By Altoria Bell Ross
For those who attend recent annual conferences, NAHC’s new Executive Director, Mik Bauer, is a familiar face. He’s the friendly face enthusiastically greeting members as they approach the conference welcome desk. Formerly NAHC’s membership director, Mik moved into his new position on February 1.
In the past five years, Mik said he has experienced firsthand NAHC’s challenges and opportunities. He listens to members needs and always puts their voices first. He said a large obstacle NAHC faces, and the struggle of a lot of other organizations, is a need for student and youth involvement in the association, as well as in the cooperative housing industry. Many young people’s unawareness of cooperative housing’s existence is a huge struggle in the growth of our organization. Thus, Mik’s vision for NAHC is simple. “I’d like bring an awareness, a deeper connection, and understanding of housing cooperatives to the next, younger generation. They are the future and the future of growing our mission.”
The Tulsa, Oklahoma native, has assisted multiple executive directors, senior advisors, business consultants and directors in a wide array of managerial duties since 2011. In addition to NAHC, Mik serves the International Biometric Society (IBS) as the director of administration. The IBS serves a large international membership with more than 30 chapter regions worldwide. Bauer is the international liaison between the regions and the members, supporting the executive board and performing membership management, conference logistics and planning, education, communications and website support.

Prior to coming to NAHC, Mik worked as a corporate trainer with Caribou Coffee Company and served as the coffee industry’s management certification and employee development supervisor in the greater Chicagoland area. He also developed and successfully launched a half dozen corporate locations as well as the company’s first five franchise locations in Illinois and Indiana.
Mik, who studied business administration and earned his associate’s degree from Tulsa Community College, holds a certification in association management from the American Society of Association Executives.