Program Details

Schedule

Join the GEAPS Leadership Conference July 15-16 at Donaldson Company, Inc. in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Wednesday, July 15 

8:30 AM – 9:00 AM | Breakfast & Networking

9:00 AM – 12:15 PM | Session 1 & 2

12:15 PM – 1:00 PM | Lunch

1:00 PM – 2:15 PM | Speaker Panel

2:30 PM – 4:00 PM | Session 3

5:00 – 6:00 PM | Social Hour at Hyatt House 2301 E. Old Shakopee Road Bloomington, MN 55425

Thursday, July 16 

8:00 AM – 8:30 AM | Breakfast & Networking

8:30 AM – 11:45 AM | Session 4 & 5

11:45 AM – 12:00 PM | Closing

Program Highlights 

Following the North Star: From Operations to Outcomes

Operations → Financial Results → Leadership Impact 

Today’s leaders in grain and grain processing are expected to do more than manage operations—they help set the course for organizational success. As the business landscape grows more complex, leaders must understand how operational decisions influence financial performance and long-term business results.

This interactive, full-conference experience is designed to help mid- to upper-level leaders strengthen their leadership impact by using financial insights as a compass for decision-making. Participants will learn how to connect daily operational choices to the business outcomes that matter most.

Key Takeaways: 

Guided by the conference theme, The North Star, participants will explore the five critical drivers of business success—margin, asset utilization, cash flow, growth, and people—and how they work together to keep organizations moving toward their strategic destination. 

Through hands-on learning and real-world scenarios, participants will develop practical skills to: 

• Navigate complex business decisions with greater confidence.  

• Align operational priorities with financial objectives.  

• Evaluate investments, resources, and opportunities through a business leadership lens.  

• Lead teams more effectively while balancing performance, growth, and profitability.  

• Stay focused on the metrics and actions that guide long-term success.  

Through five interactive sessions, attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how to use financial leadership as their North Star—helping their teams, facilities, and organizations remain aligned, resilient, and on course in an environment of tight margins and increasing complexity. 

Session Details

Session 1: Finding our North Star 

Establish a common understanding of the business and financial drivers that guide organizational success. 

Engage in hands-on group exercises to learn the rules of the road and identify the five business factors: margin, assets, cash, growth, and people. 

Session 2: Following the Guiding Mission 

Dive deeper into the five business factors and explore asset utilization, profit versus cash, and the impact of operational decisions. 

Discover how financial leaders keep the organization on course.  

Leadership Panel: Lessons from the Journey 

Hear from successful industry leaders with pivotal experiences and career-defining moments that helped shape their journey. 

Gain valuable perspectives on leading through change, staying on course amid competing demands, and helping their organizations reach successful destinations. 

Session 3: Navigating the Path Forward 

Explore strategies that drive sustainable growth and long-term value creation. 

Enhance leadership decision-making skills to confidently navigate challenges and opportunities. 

Session 4: Charting Investments for the Journey 

Learn the principles behind the time value of money and learn their role in sound financial decision-making. 

Engage in an investment case scenario and analysis to evaluate competing opportunities. 

Session 5: Staying True to our North Star 

Identify common decision-making traps and biases that can cause leaders to drift off course. 

Conclude the conference with action planning tailored to their team, creating a clear roadmap for applying key insights and leading with purpose. organizations remain aligned, resilient, and on course in an environment of tight margins and increasing complexity. 

Steve Haley, CHS 

Steve Haley is the director of the CHS oilseed processing facility in Mankato, Minn., one of the largest soybean oil refineries in the United States. During his tenure, the plant expanded its soybean oil refining capacity by 39%, and Haley led the team that successfully integrated this new capability into existing operations. With a strong background in industrial operations and maintenance reliability, he is committed to driving continuous improvement, operational excellence, and sustainable growth. Haley joined CHS in 2014 following 15 years in engineering, operations, and sales roles in the petroleum industry. Steve holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Portland and is a licensed professional engineer in Minnesota and Texas.  environment of tight margins and increasing complexity. 

Angie Zurick, The Donaldson Company 

Angela Zurick is Senior Vice President of Global Industrial Air Filtration at Donaldson Company, where she leads a global business focused on delivering innovative filtration solutions and driving operational excellence across diverse industrial markets. Angela brings a unique blend of financial discipline and commercial leadership to her role. Since joining Donaldson in 2013 in Global Financial Planning & Analysis, she has led initiatives that strengthened forecasting, analytics, and growth investment strategies. She later served as Vice President of Mobile Solutions Aftermarket, where her team drove significant revenue growth, expanded market share, and built a high-performance, customer-focused culture. In her current role, Angela is leading the transformation of the Industrial Air Filtration business – aligning strategy, operations, and innovation to drive profitable growth and improve customer experience across global markets. Angela is passionate about leading through change, developing leaders to operate at the next level, and aligning teams around clear priorities to accelerate results. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from American University and an MBA from the University of Minnesota and serves on the Board of Junior Achievement North. 

Kyle Lehman, Landus

Kyle Lehman serves as Director of Operations at Landus, where he leads operational strategy and execution across one of the nation’s largest farmer-owned cooperatives. He is responsible for advancing operational excellence, enhancing efficiency, and ensuring the safe, reliable execution of grain and production operations in support of Landus’ farmer-owners. Kyle brings more than a decade of leadership experience in grain handling, merchandising and production operations. Kyle has built his career on driving continuous improvement, innovation and developing strong operational teams. Before joining Landus in 2021 he held leadership roles with Cargill, TruHorizons and Farmers Cooperative Company. Kyle holds a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University.

Meet Our Trainers

Dan Topf
Topf Business Learning 

Dan Topf, owner of Topf Business Learning has over 25 years of experience helping people and businesses achieve dramatic performance improvement.  He guides leaders at all levels see the bigger picture, so they can make better decisions, strengthen their teams, and improve performance.

Find Dan on LinkedIn at @dan_topf.

Ann Martel 
Martel + Associates

Ann Martel is a dynamic executive with more than 20 years of experience. She is a highly regarded business leader with a passion for delivering high-energy presentations and classes on the topics of business acumen and improving personal results

Find Ann on LinkedIn at @annmartel.