Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
What if the secret to growing an entire industry was simply connecting one person at a time? Today we’re talking with a man who’s made that his mission and earned GEAPS’ top recruiter honor for six of the last seven years running. Welcome to the Whole Grain Podcast, a show where we explore the people, ideas and innovations shaping the grain handling and processing industry. The Whole Grain Show brings grain professional listeners together from 94 countries from around the world. I’m your host, Jim Lenz, director of Global Education and Training at GEAPS where the mission of the Grain Elevator and Processing Society is to champion, connect and serve the global grain industry and our members. At GEAPS, we work to be the global community and thought leader for the grain industry which feeds and fuels the world. Today’s guest is someone who truly embodies what it means to build community and leadership within the grain industry. I’m joined by Scott Brittingham, MCGOM, of Mountaina ire Farms and the Mid-Atlantic GEAPS Chapter. Scott is a former GEAPS International Board member. He’s also been recognized as a GEAPS Top Recruiter by title. He has earned six of the last seven years. Scott has a remarkable ability to connect with people at all levels of experience and inspire them to get engaged, whether that’s at their facility in their career or within the GEAPS organization. In this episode, Scott shares how he approaches recruitment with purpose, supports the development of future leaders and continues to help grow the industry, one relationship at a time.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
Let’s dive in All right. Welcome whole grain listeners to this podcast episode. It’s a special one as we have a guest who is Scott Brittingham, MCGOM, Mid-Atlantic Chapter, mountain Air Farms. He is the GEAPS top recruiter. He’s a four-time consecutive winner. That’s why we are so excited to have Scott on the show.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
Scott, thank you for being a guest on the Whole Grain Podcast. It’s a pleasure to be here. Jim, thanks. We want to take you through your journey, your journey in the industry, journey with GEAPS. You’ve been such a leader for GEAPS and just for the industry in general. We want to talk a little bit about the science of recruitment, developing industry leadership and advice for newcomers, things that you want to share with us about the industry, any personal reflections in that, and also I want to touch base on what I just stated, which was MCGOM, that master credential that you learned. So I want to do that before we go, but again, it’s great to have you here. So, if you don’t mind, share a little bit of information about you. What has your journey been like in the grain industry all the way to what you’re doing right now?
Scott Brittingham:
I got my start in the grain industry over 50 years ago at age 14.
Scott Brittingham:
My dad was the manager of the Harrington Grain Facility here, and one day he looked at me and he said go see your guidance counselor and get a work permit. They mean he said go see your guidance counselor and get a work permit. They’re going to work tonight. So that was my start. That was the beginning, and I worked part-time for my dad for many years, learning the business from the ground up. I was sweeping floors and loading truck and a lot of shoveling and eventually helping with operations. In 1993, I transitioned into full-time work and continued to grow in the industry, eventually becoming a regional grain facilities manager.
Scott Brittingham:
My dad was the one who recruited me into GEAPS. He saw the value in the organization he joined back in the early 80s and he wanted me to be a part of it. That introduction, it opened the door to a lifelong connection with GEAPS, and one that’s helped shape my career and allowed me to give back to the industry. He used to ride over to Baltimore from Delaware once a month. I remember when I was growing up and that was him attending the Jeeps meeting. Was it the?
Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
chapter meeting at the time. Yeah it was? Was it called the Mid-Atlantic Chapter at the time as well?
Scott Brittingham:
It was yeah, so that’s what got me started. I ended up joining him in the local chapter and moving into the board of directors at the local chapter. I’ve been the treasurer for probably 20 years now, or close to it, and it’s been a fun ride.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
Tell us about your current role. What is involved with that?
Scott Brittingham:
I work for Mount Air Farms. With that I work for Mounta ire Farms, I’m part of their prime quality grain division where currently I serve as grain systems and inventory control manager.
Scott Brittingham:
I oversee flow, quality and tracking of grain across our facilities. I have a strong background in computer technology which complements my grain operations experience, which is what’s led to my current role. So, in addition to inventory control, I work with the integration, the implementation, troubleshooting of our software application. Of course that means collaborating with teams to ensure our systems are running smoothly and supporting operational efficiency and accurate data.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
Wow, very expanded role. Tell us a little bit more about your organization.
