GROWMARK certification program
prepares directors for new challenges
oday’s cooperative director
faces more challenges
than ever. The
knowledge and skills
needed to be an effective
director continue to grow in number
and importance.
“Our local cooperative members are
three to ten times larger than they used
to be,” says Rick Wills, director of education
and development for GROWMARK,
Bloomington, Ill. “Directors
used to make decisions affecting one
county; now it could be for a quarter of a
state. As this growth was occurring, the
message we kept hearing from directors
was the need for more training.”
To assist directors in attaining and
developing skills and knowledge,
GROWMARK developed the Certified
Cooperative Director Program for
its FS member cooperative directors.
The program is designed to improve
the abilities of board members to better
carry out their individual and team
leadership roles by providing education,
involvement and recognition processes.
“GROWMARK regional managers
identified the skills necessary for successful
board members and the program was
developed around the need to understand
cooperative financing, legal and
board responsibilities as well as how to
improve leadership,” Wills says. “Board
members are finding that the same skills
are applicable to their own business and
other board responsibilities.”
Program launched in Canada
A pilot program was launched in
Ontario beginning in late 2000 and was
brought to the rest of GROWMARK’s
trade area in 2001. Currently, twothirds
of the FS directors are involved
in the process. More than 120 are certified,
and 425 are actively pursuing certification,
according to Wills.
“I am pleasantly surprised by directors’
acceptance of the program. It asks
for extra time from busy people, but
the support has been overwhelming.
They see the
need and value of certification.
Some local co-ops are
making it a requirement for
new directors,” Wills adds.
Group and individual
director development plans
include required and optional
activities. These include participation
in ongoing programs
sponsored and conducted
by GROWMARK as
well as local and regional
activities conducted by local
management, GROWMARK
regional staff, GROWMARK
education and development
staff and/or outside providers.
To become certified, a director must
earn at least 30 credits over a two-year
period. Required programs include:
“New Director Orientation,” “Cooperative
Finance 100,” and “Director
Responsibilities.” There are currently
15 additional programs, including topics
dealing with fiduciary responsibility,
understanding pricing, smart risk taking
and leading change.
Decertification required
To keep the skill levels current,
directors must recertify every two
years. To retain certification, directors
must obtain an additional 30 credits
during each two-year period.
“We are providing directors a higher
level of knowledge and expertise to
make better decisions for more successful
cooperatives,” Wills says. “This
should help farmers have increased
confidence in their local boards. They
can know that directors have the tools
to protect their investment and guide
the co-op to meet members’ needs.
The more training we provide, the
more the directors want.”
Cooperative directors who have
participated in the program say it has
great value.
Ron Weidner, president and board
chairman of CONSERV FS, based in
Wauconda, Ill., says 70 percent of his
board is certified. “We recently went
through a merger, and this training was
beneficial. People are reading about coops
being dissolved, and members are
concerned. We owe our stakeholders
(members, employees and the community)
to keep up with the changes and to
continue our education. Dysfunctional
companies have dysfunctional directors.
Directors have to know the consequences
of their decisions.”
Board education doesn’t only mean
better decisions, according to Weidner.
It helps the board function as a team.
“We can’t have different agendas.”
Lynn Haseley, board chairman and
president of Ag-Land FS Inc., based
in Pekin, Ill., says “We expect our
crops people, fuel and LP-gas drivers
to pursue certification. Director certification
is one more way we can show
patrons and employees our dedication
and care.” Haseley expects all 12
members of his board to be certified
by September.
