Jim Lenz, Host:
This episode is dedicated to the biggest and best show in the grain handling and processing industry. It’s the annual show that the grain elevator and processing society puts on. I’m talking about GEAPS Exchange. Today we are taking you from A to Z. Get ready, hello and welcome to the show. Welcome to the Whole Grain Podcast. My name is Jim Lenz, our host and producer of the show and the director of global training and education at Jeep’s, where the mission of the grain elevator and processing society is to champion, connect and serve the global grain industry and our members. At Jeep’s we work to be the global community and thought leader for the grain industry, which feeds and fuels the world. Thanks for listening today and joining the network of thousands of other grain handling and processing professionals across the globe taking strategic steps to grow professionally. The whole grain show will give you the competitive advantage to win at work so you can make more of an impact. And speaking of making impact, what better way, in the least amount of time, to have the biggest impact for your organization, to grow your network and support your personal professional development? This is an episode you need to share with your colleagues in your greater grain industry network. We promise that this episode will get you informed about all things Jeep’s Exchange 2024. We think the large list of vendors and suppliers who are going to be here at Jeep’s Exchange with your presence and for the dialogue you’ll generate with the grain operations folks. We have a great cast of characters joining the show today. We want to give a special thanks to our Jeep’s Exchange Platinum sponsors Cargill, ccs Group, custom Concrete Specialists and IBT Industrial Solutions. You’ll hear about them later in the show. Let’s start the show with the executive director of the grain elevator and processing John Caupert, we’ve got this great event, of course, jeep’s Exchange coming up. What’s your message for those who are registered and those who are considering right now?
John Caupert:
As executive director of Jeep’s, I’m really excited about Exchange and the countless opportunities it’s going to offer. Exchange is the opportunity for everyone that works in the grain and grain processing industry, regardless of whether they’re a member or not. We welcome our members back. We would like to add new members to our family. That being said, exchange is a gathering for all. We’re going to kick off Exchange with a fantastic keynote address by world renowned musician Sandy Gennaro. From there we will have more than two dozen educational breakout sessions across four different tracks. Our expo, world renowned in the grain and grain processing industry. Nearly 400 exhibitors touching every point in the grain and grain processing value chain will be there on hand to network with, to interact with, to learn from. So again, we’re excited about Exchange, looking forward to welcoming everyone to Kansas City.
Jim Lenz, Host:
All right, you heard it everybody. You heard it from John Culpert, our new Jeep’s executive director. Thank you, john, for sharing some time with Whole Grain Podcast listeners. Thank you, John, appreciate it. Now let’s talk with Brittany about the big trade show floor.
Brittany Labott:
Yeah, so I’m Brittany Levatt. I am the conference and sales manager here at Jeep’s.
Jim Lenz, Host:
All right, brittany, great to have you Got a number of questions. I want to buyer with you and I think listeners would be very interested in this because Exchange what a great event. It’s such a neat opportunity for individuals and teams who work in grain facilities once a year to come to the big Jeep’s Exchange trade show floor and experience all there is as they are planning for future maintenance projects and future expansion projects. What a better place to come to than Exchange. So where else can one connect with so many suppliers and vendor the grain handling and processing industry? I know you’ve been working with the vendors and suppliers. They are such a big, important piece. This event would not go on without them. So we appreciate them. We appreciate their support. Brittany, can you provide listeners with an understanding of just how vast the Exhibitor Hall is? It was my first year last year. It’s impressive.
Brittany Labott:
Yeah, so this year we have a 71,900 square feet of Expo Hall, and so, just to wrap your mind around that, that’s about 719, 10 by 10s. Of course, our floor plan is much more than that Lots of bigger booths and smaller booths. We have a variety of equipment to try out as well. So, yeah, you get a little overwhelmed once you walk up those stairs and see all the things, but it’s really exciting and Exhibitors are excited to meet with everybody.
Jim Lenz, Host:
Yeah, there’s a variety of verticals within that grain handling and processing industry. A lot of things are very interactive, but those conversations are so important here with the listeners. How many Exhibitors will be participating this year, 2024?
Brittany Labott:
We have 390 companies that are exhibiting this year.
Jim Lenz, Host:
Wow, that’s fantastic and recently shared with Jeep’s internal staff and the board, something really special about Jeep’s Exchange 2024. So please share with Whole Grain Podcast listeners.
Brittany Labott:
Yeah, so this year first time since 2017, we are completely sold out of booth space, so we are super excited for what that means for attendees and for the future of Jeep’s, really excited about all the companies that are going to be there, and we have actually quite a few new exhibitors as well, so we’re excited for February coming up. I know exhibitors are planning and preparing as we speak.
