center, the only statewide technical assistance provider in Georgia to startup and conversion co-op projects. He loves biking, hiking, zazen meditation, discussing books and movies, and his fiancée, Julia. He is the 2012 Keep Athens Clarke County Beautiful Citizen of the Year, a black belt in a Japanese-Korean family of martial arts (Tango Su Doo, Aikido and Jujitsu), a regular performer with his local improv comedy troupe Flying Squid Comedy, and while it’s true that he can have strong stage anxiety, he makes it work.
David Lidz
David Lidz, a seasoned real estate investor and developer, transformed his life from alcoholism to leading community revitalization. Three years sober in 2005, he ran a property management and contracting business, employing individuals in recovery. In 2010, he founded Appalachian Field Services, providing jobs to those exiting the criminal justice system. In 2015, he started Ladders-To-Leaders, a nonprofit offering transitional housing and peer support for those recovering from addiction. By 2018, he launched the Impact Real Estate Portfolio, renovating distressed properties in Baltimore and redistributing equity to community stakeholders. In 2019, he founded Rising Housing to further this vision and converted both AFS and Rising into employee-owned cooperatives by 2020. He raised $5.2MM for the co-op, which now holds 20 properties with plans to expand to 50 units by 2026. David also started StreetWell, a co-op consultancy, and holds various licenses in real estate and contracting. He is an alumnus of the University of Maryland and several social enterprise programs.
17:45
Coffee break
Main room
18:00
FUTURO INCUBATOR AND ACCELERATOR - BRIDGING COOPERATIVES TO OPPORTUNITIES
Main room
Interpreted Session (EN/FR/ES)
The workshop will delve into ecosystem building in Central Coast, covering curriculum development, market access, community education, outreach to business service providers, policy on procurement and worker pathways, co-op development, capital access, and start-up funds.
Maria Cadenas
Maria Cadenas has over 20 years, her focus has been on developing local and global social, business, and philanthropic models to foster equity, community engagement, collaboration, and asset-building. She is the newly elected Chair of California Asset Building Coalition and has served on California’s Children’s Savings Account Coalition Steering Committee since its inception in 2018. Her leadership and advocacy at the County level have resulted in a shared understanding of equity and the importance of addressing income/wealth gaps and economic mobility.
The Emerging Co-operative Economy
Second room
E.G. Nadeau proposes to deliver a presentation at the Institute, centered on a new book he published. The book delves into the current global landscape, marked by concentrated economic and political power, severe inequality in access to basic goods and services, and extensive environmental degradation. Despite these challenges, Nadeau argues that this dysfunctional economy is not an inevitable fate.
The book outlines a vision for the coming decades, suggesting a transition to an international economy characterized by enhanced political and economic democracy, the fulfillment of human needs, and environmental sustainability. By 2050, Nadeau envisions a more cooperative society and economy.
In the presentation, Nadeau intends to highlight the crucial role of cooperatives in facilitating this transition.
Moderators: Steve Dubb.
E.G Nadeau
E.G. Nadeau holds an undergraduate degree in sociology from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has been dedicated to researching, developing, teaching, and writing about cooperation and cooperatives for over 50 years, beginning with his work as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal in 1970.
Nadeau was the founding director of Cooperative Development Services in 1985, a pioneering co-op business planning organization in the United States. Since then, he has been engaged in domestic and international co-op consulting for various organizations, including Cooperative Development Services, NCBA CLUSA, Land O’ Lakes International Development Division, and the Overseas Cooperative Development Council. He has managed more than 25 international cooperative development projects since 2000.
19:00
Cocktail Buffet
Main room
The cocktail is at the Heritage North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum: 612 East Boulevard Avenue – Bismarck, ND 58505. A bus is booked for transfers. Attendees will be divided into two groups since the bus can hold a maximum of 48 attendees at a time, the bus will return to the NDAREC Center to pick-up the second group.
- 6:45pm Bus for first group
- 7:20pm Bus for second group
- 7 pm till 9:30pm Cocktail Buffet + Gallery is open from 7:30pm till 9pm
- From 9pm bus to go back to NDAREC (also in two groups)
7:30
Continental breakfast at NDAREC
Main room
8:45
ACE Annual General Meeting
Interpreted Session (EN/FR/ES)
To view and download the AGM documents, please click here.
