09/26/2017

Ohio AgriBusiness Association to Offer LAUNCH Program for Sixth Year

The program develops the future generation of agribusiness leaders

The Ohio AgriBusiness Association (OABA) will select up to 30 promising leaders to participate in a leadership enhancement program early next year.

With the expectation that half of the agribusiness workforce could retire in the next 10-15 years, Leaders Achieving Unexpected New Career Heights (LAUNCH) was designed to inspire confidence in emerging leaders to help them achieve career growth and their organization’s strategic goals. Earlier this year, 16 participants from 14 different organizations graduated from the fifth LAUNCH class.

“The LAUNCH program continues to evolve each year to fill the industry need in providing professional development and networking opportunities among agribusiness professionals,” said Chris Henney, OABA president and CEO. “This program focuses on giving participants not only essential communication and decision-making tools, but leadership skills that will prepare them for their next executive position, and drive the Ohio agriculture industry as a whole.”

The LAUNCH program will consist of two sessions: Jan. 16-18, 2018 and Feb. 20-22, 2018. The program will engage participants in a variety of learning opportunities, including personal insight; executive leadership skills and decision making; communication and presentation skills; global issues in agriculture; change management and employee engagement principles; regional trends in agribusiness; critical thinking; goal setting and organizational skills; state and local government; and a capstone project.

To be considered, participants must be employed by an OABA member company, be sponsored by their employer, and submit an application and letter of recommendation. The application form is available at www.oaba.net. The deadline to apply is Oct. 31.

For more information and to see what past participants have said about LAUNCH, go to www.oaba.net/events, or contact Janice Welsheimer at 614-326-7520 or jwelsheimer@oaba.net.