Tony Bedard, Inductee Into The Cooperative Hall Of Fame, Reflects On His Cooperative Journey

Everything Co-op with Vernon Oakes

September 26, 2024 This episode of Everything Co-op continues the tribute to the 2024 Cooperative Hall of Fame inductees. It features an interview with Tony Bedard, CEO of Frontier Co-op. Tony and Vernon discuss his significant contributions to the cooperative movement over the course of his career. Tony Bedard joined Frontier Co-op in 1991 and became CEO in 2003. He champions the co-op’s mission to nourish people and the planet, believing that “Doing Good, Works.” Tony has led initiatives like Breaking Down Barriers to Employment, to help employees and members of the community overcome barriers to employment and economic mobility, by providing accessible childcare, second chance hiring, and more. Under his leadership, Frontier Co-op has received numerous awards, including the Oscar C. Schmidt Business Leadership Award from the University of Iowa’s Tippie School of Business. Under his leadership, the co-op has been selected by a variety of national and global recognitions, including Engage For Good’s Halo Awards, Reuters Responsible Business Awards, and Inc. Magazine’s Best in Business. Tony has led over 25 humanitarian missions to El Salvador and Haiti, supporting education, clean water, and healthcare projects. He also advocates for corporate social responsibility and supports small-scale organic growers through the Well Earth program. Tony holds a B.A. from the University of Northern Iowa and an M.S. in Manufacturing Management from Kettering University.