Main room
10:00
Coffee break + departure for co-op tours
Remember to pick up your TO-GO Lunch Boxes before hopping on your co-op tour bus. Bring extra water if you think you need it!
Main room
10:30
Co-op tours
Further information about the Co-op Tours can be found below.
- Co-op tour #1: Standing Rock
- Co-op tour #2: Capital Electric then Strengthen ND
- Co-op tour #3: NDAREC and NISC
12:00
Lunch
16:00
Return to NDAREC
Free time to get ready for the banquet.
19:00
ACE Banquet
Baymont Inn & Suites Mandan
Further information about the ACE Banquet can be found below.
7 p.m. Banquet Opening
7:20 p.m. Welcome and Greetings by Gary Hampton
7:30 p.m. Address from the Bismarck-Mandan Co-operative Ecosystem
7:40 p.m. Memorial moment for Harold Chapman and Liz Bailey followed by a minute of silence
8 p.m. Dinner is served
9:30 p.m. ACE Awards Ceremony
9:50 p.m. Dessert is served
10 p.m. Announcing of the Silent Auction Winners & Closing Remarks
10:10 p.m. Group photo
Featuring musicians Lucas Hranicka and Chris Argenziano, A Gentleman and A Scholar provides live music:
- 8 – 10 p.m. Solo Classical Guitar
- 10:30 – 11:30 p.m. Acoustic Duo
7:30
Continental Breakfast at NDAREC
Main room
9:00
Evolution and status of agricultural co-operatives in French-speaking West Africa
Main room
In French-speaking West Africa, agricultural co-operatives are vital for food security and economic development. They empower farmers, promote sustainable practices, and enhance value chains. Despite government support, challenges persist in governance and financing. Understanding recent trends in these co-operatives is key to addressing these challenges and leveraging opportunities for inclusive, sustainable rural development.
Moustapha Soumahoro
With a degree in geography, Moustapha Soumahoro studied at the Université de Cocody in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire (Licence-Maîtrise-D.E. A) and at Université Laval in Quebec City, where he obtained his Ph.D. Author of numerous articles and six collective works on local development, he is interested in issues of underdevelopment, decentralization, territorial fragmentation and the urban spaces of African cities. Farmer organization and organizational capacity-building have been key areas of interest in his research, enabling him to make a significant contribution to understanding development issues in rural areas.
Co-operative Coordination When Grazing Sheep Beneath Solar Arrays
Second room
The United States has experienced a significant policy shift towards solar energy as states aim to reduce
carbon emissions. Agrivoltatics is a system to pair grazing sheep to control shading of solar arrays to
maximize energy production, financially benefiting both farmers and array operators. Negotiating
individual service contracts at scale is highly inefficient. A cooperative approach can provide significant
transaction cost savings.
Roberta “Bobbie” Severson
Roberta “Bobbie” Severson is an Extension Associate and Director of the Cornell Cooperative Enterprise Program. Through her work, she collaborates with Todd M. Schmit, Professor, in the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. She serves as Executive Secretary of the Northeast Cooperative Council. The Council provides executive education to agricultural cooperative leaders headquartered or doing business in the Northeast. She is a past president of the National Conference of State Cooperatives Councils. She received the John Logue ACE award in 2018. She holds a Masters in Professional Studies in Community and Rural Development from Cornell University.
Climate Lending and Co-ops
Second room
Esther West
Esther West (she/they) is a Loan Officer at Shared Capital Cooperative based in Milwaukee, WI. She has been a worker-owner at Equal Exchange and The Ajani Group, and has taught Environmental Studies at San Francisco State University. Esther has researched and mapped cooperatives, including Latinx and rural cooperatives, with Dr. Jessica Gordon Nembhard and as a Cooperative Development Specialist at the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives. Masters are in Urban Planning and Environmental Studies from Cleveland State University. Past Board roles include the USFWC, MadWorC, and Listen Up! Youth Media, and they are part of Cooperation MKE. Esther is currently an ACE Board Member.
Christina Jennings
Christina Jennings (She/her) joined Shared Capital in 2008 where she provides strategic leadership, oversees lending programs, and leads capitalization and fundraising efforts. Jennings has worked for over twenty years in community development finance in the US and internationally. Prior to joining Shared Capital, Jennings ran a city-wide microfinance program in Minneapolis; provided technical assistance and training to support the development and growth of immigrant-lead nonprofits; and lead two international funds that invested in local microfinance organizations in Latin America.
