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LAUNCH program provides much more than training

By Dan Toland, Wilt PR

 

Ohio agriculture is such a diverse, yet small world. It’s truly amazing the connections one can make, and how short the lines can be drawn from one person to another once you settle in and start talking.

 

Having just wrapped up two intensive weeks of executive level training through the LAUNCH (Leaders Achieving Unexpected New Career Heights) program, sponsored by the Ohio AgriBusiness Association, there are now 18 more folks across the state connected closer together through shared experiences, opportunities and a bit of fun.

 

I hadn’t heard much about the LAUNCH program prior to my time starting with Wilt (October 2013), nor had I really known much about it before being selected to participate in the 2014 class. But once we got rolling in our first four-day session in January, it was obvious that there was a lot of value in being a part of this unique opportunity.

 

The eight days together spread through two sessions were jam-packed full of activities. We learned from leaders in the industry about change management, human resources, working with multiple generations, managing ourselves, learning what makes us all tick and how we can work better together and so much more. We visited the Statehouse and got to chat with Rep. Dave Hall, learned about all the good work done at the Ohio Department of Agriculture and visited The Andersons headquarters near Toledo.

 

Most valuable to me, however, are the relationships and affiliations I developed with a bright group of folks throughout the state, many working in parts of the industry of which I have had little experience as of yet in my career. Not just during the presentations and sessions, but also during the downtimes, the meals, the socializing, etc. I’ve often said that I learned so much more outside of the classroom in college than I did inside the classroom. I think that’s also true here. While we covered a lot of important topics that helped develop us as leaders, it’s the people skills we developed and utilized, taking time to learn from and about one another outside the course material that I valued most.

 

I know that I’ll be running into so many of my LAUNCH classmates throughout my career in agriculture. Having those relationships, shared experiences and personal connections with such a talented crop of leaders will no doubt enhance my career, and I’m sure it will enhance those of my classmates as well.

 

Congratulations to all who completed this year’s LAUNCH program. It was a pleasure being a part of it with each of you.

 

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