Some of you who are reading this blog may question my devotion to a band that some might call "before my time." But I have an appreciation for all music - new and old hits - especially those whose songs are frequently played by cover bands throughout the country and even made an infamous appearance I'll never forget to end the much loved mob-drama, The Sopranos, last year. Given all the "rock stars" that surrounded me last week and the current playlist on my iPod (which got me through all the traveling and book reading), I thought I'd creatively pay homage to my experience at the PMA Leadership Symposium.
The symposium is over and I'm back in the office, but my Journey using these newly acquired skills has just begun. "As the Wheel in the Sky Keeps on Turning" I've realized that many of these skills pertain to self development as much as business development, so I don't just need to use them on the job in the office. Each day I can have "Open Arms" and set up what George Lebovitz calls a "main thing" to accomplish, whether it be increasing my own daily fruit and vegetable consumption by drinking a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice each morning, have my work reports updated before noon, or simply educate myself on 1970s arena rock bands.
"Any Way You Want It," there is an opportunity to learn about all segments of the industry at the PMA Leadership Symposium because of the diverse mix of people that attend. "I Was Alone, I Never Knew" that I'd have the opportunity to get to know so many key members or "rock stars" of the industry on a personal level or that I'd be able to hear so many stories about the industry. The relaxed and educational environment makes it easy for the conversations to flow and for new ideas to be shared. "Only the Young Can Say" that the experiences shared by the attendees at the symposium are a first and have no comparison in value to any college text book.
"When the Lights Go Down in the City," I'm sure all attendees would agree that it was great to attend an event like the Leadership Symposium to get a fresh perspective on the industry and create new contacts. Even though we all went our "Separate Ways", I have followed-up with the people I have met and they all have continued to give me great insight and recommendations. With the skills I've learned from attending PMA's Leadership Symposium and the people I have met (or better yet the support that has been provided to me by the people I have met), I feel I'm on the right path to be able to make a significant contribution or two throughout my career as long as I continue to listen to these rock stars and "Don't Stop Believin'" in myself.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
Over already?
Now I don't know if I was just excited that I was going to hear the two speakers that I was most interested in or because I was still star struck from last night, but when I woke up this morning I was full of energy. The day started with George Labovitz speaking about the power of alignment and getting everyone on the same page to benefit the entire company. George shared some terrific metaphors, company success stories and some pretty darn funny jokes. When we broke up into small groups for discussion my group began brainstorming ideas for what George called "the main thing" for the produce industry, which is equivalent to a simplified company mission statement. Let me point out that at my table sat a diverse crowd of small and large suppliers, retailers, and packaging people - so you could imagine the wide range of ideas and buzz words that started flowing when trying to figure out what "the main thing" is for the industry. I'm not even going to try to summarize what we talked about since we all came from different industry segments, but at first there were blank stares, next came the nodding of heads in agreement, and then the "Oh I like that" statements, which meant we finally decided on something ... twenty-five minutes later.
Another diverse factor about this symposium is the age range in attendance. A few people here could have sat me on their knee and told me a story about how they watched Neil Armstrong land on the moon while they were in high school. Others warned me that they own a shotgun and are pretty fast on foot if I ever meet their daughters. The remaining majority just kept talking about a day when MTV used play only music videos ... I called these people liars. You couldn't get an age range like this with so many stories and experiences to share in two days even if you drove around in a De Lorean with Marty McFly going 88 miles per hour.
A few weeks ago when I spoke to Chris Ciruli, chief operating officer of Ciruli Brothers and my mentor from the Pack Family/PMA Career Pathways Scholarship program two years ago, he told me to go out here and talk to as many different people as possible. For those of you who know Chris he said it a tad differently incorporated within a joke and I don't want to be typing all night ... so let's just say I took his advice and had lunch today with Alicia Calhoun, director of industry technology and standards for PMA and Claudia Wenzing, vice president of development for the Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH). While having lunch I explained to Claudia that I wanted to get involved with the PBH Foundation and asked if she could point me in the right direction. From there the conversation flowed like fresh squeezed orange juice as Claudia shared some of the opportunities and the history of PBH while Alicia shared how her children are crazy about fruits and vegetables. This was by far one of the most beneficial experiences I have had since I've been here and at one point I looked down at my plate only to see four servings of fruits and vegetables ... but luckily the afternoon session was about to begin so I avoided having to explain myself to Claudia.
Wrapping up the symposium with Larry Johnson speaking about absolute honestly in business was a great way to bring everyone together in the end. Larry's presentation provided great tips for initiating conversations and was filled with a lot of group interaction to get the blood flowing for the closing reception. As the symposium came to a close we all said goodbye to our old and new friends promising to stay in touch as we exchanged business cards or as I like to call them, rock star memorabilia.