Ashley Long
Ashley Long (they/them) joined Shared Capital Cooperative in February of 2022 as a Loan and Investment Associate and is now a Loan Closer where they manage the loan closing process, work with investment advisors to support a smooth investment process and monitor the document distribution, review, and approval processes. Prior to Shared Capital, they worked for 8 years in residential title and escrow. They were a member of the 2023 Leaders and Scholars Cohort through CDF and NCBA-CLUSA. Ashley holds a Bachelor’s in English from the University of Iowa.
10:30
Coffee Break
Main room
11:00
Cooperating differently
Second room
Ashley Long proposes an interactive and robust conversation around mindfulness in cooperatives. She seeks to explore how mindfulness can contribute to the workplace, particularly within cooperative organizations.
Mindfulness is defined as the practice of reducing stress, enhancing performance, gaining insight and awareness through observing one’s own mind, and increasing attention to others’ well-being. To Ashley, mindfulness means being present, which opens the possibility to be mindful.
The main questions Ashley aims to explore in this conversation include:
- How can lessons from the Mindfulness movement be applied to foster interconnectedness in cooperative organizations?
- What conversations are participants currently engaging in that incorporate decolonization practices?
- How can mindfulness strengthen the cooperative movement when individuals work together?
Ashley Long
Ashley Long (they/them) joined Shared Capital Cooperative in February of 2022 as a loan and investment associate and is now a Loan Closer where they manage the loan closing process, work with investment advisors to support a smooth investment process and monitor the document distribution, review, and approval processes. Prior to Shared Capital, they worked for 8 years in residential title and escrow. They were a member of the 2023 Leaders and Scholars Cohort through CDF and NCBA-CLUSA. Ashley holds a Bachelor’s in English from the University of Iowa.
Cultivating Co-operation through Agriculture and Food Systems
Main room
SouthEast Michigan Producer Association (SEMPA) is a producer cooperative of rural and urban African American farmers building capacity and attempting to supply the food insecure areas in the Detroit, MI region, thus developing a local food system.
The anticipated outcome is for participants to reevaluate the conditions within vulnerable communities and its current food system as opportunities for local food and agriculture entrepreneurs/small businesses and cooperation.
Cary Junior
Cary M. Junior, Founder and General Manager of SEMPA has championed issues promoting nutrition and entrepreneurship to empower the most vulnerable populations through economic development and food systems. He founded the former Royal Town Farmer’s Market and is a former Food Hub Development Specialist with the Michigan
State University (MSU) Center for Regional Food Systems. He served on the organizing committee of the Michigan Good Fund. He has also served on several Boards, including the Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS), the Detroit Community Wealth Fund
(a cooperative start up fund), and more recently the USDA Minority Farmer and Ranchers Advisory Committee. As an engineer and economic development consultant, his education background includes degrees from Morehouse College (BS), The University of Michigan (MSE), and Dartmouth College Tuck School of Business (Exec.
Ed).
Co-operative Community Development through Agroecology and Climate Initiatives
Main room
Urban agriculture, land access and stewardship along with food systems and urban-community forestry have a role in the food and climate justice fights in urban and rural communities. Join us to explore how two Minnesota-based organizations drive change through collaborations with the Minnesota DNR, academia, USDA FSA, and NRCS. Expect to walk away with ideas, solutions or strategies to strengthen community collaborations.
Gary Hampton
With a passion for community engagement and socioeconomic growth, Gary Hampton has been championing change as co-manager of Urban Ag activity with Renewing the Countryside as well as equitable land access and tenureship in collaboration with several organizations. Gary brings a wealth of experience from his extensive background in cooperatives, education, and business development corporations. He is dedicated to overcoming barriers through innovative community development and cooperative solutions.
Melvin Giles
Melvin supports Renewing the Countryside’s Farm to Early Care efforts. He is also the co-coordinator of the Urban Farm & Garden Alliance (UFGA), and a veteran peace and diversity educator. Since 2010, he has facilitated the Peace Pole and Peace Message Campaign. The campaign is intended to decrease violent crime and create places, spaces, and opportunities for peaceful gatherings and racial and cultural appreciation, education and healing in the greater St. Paul area. Melvin lives in St. Paul, Minnesota and enjoys playing in the soil, growing things, and bubbles.
