Manchester, N.H. -- Howard Brodsky, co-founder, chairman, and co-CEO of CCA Global Partners, Inc., has been named the 2019 recipient of the international Rochdale Pioneers Award. Recognized as the "Nobel Prize of Cooperative Business,” the Rochdale Award is given out every two years to an individual who has made the greatest impact across the world through the innovations of shared ownership, specifically through the cooperative business model that anchors value with members, employees, customers, and their communities.

This honor is presented by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), a consultative organization of the United Nations. In its history, the ICA has recognized only 16 individuals with Rochdale Awards for their commitment to cooperatives around the world.

“Throughout my career, I have felt that businesses should be more than profit centers," said Brodsky. "While profit is important, it is equally, if not more important that businesses be a force for good. The cooperative business model epitomizes capitalism with a conscience. A more inclusive future is in our grasp. Shared ownership advances shared opportunity, shared wealth, and ultimately shared hope. I am honored and humbled by this recognition.”

Brodsky received the award on Oct. 16, during the biennial ICA Global Cooperative Conference in Kigali, Rwanda. This recognition highlights Brodsky’s career of innovation by re-envisioning conventional business through shared ownership. Dedicated to what he calls the contemporary cooperative business model, Brodsky has fundamentally transformed family businesses in the U.S. in an array of industries by structuring the companies as cooperatives.

“As a visionary leader and entrepreneur himself, Howard has a passion for invention," said Trebor Scholz, director of the Platform Cooperativism Consortium. "He does not simply talk about the future: he leads through his actions. Howard is a rare leader that combines vision, innovation, gumption, and connectivity in all aspects of his work.”

Brodsky co-founded CCA Global Partners in 1984, bringing scale to entrepreneurial family businesses by creating an international enterprise of 15 unique cooperative businesses in multiple sectors of the economy from home furnishings, business services, sports retail stores, to childcare, nonprofits and others. Together, they serve 1 million small businesses in four countries and 20,000 childcare centers across America.

Beyond his innovations domestically, Brodsky has emerged as a leader in the global cooperative movement, founding Cooperatives for a Better World (CFBW), a not-for-profit dedicated to sharing the benefits of shared ownership and the cooperative business model. CFBW has partnered with cooperatives in 14 countries, reaching over a quarter of the world population.

For more information, visit www.ccaglobalpartners.com.