Adam Schwartz

Adam has served cooperatives from different sectors for 20 years and has extensive knowledge of the key ingredients that lead to sustainable success for cooperative business. Throughout his career Adam has influenced public policy, directed communication efforts, and fostered strategic alliances on behalf of many co-op sectors. Adam served as vice president for public affairs and member services for the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA). He has also worked at the National Rural Telecommuncations Cooperatives and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

He founded The Cooperative Way in 2011, a firm dedicated to improving the operations of co-ops by applying the principles of cooperation, and cultivating their access to capital.

“All co-ops have an opportunity to grow their business by reaching out to other co-ops in their own communities,” Adam said. He cited projects that have brought diverse co-ops together, like the Valley Co-op Business Association group in New England and The Co-op Think Tank in Austin, Texas, as great examples of how it can work. The groups have brought together a broad based coalition of credit unions, electric co-ops, food, worker, purchasing and producer co-ops and beyond. The purpose of these alliances is to raise awareness of the co-op way of doing business, and leverage co-op synergies to fulfill the principle of cooperation among co-ops.

Adam is excited about the possibilities for putting all these connections together to create a more concentrated local, regional, national, and global co-op movement. “One of my philosophies is that there are very few problems in society that can’t lead to a co-op solution. The impact we can have on our communities is huge,” he said.

Adam works in partnership with the CDS Consulting Co-op to provide:

• Step-by-step programs co-ops can use to create and re-energize the cooperative culture in their organizations. Methods include seminars, speeches, workshops and discussions, and providing long term consulting services with defined goals and benchmarks.
• Support in the creation of marketing collateral, training, and communication objectives that convey the strategic advantages of doing business as a cooperative.
• Strategic and tactical guidance (including introductions) to establishing a local cross-sector cooperative network for business, legislative and community impact purposes.

“There is no one I know who understands the needs of cooperatives better than Adam Schwartz. Combined with his networking abilities and positive personality, he is never more than one person away from an answer.”

—Rich Morris, President of ROI Consulting and founder of The Veterinary Co-op

“He’s current.”

—Richelle Meer, Executive Director, Silver Spring Day School Cooperative