In May, Dr. Keri Jacobs, the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources MFA Chair and a distinguished fellow of the Graduate Institute of Cooperative Leadership, visited the Home Office to provide recently hired employees with an overview of the cooperative business model. Jacobs discussed how cooperatives operate differently from traditional businesses and how co-ops like MFA Oil return value to member-owners.
The Human Resources Department has since worked with Jacobs to turn her presentation into a narrated training module that is now available to all employees. Throughout the module, Jacobs discusses co-op basics, how being a co-op sets MFA Oil apart from other companies and the seven principles of cooperatives. The course, ‘What is a Cooperative?’, is accessible through MFA Oil Plus.
The company has invited Jacobs to return to the Home Office in September to provide more information about cooperative finances and patronage. There are plans to turn Jacob’s follow-up presentation into another training module for employees outside of the Home Office to hear.
“Chris Tilley, one of our instructional development specialists, worked hard to cut the 3-hour presentation into a shorter, very compelling 9-minute video to help the rest of the company become more aware and passionate about what it means to work for a cooperate,” says Kayla Shern, employee development manager. “Regardless if you’ve worked for MFA Oil for one year or ten years, there’s something for everyone to learn. We’re excited to continue this series in September with Cooperate Financials.”