GEAPS Leaders Solidify New Direction Toward Professional Development, Continuing Education at 2010 Leadership Conference
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Webinars, on-demand programs, credentialing, higher education—all buzzwords during the 2010 GEAPS Leadership Conference, July 13-15 in Bloomington, Minn.
Baby boomers will retire from the grain industry in increasing numbers by 2015, and it will be up to the next generation of operations professionals to fill their shoes and ensure necessary stability and growth in the agricultural commodity supply chain. In recognition of the shape of things to come, GEAPS hosted its third consecutive Leadership Conference dedicated to attracting and engaging the next generation to the industry. At the core of this mission is ongoing education and professional development.
GEAPS members met for the day-long Leadership Forum July 14 to hear progress reports on online learning, credentialing, and the International Center for Grain Industry Operations from the volunteers in charge of development for each program. Forum participants were asked to weigh in and provide feedback to ensure developers are on the right course as these programs progress. At their meeting the following day, the International Board of Directors used this input directly to inform their decision to move forward with offering online learning and credentialing programs, and providing volunteer support to launching the International Center for Grain Industry Operations.
As a result of the Leadership Conference, companies can look forward to these exciting developments in the next year:
- Expanded online learning programs, such as webinars and distance education courses, by the end of 2010.
- Defined guidelines for grain operations management credentials by early 2011. Beginning in 2011, access to GEAPS’ trusted education programs will allow participants to start building toward credentials that certify industry competency.
Additionally, plans continue for the International Center for Grain Industry Operations, the first institution of its kind in the grain industry. The ICGIO--a $20 million endeavor that will become a reality following an initial endowment of $5 million--is a significant undertaking, one that founding partners GEAPS and Kansas State University are confident will be well worth the investment. Presently, no such international forum for the exchange of knowledge, research, information and ideas exists within the grain industry. The ICGIO will set not only a new standard, but a gold standard, for educational resources in the grain operations and processing field.
Collectively, online learning, credentialing and the International Center for Grain Industry Operations mark a historic shift in professional development available to the grain industry, a shift which has become possible thanks to the hard work of GEAPS volunteers and affiliate members.