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In December of
2004, the American Seed Trade
Association (ASTA) launched its Future Seed Executives
(FuSE) initiative in response to the U.S. seed industry’s need
to be better prepared as the baby boomers who have led the
industry during the last thirty years prepare to cash out their
retirement accounts.
With support
from ASTA, Jim Schweigert, Client Operations Manager with Gro
Alliance in
Cuba City,
Wis.,
and founder of FuSE, built a four-person committee that secured
sponsorship from industry heavyweights and multiple regional
companies. The committee also developed the educational
programming necessary to prepare those with seven years or less
of seed experience to become future leaders of the industry.
The fuse was
lit and in 2005 FuSE programmed four educational sessions with
sponsoring companies and universities and hosted two roundtable
discussion group conference calls with respected senior seed
industry leaders.
The
educational sessions were one-day events with the morning
session dedicated to analyzing the host companies’ business
strategies and the afternoon session dedicated to reviewing a
case study with the corresponding university. The sessions were
hosted by:
-
Landec Ag
with Purdue University in Monticello, Indiana;
-
Fontanelle
Hybrids with the University of Nebraska in Freemont,
Nebraska;
-
Gro
Alliance with the University of Wisconsin in Cuba City,
Wisconsin; and
-
Monsanto
with Washington University in St Louis, Missouri.
The roundtable
discussion group conference calls were one-hour sessions during
which former ASTA chairman Don Wertman and NeCo Seeds CEO Bill
Cook analyzed the challenges and opportunities created with
industry consolidation and developing niche markets,
respectfully.
New seed industry members hailed the programming as a “fantastic
program with endless opportunities for professionals in the ag
industry.” Senior industry leaders echoed the praise and “highly recommended the program for young people looking to
move up in their organization.”
With a total
program participation of more than 75 future seed executives,
the U.S. seed industry’s FuSE is definitely bright.
In 2006, four additional educational
sessions and roundtable discussion group calls will be held and
a dedicated website,
www.futureseedexecutives.com, is being
launched. As more companies see the benefit of FuSE’s
educational programming, more programming will follow, including
a campus connection program with major Midwestern U.S.
universities.
Stay tuned as
FuSE continues to burn!
To get more involved with FuSE, either as
an event attendee or as a sponsor, please contact Jim Schweigert
at
jim.schweigert@groalliance.com or
visit the FuSE website at
www.futureseedexecutives.com. |