Scott Brittingham:
Well, Mountaire is the fourth largest poultry grower in the country, and as such we own many grain elevators and feed mills, and so my role is to kind of ride herd over their inventory and to keep their systems working and integrate new technologies that are coming along all the time Can you tell our listeners how your GEAPS membership evolved into active involvement, eventually championing recruitment, because that’s what this episode is largely about.
Scott Brittingham:
Yes, sir. So after I joined GEAPS, you know, I started attending the local chapter meetings and getting involved in small ways there, but over time I realized how much I was gaining. It was not just professionally, but personally. That’s when I decided to step out of my comfort zone and serve on GEAPS International Board of Directors, which I did for seven years. I got to go out to Minneapolis and that experience gave me a broader view of the organization’s impact and its potential. It also deepened my commitment to helping others get involved. You know I started encouraging everyone I met you know millwrights, scale technicians, equipment providers, whatever everybody I met to join GEAPS. And of course, in my own company I encouraged new hires to join GEAPS as well. I wanted them to take full advantage of the education and networking opportunities GEAPS provides provides.
Scott Brittingham:
You know because I had personally experienced that I didn’t want people to just sign up. I wanted them to engage and grow and become leaders in their own right. GEAPS has something to offer every professional in the grain industry, and I make it my mission to help them see that.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
That’s fantastic. One of the first things you said was I want to get out of my comfort zone. Tell us a little bit more about that.
Scott Brittingham:
Well, I’ve always been a rather quiet individual, and so when I was on the board, I think I developed a reputation for letting others speak up a lot, but formulating a sound decision based on what I was hearing, and most of the time, I would only speak up if I thought I had something really relevant to add to, because I think that’s what people need to do to learn and grow, no matter where we’re at, is to get out of one’s comfort zone.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
And so you became very engaged and active. You increased your contextual understanding. You saw what happened at the chapter level and how. That’s very positive, and you took an effort to learn broader perspectives. This is a global membership association support the grain handling, grain processing industry, and so you found that there are great opportunities. And so let’s talk about that next step, the science of recruitment. Let’s unpack your approach to member recruitment and engagement. Deb Most, who’s been with our chapter programs and she’s a chapter manager and she’s a membership manager, been with Jeeps for a long set of years. She said Scott has this down to a science. What’s your secret to consistently recruiting new GEAPS members year after year?
Scott Brittingham:
Well, first of all, I think of GEAPS membership as a tool, and it’s a valuable tool. You know it’s something that I want to share. It’s a resource that can help someone grow their career and solve problems and build lasting connections. So when I talk to people I don’t really pitch it like a sales job. I share how it’s helped me and how it can help them. Whether it’s access to training or networking or leadership opportunities, education GEAPS gives professionals the tools they need to succeed. I make it personal. I ask them about their own goals, their own challenges, and then I try to show them how Jeeps fits into that picture. And then I follow up, I invite them to meetings, I introduce them to members and help them to feel welcome.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
That’s fantastic. I was just going to ask next, what do you actually say or do when introducing jeeps to a colleague or a contact? I think you just said it there, or is there anything different? Because I know there’s a lot of listeners out there who are in a position where they’ve been active with jeeps and they want to encourage others to do that and they just want something like really practical. What do you say?
Scott Brittingham:
I usually start by asking have you ever heard of GEAPS? And quite often a lot of people haven’t heard of.
Scott Brittingham:
GEAPS. So I explain that it’s a professional organization for people in the grain industry. Place has been around for nearly a hundred years now, place to learn and connect and grow, and I share my story and how it’s helped me. And there’s been numerous instances and I often relate them to times when I was up against something going wrong or something being broken and I called a fellow Jeeps member and they were able to. In some document that I wrote several years ago that provides background about Jeeps and outlines the value of members, from education and training to networking and leadership development, I include along with that document you know email is great. You know I can include a membership application right with them and I tell them if you’re interested, fill it out and I’ll submit it for you. The personal touch does make a difference. It shows that I’m not just suggesting something to them but I’m offering to walk alongside them as they get started.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
No wonder you have been a four-time consecutive winner of the GEAPS’s Top Recruiter for 2024. That is going above and beyond. That is going that is fantastic.
