Since 2007, Frontier Co-op’s Well Earth program has been the foundation of the co-op’s responsible sourcing efforts, fostering long-term relationships with suppliers around the world. In this program, speakers share how the Norway, Iowa-based company ensures the long-term sustainability of its supply chain by investing in their partners and communities at origin to improve their social and environmental impact. Frontier Co-op empowers its suppliers, helping them increase their market share through investment in value-added processing, and in doing so, retain more of that value to support their businesses and communities. More information about the Well Earth program here.

Amy Colbert (amy-colbert@uiowa.edu) is a Professor of Management & Entrepreneurship in the Tippie College of Business and a University of Iowa Distinguished Chair. She earned a Ph.D. in organizational behavior and human resource management from the University of Iowa, a master’s degree in decision sciences from Saint Louis University, and a B.S. in accounting and mathematics from Culver-Stockton College. Amy’s research focuses on the ways in which individuals connect with their work, their co-workers, and their organizations in ways that motivate and sustain them. She also studies the factors that contribute to effective leadership and the mechanisms by which leaders achieve results. Finally, she is interested how identity and identity transitions shape beliefs and decisions. Amy has published scholarly articles on these topics in top journals and writes about research and her own experiences in her Substack column, Who Am I Now? Amy teaches courses on leadership to MBA, executive, and Ph.D. students. She served as Department Executive Officer of Management & Entrepreneurship for four years and is currently the Faculty Director of Tippie’s Social Impact Community, a hub for faculty, staff, and students who are interested in the ways that business can make a positive impact on society.

Alicia Simmons is the Senior Sustainability Manager at Frontier Co-op in Norway, Iowa. In this role, she leads environmental stewardship efforts across the cooperative, including managing the Zero Waste program and initiatives related to packaging and EPR, energy and emissions, and natural resource usage. Since joining Frontier Co-op in 2017, Alicia has also directed the co-op’s corporate citizenship, including their annual giving programs which exceed $1 million in grants each year, supporting community-building projects in sourcing regions, partnering with local nonprofits to reduce employment barriers, and managing two signature giving programs focused on women’s empowerment and food security. Alicia oversees the co-op’s global giving and community-based partnerships around the world, including recently a three-year, $1 million project in rural India that established the region’s first farmer-owned tea collective. As a complement to her work, she also leads the co-op’s communications and public relations. Beyond her professional role, Alicia is a committed advocate for sustainability and social responsibility, holding leadership positions with organizations such as the Indian Creek Nature Center, Iowa Sustainable Business Forum, and Hawkeye Area Community Action Program. She holds a BA from the University of Iowa, an MBA with a Quality Emphasis, and a Master of Strategic Leadership from Mount Mercy University.