Thad Simons, president and CEO, Novus, has been awarded the 2013 Agribusiness Leader of the Year.  This award, which is NAMA’s highest honor, will be presented at the Opening General Session of the 2013 Agri-Marketing Conference, “Forging New Frontiers,” April 18, 2013, in Kansas City, Missouri. The award honors outstanding leaders in agribusiness, education, government service or other agribusiness related areas who exemplify excellence in agribusiness by their significant contributions to the industry.

As President and CEO since 2001, Thad continues Novus on a path to achieving the vision of “helping to feed the world affordable, wholesome food.” Novus started out as a small B2B company with two products for the poultry industry, but Thad saw the potential to transform the organization’s global reach and impact. He established the organizational framework to develop solutions specific to new markets based on Novus’s established core technologies. His strategy was successful, and today the Novus product portfolio contains over 100 products that provide a holistic approach to health and nutrition for poultry, cattle, pigs, equine, companion animals, farm-raised fish, seafood and people. Novus has employees working in over 100 countries, serving more than 3,000 customers worldwide.

Under Thad’s leadership, Novus has created a unique business model which marries excellence with innovation, sustainability and sharing best practices. The company maintains a culture of collaboration both internally and through interaction with a global network of agricultural students, academia and customers to identify solutions to move the agriculture industry forward.

Thad shares his vision for feeding the world through an ongoing campaign of industry event participation and sponsorships worldwide.  His message is reaching an ever-larger audience of agribusiness leaders.

Thad is currently President-Elect for the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA), and is committed to advancing the IFAMA mission – to improve the strategic focus, transparency, sustainability, and responsiveness of the global food and agribusiness system.

Thad serves on the Board of Directors for Novus International, Inc., the Nine Network of Public Media, Grand Center, Inc., United Way of Greater St. Louis, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, St. Louis Zoo, Corporate Council on Africa, St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association, and ESM Technologies. He is a member of the Missouri and Georgia Bars.

Thad’s additional awards and recognitions include: International Businessperson of the Year, World Trade Center of St. Louis, 2001; International Visionary Award, Boeing Institute of International Business, 2007; Heroes of the Planet Award, St. Louis Business Journal, 2009; Entrepreneur of the Year, Central Midwest-Bioscience, Ernst & Young, 2010; Entrepreneur of the Year, National Distribution and Manufacturing, Ernst & Young, 2010.

The early registration deadline is March 22, 2013.  Register today to take advantage of our early registration discount.

Download registration form and mail, fax or phone it in to the NAMA office. Register on-line at https://www4983.ssldomain.com/nama/ConferenceRegistration/Default.aspx?confid=51

Please note: No “Bill Me’s” will be allowed after March 30, 2013.  All “Bill Me’s” will need to be secured with a credit card.

Hotel Cut-off March 22, 2013
The Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center is the hotel for the 2013 Agri-Marketing Conference.  Reservations made after this date are subject to higher rates and potential unavailability. Make sure you mention “NAMA” when making reservations. Hurry and make your reservation today before the block fills up!  To Register online

Professional Block – https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/NAMarketing2013

Student Block – https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/NamaStudent2013

Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center
2345 McGee Street
Kansas City, MO 64108
Phone: (816) 841-1000
Reservations: 1-800-325-3535

OPENING GENERAL SESSION
Digilogue-Where High Tech Meets High Touch
Anders Sorman-Nilsson
Thursday, April 18 ~ 9:00-10:30 am

The current rapid pace of change in every industry means we need to be constantly upgrading our personal, organizational and leadership software.

The only way to make these upgrades is to understand how oncoming trends are likely to affect your organization, so you can act swiftly when the next tidal wave of information hits. How would your company be different if your staff were inspired about change, rather than paralyzed by it? Anders Sorman-Nilsson is here to help.

A reformed lawyer, and the founder and creative director of the Sydney and Stockholm based research company – Thinque, Sorman-Nilsson helps teams and leaders navigate a constantly changing business landscape.  His unique global perspectives have been assisting business owners in the USA, Europe, Asia and Australia make sense of and harness disruptive trends in innovations, generations and communications. His misfit insights have recently been manifested in his book Thinque Funky: Upgrade Your Thinking and endorsed by AFR Boss Magazine, Wired (UK), and Monocle.  His clients include Apple, MTV, Johnson & Johnson, and Eli Lilly.

