Executive Leadership
SUMMIT
Oct. 8-10, 2025 | The Chateaux Deer Valley | Deer Valley, Utah
Agenda
Leadership Agility and Navigating the Changing Workforce
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
| 7 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. |
Registration |
| 1 - 5 p.m. | |
| 5:30 - 9 p.m. | Executive Leadership Summit Welcome Reception and Dinner |
Thursday, October 12, 2023
| 7 - 8 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8 - 8:15 a.m. |
Welcome and Introductions Carlos Gonzalez, Ph.D., Vice President, Global Regulatory Affairs, Hill's Pet Nutrition, AFIA Board Chair |
| 8:15 - 9:15 a.m. |
What Has Happened In The Workforce In The Past 25 Years? We have all heard about moving cheese, but in the past three years, our cheese has really moved! Learn from Eric Termeunde on how the work environment and workforce expectations has changed more in the past few years than over the past 25 years! Eric Termeunde, Future of Work Expert, Author |
| 9:15 - 10 a.m. |
How Can Positive Leadership Create A Successful Culture? If you want loyalty, buy a dog. But if you want real engagement and be the employer of choice, it’s all about creating the right culture of your organization. Learn how positive leadership can create a successful culture. Learn more on what attracts people to your company, what role culture plays in attracting and retaining talent, and what employees are looking for from leadership. Paul Phillips, President, Maxi-Lift Inc/DuraPlas Inc, moderator Dr. Jacqueline Applegate, President, Bayer Crop Science North America Lisa Rathburn, Vice President of Engineering, T. Marzetti Shannan Townsend, EVP, Division Executive Agribusiness, Food & Hospitality, Wells Fargo |
| 10 - 10:30 a.m. | Break |
| 10:30 - 11:15 a.m. |
Extinguishing Burnout With Positive Leadership Leading through change and managing your teams’ wellbeing is more important than ever. Learn tools for both you and your team that can implement today. Jennifer Moss, Journalist, Author, Speaker, Workplace Expert |
| 11:15 a.m. - Noon |
How Communication and Tools Keep The Business Successful Why the “same old, same old” no longer works anymore in today’s business. From supply chain challenges to benefits packages for your team, the only way to success is to be more agile, more flexible and increase communication (and the tools you use!) which are the key intangibles people are looking for. Dave Baloga, Executive Vice President, Science and Technology, Hill's Pet Nutrition |
| Noon - 1 p.m. |
Luncheon |
| 4:30 - 8:30 p.m. |
Networking Event: Page Island Sponsored by: BioZyme, Inc. |
Friday, October 13, 2023
| 7 - 8 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8 - 8:15 a.m. |
How To Put Day One Into Practice Constance Cullman, President and CEO, American Feed Industry Association |
| 815 - 9 a.m. |
Succession Planning When Others Want Your Top Talent! The urgency to identify an organization’s next leadership team was accelerated when baby boomer retirements collided with the COVID-induced “quiet resignation.” This conversation will explore the advantages and disadvantages of different succession planning strategies, how to retain key talent and how to adapt to changing leadership and generational styles. Jeff Daniels, Partner and Principal Consultant, Several Thousand Alliance |
| 9 - 9:45 a.m. |
Making the Business Case for Diversity of Thought and Leadership Understanding how there is a ROI by addressing diversity, equity and inclusion within your organization. This discussion will explore tools to identify and address biases and how a better understanding can help businesses leverage the talent and experiences of their team. Discussions will focus on creating an environment that fosters open dialogue and encourages the sharing of insights to better position companies for success. Rhonda Burns, Associate Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office, Nationwide |
| 9:45 - 10:15 a.m. |
Break |
| 10:15 - 11:15 a.m. |
Boosting Morale In A Post COVID-19 Business Environment Moving from leading in a fog to suddenly finding a new business environment in the daylight. As a result of COVID-19, businesses were introduced new technologies at a rapid pace and shifted where and how employees work while many parts of the industry have retained a facility-based work format. Learn how companies adjusted their work protocols, culture and the new approaches they have taken to improve employee morale. Jim Gerardot, Jr., Managing Partner, Kincannon & Reed, moderator Dan Meagher, President and CEO, Novus International, Inc. Mark Poeschl, President and CEO, Furst-McNess Company Haley Stomp, CEO, Stomp Strategy, LLC |
| 11:15 - Noon |
Relentless Pursuit...Optimal Performance Through Purposeful Living and Leading Leadership is not a position. It is a decision…one that is available to each of us. Drawing from his experience with battlefields, ballfields and boardrooms, Jason shares personal lessons learned and timeless leadership principles to challenge and encourage you take the next step in your personal leader journey. Jason Cummins, Managing Partner, Horizon Performance |
| Noon | Closing Remarks and Adjourn |
*Times are in EST and are subject to change