Another diverse factor about this symposium is the age range in attendance. A few people here could have sat me on their knee and told me a story about how they watched Neil Armstrong land on the moon while they were in high school. Others warned me that they own a shotgun and are pretty fast on foot if I ever meet their daughters. The remaining majority just kept talking about a day when MTV used play only music videos ... I called these people liars. You couldn't get an age range like this with so many stories and experiences to share in two days even if you drove around in a De Lorean with Marty McFly going 88 miles per hour.
A few weeks ago when I spoke to Chris Ciruli, chief operating officer of Ciruli Brothers and my mentor from the Pack Family/PMA Career Pathways Scholarship program two years ago, he told me to go out here and talk to as many different people as possible. For those of you who know Chris he said it a tad differently incorporated within a joke and I don't want to be typing all night ... so let's just say I took his advice and had lunch today with Alicia Calhoun, director of industry technology and standards for PMA and Claudia Wenzing, vice president of development for the Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH). While having lunch I explained to Claudia that I wanted to get involved with the PBH Foundation and asked if she could point me in the right direction. From there the conversation flowed like fresh squeezed orange juice as Claudia shared some of the opportunities and the history of PBH while Alicia shared how her children are crazy about fruits and vegetables. This was by far one of the most beneficial experiences I have had since I've been here and at one point I looked down at my plate only to see four servings of fruits and vegetables ... but luckily the afternoon session was about to begin so I avoided having to explain myself to Claudia.
Wrapping up the symposium with Larry Johnson speaking about absolute honestly in business was a great way to bring everyone together in the end. Larry's presentation provided great tips for initiating conversations and was filled with a lot of group interaction to get the blood flowing for the closing reception. As the symposium came to a close we all said goodbye to our old and new friends promising to stay in touch as we exchanged business cards or as I like to call them, rock star memorabilia.
All day activities & great after hours discussions
On the first day of PMA Leadership Symposium my industry colleagues sent to me ... a vast amount of knowledge in an eco-friendly, shelf life extending, and consumer attractive partridge in a pear tree. Even though the holidays are over, it seems that everyone here at the symposium is still in the mood of giving - whether it be knowledge about what to expect as I grow within the industry, a business card, or drink at the bar. I'm receiving some good perks being the youngest of the group and the industry knowledge and business cards aren't too bad either.
The speakers here have been phenomenal with their upbeat attitudes and extensive knowledge they have been able to share with us. With the topics of pricing and innovation discussed today I was able to gain some great information that I'm eager to share when I get back in the office. The small group breakout sessions have been a great way for us to get to know each other and address the topics that relate to our businesses on an individual level. I personally have benefited most from these sessions, the innovation session in particular, as I asked a question about my primary job function (which is designing customized reports for our sales team and customers) about where do I draw the line between customized work that is part of my job's responsibilities and a new report I have innovated? Given my age and experience level compared with all the wisdom that was in the room, I heard some terrific answers. Shelly Carlson, retail business development manager for C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. gave me great input by saying that I have to personally set a benchmark based on my quality of work and continue to raise the bar and in time I will be recognized for my accomplishments and rewarded.
A good advantage about being young here at the symposium is that everyone is willing to "show me the ropes" and "tell me how it is" and to me that's the best kind of education I can receive. My question from the innovation breakout session leaked outside our group and before you know it people were giving me all sorts of advice. For instance, Gene Harris, senior purchasing manager for Denny's Corporation pulled me aside and said, "I have some ideas on how to address your question. Let’s talk later tonight." Now I don't know if it's because I talk a lot and like to tell stories, but Gene and I ended up talking for 45 minutes about everything from how I can establish myself within the produce industry to the level of respect both of us share for the PMA Education Foundation and their successful progress. To me, this guy is a rock star in our industry, and I don't mean like Meatloaf rock star - but Eric Clapton rock star, and that's how I view many of the members of our industry.
At one point tonight I was sitting at the bar with Lorri Koster, vice president of marketing for Mann Packing Company, Inc., Lisa McNeece, vice president of foodservice and industrial sales for Grimmway Farms, and Ken Silveira, president and chief operating officer of Tanimura & Antle and in my eyes it was like I sitting next to Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, and Frank Sinatra. I read about these people in the produce media quite frequently and here I was enjoying a drink with them, discussing industry topics and making jokes. The best part was that each of them were genuinely interested in what I had to say to the industry from a young professional's perspective as much as I was interested in the experiences they were sharing as they grew within the industry. They each gave me wonderful tips on how to become more active and broaden my horizons as it related to my career in the produce industry. For instance, Ken and I ended up sitting at the bar talking about ways to attract college graduates into our industry and how to retain those up-and-coming young professionals until the bartender began sweeping the floor after the bar had closed.
