Cornerstone Dairy Academy hones skills

MADISON

Every job role requires soft skills to some degree, whether it's communication skills or handling conflict in the workplace.

So whether you are transitioning into management, looking to make a smooth career transition, or just beginning your career, Cornerstone Dairy Academy has you in mind.

The Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin will again host the Cornerstone Dairy Academy, March 15-16, Sheraton Hotel and Alliant Energy Center, Madison. The two-day event is designed to give dairy professionals or their employees, the soft skills and leadership development that will bring positive effects to the work place.

Cornerstone Dairy Academy is touted as an "elite development program for students and dairy professionals", and helps to enhance professionalism, communications and leadership skills.

The event will be held in conjunction with the PDPW Business Conference. Throughout the Cornerstone Dairy Academy, presenters will focus on the training and development needs of farmers or other industry professionals needing to communicate, collaborate and lead more effectively, as well as, students pursuing dairy related careers and individuals wanting to retool due to being at a crossroads in their dairy career.

The event offers two different courses, each focusing on a different suite of communication and leadership skills. Both programs culminate with putting concepts into practice while attendees network at the PDPW Business Conference.

Attendees can choose from the following options: Influential Leadership and Servant Leaders. During the Influential Leadership presentation, attendees will learn about leadership, teamwork skills, communication with different generations and personality and leadership styles, conflict resolution, business etiquette and professionalism.

Servant Leaders is a program for people who aspire to excel in leadership positions who are committed to leading change in organizations and communities. Through ethical decision-making, self-reflection, leadership training and encouragement for action, participants will gather the foundation and motivation to effectively serve their families, businesses and the dairy industry.

Trainers include: Sarah Gibson specializes in written and interpersonal communication to increase individual credibility and effectiveness. She is the author of The Zoom Guide to the Generations, is an instructor for the University of Wisconsin-Madison evening MBA program and serves on Madison College's Business Communication Program Advisory Board.

Susan Richardson is founder of Etiquette Essentials LLC, a company that provides national training seminars on business etiquette. Tom Thibodeau if a faculty member of Viterbo University, and is the University's Distinguished Professor of Servant Leadership.

Hank Wagner runs Wagner Leadership Training, a business formed to help individuals, families, organizations and businesses be all they can be. He is past president of the PDPW board and runs a 650-cow dairy farm in northeastern Wisconsin.

Those wishing to attend must apply by midnight on Jan. 30 by visiting pdpw.org/programs_and_events.php#event_link_129. This is an application-based program with a limited number accepted into each program. If accepted, the cost of the program is $100. Support from Professional Dairy Producers Foundation covers the balance of your registration, including meals and room-share lodging (value $500). Applicants will be notified of acceptance by February 15.

For more information call PDPW at 800-947-7379 or mail@pdpw.org.