December 11, 2008

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PMA Leadership Symposium helps senior executives increase their competitiveness

Newark. Del. – Produce and floral industry executives who are looking to increase their companies' competitiveness in today's difficult marketplace – and elevate their own skills in the process – can take advantage of a uniquely-tailored leadership development opportunity by attending the 2009 Leadership Symposium when it convenes Jan. 14-16, 2009, in Dallas, Texas, USA. The exclusive Leadership Symposium is professionally designed for the industry's senior officers and managers, to help them take their management skills to the next level and to leverage today's challenges into tomorrow's opportunities.

Offered by Produce Marketing Association (PMA) Foundation for Industry Talent (PMA FIT) in partnership with Produce Business and Cornell University, the Leadership Symposium offers high-level leadership training in an intimate, collegial atmosphere. Perennially PMA's highest-rated leadership education event, the symposium is specifically designed to meet the leadership development needs of chief executive officers and presidents, company executives, vice presidents, and directors of produce, merchandising, category management and perishables. Year after year, seasoned industry leaders schedule the Leadership Symposium into their calendars because of the immediate and relevant knowledge they gain from the symposium's top management speakers, and relationships they build with fellow executives.

"PMA FIT's Leadership Symposium is a fantastic tool to start the year off with renewed energy and focus," said Interfresh Inc. President Chris Puentes, based in Orange, Calif. "The Leadership Symposium provides a unique opportunity to learn from the best and the brightest that the business world has to offer, and the intimacy of the environment allows the kind of interaction that is simply not available at most other conferences. It is one event that I consider a 'must-attend.' "

In 2009, a powerful agenda of speakers will challenge and expand Leadership Symposium participants' thinking regarding business structures and productivity. Rod Beckström will offer a fresh approach to company structure, while Polly LaBarre will demonstrate how to create an empowering business culture. Those in attendance also will learn from Cam Marston how to leverage the individual strengths of a multi-generational talent pool, and will discover how to turn vision and strategy into high impact results with Tony Jeary.

Limited to the first 100 registrants, the exclusive symposium's schedule also intentionally offers numerous relationship-building opportunities for the senior executives in attendance. Those events include a welcoming reception and dinner the first evening sponsored by TraceGains, Inc. of Longmont, Colo., a "dine-around" dinner the second evening sponsored by Grimmway Farms of Bakersfield, Calif., and a farewell reception the final evening that is sponsored by The MIXTEC Group of Pasadena, Calif. – whose vice president and senior partner, Jerry Butt, places priority on his symposium participation each year.

"It's amazing to look back and see the high quality of individuals and the leading companies represented [at Leadership Symposium] every single year – a virtual 'who's who' of current and future industry leaders," Butt said. "With the premium the symposium places on personal interaction, it's one of the most intimate and effective relationship-building events of the year."

"This event builds on the science industry's adage that a day in the library is worth more than 20 days in the laboratory," said PMA FIT Executive Director Cindy Seel. "The executives who attend this leadership development offering will be more competitive – both as companies and as individuals – than those who stay home."

Early registration for the 2009 Leadership Symposium closes Friday, Dec. 19. For more information and to register, visit www.pma.com/leadership.