2026 Montana Co-Op Academy

Director, Local Government Center, 

Montana State University Extension 

 Dan Clark has spent 28 years building the capacity of rural communities, local governments and for-profit organizations across the US and internationally.  Dan served as Mayor of Choteau and is presently the Director of the Local Government Center at Montana State University.  Dan also owns a small retail outdoor gear shop and provides consulting services to governments and corporations across the United States. 

Executive Director, 

Montana Co-op Development Center

Administrator, 

Montana Council of Cooperatives

 A native of Eureka, Montana, and a proud Montana State University graduate, McIntyre has spent her career championing rural communities and cooperative development across Big Sky Country. Appointed by Governor Bullock as a Montana Ambassador from 2008 to 2019, McIntyre’s passion for economic growth and community leadership has made her a driving force in Northwest Montana and beyond.

After 12 years as an Economic Developer, McIntyre launched her own consulting firm, Rural Economic Designs, LLC, in 2016, bringing her strategic vision and hands-on expertise to rural communities across Montana. Her work has become synonymous with empowering local leaders, fostering collaboration, and igniting impactful projects across the state.

Since 2009, McIntyre has been instrumental in cooperative development as a specialist for the Montana Cooperative Development Center. By 2019, she took on the role of Executive Director, steering the organization through critical growth while also leading as the Administrator for the Montana Council of Cooperatives.

Known for her dynamic leadership, McIntyre is currently spearheading initiatives in housing, childcare, value-added agriculture, community investment, and worker-owned conversions. Her influence extends nationally, as she was recently elected to the board of directors for the National Cooperative Business Association. Closer to home, McIntyre plays a vital role on the Montana Early Child Care Initiative, the Montana Housing Coalition board, and the Great Falls Community Foundation.

When she’s not building a brighter future for rural Montana, McIntyre can be found off the beaten path, exploring the hidden gems and ghost towns that make Montana truly unique, often accompanied by her friends and family on these adventurous journeys.

 Vice President, Programs and Partnerships,  

U.S. Co-ops 

A cooperative development strategist with more than three decades of experience building organizations and partnerships that advance economic inclusion and shared prosperity.

She serves as Vice President, Programs and Partnerships, at U.S. Co-ops, designing cooperative development and education initiatives across diverse U.S. communities and cultivating partnerships to sustain and scale this work. Her roots in cooperative and international development reach back to her service in the U.S. Peace Corps teaching in Botswana — an experience in grassroots community building that carried into her work with Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (VOCA), first as a program recruiter for Africa and then as country director in Uganda.

Trained as a lawyer, Cristine earned her J.D. with honors from the University of Wisconsin. That legal foundation has shaped her strategy and governance consulting with cooperatives, funders, and nonprofit organizations, including 15 years as Executive Director of the Center for Nonprofit Excellence, a champion, learning partner, and advisor to Virginia nonprofits.

She and her family have lived on a farm in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Nelson County, Virginia for the past 24 years, where, in the early days, they grew and sold produce and cut flowers at the Charlottesville Farmer's Market — a firsthand taste of the small-producer economy so many cooperatives exist to serve.

 President/Chief Executive Officer, 

Montana's Credit Unions 

Gerry Singleton has dedicated his career to the credit union movement, and  he brings that passion and dedication into his role as President/CEO of  Montana’s Credit Unions (MCU). Gerry plans and directs the financial,  operating, and human resources for the Montana Credit Union League,  Montana Credit Unions for Community Development, and the League  Service Group. He also serves as a board member of the Montana Credit  Union League Group Benefits Trust and oversees its operation. Under  Gerry’s leadership, MCU continually delivers quality advocacy, programs,  and services across the state. Previously to joining Montana’s Credit Unions, Gerry spent 25 years as the  VP-Credit Union System Relations at CUNA Mutual Group, working closely alongside leagues, CUNA, and  other key system partners to build a thriving credit union system. During his time in the credit union  movement, he has served on various national boards of directors and advisory groups, including the  Board of the National Credit Union Foundation, the Board of the CUNA Mutual Foundation, Credit  Unions Building Financial Independence (CT), the Advisory Board of the CUFinHealth Fund, and as an  active Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE), with designations for International DE, CaribDE and  Africa DE. Singleton is a long-time resident of Bozeman, Montana, who loves spending time with his family, hiking,  and connecting to his community 

 Outreach Specialist, International Centre for Co-operative Management, 

Saint Mary’s University  

Cathy also supports NCBA CLUSA and the Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF) on projects including Cooperative Leaders and Scholars (CLS). A supporter of youth cooperative education, she spent 30 years directing co-op summer camps and education programs for the Farmers Union and continues to serve as co-coordinator of the National Farmers Union College Conference on Cooperatives (CCOC). Her board service includes the Ralph K. Morris Foundation and Association of Cooperative Educators (ACE), and membership in the Cooperative Communicators Association (CCA), CooperationWorks!, and Rotary.