Corporate Governance for Cooperatives
Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2025Time: 02:00 PM ET / 01:00 PM CT / 12:00 PM MT / 11:00 AM PT [Prevailing Time]
Presenter: Kevin Gray, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Inc.
Moderator: Wayne Sine, CPA, MBA, Education Director, National Society of Accountant for Cooperatives
Learning Objectives:
1. Acquire a basic understanding of cooperative formation and governing documents.
2. Gain insight into the importance of keeping accurate records of board meetings and cooperative activities.
3. Examine pitfalls and consequences of not following legal requirements.
Field of Study: Business Law
Program Level: Basic
CPE Credit: 1 Credit Hour
Delivery Method: Group Internet-based
Prerequisite(s): No advanced preparation or prerequisites are required for this course.
Course Description
Effective governance is the cornerstone of every successful cooperative. This session will explore key governance issues that cooperatives face—from the foundational steps of formation and drafting organizational documents to the ongoing responsibility of maintaining accurate records and documenting board meetings. Attendees will gain a practical understanding of how strong governance practices protect the cooperative’s integrity, ensure legal compliance, and support long-term success. The discussion will also highlight common pitfalls and the potential consequences of failing to adhere to legal and recordkeeping requirements.
Presenter and Moderator Bios
Presenter: Kevin Gray, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Inc.
Kevin Gray is Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Inc. As AFC’s first in-house General Counsel, he leads the company’s legal, internal audit and corporate governance functions. Kevin acts as a strategic legal advisor to the executive team and board of directors and manages all of the day-to-day legal matters impacting AFC, its subsidiaries, joint ventures and cooperative system. He works extensively on joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, financing and other significant business transactions. Kevin uses his leadership experience to mentor emerging leaders as an instructor in systemwide internal leadership development programs, sharing insights on governance, ethics, and strategic decision-making.
Prior to joining AFC in early 2020, Kevin spent over two decades in private practice in Huntsville, Alabama, most recently as a partner at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP. His primary practice areas included commercial real estate, commercial finance, mergers and acquisitions and complex commercial bankruptcy proceedings.
Kevin serves on the board for the North Alabama Boys and Girls Clubs where he is a member of the executive committee and was appointed by the Huntsville City Council to the board of directors for the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library. Kevin earned his BA from Lipscomb University in Nashville in 1992 and his JD from the University of Memphis Law School in 1996.
About Alabama Farmers Cooperative
Headquartered in Decatur, Alabama, Alabama Farmers Cooperative (AFC) is a federated cooperative comprised of 27 member-owned co-ops with more than 60 retail locations across Alabama, Southern Tennessee, and the Florida Panhandle. Founded in 1936 as the Tennessee Valley Fertilizer Cooperative, AFC has diversified its operations to become one of the Southeast’s largest farmer-owned agricultural businesses. Guided by its values of family, integrity, perseverance, and stewardship, AFC goes beyond providing resources and services, striving to make a lasting difference in the communities it serves.
Moderator: Wayne Sine, CPA, MBA, Education Director, National Society of Accountant for Cooperatives
After retiring as Tax Director of a regional supply cooperative on the East Coast, Wayne Sine was asked to serve as Education Director for NSAC. As an active and long-term member of NSAC, Wayne previously served as Chair of NSAC’s Tax Committee, President of the Atlantic Chapter, and was a recipient of NSAC’s Silver Bowl Award. In addition to his work with NSAC, Wayne has also served on the Legal, Tax, and Accounting (LTA) Committee of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Chaired the Tax Committees for both the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the Virginia Manufacturers Association, served on the Tax Policy Committee of the Virginia Society of CPAs, and served as Region Vice President for Tax Executives Institute.
CostFree for NSAC Members / $65.00 for Non-Members
Delivery System
- All programs are delivered using the Zoom platform.
- Confirmations will include log-in instructions.
- Participants are able to participate using any device with an Internet connect (if the device does not have speakers, the participant can also dial-in) or they can participate with audio only by dialing in.
- All registrants will receive a link to the CLN’s recording by email within 48 business hours of event’s conclusion.
- There will be assistance available to help with technical and connectivity issues up to 10 minutes prior to the start of the presentation.
Registration
All registration is done on-line and each guest must provide their name and email address to participate. All NSAC members may register for free. Non-members may register for a nominal fee.
Refund Policy
NSAC will not issue refunds for CLNs. If a registrant is unable to participate in the CLN and provides notification to info@nsacoop.org 48 hours prior to the session, a credit will be provided for a future CLN. Alert the NSAC staff member monitoring the CLN if technical difficulties are encountered and technical support will be provided to eliminate problems with future CLNs.
Additional Information
Live participation is required for CPE credit and polling questions must be answered to document your active participation. All registrants will receive an email following the session with links to the slides and/or handouts, and a link to the CLN recording (unless otherwise stated). If you are unable to participate in the live session, you can still watch the recorded session, but you will not be eligible for CPE credits. Those eligible for credits will receive their certificate by email with 7 business days.
For more information regarding NSAC CLNs or administrative policies such as complaint and refund, contact the NSAC Headquarters, 7946 Clyo Road, Suite A, Centerville, OH 45459, 937-222-6707, or info@nsacoop.org.