Sponsored by ABM Agri Council

SECOND GENERAL SESSION
Unleashing Creativity
Josh Linkner
Thursday, April 18 ~ 11:00 am-12:30 pm

In a world economy that can flip in a nanosecond, thinking that the future will follow the past is the fast road to obsolescence. What’s the antidote? Igniting your company’s creativity.

Josh jolts organizations and people worldwide, helping them recharge their creativity to reawaken companies and careers. A New York Times bestselling author, successful four-time entrepreneur, venture capitalist and well-respected jazz musician, Josh bridges the gap between the arts and business to help audiences maximize their creative potential.

He’ll share methods from his proprietary system, Disciplined Dreaming, to unleash the creativity in settings from weekly staff meetings to new product breakthroughs.

Sponsored by Syngenta

CLOSING GENERAL SESSION
Humor for the Heart of Agriculture
Damian Mason
Friday, April 19 ~ 10:30 am-12:00 Noon

With an unabashed passion for the agriculture industry, Damian Mason will send you on your way with a smile on your face. Mason is a professional comedian, author and entertainer with a degree in Agricultural Economics and improvisation experience gained at the prestigious Second City Training Center in Chicago — the training ground of many Saturday Night Live stars.

Growing up on a dairy farm provided plenty of material, and he has an optimistic message for everyone who earns their living in agriculture.  Mason’s comedy is relevant, funny and uplifting. His stories and witty observations get right to the heart of American agriculture—the people.

Sponsored by Beef Checkoff Program and Elanco Animal Health

Conference Workshops-

Attracting & Retaining Talent Through Employee Engagement
Joe Calhoon, CSP
Wednesday, April 17 ~ 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

The essential role of management is to create and sustain high performance. Unfortunately, most managers under-estimate the impact of their daily behaviors in the increasingly competitive areas of talent acquisition and talent retention.

According to Gallup research, more than 70% of employees are disengaged (they simply put in their time) or they are actively disengaged (destructive in their attitudes and actions). Here’s the good news – research has also identified specific behaviors that consistently engage people’s best efforts.

Joe will show you how to develop your employees into future leaders, build your team and consistently produce results. The measuring tools for success? Customer satisfaction, employee engagement and better bottom line profits.

Over the past 25 years, Joe Calhoon has delivered more than 2,000 client experiences—to more than 400 different clients, providing the tools and guidance needed to improve performance and results. His proven business growth process has allowed clients like Wilson Auctioneers to double revenues in one year and WGK Engineers to improve profits by 800 percent in one year.

In addition to helping start more than 20 new business ventures, he has co-authored two breakthrough books, Prioritize! and On the Same Page.

Sponsored by Morgan&Myers

Senior Management Workshop: Waves of Change-Global Trends That Will Disrupt Your Existence
Anders Sorman-Nilsson
Thursday, April 18, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Waves of change are rolling towards us. Will you surf to success or wipeout in a riptide and end up stranded on the beach?

Unfortunately for business leaders today, change doesn’t care whether you like it or not. Change happens ceaselessly without your permission.

The waves of change threatening every business are:

Digital Disruption – managing the tension between the analogue and digital customer touch points

Media Madness – realizing that every company must think like a media company

Data Driven Dominance – working out how to turn data into competitive knowledge

Those who are unprepared will go belly-up, but those who can recognize opportunity, innovate and welcome change will ride the waves of success. Plus, they’ll enjoy every minute of the journey!

Anders Sorman-Nilsson will share the important questions you need to ask of yourself and your organization. Do your leaders understand which customer touch points can be digitized and which ones should be left alone? Are you mining the data you’re collecting about your customers and turning it into a strategic asset?

You’ll also uncover which new markets you should be targeting. Explore new tactics for engagement and appreciate the value of stepping back to deconstruct your business model to identify new, non-traditional partnerships.

Sponsored by John Deere

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Fast pasted enough to keep you engaged, yet ample time to dig in, ask questions and learn more about the details you want to explore a little deeper.

Take a look at what’s in store:

The Impact of Global Development on Agriculture-
Find out how the dual realities of growing global middle class and billions of undernourished families will affect the future of American agriculture…

Using Big Data to Build One-on-One Relationships-
It’s possible to use an omni-channel sales approach to create a personalized customer experience.  Examine the new technologies and techniques that can help you get there.

Measuring the Real ROI of Social Media-
Hear examples of how organizations are combining metrics to measure long-term value, conversions and cost deflection to arrive at the true ROI of social media investments.