Scott Brittingham:
So you have. I think it truly demonstrates that that keeps us something I strongly believe in, and it is something I want to share.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
Yeah, instead of just kind of passing by mentioning it I mean, they know that you care if they receive this document and then the detail of how it has helped you and stating you know everybody gets in crunches and has challenges and if you can reach out to someone who may be at a different facility it could be a vendor supplier, it could be in grain operations. It’s just incredible that and I want to put words in your mouth but becoming a GEAPS member, this global membership association, does it make the grain industry smaller?
Scott Brittingham:
It definitely does and you know I’ve had fellow associates who have gone to industry events in cities out in the Midwest and Far West and I didn’t happen to be there but people would see the name tag that says Mounta ire. They say, oh, mount Air. Do you know Scott Brittingham? And that’s because of my representation of the company in GEAPS.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
That is fantastic and what a tribute to. You’re a very humble guy, but that is a tribute to your work and I’ve heard that too Been with Jeeps a little over three years and that is coming up dozens of times, so that’s fantastic. These are good nuggets that you are sharing with everybody here on the Grain Podcast Podcast. Thank you for doing that. There are some other that you are sharing with everybody here on the Whole Grain Podcast. Thank you for doing that. There are some other things related to the science of recruitment. I’d love to touch base with you, if that’s okay. What kinds of professionals do you most often encourage to join Jeeps? What is a spectrum or is there a target? It runs the gamut.
Scott Brittingham:
I look for people who are curious, motivated, want to grow, whether they’re new to the industry or whether they’ve been around for a while. That includes scale operators and supervisors and managers, even folks in the maintenance or the IT department or the environmental department, safety department, there’s all kinds of departments that support grain operation. So if someone asks a lot of questions or shows some initiative, that’s a good sign. I’ll say you know, you’d be a great fit for Jeeps.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
Let me tell you why that’s absolutely fantastic. I’m guessing it’s happened to you. It doesn’t seem like it’s very common, but from those who are listening and those who are knowledgeable Jeeps and are a member, they may have some level of communication about GEAPS and encourage them to join. Maybe they haven’t taken it to the extent that you have, but what about answering the question that a listener may have, such as what are common objections or hesitations people have and then how do you overcome them?
Scott Brittingham:
Well, of course, the most common one seems to be increasing all the time is I don’t have time, and I get that. You know we’re all busy. But I remind them that it’s flexible, you can engage at your own pace. Even just reading the newsletter or attending a webinar can make a difference, you know. Another hesitation I run up against is cost. What’s this going to cost? And that’s when I highlight GEAPS’s recent adoption of the facility memberships and I especially like to share that with the decision makers at that company, you know, because it’s a great option for them. They can have multiple GEAPS members under one umbrella at a lower annual fee and it makes it easier for teams to get involved and benefit from the education and networking opportunities together. So once people see how accessible and valuable GEAPS is, those objections usually fade away.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
That’s fantastic. So great use of the facility. Memberships is what Scott just mentioned. So I certainly will leave a link to that and other relatable things in the show notes. So I certainly will leave a link to that and other relatable things in the show notes. So thanks for mentioning that, Scott. Let’s segment over to developing industry leadership a little bit more. I want to explore your insights, Scott, into leadership development and engagement. You’ve been praised for helping others get active in their roles and in the industry. How do you encourage that kind of leadership development?