I am very fortunate to have this experience and to be able to talk with all these "rock stars" in a more comfortable environment than in the office where I would have to wear a tie ... and without a cocktail to loosen everyone up. Even better is that as much as I want to hear old war stories from the sales desk, people want to talk to me and get to know how I started my career and my thoughts on the produce industry. Everything here at the symposium is going great and I still have one more day and three highly designed PMA meals to enjoy.
The speakers here have been phenomenal with their upbeat attitudes and extensive knowledge they have been able to share with us. With the topics of pricing and innovation discussed today I was able to gain some great information that I'm eager to share when I get back in the office. The small group breakout sessions have been a great way for us to get to know each other and address the topics that relate to our businesses on an individual level. I personally have benefited most from these sessions, the innovation session in particular, as I asked a question about my primary job function (which is designing customized reports for our sales team and customers) about where do I draw the line between customized work that is part of my job's responsibilities and a new report I have innovated? Given my age and experience level compared with all the wisdom that was in the room, I heard some terrific answers. Shelly Carlson, retail business development manager for C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. gave me great input by saying that I have to personally set a benchmark based on my quality of work and continue to raise the bar and in time I will be recognized for my accomplishments and rewarded.
A good advantage about being young here at the symposium is that everyone is willing to "show me the ropes" and "tell me how it is" and to me that's the best kind of education I can receive. My question from the innovation breakout session leaked outside our group and before you know it people were giving me all sorts of advice. For instance, Gene Harris, senior purchasing manager for Denny's Corporation pulled me aside and said, "I have some ideas on how to address your question. Let’s talk later tonight." Now I don't know if it's because I talk a lot and like to tell stories, but Gene and I ended up talking for 45 minutes about everything from how I can establish myself within the produce industry to the level of respect both of us share for the PMA Education Foundation and their successful progress. To me, this guy is a rock star in our industry, and I don't mean like Meatloaf rock star - but Eric Clapton rock star, and that's how I view many of the members of our industry.
At one point tonight I was sitting at the bar with Lorri Koster, vice president of marketing for Mann Packing Company, Inc., Lisa McNeece, vice president of foodservice and industrial sales for Grimmway Farms, and Ken Silveira, president and chief operating officer of Tanimura & Antle and in my eyes it was like I sitting next to Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, and Frank Sinatra. I read about these people in the produce media quite frequently and here I was enjoying a drink with them, discussing industry topics and making jokes. The best part was that each of them were genuinely interested in what I had to say to the industry from a young professional's perspective as much as I was interested in the experiences they were sharing as they grew within the industry. They each gave me wonderful tips on how to become more active and broaden my horizons as it related to my career in the produce industry. For instance, Ken and I ended up sitting at the bar talking about ways to attract college graduates into our industry and how to retain those up-and-coming young professionals until the bartender began sweeping the floor after the bar had closed.
I am very fortunate to have this experience and to be able to talk with all these "rock stars" in a more comfortable environment than in the office where I would have to wear a tie ... and without a cocktail to loosen everyone up. Even better is that as much as I want to hear old war stories from the sales desk, people want to talk to me and get to know how I started my career and my thoughts on the produce industry. Everything here at the symposium is going great and I still have one more day and three highly designed PMA meals to enjoy.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Time to meet everyone at the opening reception
Tonight I attended the opening networking dinner and met some of the people who will be sharing this great leadership opportunity with me. Just like many industry functions we started the night off with social hour and a few drinks so everyone would open up and start talking to each other. This social hour was a little different though because not too many people knew each other, as there were less than a hundred people here. Almost everyone is from a different company and not in large numbers, but the conversations flowed as we awaited to be seated for dinner.
Once the dinner room opened it was like the second shift whistle of a packing house blew as we walked through the doors and everyone crossed paths to sit with different people than we were talking to in the outside hall. The table I sat with consisted of people from Duda, Kroger, and Stemilt so from the get-go I knew we'd have quite a diverse conversation ... and we did. After the usual intro topics of "Hello I am...", "I work at...", and "Oh no, the weather's not that bad in..." we continued to talk about what we do and what we expect to attain from the next two days of workshops. We began talking about the books that were given to us written by the speakers who will be presenting in the next two days and the topics that were covered in each. Discussing the topics of company alignment, pricing, and growth through innovation is when I think the people at my table began to look at me differently. Not because I had some great input and ideas to bounce off the upcoming speakers, but because I pointed out that one of the books was written in 1994 ... which just so happened to be when I was in the 4th grade. Smirks appeared, eyes squinted, and heads titled as even those who thought they were young amongst others at the table suddenly felt just a tad older, while the rest pointed out that they have grandchildren older than me. I sort of get that reaction a lot when I attend industry functions back home in Salinas and I just point out that, "Hey, we both have actors signatures on our college diplomas. Mine is Governor Schwarzenegger and yours is Governor Reagan."
