MeetOurSpeakers

CourtneyBernerisacooperativedevelopmentspecialistattheUniversityofWisconsinCenterforCooperativeswheresheprovidestechnicalassistanceandcounseltoexistingandstart-upcooperativesandtobusinessownersinterestedinexploringconversiontocooperativeownership.Courtneywritesandspeaksfrequentlyontheco-opbusinessmodelandrecentlyco-authoredSuccessfulCooperativeOwnershipTransitions:CaseStudiesandKeyFactorsforSuccessintheConversionofPrivatelyHeldBusinessestoWorkerCooperativeswiththe

DemocracyAtWorkInstitute.Courtneyhasresearch,development,andoutreachexperienceinarangeofissuesrelatedtofoodsystems,communityeconomicdevelopment,andthecooperativebusinessmodel.PriortoearninganM.S.inagroecologyfromtheUniversityofWisconsin-Madison,shespentfiveyearsattheWorldwatchInstitute,anindependentresearchinstitutedevotedtoglobalenvironmentalconcerns.Shecanbereachedatcberner@wisc.edu.

KarlCumbladistheChiefFinancialOfficeratDiversifiedInsuranceSolutionswhichfollowshisprevious15-yeartenureastheChiefOperatingOfficer.PriortojoiningDiversifiedKarlspent25yearswithJohnDeere,wherehewasseniorvicepresidentoftransportationinsuranceunit.

AsDiversified’sCOOKarl’sresponsibilitiesincludedoverseeingfinance,accounting,IT,facilities,administration,contractsandoperations.Karltakesprideinmentoringyoung,newleadersanddevelopingthemintokeycomponentsofDiversified’smanagementteam.Diversified’ssingularvalueof“Respect,”isevidentintheway

Karltreatseveryassociate,clientandvendor.Inhisfreetime,Karlenjoysgolf,ridingHarleys,stuntkites,aviationandspendingtimewithhiswifeandtwochildren.KarlcanbereachedatKCumblad@div-ins.com.

MarkFickistheDirectorofLendingwithSharedCapitalCooperativewhereheleadsthebusinessdevelopment,loanunderwritingandportfoliomanagementfunctionsoftheorganization.Asacooperativelyownedloanfund,SharedCapitalworkstobuildeconomicdemocracybyprovidingfinancingthroughouttheUnitedStatestocooperativelyownedenterprisesincludingconsumer,worker,andproducerownedcooperatives.

PriortojoiningSharedCapital,MarkwastheDirectorofLendingOperationswiththeChicagoCommunityLoanFundwherehewasresponsibleforprovidingfinancingandtechnicalassistancetoaffordablehousing,socialenterprisesandcommunity-basedorganizationsintheChicagolandarea.Overthepast25yearsMarkhasbeenanactiveleaderwithavarietyofcommunity-basedandcooperativedevelopmentorganizationsincludingtheChicagoMutualHousingNetwork,NASCODevelopmentServices,HousingActionIllinois,OrganizationoftheNortheast,StoneSoupCooperativeandtheNorthsideCommunityFederalCreditUnion.Markcanbereachedatmark@sharedcapital.coop.

DavidHammeristheExecutiveDirectoroftheICAGroup,thecountry’soldestnationalorganizationdedicatedtodemocraticemployeeownership.Mr.Hammerisaleadingpractitionerofemployeebuyoutsofsmallbusinessandworkercooperatives.Mr.HammerjoinedtheICAGroupin2008andservedasaSeniorBusinessConsultantuntilassumingthepositionofExecutiveDirectorinJune2013.Hehasspenthiscareerworkingfororganizationsdedicatedtoempowering

workersandthecommunitiesinwhichtheylive.David’sareasofexpertiseincludemarketresearch,businessplanning,governance,policyanalysis,dataanalysis,andfinancialmodeling.

PriortojoiningtheICAGroupDavidservedasAssistantDirectorofResearchof1199SEIU,a300,000memberhealthcareunionwithmembersinNewYork,Massachusetts,MarylandandWashingtonDC.PreviouslyheconductedresearchforUNITEinNewYorkCityandtheUnitedSteelworkersofAmericainPittsburgh.Davidhasworkedonawidevarietyofprojectsthroughoutthecountryinindustriesasdiverseaslongtermcare,industriallaundries,appareldistribution,foodretail,tiremanufacturing,temporarystaffing,hospitality,aluminumcanmanufacturing,aswellasvarioussmallmanufacturingsettings.

