<p>In Bosnia, I was NCOIC of a civil affairs team. We were special operations so when there werent specific support missions required we were pretty much free to define our missions to support the regular army in their mission.</p>
<p>I got involved in a coop development program for local farmers. Because the war destroyed their economy and markets, the local farmers had trouble competing against the European competitors from Germany, Italy, etc. so my previous commander helped a small group of farmers create a coop organization that combines their bargaining power when they bring their goods to the european market. It’s like a syndicate. You find syndicates in most commodities industries like diamonds, oil (OPEC), jewelry, beef, etc.</p>
<p>I took that idea of syndicates and called them co-op’s. Bosnia was a part of the former Yugoslavia which was a communist country. They weren’t used to our idea of capitalism and competition. So I had to call it something different for them to grasp the idea an run with it. </p>
<p>I connected with UNDP (United Nations Development Program) and secured their suport. All I had to do was find the Farmers (Business people), The financing, and the the markets. I started with the financing. I began colecting letters of interest from NGO’s in country. NGO are non governmental organizations that operate in distressed communities to aid in health, finance, safety, and rebuilding the economy. NGO can be local, foreign, or multinational. With those letters I could entice farmers to participate with the idea that the co-op would assist with growing and improving their operations through financing. With that I can approach markets to sell their goods. I also used the package to attract major bank interests and support beyond NGO’s.</p>
<p>The idea wasn’t for me to make money. I was operating as U.S. military representative. I was there to bring the parties together and convince them of the need and of the benefits. I was, in effect, a broker and It worked. I was setting co-ops up all over Bosnia and sparked even locals to begin facilitating it themselves.</p>
<p>It was fun. I didn’t speak the local language I used interpreters who were local specialists working for spec-ops. We were training them to take over once the U.S. left.</p>
<p>It took an understanding of cultural differences in business practice and values for me to pull it off. I owe that understanding to my BBA. My colleagues didn’t know they could do that until the former team commander and I showed them how.</p>