Applications are being accepted for Cornerstone Dairy Academy, a career development program designed by Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin (PDPW). The program will be held March 17-18, with Day 2 of training held in conjunction with the 2015 PDPW Business Conference in Madison, Wis.
Cornerstone Dairy Academy was designed for anyone who works in a dairy-related career and is seeking to complement technical skills with foundational strengths such as interpersonal communication, leadership aptitude, ethical decision-making, business etiquette and the ability to collaborate well with others. Employers continuously cite these "soft skills" as a top consideration when hiring or promoting employees into leadership positions.
The 2015 Cornerstone Dairy Academy will offer two program options beginning Tuesday, March 17.
- "INFLUENTIAL LEADERSHIP - Interact and Influence!" This interactive sessions will explore the importance of working well with others to solve complex problems in the workplace. A variety of topics will be addressed, such as teamwork skills, communicating with different generations, personality and leadership styles, conflict resolution, and business etiquette.
- "VISIONARY LEADERS - Ethics, Leadership and Outlook." Participants will have the opportunity to discover their leadership traits and identify which character strengths can positively influence others for success in business. Then, those strengths will be woven with the mega forces and trends of agriculture as presented by leading agricultural economist Dr. David Kohl. Participants will learn how to be impact players who lead others through a turbulent, changing global economy.
Both tracks culminate with the opportunity to put concepts into practice at the PDPW Business Conference, March 18.
"The future of the dairy industry depends on its ability to attract, develop and retain qualified people," says Shelly Mayer, Executive Director of PDPW. "The combination of technical and soft skills is the foundation for a successful career. With Cornerstone Dairy Academy, PDPW is offering foundational business and leadership training not found anywhere else in the dairy industry at this time."
Any dairy producer or other professional in the dairy industry, as well as students pursuing dairy related careers in college and technical college programs, may apply for this training. Age is not a consideration for selection. Employers may urge employees to apply.
The application deadline for Cornerstone Dairy Academy is Feb. 15. Program details and an online application can be found at www.pdpw.org or by calling 800-947-7379.
Tuition for Cornerstone Dairy Academy includes lodging, meals, training and admission to day one of the PDPW Business Conference. A percentage of the tuition is underwritten by Professional Dairy Producers Foundation.
Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin is a dairy-producer founded organization that provides educational programs and services to fellow dairy producers. PDPW's mission is "to share ideas, solutions, resources and experiences that help dairy producers succeed."1.12.2015