Scott Brittingham:
Well, number one I believe in leading by example. They’ve seen me out there in the yard. I talk to all the guys in the yard. I’ll sit on my tailgate and we’ll have a tailgate talk and discuss maybe safety or something whatever. I try to be approachable and supportive and always willing to share. What I’ve learned that’s one of the big things I have right now is I’ve accumulated 50 years worth of knowledge and I want to dispense as much of that as I can along the way and help others to make their journey. So I look for opportunities to involve others, whether it’s asking someone to help plan a chapter event or encouraging them to speak at a meeting or even just attend a meeting. Sometimes people need a little nudge or, as I tell Deb, sometimes an arm twist or whatever, and someone to believe in them, and that’s what I try to provide.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
That last part. You provide an opportunity for someone to believe in them, believe in their career, believe in their choices of choosing the green industry. That’s fantastic. Can you share an example of someone you’ve recruited who really grew into their role or became more active in the industry Thanks to your support?
Scott Brittingham:
Yeah, there’s a young lady that I’ve been mentoring a little bit. And well, let me let me first say a little bit about mentorship. You know, career paths have changed in our industry. Today more of our next generation of leaders are coming from management, trainee programs and internships. They’re bright, they’re talented, they’re motivated, but often they’re dropped into leadership roles without much actual experience in the green industry. That’s where Jeeps comes in. It helps to fill that gap by providing a conduit to the knowledge and the expertise that’s available from industry colleagues. Through Jeeps they can connect with seasoned professionals and they can access training. They can learn from real-world experiences. So that’s what I see as part of being a mentor helping these emerging leaders tap into the resources and the relationships that’ll support their growth and success.
Scott Brittingham:
But you asked me if there was someone who I could talk about specifically. Yeah, there’s a young lady at Mount Air. She has very well-defined goals for herself in the grain industry and truly understand the value of networking. So last year she accompanied me to Deep’s Exchange and she, on her own initiative, sat in on various committee meetings. I had several of my fellow board directors come up to me afterward and say how impressed they were with her participation and her insights. She didn’t just observe, she engaged, she asked questions and she, you know, made a meaningful contribution. Today she’s a member of a GEAPS Education Committee, so watching her grow and step into a leadership role it’s been incredibly rewarding. And that’s what mentorship is all about, you know helping someone find their footing and thrive.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
I know who you’re exactly talking about and she really is fantastic, A great add to the education and training committee at GEAPS here and to the industry at large. I’m so excited for her future. She really is getting after things and largely thanks to you and thanks to her family and her choices that she’s made up to this point. So that’s really fantastic. Now advice for newcomers. Let’s segment there. What practical advice or guidance do you have for early career professionals or those exploring the industry? What advice would you give someone who’s new to the grain industry and looking to grow their career?
Scott Brittingham:
Well, actually I do this all the time. I tell them start out by taking one of the introduction to the grain industry courses at Cheucers. It’s a great foundation, especially for folks who are new to the field and trying to make sense of everything. A few years ago we had a young lady start as an assistant manager at one of our green facilities. It was right at the beginning of wheat season so we didn’t have much time to show her the ropes. But I told her. I said just absorb what you can from what’s going on around you and we’ll get the rest taken care of later.
Scott Brittingham:
So after wheat season I had her take the introductory course. When she finished that course she came back to me and she said thanks, she goes. Now, everything makes sense and that’s the kind of clarity and confidence that the GEAPS’s training can provide.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
That’s fantastic, great example. What are one or two things new jeeps members can do right away to get the most of their membership? Isn’t that exactly it? Anything else to add?
Scott Brittingham:
Yeah, well, as I said, join jeeps, take the classes. That’s the foundation. GEAPS offers excellent training that can help you understand the industry and build your confidence level. There’s excellent training that can help you understand the industry and build your confidence level. Then attend some of your local GEAPS, whether it’s a local event or even a national conference. These gatherings are where you meet industry colleagues, make connections and meet so many friends who are powerhouses in the industry, and the more you engage, the more you’ll get out of it, because each is that way Everything you put in you’re going to get back, and so it’s a community and the best way to benefit from it is to be a part of it.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
Wow, well said, thank you. A community you just mentioned that. There you become part of a special community to support your own personal professional development, to support your organization. You serve and help feed, fuel and clothe the world. It’s a fantastic community. Thank you for mentioning that Now as we kind of get closer to concluding here. I’m curious. You are just a really special individual, scott, and I’m curious. You have a motor, scott, and you are on a mission and it’s not at all self-serving, it’s the opposite you are looking to serve others in everything you do and I see that at GEAPS Exchange, when I first met you at the board meeting and then Exchange, I did hear that story of how your dad helped you propagate an early age into the industry which you know. That’s so special that you actually mentioned that and that really is a reason of how you got started. So, but that motor did not stop and you mentioned 50 years in the industry. I can’t believe that. That’s not possible. Is that true, Scott?