12:00
Lunch + Open Mic
Moderated by Gary Hampton.
If you have an early flight on Thursday June 27, let us know by Tuesday June 25 for us to order your TO-GO Meal Box.
The ACE Institute closes on Thursday June 27, 2024 at 1:00 pm Central Time
Co-op Tour
Our co-op tour will take you to some of the most innovative cooperatives in the Bismarck-Mandan area.
CO-OP TOUR #1
This tour will give you the opportunity to visit the Standing Rock site.
It will stop first at the tribally operated Solar Farm near Cannon Ball. It will have a drive-by of the site of the Dakota Access Pipeline Camp – the largest gathering of Native tribes in recent history in the United States – and you will have experts providing explanation.
We will then go to the Sitting Bull College where you will have the opportunity to discuss with Joseph McNeil Jr, the director of the Sage Development Corporation, which is a tribally chartered development corporation for the tribe.
After lunch, the bus would go west of Fort Yates and you will see a site where a wind farm is going to be created. And it also gives you a vista looking south.
On the return trip, we will have a stop and a chance to buy souvenirs at Prairie Knights Casino.
CO-OP TOUR #2
This tour will give you the opportunity to visit two major co-operatives in North Dakota:
CAPITAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Capital Electric Cooperative (CEC), a rural electric co-operative based in Bismarck, ND. Committed to serving the community and member-owners, CEC operates by the values of Integrity, Commitment to Community, Innovation, and Accountability. With 39 dedicated employees, CEC ensures safe, reliable, and affordable electric service to 22,500 accounts spanning over 2,800 miles of line. Governance is overseen by a nine-member Board of Directors elected by member-owners.
Learn more about Capital Electric Cooperative on their website.
Strengthen ND
Strengthen ND is a versatile organization dedicated to enhancing nonprofits and rural communities across North Dakota. They focus on board and staff development, executive search, program design and evaluation, grant making, strategic planning, community succession planning, economic development, meeting facilitation, and organizational succession planning. With a deep understanding of North Dakota’s unique challenges and needs, Strengthen ND offers tailored solutions to support community growth and success.
CO-OP TOUR #3
This tour will give you the opportunity to visit our host and one of our main sponsor for the 2024 ACE Institute:
North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC)
Founded in 1942 and incorporated in 1958, NDAREC represents 17 distribution cooperatives and five generation and transmission cooperatives across North Dakota. The association is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in rural communities through effective rural electrification efforts.
NDAREC provides a comprehensive range of services to its member cooperatives, including communications, government relations, safety training, professional development, and economic development. These services ensure that member cooperatives can deliver reliable and efficient electric services to rural residents.
A key initiative of NDAREC is its educational program, which features various webinars, conferences, and workshops. These programs cover critical topics such as electrical engineering, generational workplace dynamics, and strategic financial management, offering valuable learning opportunities for cooperative members and employees.
For more information about NDAREC and its initiatives, visit ndarec.com.
National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC)
As part of #ACEInstitute2024, we’re thrilled to announce a tour of National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC). NISC is a leader in IT solutions for utility and broadband cooperatives, providing advanced software and hardware for billing, accounting, engineering, and operations.
- Serving over 950 Members across the U.S., American Samoa, Palau, and Canada, NISC:
- Processes nearly 1.5 million paychecks annually, managing a payroll of $5.9 billion.
- Produced 324 million statement images in 2023.
- Achieved over $3.7 million in sales through iGEAR®.
- Was named one of the Top 100 “Best Places to Work in IT” for the 20th consecutive year.
NISC is committed to community development, eco-friendly practices, and charitable contributions, such as their Benevolence Fund and the Giving 50@50 campaign. Members benefit from tailored services, comprehensive training, and award-winning support. With over $55 million invested annually in R&D, NISC continuously innovates to meet future challenges.
Banquet
Memorial Moment:
During the banquet, we will take a special moment to honor and remember two remarkable individuals who made significant contributions to our cooperative community:
Harold Chapman: We will recognize Harold Everett Chapman, one of the founding members of the Association of Cooperative Educators. Harold’s remarkable journey and unwavering commitment to cooperative education have left an indelible mark on our community. Born in Saskatoon in 1917, Harold’s early passion for cooperative ideals became the cornerstone of his life’s work, from pioneering cooperative farms in Saskatchewan to his impactful contributions at the Co-op College of Canada. His legacy stands as a guiding light, inspiring current and future generations dedicated to the principles of cooperation.
