GROWMARK

Vertical development is the wave of the future in leadership development. In this episode of the GROWMARK Podcast, Corporate Communications Manager Amy Bradford, talks with Ryan Gottfredson, a cutting-edge leadership development author, researcher, and consultant. He helps organizations vertically develop their leaders primarily through a focus on mindsets, including here at GROWMARK. He is the Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling author of Success Mindsets. Ryan's new book, The Elevated Leader, comes out in October 2022 and focuses on vertical development which he discussed in-depth in this podcast. 

Lia Lohnes, Faith Emiry, and Levi Lubben, three of GROWMARK's summer interns, talk with Sydney Garrett from the Corporate Communications team about their internship experience so far. 

GROWMARK team members talk about how innovation is playing a critical role in process improvement throughout the FS System! 

GROWMARK Vice President of Human Resources and Strategy Officer Ann Kafer, talks with team members on the Future of Work Task Force, on how the process is going. 

In this edition of the GROWMARK podcast, Marissa Danielson, with the Benefits team, talks with GROWMARK's Telecom Services Manager, Angel Baker, about her journey in improving heart health and why GROWMARK's LIVE SOUND campaign is so important. 

The GROWMARK System is launching LIVE SOUND, a holistic well-being program encompassing the physical, financial, and emotional well-being of employees. Corporate Communications Manager Amy Bradford talks with Vice President of Midwest Operations Mike Turner, and his wife Teresa, about how an event changed the way he and his family look at health. 

The GROWMARK System is launching Live Sound, a holistic well-being program encompassing the physical, financial, and emotional well-being of employees. Corporate Communications Manager Amy Bradford talks with Vice President of Energy and Logistics Carol Kitchen on how employees can benefit from this type of programming and education. 

Neil Alcorn, GROWMARK's Director of Enterprise Continuous Improvement, talks with Katelynn Baer from the Corporate Communications team, on the increasing focus on Process Management in 2021. 

In this episode, GROWMARK Benefits Manager Aubrey Bastian talks with Chris Grogan from the Corporate Communications team about how the GROWMARK System is increasing its focus on mental health awareness in 2020 and beyond. 

In this special edition GROWMARK podcast, VP of Human Resources and Strategy Officer Ann Kafer talks in-depth with Media Relations Manager Chris Grogan about questions and concerns regarding the return to office transition happening over the next few months. 

In this episode of the GROWMARK Podcast, Information Security Analyst Chad Clark joins Cliff Dolbeare to discuss how employees, and anyone, can connect to WiFi safely outside of the office to keep customers safe.

In this special edition of the GROWMARK Podcast, Media Relations Manager Chris Grogan talks in-depth with Ann Kafer, Vice President of Human Resources and Strategy Officer, about changes GROWMARK is making to keep employees safe during this developing coronavirus pandemic, while continuing to deliver an unsurpassed customer experience. 

Media Relations Manager Chris Grogan talks with Jeff Frank, Division Manager of MID-CO, and Bryce Stremming, Senior Consultant of Commodity Risk with MID-CO. This month, MID-CO is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and looking ahead to an even brighter future. Jeff and Bryce discuss what MID-CO does, and how a dedication to customer service has set their team apart from competitors. 

GROWMARK Publications and Media Relations Manager Chris Grogan talks with Digital Communications Manager Heather Thompson about The GROWMARK Way initiative, which sets the standard on how GROWMARK/FS team members work not only with our customers, but each other as well. Heather has worked with a core group of employees in setting up The GROWMARK Way standards of excellence. 

In this episode of the GROWMARK Podcast, we hear from Identify and Messaging Admin, Tony Brent, on GROWMARK's latest efforts to keep employee and customer information cyber-secure.

John Reifsteck, GROWMARK Chairman of the Board and President, interviews Mark Orr, VP of Agronomy, Carol Kitchen, VP of Energy and Logistics, and Keith Milburn, Executive Director of Digital Transformation and CIO about some of the most impactful services offered by GROWMARK to its members. They also discuss a vision for digital technology in the future of the System.

Over the past few weeks, teams from the Human Resources Division have spent time with dozens of GROWMARK employees, to find out their thoughts on what would build upon the already strong employee engagement results from 2019. Media Relations Manager Chris Grogan talks with Tom Swearingen, Director of Talent Management, about how important this feedback is for top management within GROWMARK. 

Aubrey Bastian and Jeff Frank talk about ERGs in the latest GROWMARK podcast. 

The GROWMARK Foundation was formally incorporated in 2005 and supports 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organizations. The Foundation is focused on programs and activities which support: the vitality of the industry of agriculture; agriculture education and consumer understanding of agriculture's contributions to society and the economy; agricultural leadership development; and education about the benefits of the cooperative way of doing business. The GROWMARK System has been involved in a variety of philanthropic efforts, including youth and young leader education and development and scholarships, for decades. ​In this podcast, hear how those leading this donation effort have had to respond quickly to everything from floods to honoring a GROWMARK executive's legacy. 

Rebecca Dwyer, an intern in the GROWMARK Digital and Corporate Communications teams, reflects on starting up an industrial hemp operation in Illinois with prospects growing for the industry. 

In the fourth in our series celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the GROWMARK Internship Program we talk to GROWMARK Employee Development Trainer Amie Hasselbring. Amie answers our three questions for a former intern on her internship with Electronic Payment Systems and how her experiences prepared her for her career today.

In the third in our series celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the GROWMARK Internship Program we talk to GROWMARK Director of Energy Projects & Processes Tony Marchand. Tony answers our three questions for a former intern on his internship with FS Agri-Finance and how it prepared him for his career today.

In the second in our series celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the GROWMARK Internship Program we talk to GROWMARK Youth and Young Producer Specialist Karen Jones. Karen will answer our three questions for a former intern on her internship with Illini FS and how it prepared her for her career today.

