January 9^th, 2023

10 am to 12 pm                       Pre-Training Tracks

Track A: Employee-focused:

Do you know the Montana Cooperative Community:  An overview of what it means to work for a cooperative and the impacts that cooperatives have on local communities. This session is focused for those employed by cooperatives to learn all the ins and outs of the cooperative community in Montana, including a review of types of cooperatives, different structures, coordination opportunities, and future growth of the community. Lead by the MCDC/MCOC team.

Track B:   General Managers and Board Member Focused:

Value of Cooperatives- social, charitable, and services. This session will focus on how cooperatives of all makes and models in Montana can expand cooperation and have a more robust impact in Montana. The session will overview State, Regional, Nationally, and International activities and how Montana can better promote the cooperative community as a whole- thus making it stronger and more resilient. Lead by MCDC/MCOC Director Tracy McIntyre and National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) Project Director Teia Evans.

Conference Begins:

1:00 to 1:10 pm                Welcome by MCOC Vice President Heidi Borlaug

                                                Housing Keeping and What to expect

1:10 to 2:00 pm                The Impact of Montana Cooperatives-

• Pat Barkey, Bureau of Business and Economic Research
• Creating a Message for the Montana Cooperative Community
  • Introducing statewide all-sector graphics and information to share

2:00 to 2:20 pm                                Fireside Chat with Governor Greg Gianforte

2:20 to 3:30 pm                State of the Montana Cooperative Community: A cross-sector discussion on how Montana Cooperatives are faring in the post-     covid world

• Moderator: Dave Kelsey- Yellowstone Valley Electric Co-op
• Panel
  • Karen Smith, Montana Credit Unions
  • Gary Wiens, Montana Electrical Cooperatives’ Association
  • Geoff Feiss, Broadband Montana
  • Josh Starr, Town and Country Supply

Break

3::45 to 4:45 pm               A review of Montana Cooperative Development Center

• • Sophie Nelson- Native American, Childcare, and Women’s Equity
  • Nicole Borner- Broadband Adoption and Partnerships, Investments
  • Davey Madison- General Projects- Emerging Cooperatives- Ag, Housing, and more
  • Shandy Petersen- Sustainability of MCDC- introducing the Montana Cooperative Legacy Endowment Fund
  • Tracy McIntyre- interview of Lyndsay Larson, Montana Food Hub, and Caitlin Jenson, Zero to Five Montana

4:45 to 5:00 pm:               Introduction/Brainstorm of creating a Montana Cooperative Investment Cooperative- Securing Capital for Cooperatives  with Nicole Borner and Shandy Petersen- MCDC Team

5:30 pm to 6:30 pm        Networking Hour 

6:30 pm                            The Montana Cooperative Community Legislative Dinner

• Awarding Fritz Keller- Energized with Cooperative Spirit Award

January 10^th, 2023

7:00 to 8:30 am                 Breakfast- On your own or at the Hotel

8:30 to 9:00 am                 MCOC Annual Meeting – MCOC Board of Directors

                       Welcome by Congressional Delegates (invited)

9:00 to10:00am                 Voices of Montana – Live Broadcast from the Cooperative Community

10:00 to 10:30 am            Building the Future of Montana Cooperatives

• MCOC Legislative Agenda Discussion/Strategic Planning

Break

10:45 -12:15 pm               Workforce and Cooperatives- Innovative Programing for Attracting and Retaining Employees in Montana

• Moderated by: Julie Jaksha, Butte Food Co-op/Ascent Bank
• Panel:
  • Montana Premium Processing Co-op partnership with MSU-Northern
    • Bill Jones, General Manager with Montana Premium Processing Co-op
  • CHS Pre-Apprenticeship Program with MCDC and MCOC
    • Tim Rask, CEO/President of Daniel-Sheridan Credit Union
  • MCDC’s Legacy the Unicorn Youth Outreach
    • Shandy Petersen, MCDC Sustainability Director
  • Veteran’s Workforce Placement- Introduction to Skillbridge
    • Leif Ibsen, Co-Founder/Owner of Montana Opportunities for Veterans Everywhere
  • Fergus Credit Union- Infant to Work Program
    • Jayme Durbin, President (invited)
  • Sheridan Electric Cooperative’s Youth Engagement
    • Josh Johnson, Member Services and Marketing Manager
  • Retaining employment
    • Andy Shirtliff, Business Engagement Specialist MT Dept. of Labor

12:15 – 1:45 pm                                Lunch –

Fireside Chat with Montana Legislative Leadership:  Stillwater County Commissioner and MCDC Board Member Tyrel Hamilton will lead a discussion with Majority Leader Senator Steve Fitzpatrick and Minority Leader Senator Pat Flowers.

• • Closing the Conference’s Silent Auction (all proceeds will benefit the cooperative education fund)
  • Closing Remarks and Door Prizes

Optional Afternoon activities:

2 to 4 pm                             MCDC/MCOC Board and Staff Office Hours- set up one-on-one discussions

2 to 3 pm                             Training Opportunity: How do you connect with Legislators. Mark Lambrecht, Director of Government Relations with the Montana Electric Cooperatives’ Association, will lead this training.

6:00 pm                                For those staying in town- a no-host dinner will be arrange