Meet the Speakers: Summit 2021
The 2021 Supply Summit will not look like previous summits. Our mouths and noses will be covered, for starters. But, behind the masks will be people we are eager to see again.
Their ideas will still be good and their questions insightful. The conversations still will be rich.
The Association is in continual communication with the city of Kansas City and the Marriott Downtown to plan a Summit that meets the highest standards of safety and health and offers the highest-impact opportunities to network.
We plan to host the traditional golf and trap events but will pause the exploration of nightlife. We also still plan a welcome reception and encourage members to connect outside of structured convention time. The Power & Light District is an easy stroll from the hotel.
In the meantime, take a look at what’s in store for the speaker sessions.
Never the Same: Panel on the Post-COVID Workplace
Join experts on human resources, sales and marketing, and manufacturing operations to hear how they envision the future when the dust settles from the pandemic. After this 60-minute panel discussion, speakers will lead breakout sessions and respond to your questions. You will meet:
Michael Bird, CEO of Spindustry, a digital marketing agency, to discuss the future of sales and marketing. (Bird will also be on stage for a session on farmers’ buying behaviors.)
Mike Gonnerman, vice president of Mastering Excellence and an alliance partner of Kansas Manufacturing Solutions, will explore plant operations moving forward.
Shaunna Jones, who leads K·Coe Isom’s HR consulting team, will offer thoughts on employee needs and expectations in the workplace post-COVID.
What’s Next for Ag? Economics, Politics, and the Conservation Movement
Ray Starling is back by popular demand. He joined us for our virtual annual meeting in October to discuss agriculture policy and politics. In April, he will explore three issues that he sees influencing agriculture: economics, the political environment, and trends around sustainability.
Starling has been the general counsel for a state department of agriculture, a staffer on the U.S. Senate Ag Committee, and chief of staff to a U.S. senator. He joined the White House in 2017 as special assistant to the president for agricultural policy. In 2018, he became chief of staff for USDA’s Sonny Perdue. He returned to his home state of North Carolina in 2019 to serve as general counsel to the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce.
What Drives Â鶹apps’ Buying Beliefs and Behaviors?
Susan Baier and Michael Bird will discuss results of an extensive survey examining how farmers make their buying decisions, including whether they have changed their approach since the start of the pandemic, what resources they tap when considering buying equipment, and their likes and dislikes around product searches online, in person and through print media.
Baier is a marketing strategist and researcher with Audience Audit and one of the most sought-after attitudinal segmentation researchers in the U.S. Bird is CEO of Spindustry, a digital marketing agency.
Smart Implements and Data—Creating Value
Mike Gomes will speak to the Tillage Council. He brings more than 25 years experience in digital transformation in agriculture. He is vice president of business development for Topcon.
Gomes will discuss how the evolution of operations technology and information technology has created the internet of things, and what it means for the industry when a single machine becomes part of a connected system.