We're continuing our series celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the GROWMARK Internship Program. On this episode of the GROWMARK Podcast, we interview Insight FS Branch Manager, Adam Bols, on his internship and how it prepared him for his career today.

The 60th GROWMARK Internship Program kicks off today. So in honor of this milestone anniversary, we sat down with the current and four previous University Relations Managers for this episode. Over the course of the next 12 weeks of our internship program we'll feature interviews from former interns who still work in the GROWMARK System. Enjoy!

The midterm elections brought many changes to state legislatures across the GROWMARK System. In this edition of the GROWMARK Podcast, we speak with Liz Hobart and Kristen Faucon from the Government Relations team on how they are working to make sure our members are heard when it comes to upcoming legislation. 

In this episode of the GROWMARK Podcast, we sit down with GROWMARK Manager of Network Security, Ed Burton, as well as Vice President, HR & Strategy Officer, Ann Kafer, to discuss her experience with attempted credential harvesting.

In this episode of the GROWMARK Podcast, we talk with Grain Systems Marketing and Business Development Manager Randy Holthaus, about the importance of customer service. Randy, who is retiring in a few weeks, also shares firsthand how logistics and systems have changed over his decades and roles within the GROWMARK System. 

GROWMARK Vice President, Human Resources & Strategy Officer, Ann Kafer joins the GROWMARK podcast to provide an updated on our GROW strategy!

Chances are many of you have a device with devastating potential sitting on your desk, in your purse or bag, or perhaps on your key chain right now. Maybe you’re using it for work and it’s plugged in to your computer as you read this. So what is the device that can serve as both useful tool and malicious threat - USB drives (also known as flash drives, thumb drives, jump drives, pen drives, or memory sticks, just to name a few). USB drives are great for easily sharing all different types and sizes of files, however, they often serve as a source of malware and viruses, and can easily be lost or stolen. To hear a real example of the threats USB drives pose to our business, listen to this episode of the GROWMARK podcast.

Rod Wells, GROWMARK executive director, enterprise supply chain, joins the podcast to discuss his new role and ways GROWMARK is working to make its supply chain even more efficient and effective.

On this special edition of the GROWMARK Podcast we're talking Cyber Security. Santa Claus himself shares his story about falling victim to a holiday phishing scam. And Jeff Mosley, GROWMARK's Manager of Information Security, discusses what we can learn from Santa's mistakes.

GROWMARK joined Illinois Farm Bureau, COUNTRY Financial, and the IAA Credit Union in celebrating Veterans Day and honoring our employees who have served in the armed forces. Cliff Dolbeare, GROWMARK manager, corporate programming, joins the podcast with more information.

Three Rivers FS General manager Chris Salrin joins the podcast to discuss cooperatives and the GROWMARK System. October is Co-op Month. To learn more visit: https://www.coopmonth.coop/.

New Manito Transit General Manager Jim Bobitt discusses his role with the company and a recent acquisition that expands their operation.

Karen Jones, GROWMARK youth and young producer specialist, gives an update on a variety of topics and programs.

Kevin Frye, GROWMARK safety services manager, joins the podcast to discuss safety on the farm.

In this episode of the GROWMARK Podcast, Sr. Staff Attorney Liz Ortega Schwarz and GROWMARK FS CFO Joe Koch discuss an incident in which an employee laptop was stolen. Fortunately, you’ll also hear some of the lessons they learned through the recovery process that will be helpful for all employees of the GROWMARK System.

Steve Kubsch, GROWMARK director, transportation operations, joins the podcast to highlight National Truck Driver Appreciation Week.

Scott McKain lends insight from his presentation at the GROWMARK Annual Meeting and Agribusiness Symposium.

John O'Leary recapped his session on great relationships at the GROWMARK Annual Meeting and Agribusiness Symposium.

GROWMARK Vice President of Human Resources and Strategy Officer Ann Kafer gives insight into GROWMARK strategy and discusses GROW.

GROWMARK Manager, Corporate Programming Cliff Dolbeare provides a short preview of the upcoming Annual Meeting and Agribusiness Symposium.

Podcast listeners get to learn more about FS Forages from Forage and Turf Manager Bruce Weatherly. He’s on the road visiting with members across the Midwest, sharing about cover crop mixes, alfalfa, and more.

Want to get a preview of what will be happening at the FS tent at this year's Farm Progress Show? GROWMARK Marketing Communications Manager Bev Long has the details.

GROWMARK Crop Protection Intern, Ty Tucker, is back on the podcast to share how his experience is going, along with future endeavors.

Sam Spence is on the road with the GROWMARK Seed Division as they kick off their sales events. First stop: Iowa for the Western Region Seed kickoff.

Listen to the summer issue of the GROWMARK System publication, SOURCE Magazine. You can also view a digital version here: http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/805985ab or on your phone/tablet by downloading the GROWMARK Publications app in your app store.

Crop specialists across the FS System now have access to a new tool that launched in May. Ty Tucker and Haley Brokate join Sam Spence and Barry Soliday for a discussion around the training event and pilot for NutriCrop Rx.

Blake Roderick, executive director of Pike and Scott County Farm Bureaus in Illinois, was on the front lines during the flood of 1993. Roderick talks with Amy Bradford about the efforts of many who worked to save thousands of acres of farmland from the historic flood.

Forty-one college students are taking part in this year's GROWMARK internship program. Two participants, Ty Tucker and Mike Miner join the podcast, along with Kayla Portwood, GROWMARK university relations manager. You can read more about the program here: http://www.growmark.com/news/Pages/GROWMARK-names-2018-summer-interns-and-Exploring-Agriculture-program-participants.aspx