Ohio AgriBusiness Association to offer fifth LAUNCH program

The Ohio AgriBusiness Association (OABA) will select up to 25 promising leaders to participate in a leadership enhancement program early next year.

Knowing that half the agribusiness workforce could retire in the next 10-12 years, Leaders Achieving Unexpected New Career Heights (LAUNCH) was designed to inspire confidence in emerging leaders, according to OABA. Earlier this year, 19 participants from 13 different organizations graduated from the fourth LAUNCH class.

“Created as a program to further professional development among agribusiness professionals, LAUNCH also provides participants with networking opportunities that help grow the community of agribusiness leaders,” said Chris Henney, OABA president and CEO. “This program gives participants the essential communication and decision-making tools that will establish a successful future for Ohio’s agriculture industry.”

The LAUNCH program will consist of two sessions: Jan. 10-12, 2017 and Feb. 21-23, 2017. The program will cover a variety of topics, including personal insight; executive leadership skills and decision making; communication and presentation skills; global issues in agriculture; change management and employee engagement principles; Ohio/regional trends in agribusiness; strategic planning; critical thinking; goal setting and organizational skills; state and local government; and a capstone project.

To be considered, participants must be employed by a member company/organization of OABA, must be sponsored by their employer, and must submit an application and letter of recommendation. The application form is available at www.oaba.net. The deadline to apply is Nov. 14.

For more information and to see what 2016 participants are saying about LAUNCH, go to oaba.net/events or contact Margo Long at 614-326-7520 or mlong@oaba.net.