Whitney L. Atkins

Inspired by Chloe Kleinheinz's journey in Poultry Leadership I recently listened to an episode of the Poultry Leadership Podcast featuring Chloe Kleinheinz, Director of Live Operations for Egg Innovations. Chloe's story resonated with me, and I wanted to share some of her key takeaways for anyone interested in a career in poultry leadership. From Unexpected Beginnings to Passionate Leader Chloe's journey began with a poultry science class in college. Despite having no prior experience, she felt an immediate connection to the industry. This passion has fueled her impressive career path, from farm supervisor to her current leadership role. Challenges and Learnings A key theme in Chloe's story is overcoming challenges. One such challenge was leading experienced team members with limited formal leadership experience herself. To address this, Chloe actively sought out resources like professional coaching and leadership books. 📝 Key Takeaways for Aspiring Poultry Leaders 📌 Embrace lifelong learning: Podcasts, books, and mentorship are all valuable tools for continuous learning and development. 📌 Find your passion: Connecting with the purpose and values of the industry is essential for long-term success. 📌 Develop strong leadership skills: Building trust, effective communication, and adaptability are crucial for leading diverse teams. Ag Innovations: A Company Making a Difference Chloe highlighted Egg Innovations' commitment to animal welfare and regenerative agriculture. Their focus on providing chickens with access to the outdoors and using sustainable practices is inspiring. Looking Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities The podcast also discussed the challenges facing the poultry industry, including Avian Influenza (AI). Chloe emphasized the importance of following biosecurity protocols and adapting practices as needed. In conclusion, Chloe Kleinheinz's story is an inspiration for anyone considering a career in poultry leadership. Her passion, dedication to continuous learning, and ability to overcome challenges are all valuable traits for success in this dynamic industry. #poultryindustry #leadership #aginnovations #eggproduction #avianinfluenza I'd love to hear your thoughts on Chloe's story or your experiences in the poultry industry! Apple Podcast - https://lnkd.in/emJBUWyG Spotify - https://lnkd.in/eqWk99yw

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Read my EMA IMPACT Preview interview with Professor Shelie Miller!

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Fellow Chicago communicators! I'll be speaking at the upcoming ALI Conferences later this month. If you haven't already secured your spot, make sure to do so. You won't want to miss it 💡 My panel will be focused on #changemanagement and fostering adoption with your internal audience. They say change is the only constant in life.... so join us for examples and tips on how to adapt quickly to changing circumstances, build trust, belief and excitement with your employees, and how to plan for the unexpected. ⚡ #ALIcomms #internalcommunications #digitalcommunications #corporateculture #corporatecommunications

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One of the great challenges I have faced in my #publicrelations career is to hear, "we don't sell to the public so we don't need community relations." Tell that to your #brand if you have a crisis. This article has some great tips on building effective community relations. https://lnkd.in/d7iizvip

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What might you expect next from the #foodandbeverage industry for your four-legged friends? Find out what #trend expert Daniel Levine has to say about using human #food as your guide. Read the report from his #keynote at the #PetfoodForum this week in Kansas City.

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I'm fortunately among the 10%--I drink milk right from the carton, if I can make a confession, and I am a huge fan of cheese, sour cream, and other dairy products I use on the regular. What about you? Also, would just an incentive program motivate you as a snack/bakery/candy producer to incorporate more dairy in your formulations? Read more at the link from Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery sister publication Dairy Foods

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Have you leaned into the world of edutainment? Our social media strategist, Rebecca E. Waxman, shares her insights 💡 in this recent The Produce News Industry Viewpoint column. Do you have thoughts on edutainment? Weigh in with your thoughts in the comments. https://lnkd.in/e4YeeMsP #grocery #produce #edutainment #socialmedia

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As a proud partner of the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation we're excited to share three grant opportunities to help advance your work. Applications are due June 30, 2024, and focus on nutrition education, nutritious food access and healthy lifestyles in the communities where Sprouts operates stores. Read more about the grants below and visit their website to learn more:   SPROUTING SCHOOL GARDENS GRANT – Due June 30 Bring hands-on learning and nutrition education to students by building or refreshing a school garden on campus. Schools and School Garden Support Organizations are eligible to apply. Grants range in size from $5,000 to $10,000 and may be used to support program operations, program supplies, learning tools, and educator stipends.   GROWING HEALTHY KIDS GRANT – Due June 30 Help kids grow healthy with programs at home or in the community that support nutrition, health and wellness. Nonprofits in the communities that Sprouts serves are eligible to apply for this grant.   WELLNESS ACROSS THE LIFESPAN GRANT – Due June 30 Wellness Across the Lifespan Grants support programs that help young adults and vulnerable populations achieve and maintain healthy lifestyle behaviors and nutritious eating. Nonprofits in the communities that Sprouts serves are eligible to apply.   Organizations are eligible to receive funding from one grant type, apply for the grant that is the best fit for your program.

