National Cooperative Business Association

Founded in 1916 as the Cooperative League of the United States of America, the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) is a United States membership organization for cooperatives, businesses that are jointly-owned and democratically-controlled.

The league's founding president was medical doctor James Peter Warbasse, who served in that role until 1941. Thereafter, the league's presidents included Murray B. Lincoln, former U.S. Congressman Jerry Voorhis, Stanley Dreyer, Glenn Anderson, Morgan Williams, Bob Scherer, Russell C. Notar, Paul Hazen, and Michael Beall. In November 2015, after the resignation of Michael Beall, Judy Ziewacz became interim CEO.

In its first few decades, it focused on consumer cooperation, and published a monthly magazine, Co-operation.

History

In 1922, it originated and trademarked the twin pines symbol used to represent North American cooperatives. "The pine tree is an ancient symbol of endurance and immortality. The two pines represent mutual cooperation—people helping people."