Scott Brittingham:
It doesn’t seem possible. You know, back in the day when I was a facility manager I had hair down to my shoulders and I called myself not your typical green facility manager, and somehow I’ve gone from that to Mounta ire’s elder statesman and I still feel like that young guy inside. So hopefully I’ll stick around for a while.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
I love that. So let’s uncover that. What keeps Scott Brittingham motivated to do this work year after year?
Scott Brittingham:
Well, I really am motivated by all the great people that I get to work both at Mount Air and through GEAPS. The relationships I’ve built over the years they’ve all been incredibly rewarding and I’m driven by the opportunity to share what I’ve learned over the past 50 the years. They’ve all been incredibly rewarding and I’m driven by the opportunity to share what I’ve learned over the past 50 plus years. If I can help someone avoid a mistake, solve a problem, grow in their career, you know whatever then I’ve done something worthwhile. That’s my legacy and that’s what keeps me going Legacy Wow, fantastic.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
Thank you for all you’ve done, scott. What are you most excited about for the future, either in the industry or within GEAPS?
Scott Brittingham:
I think what I’m most excited about is the technological and automation advances on the horizon. It’s very different from the industry I stepped into when I was 14 and started my journey. The upcoming innovations in productivity and safety are going to be astounding from automated systems to real-time data tracking and we’re ending a new era of efficiency and precision and customer communication. And Jeeps is right there. It’s helping professionals stay ahead of the curve, offering training and resources that are going to support this evolution. So it’s an exciting time to be a part of the grain industry.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
Thank you, Scott, Great expression there. Now you have earned what the acronym MCGOM, and for those who are not familiar with that, we have a credentialing program unique for the grain industry. This is the Master Credential in Grain Operations Management. That’s what MCGOM stands for. It’s earned by completing the CGOM and all three specialist credentials, and so the CGOM is a credential in grain operations management includes completion of online course and management basics for grain facility supervisors, grain facilities planning and design.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
One grain quality management course, grain quality management systems for bulk materials handling operations, the entry-level safety and also materials handling one as well, and I said it includes all three specialists.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
There’s a specialist in grain quality management includes grain aeration, FGIS, grain inspection orientation, grain drying, management of pests and grain storage. There’s also specialists in grain handling equipment management I won’t go into the courses and then also specialists in property and casualty risk management. Those specialty credentials include the completion of four courses and the CGOM and VALS 6, like I mentioned there and I bring this up because you have dedicated time. You have taken time from your day, beside all these other things that you have mentioned, which is full of nuggets, and this is going to be a great resource for those who are GEAPS members and grain professionals, and there’s gonna be a lot of takeaways from this. But also now examining the credentialing program for GEAPS, Can you reflect on that? How has it helped you amongst all these things and for anybody considering that or wanted to know more information? Can you kind of step forward and speak on that?
Scott Brittingham:
Absolutely yes. I’ve always had a lifelong love of learning.
Scott Brittingham:
And as such, this was an opportunity that was attractive to me.
Scott Brittingham:
Love of learning and as such, this was an opportunity that was attractive to me, and I saw it as also an opportunity to demonstrate to my employers that I was serious about what I was doing and I was wanting to grow and be someone who made a great contribution to the company and to the works going on around me.
