Board Development

OCDE

Oklahoma Cooperative Director Essentials (OCDE) dives into the “essentials” of governing a successful cooperative. With valuable instruction and insights in areas such as: alignment with finance, governance and strategy, OCDE is an opportunity for you to grow your ability to govern and direct the future of your co-op. After completing the two-day program, directors should feel confident navigating balance sheets, business relationships, legal responsibilities and strategic planning. All board members, novice and veterans, are encouraged to attend OCDE.

Program Benefits

Alignment with Governance

  • Best practices for co-op boards
  • Putting the board into action
  • Legal responsibilities
  • Team building
  • Board member recruitment
  • Role of the board chair
  • Orientation of new board members

Alignment with Strategy and Business Environment

  • Strategic thinking and planning
  • Understanding your business environment
  • Risk oversight
  • Member communication

Alignment with Finance

  • Understanding a financial statement
  • Balance sheet management
  • Profit distribution
  • Equity management
  • Internal controls
  • Audit committee
  • Member and co-op tax issues

Alignment with the CEO

  • Building effective and enduring partnerships
  • CEO and management evaluation
  • Compensation and incentives
  • Management succession

Director Summit

The Director Summit is a revamp of Oklahoma Cooperative Director Advanced (OCDA) and is designed for current and associate directors interested in taking a deeper understanding of cooperative strategy, profit distribution, equity management, governance and many other areas will benefit from the Summit—sharpening their skills and learning to make better, more informed decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions
The Director Summit is designed for current directors and associate directors serving on cooperative boards.
Yes! The Director Summit is for both new and seasoned board members. This is a topical meeting with each year featuring different topics and information based on the current issues cooperatives are facing.
As a cooperative director, you have a responsibility to develop a working knowledge of fundamental cooperative principles to help make effective governing decisions. OCDA's training program will allow you to expand your knowledge and sharpen your skills to provide quality leadership and guidance to your cooperative membership, managers and fellow directors.

Keystone

Board Chairs are the keystone to every cooperative. Just as in an archway, without the keystone, the arch cannot support itself and crumbles to the ground. Strong board chairs facilitate stronger boards, in turn attracting stronger executives who attract better teams to serve the member-owners of the cooperative. Keystone equips board chairs and vice chairs with the right tools to lead their respective boards. Today’s cooperatives are in a time of continuous change and transition. As the next generation of ownership and management become leaders in the cooperative, it is imperative cooperatives have strong board chairs.

A highlight of Keystone each year is the Round Table Discussion. This is an opportunity for board members to talk about challenges facing their cooperatives and to hear how others have handled similar situations. This section of the forum is invaluable as it allows participants to hear directly from peers.

Keystone: Oklahoma Agricultural Cooperative Council's Board Chair Forum

CEO & Board Retreat

Held annually in July, the CEO & Board Retreat is the premiere meeting of the Oklahoma Agricultural Cooperative Council. The three-day event is typically set at a resort-style location to provide an opportunity for attendees to bring their families and enjoy activities such as golfing, fishing and sightseeing. The retreat offers an invaluable opportunity to network with top cooperative leaders, as well as learn more about current agribusiness, policy and regulatory issues that impact agricultural cooperatives.

Past Retreat Themes

  • Navigating Change Together
  • Better Than Normal
  • The Next Big Thing
  • Now More than Ever
  • The Co-op Difference
  • ​Dare to Disrupt
The event includes meetings on relevant topics presented by industry professionals such as creating community, instilling ownership, profit distribution, policy updates and more. The CEO and Board Retreat adjourns after a cocktail reception, PAC auction and banquet with special entertainment.