With harvest’s end on the horizon, 2017 Almond Leadership Program participants are rounding third base in their completion of the year-long program. Participants’ leadership growth and industry learning isn’t complete at the end of the year, however.
“Following each year, participants are encouraged to join an ABC [Almond Board of California] committee as an honorary leadership member,” said Jenny Nicolau, Manager, Industry Relations. “Attending committee meetings is a natural segue for continued involvement and service in the industry.”
Are you ready to bring your career in the almond industry to new heights? Apply for the 2018 Almond Leadership Program.
The 2016 Almond Leadership class is taking hold of that opportunity.
Joe Barnett, Blue Diamond Operations Excellence Manager and 2016 ALP alum, is a newly appointed alternate member of ABC’s Industry Services Sub-Committee. In this role, Barnett participates in discussions and helps guide industry programs and events.
“I felt like I added the most value to that [Industry Services] committee based on my skillset and the nature of work that they do,” Barnett said.
Barnett is also a sitting member of the Almond Board’s Biomass Taskforce.
Almond Leadership Program participants must also complete a project that aims to improve the industry. In 2016, Barnett joined classmate Rory Crowley, a grower at Nicolaus Nut Company, to research almond byproducts and their potential uses. Their work is especially relevant today as biomass discussions move into the spotlight.
“I plan on being involved with the biomass taskforce until a solution can be found,” Barnett said.
Crowley serves on the Technical and Regulatory Affairs Committee and participates in several local and regional agricultural boards and committees, including the Butte County Farm Bureau.
Syngenta sales representative Ashley Bandoni, another 2016 graduate, recognizes the value in committee involvement. She is an honorary member of the Nutrition Committee. Beyond ABC, Bandoni sits on the Board of Directors of the Merced County California Women for Agriculture, where she was past president.
Long History, Continued Service
The Almond Leadership Program’s emphasis on leadership and service has held strong since the program’s inception in 2009.
Graduates across all years keep busy within the almond community. Ryan Cosyns (class of 2009) and Robert Mahoney (class of 2013) both serve on the Industry Services Sub-Committee with Matt Visser (2010). Darrin Rigg (2009) serves on the Global Market Development Committee and Micah Zeff (2009) is an alternate for the Board of Directors.
At least eleven former participants, including Jordan Phippen, Vice President for Pacific Coast Sales, have gone on to mentor new participants in the Almond Leadership Program. Phippen, a five-year mentor, believes the program continues to develop into an even more valuable experience each year.
“When [I was] asked to be a mentor for the program, it was an easy decision. I think the leadership program has done a fantastic job of introducing participants to all aspects of the almond industry while also creating long-lasting bonds between mentors/mentees,” Phippen said.
To date, more than 140 dedicated, passionate industry members have graduated from the program.
Are you ready to take the next step in becoming an industry leader? Learn how you can join the 2018 Almond Leadership class
here.
Applications are available now and will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8, 2017.
