NCGA Grower Leaders Gather in North Carolina for Leadership Academy (8-10-06)

Twenty corn growers and National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) officers and staff are convening in Greensboro, N.C., this week for the NCGA Leadership Academy, sponsored by Syngenta Crop Protection. The Leadership Academy is a three-day event that seeks to strengthen the leadership skills of NCGA members who aspire to serve in state or national association leadership positions.

The academy agenda includes training on interacting with the media, effective presentations, leadership communications styles and other topics.

NCGA First Vice President Ken McCauley has attended the Leadership Academy four times. He said some of the new leaders give the current leadership fresh ideas in advancing the organization’s goals and the corn industry.

“The Leadership Academy provides an opportunity for our future leaders to get together and let them see what NCGA is all about,” said McCauley. “This program brings in new talent and new ideas. My experience with leadership training has been top-notch, and I have always benefited from it every time I have participated.”

The first phase of the program is held in Greensboro, and the second will be held in Washington, D.C., in January 2007. The Washington part of the program will focus on interaction with legislators, coalition building and devising effective grassroots legislative strategies.

Growers participating in this year’s program are: Darin Anderson; Charles Bartlett; Chad Blindauer; Art Bunting; Tom Durand; Thomas Gillis; Don Glenn; Ron Gray; Jim Hultman; Brandon Hunnicutt; Greg Larson; Joe Lauer; Ben Looney; Roger Moore; Charles Otto; Julius Schaaf; Matthew Smith; Jim Stuever; Billy Thiel; and Joe Zenz.