Martin Lowery, who recently retired as the executive vice president of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) has dedicated his career to consumer cooperatives with specific emphasis on rural electric cooperatives. He has been a board member of the Consumer Federation of America, the International Cooperative Alliance and the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition as well as a board member and chair of the National Cooperative Bank and the National Cooperative Business Association. He was inducted into the U.S. Cooperative Hall of Fame in 2016 and received the NRECA Clyde Ellis Award in 2018.
Lowery continues to be active in the cooperative movement both domestically and internationally with specific interest in cooperative principles and values and their applicability to grassroots inclusion and contemporary geopolitical issues. He earned a Ph.D. in philosophy from Duke University, where he also taught undergraduate courses.
Panelist
“Housing and Energy the Cooperative Way,” ICA Global Conference on Cooperative Development (Kigali, Rwanda, 2019)
Panelist
“Cooperatives at a Time of Global Challenges,” Summit of the Cooperatives of the Americas (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2018)
Speech
“Cooperative Power and Sustainability,” Consumer Cooperative Management Association Annual Conference (LaCrosse, WI, 2017)
Article
With M. Leitman, “Electrification, Collaboration and Cooperation: Managing the Future of Energy and Transportation Systems in the Atlantic Basin” in P. Isbell and E.A. Pelegry (eds.), Energy and Transportation in the Atlantic Basin (Center for Transatlantic Relations, 2017)
Article
“Las cooperativas eléctricas rurales en Los Estados Unidos, empoderando a los consumidores” in R. Betancourt (ed.), Construyendo Socialismo desde abajo: la contribución de la económico popular y solidaria (La Habana Editorial Caminos, 2017)
Speech
“Increasing Development Through Cross-Sectoral Infrastructure Projects,” U.S. Agency for International Development Infrastructure Workshop (2016)
Panelist
“How Cooperatives Leverage the Power of Business for Stronger Global Communities,” BCCM Leaders’ Summit on Public Private Partnerships (Canberra, Australia, 2016)
Panelist
“Cooperation to Accelerate the Energy Transition,” COP21 Side Event, UNESCO (Paris, France, 2015)
Speech
“Today’s Challenges and Risks to the Cooperative Business Model,” Tri-State Generation and Transmission Cooperative Annual Meeting (Denver, CO, 2014)
Panelist
“Gateway to a Cooperative Living Laboratory,” Cooperative Summit of the Americas Utility Forum (Panama City, Panama, 2012)
Speech
“Why Cooperatives Are an Important Business Model in Today’s Economy,” Ralph K. Morris Foundation Rod Nilestuen Legacy Event (River Falls, WI, 2012)
Panelist
“Towards a Sustainable Economy,” ICA General Assembly (Geneva, Switzerland, 2009)
Speech
“Branding the Electric Cooperative Model: Striving for Excellence,” NEA/PHILRECA International Convention on Rural Electrification (Manila, Philippines, 2009)
Speech
“Cooperative Governance for the 21st Century,” National Council of Farmer Cooperatives Annual Meeting (Maui, Hawaii, 2009)
Panelist
“The Cooperative Model, Government Policy and Democracy Building” (San Jose, Costa Rica, 2008)
Speech
“Cooperative Governance for the 21st Century,” University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives Issues Forum (Madison, WI, 2008)
Speech
“Electric Cooperatives in the U.S. – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,” The Norwegian Standing Committee on Cooperative Affairs (Oslo, Norway, 2007)
Speech
“Breaking the Crystal: New Rules for the New Cooperative Economy,” Basin Electric Power Annual Meeting (Bismarck, ND, 1999)
The Consumer Policy Center (CPC) is an independent think tank of experts dedicated to researching and analyzing consumer policy issues, with a mission to advance and protect the interests of consumers.