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As we continue to expand awareness and trial of the Konnected Joe (by Kamado Joe/Middleby Outdoor) beyond national food, lifestyle, tech media and influencers, it's fun to see local folks like Jason DeRusha enjoying it and sharing with his followers. If you're looking for that perfect Father's Day gift, check out his list of curated goods in this gift guide! #foodies #outdoorliving #earnedmedia #influencermarketing #giftguides

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Here is a part of my conversation regarding lactose-free opportunities on the #DairyDownload podcast. #lactosefreedairy

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Can consumers trust the USDA Organic label? Listen as Jenny Tucker, Associate Deputy Administrator of the USDA's National Organic Program, speaks with WPR's Wisconsin Today about how the organic industry is regulated to ensure USDA Organic is a label consumers can choose with confidence. “We have products coming into the United States from around the world, from organic farms that are certified to the USDA standard,” Jenny explains. “We needed the new rules to further protect those supply chains, so that when you reach out and select that organic product, you know it is what we say it is.” 🔈Listen here: https://lnkd.in/gevv376F #organicfood #organicagriculture #organicfarming #certifiedorganic #usdaorganic

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In the April 23 issue of Food Business News read about The J.M. Smucker Co. capitalizing on consumers eating at home, Mary's Gone Crackers, Inc. adding capacity, and #fiber and #protein increasing GLP-1 in the body.

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Today, we are highlighting the “Guide to Establishing Nutrition Incentive Local Sourcing Programs in Grocery Retail”. This resource, prepared by Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems, provides a 5 phased approach to establishing NI local sourcing programs in grocery retail locations. 🍎 PHASE 1. Get ready for grocery retail partnership 🍊 PHASE 2. Understand your local food supply 🍋 PHASE 3. Support your stores to create demand for local produce 🥑 PHASE 4. Evaluate the nutrition incentive local sourcing program 🥬 PHASE 5. Sustaining the nutrition incentive local sourcing program Download this guide here: https://lnkd.in/d8GnEmwq This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. #NIFAimpacts

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With #sustainability one of the International Fresh Produce Association’s strategic priorities for 2024, the organization says it continues to develop new resources, education, advocacy and opportunities for its members and industry to engage on the issue. Learn more: loom.ly/TtFY-5Y

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💹 What makes a strategic partnership in the food industry successful? Hear from Courtney Hendrickson, Food Marketing Strategist and Director of Business Development at Bay State Milling Company, about developing partnerships that last. https://lnkd.in/eER7qDVE

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The issues of inequitable food systems and food waste are incredibly intertwined. Read how in our newest blog post: https://lnkd.in/gZKHC-qq

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Did you know? In 2022, SSP awarded conference sponsorships for 2 emerging career professionals! Get to know one of the recipients, Katie Nance, in the following interview. 1. What is your current employer and role?  Manager of Sensory at Synergy Flavors 2. How did attending the SSP conference impact your professional growth? Probably the biggest way it impacted my professional growth was introducing me to ASTM standards I had not heard of yet during the joint session. This allowed me to take knowledge back to my company and improve some of the sensory practices as well as be able to more clearly explain the theory behind testing. 3. Did you gain connections that helped you advance your career?  Absolutely! SSP was the first conference I attended in person since COVID and so I'm very thankful to have met so many brilliant scientists both on the ASTM and SSP side. 4. How did the travel award benefit you?  Overall, it helped financially support me in traveling to my first conference since COVID. Not only was I able to meet inspiring colleagues and absorb all of the great info, I was so honored to present at the joint ASTM x SSP session around panel performance metrics. Definitely one of the highlights of my career so far! 5. What was your favorite thing about the SSP conference?  I really enjoyed how the conference was both technical and developmental. I learned a lot about methodologies, analyses, and more. But not only did I learn about the hard science, I learned how to better my soft skills as well with the Dare presentation. 6. How does your SSP membership benefit you?  I've really enjoyed the Connectors events. Especially during the pandemic, they were an amazing opportunity to get to meet Sensory Scientists at other companies. 7. What impact has sensory had on your life? What sensory experiences stand out — think of favorite foods, sounds, textures, etc.  I think this question is hard to answer because I'm not sure I could list one aspect. When you think about it, life is constant sensory experiences! For example, my favorite flavor is coffee, my favorite texture is a warm fuzzy blanket fresh out of the drier, and I love bitter products like dark chocolate. And each individual person has their own unique preferences just like these! What I love about sensory is how the science can make analytical use of each persons' experiences to contribute to some really amazing product insights. So overall, sensory has impacted me in a huge way because sensory is with us every day! 8. What’s a fun fact or something most people don’t know about you?  Before I got into the world of sensory, I used to care for sharks, otters, sea turtles, and more at an aquarium! The baby racoons were my favorite. #SensoryScience #SensorySociety #CareerDevelopment 

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Is building brands through PR and communications your thing, then check out Lacey's below post.

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