A pdf of the program description displayed below can be found here. To apply for MABA’s 2020 Leadership Group, you can find the application here. The objective of the Michigan Agri-Business Leadership Program is to identify emerging leaders in Michigan’s agribusiness industry and provide an opportunity for personal growth and professional development. The program is designed to offer information, hands-on training and ground level experiences in several critical areas regarding policy, legislation and regulatory matters. Participants will learn the “nuts and bolts” of the opportunities and challenges facing our industry, and what we need to do to continue moving forward, both politically and economically. They will also discuss issues and brief policy leaders on our industry’s perspective on these critical issues. Class Format: MABA members can nominate someone from within their company, or they can nominate themselves. There will be three sessions in the 2020-21 Leadership Group. The two sessions in Michigan will last two full days with an evening before each. The February 2021 session in Washington, DC will be a Sunday-Wednesday. Each participant is required to attend all sessions. The program size is limited to ten in order to provide an optimal learning experience for all participants. One of the key components of the class is to provide an environment which encourages networking and development of individual skills, but also relationships with other program participants. Participants selected for the program: Will be required to attend and participate in all sessions. Must be employed by a MABA member company for the entire term of the program. In the event a participant leaves the employment of a MABA member, and is not employed by another, their participation in the program will be terminated. Participants are selected individually and are not linked to a specific MABA member. Will be asked to pay a $2,000 participation fee to offset some of the program costs. Upon acceptance an invoice will be sent to each participant and payment will be due prior to the first session in July. In the event of termination from the program for whatever reason, this fee is nonrefundable. Will be required to complete some limited “homework” sessions. Timeline: Application Deadline May 31, 2020 Applicants Notified June 12, 2020 Session 1 July 27 – 29, 2020* Grand Rapids, MI Session 2 November 3 – 5, 2020 Lansing, MI Session 3 February 7 – 10, 2021 Washington, DC *ABLP and the 2020 Coronavirus Situation: We recognize there is a chance that the uncertain situation with Coronavirus may affect our ability to bring ABLP participants together personally, especially this summer. If for any reason it is not possible to host our July 27-29 first session in Grand Rapids, this session will be postponed until April 2021. In such a case, our “first” session will be in Lansing in November. MABA is committed to leadership development in our industry, and we are prepared to move ahead with remote activities this summer, based on the advice of public health and government officials. No matter how things proceed, we are ready to provide an engaging and interesting leadership development experience for members. Session Topics and Objectives Session 1 – Fundamentals of Communications, Policy and Politics Breaking the Ice Understanding the Broader Agricultural Industry Media Issues and Communications How Legislative Issues Work The Role of Trade Associations and Lobbyists How Government Offices Work – Staff Roles Our State and Federal Legislators Session 2: Michigan Issues MABA, Who We Are and What We Do Interacting with Policy Leaders in Lansing Key State Policy Issues Campaigns and Elections/Election Day Briefing Media Training Collaborating Across the Industry to Drive Policy Changes Plans and Issues for Washington/Policy Leader Mentoring Session 3: Federal Issues (Washington, D.C.): See Washington Issue Briefing by National Affiliate Organizations Capitol Hill Visits with the Michigan Congressional Delegation Visits with Administration Officials Network with other State Association Representatives Submit completed application to: Michigan Agri-Business Association, 2500 Kerry Street, Suite 102, Lansing, MI 48912 Email: maba@miagbiz.org Applications must be received at the MABA office no later than May 31, 2020. Applicants will be notified of acceptance on/before June 12, 2020. If you would like the application in a Word document please download it here.
