COLUMBUS, Ohio — Eleven Ohio agribusiness leaders will soon take part in the Ohio AgriBusiness Association’s 2023 Leaders Achieving Unexpected New Career Heights (LAUNCH) program.
Hosted by the Ohio AgriBusiness Association, in partnership with Shift-ology Communication, the LAUNCH program is geared to help Ohio agribusinesses Elevate People, Elevate Ideas and Elevate the Industry. Participants were identified by their companies as an emerging agribusiness leader: an individual with a desire to meet higher level goals than the scope of their current position, who seek to rise within their company.
The 11 Ohio AgriBusiness Association members enrolled in the 2023 LAUNCH program include:
- Jordan Beck, Pettisville Grain Company
- Blair Bennis, Corteva Agriscience
- Alexis Busack, Luckey Farmers Inc.
- Michael Karg, Luckey Farmers Inc.
- Anton Kilburn, Global Impact STEM Academy
- Tyler Miller, Cargill
- Lauren Prettyman, Ohio AgriBusiness Association
- Dan Smith, The Andersons
- Reannen Sollars, Centerra Co-op
- Drew Van Winkle, StoneX
- Grace Walter, Helena Agri-Enterprises
“We are thrilled to host the 2023 LAUNCH class and provide robust programming for emerging leaders and agribusiness professionals,” said Chris Henney, OABA president and CEO. “The group will gain valuable personal insights, strengthening their communication and business acumen, and find their voice and influence in their companies and the agricultural community, all while developing their network with industry peers.”
LAUNCH is a transitional training – empowering employees to meet higher level goals, going beyond the scope of their current position. 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/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 where 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 Ann Gallagher, who will help participants understand the ins and outs of leading change. Gallagher, president of Gallagher Consulting Group, specializes in strategy and communications to enhance performance and productivity, advance missions and achieve goals. A visit to the Ohio State House with key leaders and a visit to Nutrien’s Lima location will also be a part of the program.
For additional information on OABA or the LAUNCH Program, contact Janice Welsheimer at 614-326- 7520 or jwelsheimer@oaba.net.
About OABA
The Ohio AgriBusiness Association is the leading advocate for Ohio agribusiness by creating a sustainable business climate through collaborative policy leadership, continuous education and effective communication. OABA is a membership-based state trade association which includes the manufacturers and wholesale/retail suppliers of plant nutrient and protection materials, the grain warehousing and marketing industry, the feed and seed industry, as well as companies providing equipment, financing, insurance, consulting, and other products and services for the agribusiness industry. OABA is also the administrator of the Ohio Certified Crop Adviser Program, 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program and Ohio Agricultural Council. For more information, visit oaba.net.
— Ohio AgriBusiness Association