Sponsored by AgiLife Studios, FMC Corporation, MoKan NAMA, Mosaic Company and National Cotton Council of America

Visit www.nama.org/amc for conference details, schedule and registration.

Forge New Frontiers at The Connection Point

If your company has products and services to put before decision-makers in the ag marketplace, NAMA’s Connection Point is for you. The Connection Point works.

Exhibit Booths at the Connection Point

Put your company front and center in the Heartland. With nearly 1,200 professionals in attendance, there’s no better way to get noticed. Influencers and decision-makers will take note when you purchase booth space on this tradeshow floor. Lunch and refreshment breaks are scheduled to maximize traffic and draw the clients and customers you want to meet!

PUTS YOU IN FRONT OF DECISION MAKERS

Approximately 1,200 people attend the Agri-Marketing Conference each year to explore the latest ideas and insights and share what’s working for them. The Connection Point is an integral part of this event and gives you the opportunity to see—and be seen by—a high concentration of individuals who make and/or influence ag-related buying decisions.

Conference attendees include:
• Marketing executives from agribusiness companies
• Advertising agency professionals
• Public relations executives
• Media representatives
• Commodity and trade association professionals

WE BRING THE FOOT TRAFFIC TO YOU!

A number of key conference activities are scheduled to take place in the Connection Point, ensuring conference attendees have ample opportunities to acquaint (or re-acquaint!) themselves with your products or services.

Visit http://www.nama.org/amc for details or call Jan Cichello at 913-491-6500.

Sponsorships are available for the 2013 Agri-Marketing Conference. Get your company noticed!  Companies with marketing budgets of all sizes can participate. The higher your support, the more benefits you’ll receive….Sustaining Partner, Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze. In addition, you can get more company visibility by claiming one or more of the sponsorship opportunities. These opportunities are available on a first come, first serve basis, with first right given to last year’s sponsor.

Please review the benefits and opportunities of sponsorship at the 2013 Agri-Marketing Conference and confirm your interest to Jenny Pickett at (913) 491-6500 or email to [email protected] or fill out the online sponsorship form at http://www.nama.org/amc/sponsor/form.htm. In-kind sponsorships, e.g., printing, can be considered.

Pre-Conference Workshop: Attracting & Retaining Talent Through Employee Engagement – Joe Calhoon, CSP

Wednesday, April 17 ~ 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

The essential role of management is to create and sustain high performance. Unfortunately, most managers under-estimate the impact of their daily behaviors in the increasingly competitive areas of talent acquisition and talent retention.

According to Gallup research, more than 70% of employees are disengaged (they simply put in their time) or they are actively disengaged (destructive in their attitudes and actions). Here’s the good news – research has also identified specific behaviors that consistently engages people’s best efforts.

Joe will show you how to develop your employees into future leaders, build your team and consistently produce results. The measuring tools for success? Customer satisfaction, employee engagement and better bottom line profits.

Over the past 25 years, Joe Calhoon has delivered more than 2,000 client experiences—to more than 400 different clients, providing the tools and guidance needed to improve performance and results. His proven business growth process has allowed clients like Wilson Auctioneers to double revenues in one year and WGK Engineers to improve profits by 800 percent in one year.

In addition to helping start more than 20 new business ventures, he has co-authored two breakthrough books, Prioritize! and On the Same Page.

Sponsored by Morgan&Myers

______________________________________________________________

Senior Management Workshop: Waves of Change-Global Trends That Will Disrupt Your Existence – Anders Sorman-Nilsson

Thursday, April 18, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Waves of change are rolling towards us. Will you surf to success or wipeout in a riptide and end up stranded on the beach?

Unfortunately for business leaders today, change doesn’t care whether you like it or not. Change happens ceaselessly without your permission.

The waves of change threatening every business are:

Digital Disruption – managing the tension between the analogue and digital customer touch points

Media Madness – realizing that every company must think like a media company

Data Driven Dominance – working out how to turn data into competitive knowledge

Those who are unprepared will go belly-up, but those who can recognize opportunity, innovate and welcome change will ride the waves of success. Plus, they’ll enjoy every minute of the journey!

Anders Sorman-Nilsson will share the important questions you need to ask of yourself and your organization. Do your leaders understand which customer touch points can be digitized and which ones should be left alone? Are you mining the data you’re collecting about your customers and turning it into a strategic asset?