Scott Brittingham:
So that’s what led me to pursue it, and the master’s credential is currently the highest level of recognized credentialing available in the grain industry. All of these courses were originally created by GEAPS in Kansas State University and I set myself a goal of being among the first dozen people in the world to receive that credential and, as it turned out, I was the 12th person in the world to get the credential. And, as it turned out, I was the 12th person in the world to get the master’s credential in grain operations management. I felt really good about that and it just reflects on Mounta ire’s level, their forward thinking and their support of my efforts, because they paid the whole way and they rewarded me for what I was willing to put in to obtain that credential.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
That is fantastic. So you get the support of your organization, mount Air, but also your personal drive to succeed and grow. That is a great testament. Thank you for sharing that. Listeners out there. You can just go to jeepscom slash training, dash education forward, slash credentials or simply just go to online learning in there and you’ll find the credential piece and I’ll take you there and I’ll showcase what Scott talked about. These are available 24 seven. Wherever you stop, it’ll continue where you left off, and so please take a look at the credential page on the GEAPS website. It’s fantastic. Thank you for expressing that. Now, as we close, I just want to have one kind of final thing here Again. What does it mean to you personally to receive the top recruiter award for four years in a row from the GEAPS organization? That’s incredible.
Scott Brittingham:
Actually, it’s interesting you should mention that it’s not just four years in a row, it’s actually six of the last seven years. Wow, yeah, we used to get rewarded with a leather jacket every year, and they assumed it correctly that there was only so many leather jackets that would fit in my closet. So they’ve been experimenting with some other rewards, but it’s certainly rewarding to be honored for your efforts. What’s even more meaningful, though, is knowing that you’ve helped so many others along the way.
Scott Brittingham:
So every time someone joins you, you can find value in it, whether it’s the education, the networking, leadership. That’s the real win. The award is nice, but the impact that I have on others is what keeps me going.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
Scott, thank you for joining, sharing your insights. You’ve reflected on key takeaways such as value of connection, mentoring, getting involved, supporting, recruiting not just those who are new but those who are curious-minded and want to grow themselves. You see, in conversations with people who are looking for an opportunity and give a very well-designed tools, instead of instruments, to take them to that next step and be active in the industry, being active with GEAPS. We thank you so much. Any closing sentiments from you big picture kind of things as we conclude here, Really just kind of the same thing.
Scott Brittingham:
I said. Jeeps is an outstanding organization and if you’re a part of this industry and you’re serious about growing, you definitely should belong and you’ll get back tenfold anything that you put into it.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
Fantastic. Thank you very much, scott. It’s been a pleasure, Jim. We thank Scott Brittingham of Mountaire Farms for joining us and sharing his insights, strategies and passions for people and progress From building strong connections to mentoring the next generation. His story reminds us that one person really can make a lasting impact on the industry and community around them. To our listeners. What’s one step you can take today to grow your own network and help someone else find their path in this field? If you’re not yet a Jeeps member or you know someone who would benefit, now is the perfect time to get involved.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
Explore GEAPS’ professional development resources, credentialing programs and member community at www. geaps. com. If you have not yet subscribed to the GEAPS Whole Grain Podcast and your favorite podcast app, I encourage you to do so, as podcast episodes will drop on your phone or your device as soon as episodes are released. Plus, you can easily catch up on all past shows as well. Whole Grain is found on Apple Podcasts, google Music, spotify, amazon Music, podbean, pandora and more. The Whole Grain Podcast brings together grain industry professionals like yourself from 94 countries from around the world. Be sure to share this episode of the news of the Whole Grain Show as an easy-to-access and easy-to-share educational resource with your network, but also can find the show on the GEAPS website at geaps dot com slash wholegrain.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS:
I’m Jim Lenz, director of Global Education and Training at GEAPS. My email james@geaps. com We look forward to connecting with you to learn more about being a member of the Green Elevator and Processing Society, to identify a GEAPS chapter to connect with, to learn about the vast portfolio of educational resources. Again, please visit www. geaps. com. Until next time, keep learning, keep innovating and keep moving the industry forward. Have yourself a great day and thanks for listening to the Whole Grain Show.
