On behalf of UC Davis Grand Challenges and the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, we were honored to host the launch of The Initiative for Cooperatives and Civic Innovation in Davis, California, from April 8th to 9th. We convened approximately 150 stakeholders to move beyond theory and toward a practical “how-to” for achieving a global affordability and ownership agenda. Our discussions focused on prioritizing equity and ownership through expanded consumer and worker models, leveraging hybrid institutions such as co-ops and ESOPs, and cultivating strong entrepreneurial ecosystems for small business growth.
Agenda Day 1
Global Launch of the Initiative for Cooperatives and Civic Innovation
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Location: UC Davis International Center, 463 California, Avenue, Davis, CA
Theme: Accelerating the Cooperative Business Model to Drive Civic Economic Development
Master of Ceremonies: Adam Schwartz, The Cooperative Way
8:15- 9:00 AM: Check-in & Breakfast
9:00 – 9:45 AM: Welcome & Opening Vision
Establishing the Nation’s Leading University on Cooperatives and Civic Innovation to Grow the
Hybrid Business Enterprise Ecosystem
● Welcome (30 mins)
o Paul Dodd, Associate Vice Chancellor for Grand Challenges, UC Davis
o Rao Unnava, Dean, Graduate School of Management, UC Davis
o Heidi Sanborn, ICCI Launch Steering Committee Co-Chair
● Opening Vision (15 mins)
o Keith Taylor, Professor of Cooperative Extension, UC Davis & UCANR
9:45 – 10:45 AM: Pillar 1: Actionable Research
Using Appreciative Inquiry to Unlock Practitioner Knowledge & Share Best Practices in Cooperative
Impact
Moderator: Adam Schwartz, The Cooperative Way
Panelists:
● Keith Taylor, Professor of Cooperative Extension, UC Davis & UCANR
● Lance Rantala, CEO, Bluehawk
● Douglas O’Brien, CEO of National Cooperative Business Association (NCBACLUSA)
10:45 – 11:15 AM: Break
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM: Pillar 2: Cooperative Education
Training for the Unique Needs of Cooperative and Hybrid Business Enterprise
Moderator: Seth Frey, Professor of Communications
Panelists:
● Rao Unnava, Dean, Graduate School of Management, UC Davis
● Rich Morris, ICCI Launch Steering Committee Co-Chair
● Emily Compton, Plumas Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative
● Kevin Chow, Triple-S
12:15 – 1:30 PM: Networking Lunch
1:30 – 7:30 PM: International Cooperative Economic Mini-Summit
1:30 – 1:50 PM: Welcome & Opening Remarks
● Joanna Regulska, Office of Global Affairs, UC Davis
● Tricia Utterback, California Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development (GO-Biz)
● Commissioner Darcie Houck, California Public Utilities Commission
1:50 – 2:35 PM: Lessons from Italy on Cooperative Economic Opportunities: Towards Best-In-
Class Business and Policy Ecosystems
Moderator: Douglas O’Brien, CEO of National Cooperative Business Association (NCBACLUSA)
Speaker: Danila Curcio, Representative of the Three Italian Co-op Federations and Coordinator,
International Relations, Confcooperative, Italy
2:35 – 3:20 PM: Learning from Regional Economic Development Excellence:
Moderator: Keith Taylor, Professor of Cooperative Extension and Community Economic Development
and ICCI Lead, UC Davis
Speaker: Giulia Bottura, Trentino Federation of Cooperation, Italy
3:20 – 3:45 PM: Break
3:45 – 5:00 PM: Cooperative Case Studies from Northern Italy in Food
Moderator: Learner Limbach, Littleton Food Cooperative
Presenters:
● Food Systems: Michele Falzetta, Director General, Latteria Sorresina, Confcooperative, Italy
● Wine: An Economy Worthy of Our Farming Community: Carlo Dal Monte,
President, CAVIRO, Italy
5:00 – 5:30 PM: Wrap up and Close
● Adam Schwartz, The Cooperative Way
● Keith Taylor, Professor of Cooperative Extension, UC Davis & UCANR
5:30 – 7:30 PM: Aperitivo Reception
Agenda Day 2
Global Launch of the Initiative for Cooperatives and Civic Innovation
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Location: UC Davis Activities & Recreation Center
Theme: Accelerating the Cooperative Business Model to
Drive Civic Economic Development Opportunity
Master of Ceremonies: Adam Schwartz, the Cooperative Way
8:15- 9:00 AM: Check-in & Breakfast
9:00 – 9:15 AM: Welcome & the Case for an Accelerator and Cooperative Capital
● Keith Taylor, Professor of Cooperative Extension, UC Davis & UCANR
● Rich Morris, ICCI Launch Steering Committee Co-Chair
9:45 – 10:45 AM: Pillar 3: Incubation and Engagement
Facilitating a mentor network, incubator services, and an accelerator that would support scaling existing
and startup cooperatives
Moderator: Rich Morris, ICCI Launch Steering Committee Co-Chair
Panelists:
● Learner Limbach, General Manager, Littleton Food Cooperative
● Colin Stewart, C-Group
● James Frasher, SMUD
10:45 – 11:00 AM: Break
11:00 – 11:50 AM: Breakout Discussions Organized along Pillars
Breakout 1: Actionable Research
Facilitators: Lance Rantala and Douglas O’Brien
Breakout 2: Executive Education
Facilitators: Adam Schwartz and Seth Frey
Breakout 3: Incubation & Engagement
Facilitators: Rich Morris and Andy Hargadon
11:50 – 12:15 PM: Report Back from Morning Breakout Sessions
Facilitators: Adam Schwartz and Keith Taylor
12:15 – 1:15 PM: Networking Lunch
1:15 – 2:45 PM: Breakout Discussions Organized along Sectors
Breakout 1: Advancing Agrifoods Solutions
Facilitator: Adam Schwartz and Melissa Haworth
Breakout 2: Scaling Community Infrastructure — Energy, Water, and Broadband Utilities
Facilitator: Rich Morris and Ben Finkelor
Breakout 3: Driving Affordable Workforce Housing and Community Solutions
Facilitators: Seth Frey and Keith Taylor
2:30 – 3:00 PM: Report Back on Afternoon Breakout Sessions & Wrap-up
Facilitators: Adam Schwartz and Keith Taylor
A Strategic International Partnership
A central feature of this program is the Northern Italy Collaborative Economic Mini-Summit on April 8th, organized in partnership with the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). This collaboration seeks to bridge the California dream with the proven “small-shop capitalism” of Northern Italy to address critical needs in housing, energy, food security, and broadband access.