Liz Bailey: We will also honor Elizabeth “Liz” Carolyn Allen Bailey, a devoted public servant and cooperative advocate who helmed the Cooperative Development Foundation for nearly a decade. Liz passed away on January 25 and was known for her generosity, deep knowledge of policymaking, and unwavering commitment to the cooperative movement. Born in 1948 in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, Liz had a lifelong commitment to public service, advancing cooperative education and development, and leaving a lasting legacy within the cooperative community.
Please join us in this heartfelt tribute as we celebrate the lives and contributions of Harold Chapman and Liz Bailey, ensuring their memories continue to inspire and guide our community.
ACE's traditional Silent Auction:
This auction will be a highlight of the event, offering a delightful opportunity to give and share. The winners will be announced during the banquet, adding excitement to the evening. Don’t miss out on this chance to contribute and participate in a memorable event!
To participate, simply bring your item with you, and we’ll collect it upon arrival. Ideally, let us know in advance by emailing info@ace.coop so we can add your name to our list of donors.
ACE Awards Ceremony:
Every year, the Association of Cooperative Educators acknowledges the outstanding work of co-operative educators. We have five categories. It is not required to give an award in each category every year, but we want to make sure to recognize people in our field of cooperative education and development who merit recognition.
An abbreviated description of each category is below.
- The Jessica Gordon Nembhard Cooperative Education and Training Award: The award acknowledges the efforts of an individual or organization for their ongoing work in educating others about cooperatives. This is a longstanding award renamed in 2022 to acknowledge the incredible contribution of Jessica Gordon Nembhard to cooperative education.
- The William Hlushko Award to Young Cooperative Educators:
The Association of Cooperative Educators (ACE) established this award in 1978 to acknowledge and recognize outstanding achievement of young cooperative educators who are members of the organization and are below the age of 35. Many awardees have gone on to make major contributions to the field. - The Reginald J. Cressman ACE Award:
The Award recognizes an ACE Member who demonstrates outstanding commitment to staff development as exemplified by long-time cooperator Reginald J. Cressman. - The John Logue ACE Award:
The Award, which honors John Logue, founder of the Ohio Employee Ownership Center, recognizes an individual or organization whose educational programs, technical assistance, or research acts as a catalyst for change by creating innovative cooperatives. - The William Nelson Contribution to ACE Award:
The Award recognizes an individual or an organization that adds significant value to ACE. This is a longstanding award renamed in 2016 to acknowledge the incredible contribution of William J. Nelson to the association.
Entertainment:
Featuring musicians Lucas Hranicka and Chris Argenziano, A Gentleman and A Scholar provides live music and entertainment in North Dakota, Minnesota, and the surrounding regions. With two guitars and lush vocal harmonies, A Gentleman and A Scholar perform a wide variety of music that ranges from rock, country, and pop covers, both old and new, to vocal jazz standards. We will have the chance to listen to them at the ACE Banquet on June 26! Check out their music to get in the mood!
Important and Useful Information
To ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience, here are some key points to keep in mind:
Location:
Bismarck-Mandan, North Dakota
NDAREC facilities – 3201 Nygren Dr NW Mandan, ND 58554 United States
Accommodation:
Below are the hotel accommodations available for the conference. Please note that ACE does not cover hotel accommodations, and attendees are responsible for arranging and paying for their own accommodations.
BAYMONT INN & SUITES:
A block of rooms has been set aside at the Baymont Inn & Suites at a discounted rate of $120.00 per night for your conference. Please call the hotel directly at 701-663-7401 and let the hotel staff know that you will be coming for the Ace Institute Conference on June 24-27, 2024.
Hotel Address: 2611 Old Red Trail, Mandan, ND 58554
COMFORT INN & SUITES MANDAN:
A block of rooms has been set aside at the Comfort Inn & Suites Mandan at a discounted rate of $99.00 per night for your conference. Please call the hotel directly at 701-751-7484 and let the hotel staff know that you will be coming for the Ace Institute Conference on June 24-27, 2024. If you call at the general phone number, press 2 for the front desk. Please have your room secured as soon as possible to ensure you get a sleeping room.
You can also book using this link: Comfort Inn & Suites Mandan Booking Link
Hotel Address: 1516 27th St. NW, Mandan, ND, 58554, US
