Passionate about social justice issues, Darren is directly responsible for developing strategic, community-based partnerships, as well as expanding the organization’s presence in the Northland through community conversations, lunch and learns, panel discussions, town hall meetings, and topical webinars.

Prior to joining MNCEO, Darren was a Worker-Owner at the Arizmendi Bakery in Oakland, Calif., where he helped to grow the business by 400%, while simultaneously creating internal structures that solidified operations and governance. Earlier in his career, he served as an Operational Support Associate at the eight-member Arizmendi Association of Cooperatives (AAC), where his team successfully brought back one partner from the brink of disbanding to being a profitable business with solid internal systems, processes, and high morale.



A nationally recognized business consultant and mediator, Darren holds a bachelor’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies from University of California-Berkeley with a concentration in Business Administration. He is also the proprietor of Darren Mozenter Mediation and Facilitation, which has served as a trusted, reliable, and neutral mediator, facilitator and facilitation trainer for more than a dozen companies, including several worker-owned cooperatives and conferences. Today, his company primarily works with the Conflict Resolution Center of Minnesota in their Housing and Harassment Court Mediation programs.

Originally from Southern California, Darren resides in Duluth with his wife and child. When he is not busy helping business owners navigate their employee ownership journeys, he enjoys skiing, ice skating, and snow shoeing in the winter, as well as hiking, mountain biking and canoeing in the warmer months. He also enjoys cooking and exploring new foods and beers, as well as reading and playing cards and dominos with his family and friends.