Jim Lenz, Host:
All right. Thank you for the quick report. We appreciate it yeah thank you. We’ll continue talking about all things Exchange right after this brief message. Ibt Industrial Solutions has been your expert and product support partner in the grain industry for over 75 years. They solve the hard problems to help keep your business running as a one-stop shop for products and services ranging from motion amplification to conveying solutions. They also stock product inventory from over 1,200 suppliers, available now at one of their 37 locations across the Midwest. Come visit IBT Solutions at the Jeeps Exchange with 2,608, or go to www. ibtinc. com/grain. Ibt Industrial Solutions, your trusted grain industry partner. All right, now I’m going to bring you all things related to the registration process.
Susan Sarapa:
Hello, my name is Susan Sarapa. I am the customer relationship associate for Jeeps. During exchange I handle the registration process. I handle the pre-registration process, help people over the phone when they have trouble getting through registration and hotel reservations, and I am also on site helping when we open Jeeps Exchange.
Jim Lenz, Host:
For those who have attended at that site at Kansas City Convention Center, or for those who are completely new, let’s provide a little background and auditory sort of format to sort of they can visualize in their head what to expect here, in particular to the registration process. Susan, what should someone expect when they get to the registration area?
Susan Sarapa:
Well, as you walk into the main hallway you’ll see the registration lobby. It’ll be very apparent, we’ll have lots of signage and it’ll be made up of three general areas. The first area is the self-help kiosk. There’ll be four self-help stations there and if you haven’t pre-registered, the prefer to register on site on your own. There will be four stations available where you can sign in and register for the expo. You can also get help if you run into any issues with that. The second area is the express registration stations. So this is if you’ve already registered and brought your confirmation with you, you can step up to one of our four express registration stations where you can scan your barcode and that’ll allow you to print your badge. So you’ll have that ready and on the go. And the third area is the registration desk. Now, if you’re rather one of those people that just need help and you want someone to help you with your registration, you can step up and be greeted by one of the registration representatives that can help you through the process. So and you can also go to them if you have any questions about the expo as well.
Jim Lenz, Host:
Excellent. Another thing related to registration that people may want to know is when. When can I register? What are the times?
Susan Sarapa:
So we will be open for registration, beginning on Saturday believe it’s 7 am to 7 pm during the day and Sunday, I believe it starts at 6.30 am to 6 pm. Monday it runs from 7 am to 5 pm and then Tuesday, we open at 7 am and close at 2 pm.
Jim Lenz, Host:
All right, they arrived, they got there safely. They are now registered. Provide some just brief understanding of what is next, where they go, where it’s located, For example, obviously the big trade show floor and the education sessions. Where are they in relation to the registration area?
Susan Sarapa:
So the show floor is just steps away up the escalator on the floor just above the registration desk. So you will see it. It’s just right adjacent to the registration desk. It’s very, very hard to miss and you can just go right up the escalator. The education sessions I can’t remember what hall it’s in, but there’ll be lots of signage. It will be behind the registration desk and you can ask one of the representatives if you need any guidance. There’ll be lots, plenty of signage available for that. It was exciting to see all the attendees come to the registration area with smiles on their faces. They seem to be ready to have some fun, excited to walk the show floor and participate in all the great events and the social events that we have going, including the get acquainted party. This year we’re going to have music, bingo. There’s going to be lots of exciting things going on, so I don’t think it’ll disappoint.
Patsy Lee:
Hi, my name is Patsy. I am part of the professional development team and you usually find me at the registration, running around in the expo hall or in the education session.
Jim Lenz, Host:
There’s a lot of responsibilities of chief staff that go behind the scenes. You play a role in making sure everything goes smooth while on site that a lot of people may not be aware. What is one of your favorite parts of exchange?
Patsy Lee:
One of my favorite part of exchange is meeting the members, and especially during the education sessions. There are goodies there that you can take and use. I guess, being part of the professional development team, education is probably one of my favorite.
Jim Lenz, Host:
What would you say are one or two things an exchange attendee should bring along.
Patsy Lee:
I would say bring some good shoes, because you’ll be walking and standing all day, and also the willingness to connect and network with people.
