PDPW Business Conference boosts people power March 12-13

Dairy producers who come to the 2013 PDPW Business Conference for the cutting-edge dairy science and herd health information can also expand their learning horizons into the people side of dairying. The conference, March 12-13 in Madison, Wis., will offer three sessions on the most important “people-oriented” challenges facing today’s dairy producers.

The March 13 keynote presentation by workforce trends expert Seth Mattison is designed to help people from different generations rev up productivity without causing sparks to fly. In Generations, Start Your Engines, Mattison will offer practical insights to seasoned veterans managing those younger, Gen X’ers who aspire to more responsibility, and Millennials who bring fresh energy to the workplace.

“This session was elevated to keynote because the PDPW Board of Directors has identified generational transitions as key to the long-term health and success of the dairy industry,” says Mark Diederichs, dairy producer from Malone, Wis. and president of Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin (PDPW). “We envision families and teams attending this session together and laughing, learning, taking notes and taking home practical steps for better interaction between the various generations that work together in our businesses.”

Among the 14 specialty sessions during the two-day conference are two other people-focused programs that will bring important ideas and information to today’s dairy operations. Both sessions are led by executive coach Jorge Estrada, who brings his years of experience in the feed and pharmaceutical industries to his global consulting work.

• Recommit to Safety: Conducting Farm Safety Orientations and Meetings with High-Return Results will teach practical and high return methods to raise the safety consciousness of farm employees. Estrada will show dairy producers how to review current on-the-job behaviors and create the satisfaction and benefits that come with a safer working environment.
• The Engaged Employee – How to Increase Productivity Through Five Specific Behaviors will offer executive coaching combined with producer panelists Robert Hennen of Minnesota and Juan Quezada, director of safety, recruiting and training for Milk Source LLC in Kaukauna, Wis. The panelists will share their first-hand experiences with implementing Estrada’s five leadership behaviors, and how they created a culture where fully engaged employees treat the dairy business as if it is their own.

In all, 14 specialty sessions and five keynote speakers are offered at the 2013 PDPW Business Conference. The conference theme is “RECHARGE,” offering dairy producers the opportunity to reconnect with industry friends, rethink ways to handle on-farm tasks and business challenges, and plug in to industry issues that require dairy producer leadership. The Hall of Ideas Trade Show will offer opportunities for dairy producers to interact with more than 160 service providers, all focused on the needs of today’s dairy operations.

Dairy science and veterinary professionals attending select sessions of the 2013 Business Conference can receive continuing education credits through the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, as well as through ARPAS, the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists. In addition, some sessions are approved for Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) continuing education units.

Details and registration information for the 2013 PDPW Business Conference can be found at www.pdpw.org, or by calling PDPW at 800-947-7379. The 2013 PDPW Business Conference will be held at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis.

 

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