Cooperative Development Hall of Fame - Jason Dixson Photography - 190508 - 185804 - 1038.j

Our Sponsors

Thank you for your support of the 2023 Cooperative Hall of Fame. There is no better way to tell the cooperative story than through the life experiences of our cooperative heroes - individuals like Linda Leaks, Leslie Mead, Sheldon Petersen, Maurice Smith, and Halena Wilson. We are proud to host the Cooperative Hall of Fame, which not only recognizes the cooperative movement's genuinely heroic leaders, but also raises funds to support CDF's economic and cooperative development work. Now on its 79th year, CDF continues its commitment to support new and expanding cooperative enterprises to increase public awareness of the significant contributions made by cooperatives to the nation's and world's economies.

Hall of Fame Sponsor

Unsung Heroes

Momentus Capital

The Momentus Capital branded family of organizations is proud to support the Co-op Hall of Fame and Unsung Hero awards once again!

This year’s Unsung Hero, Halena Wilson embodies the true spirit of what it means to be a leader for both economic and civil rights. Her leadership in representing cooperatives, women, and Black communities is something we strive to emulate in our own work every day.

We believe that residents from all walks of life should have equitable access to the things that contribute to their health and wealth: a vibrant local economy with good jobs; high-quality social services; and a voice in what happens in their community. Cooperatives have long been a prime example of how communities can achieve those goals.

Through our continuum of financial, knowledge, and social capital, Momentus Capital supports cooperatives at every growth stage. We are helping build inclusive and equitable communities by providing people access to the capital and opportunities they deserve. This includes lending to housing, food, and worker cooperatives; providing equity impact investments to growing co-ops; and disbursing grants to co-ops in underestimated communities through our Co-op Innovation Awards.

We honor Halena and her commitment to community through co-ops, and we commit to continue the principles of cooperatives in support of communities with which we are working hand-in-hand to create the futures they want for themselves and their families.

Hall of Fame Sponsor

CoBank

CoBank, a national cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America and member of the Farm Credit System is pleased to sponsor the 2023 Cooperative Hall of Fame. The success of Farm Credit - a national network of cooperatively organized banks and lending associations specifically chartered to serve agriculture and rural America - depends on the leadership of committed, far-sighted men and women who understand the challenges and opportunities facing the country's rural communities.

We congratulate the 2023 inductees for the extraordinary contributions they have made to the cooperative community.

Hall of Fame Sponsor

National Cooperative Bank

National Cooperative Bank is honored to sponsor the 2023 Cooperative Hall of Fame. We would like to congratulate Linda Leaks, Leslie Mead, Sheldon Peterson, Maurice Smith and Halena Wilson on your induction to the Cooperative Hall of Fame. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to the cooperative community.

National Cooperative Bank (NCB) provides comprehensive banking products and services to cooperatives, their members, and socially responsible organizations throughout the country. What makes NCB unique is that the bank was created to address the financial needs of an underserved market niche — people who join together cooperatively to meet personal, social, or business needs, especially in low income communities. Customers that choose NCB create an impact in the areas they care about — affordable housing, access to healthy food, small business, community health care, and renewable energy.

Your choices reflect your values. Your bank should, too.

Hall of Fame Sponsor

National Co+op Grocers

National Co+op Grocers (NCG) congratulates 2023 Cooperative Hall of Fame inductees Linda Leaks, Leslie Mead, Sheldon Petersen, Maurice Smith and Halena Wilson. Your vision, leadership and dedication to the cooperative movement are truly inspiring!

From championing housing justice to promoting cooperative education to strengthening and preserving rural electric co-ops, and from promoting credit unions and advocating for greater diversity, equity and inclusion to representing alliances in the civil rights, women’s and cooperative movement — your achievements have made a true difference in the lives of your communities and those with whom you’ve worked.

In particular, we wish to honor Leslie Mead. Leslie has spent her career promoting cooperative education, funding and development. She started with the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives as assistant general counsel and later became an independent consultant, developing education projects, establishing the Leadership Scholarship Program for the newly formed Ralph K. Morris Foundation, and serving as the executive administrator for the Association of Cooperative Educators. Leslie went on to become executive director of The Cooperative Foundation and then the Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF). Her efforts to consolidate funds under management have enabled CDF to invest more strategically and impactfully in cooperative development. Among Leslie’s most notable achievements are the Cooperative Home Care Initiative, a network to support a particularly vulnerable group of American workers, and the launch of the Unsung Cooperative Hero category in 2021 to recognize the contributions to cooperatives by members of historically overlooked and marginalized communities.

Congratulations on your induction to the Cooperative Hall of Fame!

Hall of Fame Sponsor

National Rural Electric Cooperative Association

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From booming suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape and serve 42 million Americans.

As local businesses built by the consumers they serve, electric cooperatives have meaningful ties to America’s rural communities. They invest $12 billion annually into the areas that they serve and are making energy and broadband investments to give communities the flexibility to adapt to tomorrow’s energy and technology needs. Electric co-ops have developed more than 75 energy storage projects, lead the industry in smart meter development and are advancing electric vehicle charging networks and developing rural microgrids in locations across the country.

Hall of Fame Sponsor

National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation

CFC proudly salutes Linda Leaks, Leslie Mead, Sheldon Petersen, Maurice Smith, and Halena Wilson on their induction into the Cooperative Hall of Fame. Created and owned by America’s electric cooperative network, CFC, a nonprofit finance cooperative with approximately $31 billion in assets, provides capital and industry-leading financial products to serve the needs of our member-owners—America’s 900-plus not-for-profit, consumer-controlled electric cooperatives.

CFC operates under the seven cooperative principles and our core values of Service, Integrity and Excellence. By delivering unparalleled industry expertise, flexibility and responsiveness, we help our members maintain a sophisticated system of generation, transmission and distribution resources that spans 75 percent of the United States. This infrastructure provides a safe, reliable and affordable flow of power to 42 million consumers each day and plays a critical role in boosting the nation’s economy and rural quality of life.