You’ll also uncover which new markets you should be targeting. Explore new tactics for engagement and appreciate the value of stepping back to deconstruct your business model to identify new, non-traditional partnerships.

Sponsored by John Deere

Visit www.nama.org/amc for conference details and registration.

Best of  NAMA Regional Winners

Congrats to all the Best of  NAMA winners!  If you placed first or merit at the regional level, you are eligible to advance to the national competition.  You should have received an email from the National office about advancing your entries.  If you have questions, call 913-491-6500.

Please click on a region below to view winners and check out photos at flickr.

Region I

Region II

Region III

Region IV

Region V

Region VI

Best of NAMA Highlights

Region II Best of NAMA

Nearly 150 people attended the awards banquet at the Boulevard Brewery on January 28 in Kansas City, MO.  The ceremony honored the best work for the Rocky Mountain, Southwest, Missouri-Kansas, Great Plains, Gateway, and Cornhusker chapters.

Best of Show Advertising
Category:  Point-of-purchase materials
Company:  Cal-Ann Farms
Agency:  Sullivan Higdon & Sink
Campaign:  Cal-Ann Packaging

Best of Show Public Relations
Category:  Public Affairs/Issues Management Program
Company:  Missouri Corn Growers Assn./Missouri Corn Merchandising Council
Agency:  In-house
Campaign:  Underwater and Overlooked: Crisis on the Missouri River

____________________________________________________________________

Region III Best of NAMA

With over 120 people in attendance at the awards banquet on January 31 at the Embassy Suites in Des Moines, the ceremony honored the Cornbelt, Iowa, North Central and Northern Prairie Chapters.  Additionally, it was amazing to see five National NAMA President and past presidents coming together to kickoff the celebration –  Beth Burgy, Paul Redhage, Tom Smull,
Vicki Henrickson and Susie Decker.

Best of Show Advertising
Category:  Television – Single or Series
Company:  South Dakota Corn Utilization Council
Agency:  Paulsen Marketing
Campaign:  SD Corn:  Feeding the World TV

Best of Show Public Relations
Category:  Public Affairs/Issues Management program
Company:  Minnesota Pork Board and Minnesota Pork Producers Assn.
Agency:  Weber Shandwick
Campaign:  Building Trust from Farm to Fork

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Region IV Best of NAMA

Badger, Chicago, Heartland and Mid-America Chapters celebrated their Best Work on January 24th at the Eaglewood Resort & Spa in Itasca, IL.

Best of Show Advertising
Category:  Multimedia Campaigns – Regional
Company:  Beck’s Hybrids
Agency:   In-house
Campaign:  Suspect of Success

Best of Show Public Relations
Category:  Events – Media
Company:  Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board
Agency:  Stephan & Brady
Campaign: National Grilled Cheese Month Kick Off Event

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Carolinas/Virginia Best of NAMA

The Carolinas/Virginia Chapter celebrated its annual Best of  NAMA awards ceremony on January 22nd at the Hamner Conference Center in Research Triangle Park, NC.

The Best of Show Advertising award was presented to Arysta LifeScience and Woodruff Sweitzer for the EVITO Fungicide Multi Media Campaign.  The Best of Show Public Relations was awarded to Cotton Incorporated and
Harvest PR & Marketing for their Cottonseed Marketplace  interactive marketing tool.

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Southeastern Best of NAMA

The Norcross Station Café was the site for the Southeastern Chapter’s Best of NAMA Awards ceremony.  Nearly 30 people gathered on January 24 to receive awards and congratulate the winners.  Merial Limited and Sullivan Higdon & Sink won Best of Show in Advertising for EDF.com Web Banners, Series, in the category for advertising on
the web directed to farmers, growers, ranchers
or other’s serving agriculture.  Best of Show in Public Relations was awarded to AGCO Application Equipment and Osborn Barr for their SpraCoupe – Ushering in the Era of Modern Agriculture news release.

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Midsouth Best of NAMA

The Midsouth Chapter gathered at Texas de Brazil on January 17 to celebrate winners in more than 20 different companies, organizations and agencies for their work in Midsouth agriculture.  Best of Show in Advertising was awarded to Monsanto and Brighton Agency for their multimedia local campaign, Deltapine 4-Bale Campaign, Georgia.  Best of Show Public Relations was awarded to Tennessee Farmers Cooperative for their in-house annual report “I’m Co-op.”