C Magazine - Spring 2018

C Tomorrow

2018-04-26 08:24:30

New Ways to Profitability

It takes a strong stomach and a steady hand to guide a cooperative through rapid growth. Based in Sauk City, Wis., Consumers Cooperative Oil Company rides the edge of Dane County, whose population is poised to grow 14 percent by 2040.

The co-op has a large retail presence with five c-stores, commercial fuel and propane businesses, and consumer real estate and rental properties.

“The board has been receptive to nontraditional growth opportunities,” says CEO/General Manager Joel Marcott. “While being careful about venturing outside traditional co-op core niches, we have been successful by filling gaps in the community and will keep looking for those opportunities.”

Marcott is in his first year at Consumers Co-op. He was matched with the co-op by CHS Aligned Solutions after stints in North Dakota and northern Minnesota. He says the Consumers Co-op board taps people with business experience to help make informed decisions.

“Our members expect a financially strong cooperative. We invest in people and equipment to compete with other businesses and earn customer loyalty.

“We are constantly training and mentoring employees. My style is open communications and collaboration. Employees need permission to dream and to make mistakes. That’s how we will succeed as a cooperative.”

— Cynthia Clanton

SEE MORE: Watch a video of our interview with Joel Marcott.

Published by CHS Inc. View All Articles.

This page can be found at https://c.chsinc.com/article/C+Tomorrow/3067213/491051/article.html.