Human Resources

GEAPS Exchange 2024: Why “Catching up” Isn’t Enough – A Panel Discussion

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Speakers: Ethan Taube , Jim Voigt, Doug Clingman, Marcus Neal

Session Description

Change is inevitable, this is something we have all heard and many believe in. Yet, we are still reluctant when the rubber meets the road. Why? Change isn’t simple. It’s messy and the path isn’t unencumbered, but it is necessary. Over time the speed and adaptation to change will vary, but embracing and learning to manage change in your organization is table stakes. We need to engage our collective experience as an industry and outside our industry to ensure we move forward in a manner that is sustainable, both financially and environmentally, with the sense of urgency that is required and with the consciousness to empower our teams to behave in a manner that meets their physical and physiological needs. Join us for a panel discussion on managing change.

Meet The Speakers

Ethan Taube

Ethan Taube

Regional Manager

Agtegra Cooperative

Ethan Taube is a regional manager at Agtegra Cooperative. An experienced industry professional with a demonstrated history of working in the food production industry, Taube is skilled in negotiation, operations management, agronomy, facilities management, change management, innovation and logistics management. He is a strong operations professional with a master’s degree in agricultural business from Kansas State University.

Jim Voigt

President

JFV Solutions

Jim Voigt is the owner of JFV Solutions. He has nearly 50 years’ experience in the feed, grain and agricultural processing industries. He previously served as vice president of operations and engineering for ADM’s global grain division. While at ADM, Voigt cofounded the internal continuous improvement team and implemented lean/six sigma methodologies in ADM’s corn, oilseed, milling and cocoa divisions. He was responsible for regulatory compliance of the grain division in regards to OSHA, EPA and the FDA.
When he retired from ADM in 2012, Voigt started JFV Solutions, a consulting firm providing services to the grain and feed industry. A graduate of California Polytechnice State University, he lives in Illinois with his wife, Becky. He has been a member of GEAPS’ Cornbelt chaper since 1987. The former GEAPS’ board member and board president also was recognized as a Member of Distinction.
Voigt also is a member of the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois, the National Grain and Feed Association and has authored numerous technical and management articles for publication. He has a green belt status in lean/six sigma, is certified in HACCP and as a Preventative Control Qualified Individual for Human and Animal Foods.

Doug Clingman

Chief Technology Officer

Central Valley Ag (CVA)

Doug Clingman serves as chief technology officer at Central Valley Ag (CVA), headquartered in York, Nebraska. He is responsible for supporting the cooperative’s operations, enhancing efficiency and driving innovation through the effective use of technology.
Clingman started his career with CVA, then Farmway Co-op, Inc. in 2014 when he took on the role of director of information technology after leaving active duty in the United States Army. He continued to serve and was deployed overseas twice while in the United States Army Reserve. Clingman served 18 years in the US Army and CVA supported his service for six of those years. Before taking on his latest role, Clingman served CVA as general manager of ag solutions IT LLC and director of information services.
Marcus Neal

Marcus Neal

Owner

MN Agsolution LLC

Marcus Neal is owner of MN Ag Solutions. He has more than 25 years’ experience leading, designing, building, acquiring and operating grain and ag-production facilities in North America and Asia.
His capital projects have included export facility design, feed mill operations, ag-product processing facilities, large greenfield rail shuttle loading and unloading facilities, country elevator expansions, facility and business assessments for acquisition—and everything in between.  Neal has an acknowledged history of working in business strategy, facility design, EHS operations and project management throughout the world and in professional associations within the agricultural industry and at all levels of organizational leadership.
Marcus started MN AgSolutions in 2021 to help fill a talent and experience gap with agribusiness and ag-based companies who need expert knowledge and skill in operations, EHS and project management for their businesses. Neal’s professional experience includes director of facility operations at Lansing Trade Group (Kansas City), director of engineering at Perdue Agribusiness (Salisbury, Maryland), DeBruce Grain (Kansas City) and Cargill Grain Division (various locations).
Neal is a husband and father of four, a Minnesota native and a graduate of agricultural engineering from the University of Minnesota. He is also a martial arts specialist in TaeKwonDo and Hapkido, enjoys competitive sparring and is an avid outdoor enthusiast.

GEAPS Exchange 2024: Grain Operations Track Sessions