Our People
Our People
UWCC is powered by people who believe in the value of cooperation. Our team includes staff, advisory committee members, and faculty affiliates who support our work through education, research, outreach, and cooperative development.
Together, they help strengthen cooperatives, support communities, and advance the cooperative model in Wisconsin and beyond.
Staff
Our staff lead the UWCC’s day-to-day work, including cooperative development, education, research, and outreach.
Courtney Berner
Executive Director
cberner@wisc.edu
(608) 890-0966
Contact Courtney about cooperative governance, cooperative finance, cooperative conversions, undergraduate cooperative education
Kristin Forde Hurckes
Cooperative Development Specialist
keforde@wisc.edu
608-263-4775
Contact Kristin about worker cooperative start up and cooperative conversions
Yanni Liang, PhD
Cooperative Researcher
liang34@wisc.edu
(608) 261-1355
Contact Yanni about cooperative research
Kelly Maynard
Cooperative Development Specialist
kmaynard@wisc.edu
(608) 262-9751
Contact Kelly about agricultural cooperatives, local food systems, cooperative development
Charity Schmidt
Cooperative Development Specialist
charity.schmidt@wisc.edu
(608) 262-5905
Contact Charity about worker-owned cooperatives and cooperative start-up
Megan Webster
Outreach Program Manager
mawebster@wisc.edu
(608) 890-1048
Contact Megan about CCMA, cooperative education, and director education
Advisory Committee
Our Advisory Committee helps keep UWCC connected to the cooperative community in Wisconsin. Committee members are cooperative leaders and cooperative development professionals who share their knowledge, experience, and ideas.
Their input helps guide our programs and ensures our work meets the needs of cooperatives and the people they serve. We are grateful for their time, support, and commitment to the cooperative movement.
Margaret Bau
Cooperative Development Specialist
Faculty Affiliates
UWCC works with faculty from across UW–Madison who are interested in cooperatives and community-based economic development. Through their research, teaching, and outreach, they help advance knowledge about cooperatives and their impact.
We value their partnership and the expertise they bring to our work.
Jordan Van Rijn
VISP/MSPO Associate Director & Assistant Teaching Professor, Agriculture and Applied Economics
UW-Madison
If you are looking for co-op start up assistance, please fill out our Request for Support Form.
Need assistance and not sure who to contact? Please email info@uwcc.wisc.edu or call 608-890-1048.