Newark, Del. — Want to boost your company’s future prospects? Then invest in leadership development for women and other leaders, both future and current, advise talent experts at the Center for Growing Talent by PMA. The nonprofit talent leader will host its first 2016 event dedicated to women’s leadership development when the Women’s Fresh Perspectives Conference convenes April 17-19 in San Diego, California, USA.
“Simply put, women leaders are good for business,” said Margi Prueitt, executive director of the Center for Growing Talent by PMA (formerly the PMA Foundation for Industry Talent). “Research shows that women leaders can help companies excel in a variety of ways, from connecting with consumers to increasing return on sales and operating results.”
The 2016 conference combines education and networking in a packed agenda. Education will include in-depth general sessions, workshops tailored to particular career stages (emerging, middle and executive), and short Lightning Learning Labs during the lunch break.
“The beauty of this conference is that it is designed specifically for women in the fresh produce and floral industry at all career stages,” said Alex Jackson of Frieda’s Specialty Produce, co-chair of the Women’s Fresh Perspectives Committee. “This year’s agenda was designed to not only deliver leadership development that attendees won’t find anywhere else, but also to inspire them to aspire to more.”
The conference agenda also features groundbreaking women speakers addressing a broad range of topics. Keynote speaker and Enron whistleblower Sherron Watkins will discuss from firsthand experience what happens when leaders don’t ensure a sound system of values and ethics, and the difficult aftermath that can follow. General Session speaker Dede Murcer Moffett will encourage attendees to not just step out of their box but to kick it to the curb, and step into the spotlight with courage.
Other education topics include 10 steps for making a quantum leap at life and at work, how to make stronger first impressions that have lasting value, how to harness your own communication style to get heard, how to recognize and address unconscious bias, and more.
“I’d like to say to every woman who’s wondering why she should attend this event, this year: Attend to learn from top speakers, attend to acquire skills and tools you can put to work tomorrow, and attend for the priceless networking and relationships that will serve you for a lifetime,” said Jill Overdorf of Cooseman’s L.A. Shipping and co-chair of the Women’s Fresh Perspectives Committee. “You’ll never be the same again.”
The conference has been very popular every year since its inception, so interested persons are urged to register early. Past attendees have called the conference “a breath of fresh air”, “unparalleled”, “extremely inspiring”, even “life changing”.
“It’s a great way to learn valuable development tools AND meet a group of great, successful women in our industry,” said past attendee Julie DeWolf of Sunkist Growers, which is Presenting Sponsor of the 2016 conference.
Center for Growing Talent by PMA has two other Women’s Fresh Perspectives events planned this year. For more information, visit http://www.growingtalentbypma.org/womens-fresh-perspectives/:
- Women’s Fresh Perspectives Networking Reception at PMA’s 2016 Foodservice Conference, July 30, Monterey, California, USA
- Women’s Fresh Perspectives Leadership Breakfast at Fresh Summit, Oct. 14, Orlando, Florida, USA
About the Center for Growing Talent by PMA
Center for Growing Talent by PMA was created by the produce and floral industry to grow the people across our industry. We help attract, develop and retain the talent needed to feed our industry’s growth, including educational programming and networking events. We offer a variety of industry-specific solutions across the career continuum, for university students, young professionals and women, emerging leaders, mid-level individuals and senior executives. We were created December 2005 as the PMA Education Foundation and later became PMA Foundation for Industry Talent; now we are evolving into Center for Growing Talent by PMA. For more information, visit GrowingTalentbyPMA.org.
About Produce Marketing Association (PMA)
Produce Marketing Association is the leading trade association representing companies from every segment of the global produce and floral supply chain. PMA helps members grow by providing connections that expand business opportunities and increase sales and consumption. For more information, visit www.pma.com.
Source: Produce Marketing Association (PMA)
