CDS Consulting Co-op supports and strengthens the leadership team — governance and management. We provide consultation, training, facilitation and coaching to build organizational alignment and enhance the working relationship between board and management.

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Products and Services

Cooperative Board Leadership Development is a program to support the continual improvement of food co-op boards. Support, training, and facilitation are built into the system so your board can keep getting better and better.

Policy Governance: A complete system of board leadership that is proactive, future-based and clearly differentiates between governance and management responsibilities. It empowers management while assuring accountability of performance.

Board Training: All Boards need at least an annual opportunity to enhance their understanding of roles and responsibilities, to improve their governing skills, and to learn more about the unique aspects of cooperative businesses.

Facilitation and Planning of Meetings and Retreats: Most boards schedule time together on a regular basis outside of board meetings to enhance working relationships and to address larger topics than time allows during regular meetings. You decide the focus and we provide the planning and facilitation for those retreats, freeing up board members to be able to fully participate in substantive discussions and personal interactions. Our planning and facilitation skills will also add value to your management team meetings and retreats.

Board Assessment: Regular assessment of Board performance helps to establish and maintain high quality governance and is useful for setting annual Board goals. CDS consultants can conduct external review and assessment or provide self-assessment tools.

Team Building and Communications: Board, group and organizational effectiveness depend upon people working together toward a common purpose. We can enhance your cooperative’s effectiveness through team building, conflict resolution, improved group dynamics, and enhanced communication skills.

Management Development: We work with both boards and managers to build a powerful, effective, and respectful relationship based upon role clarity, accountability, and communication. We can assist boards with General Manager recruitment and evaluation and provide training and support for managers.

Associated Consultants

Mark Goehring, Team Leader – 802-380-3824 – MarkGoehring@cdsconsulting.coop
Leadership development, Policy Governance, Facilitation, Member linkage

Michael Healy – 802-864-9724 – MichaelHealy@cdsconsulting.coop
Policy Governance, Team Building, Communication

Marilyn Scholl – 802-387-6013 – MarilynScholl@cdsconsulting.coop
Policy Governance, Board Training, Facilitation, and Assessment

Thane Joyal – 315-380-4522 – ThaneJoyal@cdsconsulting.coop
Leadership, Board Training

Nina Johnson – (651) 308-8663 – NinaJohnson@cdsconsulting.coop
Board Leadership Development

Joel Kopischke – (414) 803-6725 – JoelKopischke@cdsconsulting.coop
Board Leadership Development

Art Sherwood – (812) 361-5816 – ArtSherwood@cdsconsulting.coop
Board Leadership Development

Todd Wallace – (503) 307-8797 – ToddWallace@cdsconsulting.coop
Board Leadership Development

Marshall Kovitz – 505-256-1241 – MarshallKovitz@cdsconsulting.coop
Board Training, Facilitation, Group Process

Bentley Lein – 608-784-0249 – BentleyLein@cdsconsulting.coop
Leadership, Board Training

Bill Gessner – 612-823-4509 – BillGessner@cdsconsulting.coop
Facilitation, Board Role in Expansion, Management Recruitment