DavidearnedaMaster’sofSciencefromtheLaborRelationsandResearchCenterattheUniversityofMassachusetts,AmherstandaBachelor’sdegreeinHistoryfromUMass,Amherst.Davidcanbereachedatdhammer@ica-group.org.

PaulKarchisamemberofHuschBlackwell’sFood&Agribusinessindustryteam.Hehasledlegalprojectteamsintransactionscreatingandwindingupresearchandmarketingjointventuresandinsalesofseedandotheragriculturalinputcompanies.Heisanexperiencedcorporatelawyerandcommunityleader,withsuccessindesigningandcompletinginnovativecomplextransactions,developingandimplementingstrategicplans,creatingeffectivegovernancestructures,andbuildingandleadingteamsandorganizations.Hisrecentcooperativeandagribusiness

projectshaveincluded:

• HandledsaleofmycorrhizalapplicationstoValentBioSciencesCorp.,aSumitomoChemicalcompany.

• Negotiatedsupplyagreementsforthe3,000membersofanindependentpharmacycooperative.

• Advisedmembersandboardonthewindingdownanddissolutionofaresearchanddevelopmentcooperative.

WhileheworkedatalargepapercompanyinAppleton,WI,heledtheprojectteamthatcreatedandfundedanemployeestockownershipplanandacquiredthecompanyfromitsEuropeanparent.Paulcanbereachedatpaul.karch@huschblackwell.com.

DirkMaroskeisPresidentandCEOofAztalanEngineering,Inc.since2013.HehasaB.ScandM.ScinMechanicalEngineeringfromtheTechnicalUniversityofDarmstadt,Germany.AfterstartinghiscareerinproductdevelopmentwithSchenckPegasus(automotiveindustry),hemovedintooperationsandengineeringmanagementandmovedtotheUSAwithSchenckAccuRatein2000.

DirkhasworkedinleadershiprolesatSchenckAccuRateincludingDirectorofHeavyIndustryforNorthAmericaandDirectorofR&D.Hemanagedtheintegrationof

StockEquipmentCompany(Cleveland,OH)intotheSchenckProcessGroupfrom2006through2007beforereturningaspresidentandCEOofSchenckAccuRateandmovingforwardwithSchenckProcessNorthAmerica.In2013hetookonanewresponsibilitywithAztalanEngineering(PrecisionMachining&Engineering)tomanagethetransitionfroma49%EmployeeStockOwnershipPlan(ESOP)companytoan100%ESOPcompanyinDecember2014.DirkhasanextensivebackgroundininternationalbusinessandhaslivedandworkedorledteamsinBrazil,China,India,EuropeandtheUnitedStates.DirkandhiswifeSusanneresidewiththeirteenagechildren,JanandMilena,inWhitewater,WI.Dirkcanbereachedatdmaroske@aztalan.com.

RobPeckistheSalesManageratNorthWindRenewableEnergyCooperativeofStevensPoint.AtNorthWindsince2010hehasbeeneducating,informing,consulting,andadvocatingforthefinancialandenvironmentalbenefitsofsolarenergy.Overthepastsixmonths,hehastakenanactiveroleinNorthWind'sconversiontoaworkerownedcooperative.Inapreviouslife,Robspent25yearsmanagingdepartmentsinmanufacturing,warehousing,distribution,andlogisticsatSmith&NephewNorthAmerica.Robcanbereachedatrob@northwindre.com.

AnneReynoldsistheExecutiveDirectoroftheUniversityofWisconsinCenterforCooperatives.Shedevelopscourses,conferencesandeducationalprogramsattheCenter,andhaslednumerousworkshopsonboardleadership,boardrolesandresponsibilitiesandstrategicplanning.Herareasofinterestincludegovernance,memberloyalty,businessstructureandinnovativeusesofthecooperativemodel.

Shehasworkedwithcooperativesinallsectors,includingagriculture,food,energy,purchasingandworker-owned.Anneservesonseveralboards,includingThe

CooperativeFoundationandSharedCapitalCooperative.BeforejoiningtheCenterforCooperatives,sheworkedattheCreditUnionNationalAssociation(CUNA).Shecanbereachedatanne.reynolds@wisc.edu.

JoshStolzenburgisthePresidentandCEOofNorthWindRenewableEnergyCooperative.JoshfoundedNorthWindRenewableEnergy,LLCin2007inordertogetcleanerenergyinstalledonutilityelectricgridsinWisconsin.In2017,heledthetransitionfromanLLCtoaworkerownedcooperative.NorthWindemploys11people,ofwhichsixarecurrentlymembers.Joshcanbereachedatjosh@northwindre.com.