NCBA CLUSA president and CEO Doug O’Brien will be honored with the Neighboring Cooperator Award at the Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA)’s Annual Meeting on March 21 in Greenfield, Mass.
The award recognizes O’Brien’s decade of leadership at NCBA CLUSA, the role of the organization in representing and advocating for our co-ops and credit unions, and its partnership with NFCA as they have worked to advance their vision of a thriving and vibrant cooperative economy rooted in a healthy, just and sustainable food system.
“It’s an honor to receive this award from NFCA, an association that stands tall in the cooperative community,” O’Brien said. “I always look forward to the NFCA’s Annual Meeting and the opportunity to gather with so many committed cooperators. This is particularly important as we take some time to celebrate and also chart a course for the future of the U.S. cooperative movement at a critical time for our nation and the world.”
Doug has been with NCBA, the umbrella association for all types of cooperatives in the U.S., since 2016; he became president and CEO in January of 2018. Before joining the association, he led the work of the White House Rural Council and served in top positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture focusing on rural economic development. In his capacity with NCBA, Doug O’Brien works with the cooperative community, both domestically and internationally, to deepen its impact and influence. He also serves on the boards of the International Cooperative Alliance and DotCooperation.
It’s been my pleasure to work with Doug over the years,” said Erbin Crowell, NFCA Executive Director and a member of NCBA CLUSA’s Board of Directors. “We’re excited to recognize his decade of service with NCBA, his unwavering commitment to our movement, and his partnership as we have worked to ensure that our co-ops and their associations are able to continue to thrive and empower people to build more resilient and inclusive communities.”
“We’re excited to recognize [Doug’s] decade of service with NCBA, his unwavering commitment to our movement, and his partnership as we have worked to ensure that our co-ops and their associations are able to continue to thrive and empower people to build more resilient and inclusive communities.” – Erbin Crowell, NFCA
Doug has also worked in the U.S. Senate, U.S. House and for two governors. O’Brien’s experience in academia includes teaching and writing at the University of Arkansas Law School and Drake University Law School. O’Brien was raised on a diversified farm in Dubuque County, Iowa, and holds degrees from Loras College (Dubuque, Iowa), the University of Iowa Law School, and the University of Arkansas LL.M. Program in Agricultural and Food Law.
Doug O’Brien joins a growing group of people honored with this award, including Terry Appleby, former General Manager of Hanover Co-op Food Stores (NH & VT); Cornelius Blanding, Executive Director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund; Kari Bradley, former General Manager of Hunger Mountain Co-op (VT); Alex Gyori, former General Manager of Brattleboro Food Co-op (VT); JQ Hannah, Assistant Director at Food Co-op Initiative (FCI); Kay Litten, former NFCA Board Member and longtime Director of Hanover Co-op Food Stores (NH & VT); Patrice Lockert Anthony, former President of GreenStar Co-op Markets (NY); Glenn Lower, former General Manager of Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op (VT); Roger Noonan, President of the New England Farmers Union; Alice Rubin, former General Manager of Willimantic Food Co-op (CT); and Joanne Todd, Director at Willimantic Food Co-op (CT) and CEO, Northeast Family Credit Union.
NFCA’s “Neighboring Co-operator Award” acknowledges special contributions that advance the association’s vision and raise funds for cooperative development through the Cooperative Development Fund (CDF)’s Education Fund. Individuals, co-ops and organizations are invited to contribute in honor of Doug O’Brien and all our Neighboring Cooperators at https://www.cdf.coop/nfca.