Purdue University announces agribusiness professional development offerings

Agribusiness professionals can build their management skill set and expand their professional network at one of the Purdue University Center for Food and Agricultural Business’ 2014 seminars, delivered on Purdue’s campus in West Lafayette, Ind.

“We offer unique programs directed at agribusiness professionals who want to continually improve their competencies in all aspects of, and for the life of their careers,” says, Allan Gray, center director and Land O’Lakes Chair in Food and Agribusiness. “Our faculty and staff are passionate about delivering the best possible classroom environment for our participants so that they can take the skills they develop with us and make positive changes in their own companies.”

Housed within the Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University, the center has designed and delivered professional development education since 1986. In addition to public seminars, it offers the MS-MBA in Food and Agribusiness Management, a dual-degree, online master’s program, and also specializes in developing customized management education experiences for agribusiness firms.

“I have had extremely valuable management education experiences with the center,” says John Corbett, managing director at JBS United. “They understand the specific challenges that we face in the agriculture industry, and they offer many practical tools and techniques that will help agribusiness managers accelerate their performance and better achieve their leadership potential.”

The center will offer the following programs for agribusiness leaders and managers this year. More information and registration fees for each seminar are available at www.agecon.purdue.edu/cab.

ASTA Management Academy ? March 3-7, 2014
The ASTA Management Academy is a management development seminar created for seed industry professionals by the center, in conjunction with the American Seed Trade Association. The program features a structured exploration of essential management skills and topics, including marketing management, organizational leadership, financial management and strategic management. It is intended for all seed professionals, from experienced decision makers to those new to the industry. For more information, visit www.agecon.purdue.edu/cab/programs/asta

Sales Management and Leadership ? May 28-29, 2014
Sales Management and Leadership is a program designed to help sales managers assess and hone their skills to maximize their effectiveness. During the program, professionals will learn about leadership, culture management, talent and coaching skills. It is intended for both current and future sales managers. For more information, visit www.agecon.purdue.edu/cab/programs/sml

Agribusiness Finance for Non-Finance Managers ? June 10-13, 2014
Created to give non-finance managers an understanding of the basics of financial management, this program will introduce managers to the financial management process and terms necessary to better articulate their financial goals. Topics include: thinking like a CFO and financial statements, evaluation, concepts and management. This program is for non-financial managers in the mid to upper levels of their companies. For more information, visit www.agecon.purdue.edu/cab/programs/agfinance

Precision Selling: Building Relationships with Large Farmers ? August 20-21, 2014
Precision Selling addresses strategies for working with large producers in the ever-changing agricultural marketplace. Participants will learn about market dynamics, managing relationships with large farmers and strategic action planning. Professionals responsible for serving and selling key accounts, will benefit greatly from this seminar. Participants have come away from the program saying that it “changed their perspective on how to create trust between themselves and a customer.” For more information, visit www.agecon.purdue.edu/cab/programs/ps

Structuring Decisions: Innovating Through Turbulence ? September 16-18, 2014
Structuring Decisions: Innovating Through Turbulence brings definition and structure to decision-making, where uncertainty is a given and innovation is a mandate. Through lecture, case study analysis and decision-making tools, such as heat mapping and risk scorecarding, participants will develop a reasoned, systematic approach to making important decisions and mitigating downside risk. For more information, visit www.agecon.purdue.edu/cab/programs/sdit

Source: Purdue University

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