Adapting and Growing
for the Future By Huub te Plate, Chief Executive Officer
The past months have been the most unique period in
your family members and employees. Effective
global changes since 9-11. The worldwide pandemic
communication keeps all of us in the right state of
brought the economy and many supply chains to their
mind while the world around us is going 100 mph in
knees. Milk futures have never seen such fluctuations in
many directions.
a matter of months, changing from absolute disastrous prices to levels that allow producers to make a living.
And now at GENEX, we are using the pandemic
Beef supply chains have never experienced the recent
as an opportunity to make permanent changes
price variations from ranch to consumer plates. Right
in how we work. We have learned electronic
now, risk mitigation tools are as important as they have
communications can be as effective as in person. While
ever been. You will do yourself – and your family – a
face-to-face meetings are still “the cat’s meow” in
service by looking into these programs.
relationship building, we are stepping up our game in
At GENEX, as the pandemic spread, we decided
electronic communication.
continued service and supply of product was key for
Winston Churchill once said, “Never let a good crisis
short- and long-term member satisfaction. In fact, we
go to waste.” We are taking that quote to heart to
knew we had to step up and continue forward until the hay was in the barn! We showcased our farmers’ spirit; nobody outworks us, and we do what we say. At the same time, keeping our employees safe was also a top priority. The well-being of our employees and continued service to our members and customers was – and is – of utmost importance. We have also increased communications to keep everyone informed and motivated. We have held numerous calls via Zoom and Microsoft Teams, recorded video messages and held webinars. Too many to mention.
make permanent improvements in our cooperative business model. We expect these changes will not only contribute to the success of your reproduction and genetic programs but will also enhance your interactions with your cooperative. The governance changes you will read about on the following page started well before the pandemic. Your directors have done an outstanding job putting together a modern cooperative ready to engage the next generation of producers. We will be using the COVID-19 era to fast-track using modern electronic means to communicate with members, delegates and directors.
In my mind, communication rivals health and safety
The result will be accelerating the modernization of the
for the number 1 spot in this crisis. You cannot
cooperative. We are here to serve you and take on the
overcommunicate. This is also true for you with
future, whatever that will be.
HORIZONS
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