Twenty Ohio agribusiness leaders will soon take part in the Ohio AgriBusiness Association’s 2020 LAUNCH (Leaders Achieving Unexpected New Career Heights) program.

Hosted by the OABA, in partnership with Shift-ology Communication, the LAUNCH program is geared to help Ohio agribusinesses elevate people, ideas and the industry. Participants were identified by their companies as emerging agribusiness leaders: individuals with a desire to meet higher level goals than the scope of their current positions, who seek to rise within their companies.

The 20 Ohio AgriBusiness Association members enrolled in the 2020 LAUNCH program include:

• Scott Benjamin, Nutrien
• Emily Bennett, Shift-ology Communication
• Sam Boyce, Mid-Wood Inc.
• Eric Couch, Heritage Cooperative
• Aleigh Daniel, AgCredit
• Kendra Dauer, Intl FCStone
• Derek Fauber, Heritage Cooperative
• Keith Hinds, United Producers Inc.
• Martin Hofbauer, Luckey Farmers Inc.
• Elizabeth Long, Ag Resource Management
• Jennifer McMichael, United Equity Inc.
• Benjamin Nething, Deerfield Ag Services
• Chad Rosebrook, Legacy Farmers Cooperative
• Chad Steffan, Mid-Wood Inc.
• Mark Tangeman, Farm Credit Mid-America
• Leland Tinklepaugh, Farm Credit Mid-America
• Jamison Truebenbach, Global Impact Stem Academy
• Ben Wheeler, United Producers Inc.
• Michael Williams, Co-Alliance LLP
• Ethan Witmer, Witmer’s Feed and Grain Inc.

“The participants of this year’s class represent a wide scope of the industry: from recent graduates just starting out to industry veterans ready to take the next step in management,” says Chris Henney, OABA president and CEO. “The LAUNCH program will help these emerging agribusiness leaders to lead change in addressing workforce pressures, consumer demands and governmental challenges, all while fostering new networks with their peers in the industry.”

Growing into higher positions

LAUNCH is a transitional training program — empowering employees to meet higher-level goals, going beyond the scope of their current positions. Agribusinesses continually compete with all industries to recruit and retain the best talent, but there is also a need to invest in those who are already passionate about agriculture.

Program topics and skills practiced include: personal insight, next-level leadership skills and decision-making, including strategic planning, critical thinking, change management, goal-setting and organizational skills; communication and presentation skills; global issues in agriculture; sales and marketing principles; Ohio and regional trends in agribusiness; state and local government; and a personalized capstone project.

Other staples of the LAUNCH experience are networking opportunities, webinars and the capstone project — a key component of LAUNCH in which the participant selects a strategic project to implement at his or her place of business.

More than 20 different speakers will provide their insight through multiple interactive sessions, including Jim Canterucci, who will help participants learn to lead through strategic change. Canterucci, founder of Transition Management Advisors and Constituent Hub, specializes in advising companies as they innovate and implement large organizational changes. A visit to the Ohio Statehouse with key leaders and a visit to Cargill’s Sidney, Ohio, location will also be a part of the winter program.

For more information on OABA or the LAUNCH Program, contact Janice Welsheimer at 614-326-7520 or [email protected].

Source: OABA, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.