ARA Concludes 2023 Conference & Expo
Nov 30 2023
ARA concluded its annual Conference & Expo with a keynote speaker, a panel of international ag retail professionals, and an off-site tour of the Publix Supermarket dairy production process.
On Thursday morning, 2022-2023 ARA Board Chair Ian McGregor with The McGregor Company delivered his Chairman’s Report before recognizing the outgoing and incoming members of ARA’s Board of Directors.
At the top of the morning, keynote speaker Dave Mitchell, president of The Leadership Difference Inc., delivered his keynote address on the “Foundation of Peak Performance Culture.”
“What I hear most from ag retailers across the country is that they need more manpower,” says ARA President & CEO Daren Coppock. “Dave’s energetic presentation addressed that challenge head-on by revealing the top 10 things that new and existing employees look for when choosing to join or remain with an organization.”
The international retailers keynote panel tackled hot issues and trends in global markets near the end of the closing general session. The Scoop’s Margy Eckelkamp moderated the panel featuring Matheus Consoli, Markestrat Group representing ANDAV from Brazil; Luis Mogni, distribution consultant from Argentina; Mathieu Naddeo, CEO at Group Société Commerciale Agricole de Distribution (SCAD) from France representing AFCOME; and Mitch Rezansoff, executive director at Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers (CAAR) from Canada.
The panelists shared information from their respective countries in hopes of creating opportunities for all of us to work together to find solutions to ag retail’s biggest challenges that are globally compatible and beneficial.
“While our issues differ, there is much more we have in common,” says McGregor. “I look forward to working together with our global counterparts with the goal to make a bigger impact for our retailer members.”
The closing general session wrapped up with a video announcing the 2024 ARA Conference & Expo theme, “Powering Ag Retail’s Next Frontier.” Save the date and join us Dec. 3-5 in Houston, Texas.
Learn more about the ARA Conference & Expo on the website or on ARA’s social media.
(Photo credit: Lensology Photography & Videography)