As dinner wrapped up we laughed some more and shared expectations about the upcoming days. Some people turned in early to be refreshed for tomorrow, while others like myself made a pit stop at the after hours bar for some additional conversation. The conversations carried for a while and slowly people headed back to their rooms to get a good jump start for the morning and I followed. After all, breakfast does starts at 6:30 ... and I wouldn't want to miss a PMA meal, where each item on the plate is strategically placed and you're afraid to take a bite unless you've taken a picture first.
Once the dinner room opened it was like the second shift whistle of a packing house blew as we walked through the doors and everyone crossed paths to sit with different people than we were talking to in the outside hall. The table I sat with consisted of people from Duda, Kroger, and Stemilt so from the get-go I knew we'd have quite a diverse conversation ... and we did. After the usual intro topics of "Hello I am...", "I work at...", and "Oh no, the weather's not that bad in..." we continued to talk about what we do and what we expect to attain from the next two days of workshops. We began talking about the books that were given to us written by the speakers who will be presenting in the next two days and the topics that were covered in each. Discussing the topics of company alignment, pricing, and growth through innovation is when I think the people at my table began to look at me differently. Not because I had some great input and ideas to bounce off the upcoming speakers, but because I pointed out that one of the books was written in 1994 ... which just so happened to be when I was in the 4th grade. Smirks appeared, eyes squinted, and heads titled as even those who thought they were young amongst others at the table suddenly felt just a tad older, while the rest pointed out that they have grandchildren older than me. I sort of get that reaction a lot when I attend industry functions back home in Salinas and I just point out that, "Hey, we both have actors signatures on our college diplomas. Mine is Governor Schwarzenegger and yours is Governor Reagan."
As dinner wrapped up we laughed some more and shared expectations about the upcoming days. Some people turned in early to be refreshed for tomorrow, while others like myself made a pit stop at the after hours bar for some additional conversation. The conversations carried for a while and slowly people headed back to their rooms to get a good jump start for the morning and I followed. After all, breakfast does starts at 6:30 ... and I wouldn't want to miss a PMA meal, where each item on the plate is strategically placed and you're afraid to take a bite unless you've taken a picture first.
So what's going to happen when I get there...
As a young professional attending a "leadership symposium" I have a lot to learn, but then again I have a lot to share. Being young and fresh out of college I'm wondering if I'll learn more about the industry and successful tactics that have worked in the past ... or if I'll end up sharing some of my "young ideas" and thoughts from a young person's perspective? Either way, I expect that I'll end up meeting a few new industry contacts and maybe even get a few new Facebook friends out of it. (Young Idea #1: Facebook is a new marketing tool.)
Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in ... with books. Prepping for this symposium was no easy task with the amount of reading I had to do, but I managed - thanks to the end of the college football season and the tv writers strike. With nothing to watch on tv I had some free time to turn a few pages... all 892 of them. Thankfully, the topics were interesting and now I'll have something to talk about when I meet the hundred or so strangers that will be there. (Young Idea #2: Recognize the opening Godfather III quote? My generation is obsessed with pop culture and celebrities. Not to say I'm going to go whack someone with my glasses, but a reference would stop me from turning the page and take a look at what you're selling.)
I hope once I get there it's not completely a business environment. Half of our industry's sales meetings occur over happy hour, so it'd feel out of sync to be sitting in a conference room for two days straight. Everyone likes to be relaxed anyway and working in small groups will be good so people won't be afraid to talk. Well, once I get there I guess I'll figure it all out. (Oh yeah, Young Idea #3: My generation also isn't all about being formal and serious. We like to be a little crazy and shake things up a bit like we're playing Yahtzee and have fun. Not to be confused with young Hollywood fun ... they're actually just crazy.)
Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in ... with books. Prepping for this symposium was no easy task with the amount of reading I had to do, but I managed - thanks to the end of the college football season and the tv writers strike. With nothing to watch on tv I had some free time to turn a few pages... all 892 of them. Thankfully, the topics were interesting and now I'll have something to talk about when I meet the hundred or so strangers that will be there. (Young Idea #2: Recognize the opening Godfather III quote? My generation is obsessed with pop culture and celebrities. Not to say I'm going to go whack someone with my glasses, but a reference would stop me from turning the page and take a look at what you're selling.)
I hope once I get there it's not completely a business environment. Half of our industry's sales meetings occur over happy hour, so it'd feel out of sync to be sitting in a conference room for two days straight. Everyone likes to be relaxed anyway and working in small groups will be good so people won't be afraid to talk. Well, once I get there I guess I'll figure it all out. (Oh yeah, Young Idea #3: My generation also isn't all about being formal and serious. We like to be a little crazy and shake things up a bit like we're playing Yahtzee and have fun. Not to be confused with young Hollywood fun ... they're actually just crazy.)
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