Jim Lenz, Host:
All right, stay tuned. We have more coming up, including information on education sessions, the formal and informal networking opportunities, and you’ll also hear from our president of the Jeeps International Board of Directors right after this message. Custom concrete specialist has you covered with concrete silo repairs. Having completed over 1500 projects, ccs is a nation’s leader in structural assessments, preventative maintenance and emergency repairs for terminal and country grain elevators. Ccs is dedicated to providing advanced evaluation technology, a skilled and experienced team and unwavering commitment to safety. Ccs provides nationwide services of shock creek liners, catastrophic failure repairs, carbon fiber solutions, crack and spalling repairs, hopper installation and repairs and rough coatings. Visit their website at CCSgrouponlinecom.
Adrianne Fjerstad-Miller:
Hi, I’m . I am the conference and expo director for Jeeps.
Jim Lenz, Host:
Big picture wise. If you could share with our listeners, adrianne, what are the benefits of going to exchange?
Adrianne Fjerstad-Miller:
So there are a multitude of benefits from a 10-in exchange. A big one that is talked about a lot is networking. People are always giving us anecdotes about the connections that they made at exchange that became vital resources for them for years to come. So it really lends itself to great networking and connecting with people with all sorts of levels of experience and knowledge. Another thing I would say is our education is really really excellent. Each year, our educational programming committee works on putting together an educational slate with cutting edge information and best practices, so you are sure to learn something that you can immediately take back to your place of work and apply on the job, and then, yeah, just having a great time. People have a lot of fun in exchange, so it’s not all work.
Jim Lenz, Host:
Adrienne and her team put a lot of effort into just what she said creating fun. Yeah, there’s network on the trade show floor and within the educational sessions, but there are like very targeted efforts made to create a unique fun, lighthearted, with some great food and entertainment. Exactly that’s networking opportunity. So it’s a community of people coming together, some for the first time. Some are looking forward to seeing each other. So those who have been here at Exchange in the past, they’re probably curious hey, Adrianne, what is new this year at Exchange 2024?
Adrianne Fjerstad-Miller:
Yeah, so a few things are new. Some things will actually be new to me as well. We have a sold out expo hall, and so that means new exhibiting companies who this will be their first time Exhibiting at Jeep’s exchange, so you know you’re sure to see new products and services. Of course, the education program is always fresh. We also have a closing event that’s new this year we are playing music bingo on Tuesday. So join us in the expo hall on Tuesday and then, right after it closes, head to music bingo for a lot of fun and Chance to win some really great prizes donated by our exhibitors.
Jim Lenz, Host:
Some people just rewinded this, I think, and they said what did you say? Music bingo music bingo.
Adrianne Fjerstad-Miller:
We have professional company coming in to host it. So this company does music bingo all over at, you know, bars, restaurants, parties, and what they’ll do is they’ll play songs and everybody will have bingo cards with song names on them, and so it’s just like, you know, regular bingo. You know you get five in a row, so you hear the song, you look to see if it’s on your bingo card and then you mark it off. And I have heard that it will be very easy. There will be. If you, if you’re not a music aficionado, that is okay. You can converse amongst the others at your table if you need to pull out your smartphone. So we’re gonna make this just a really fun and enjoyable experience and, like I said, if you get bingo, there’ll be some great prizes that you can win and that’s just some of the new things that exchange is here.
Jim Lenz, Host:
Thank you for sharing that before we conclude here, do you have any advice for getting the most out of the exchange experience? What is your advice?
Adrianne Fjerstad-Miller:
Yeah, I would say. Just because exchange is such a robust conference with so much going on, I think you get the most out of your experience just by taking a little time to plan ahead Before you get on site, and we have some wonderful tools for you to do that, probably first and foremost being the mobile app for exchange 2024. So in that app you are going to find the entire schedule of events and you’ll have the ability to Favorite things so you can create, you know, a whole file of all the things that you want to make sure that you don’t miss. You’re all the education sessions, all the parties you want to go to Um and then also take a look at the interactive expo help floor plan. Our exhibitors put a lot of time and effort into creating Profiles so you can get a real sense of what their company is about, what they’ll be bringing to exchange. Some of them even have product pictures posted in the app Um, as well as show specials. So I would just encourage you to take a look at that and sort of plan how you want to spend your days.
Jim Lenz, Host:
I’m glad you share that. That’s actually a really big piece. I’m curious when can Individuals access the mobile app to kind of look at what you just described? Is it when you’re at the event, or is there even time a little bit before the event that they’ll have access to?
Adrianne Fjerstad-Miller:
Yeah, so you will have access to the event prior to and so if you are registered to attend the event, you will get an email notification from us letting you know that the mobile app is available in the app store for download.
Jim Lenz, Host:
Oh, that’s perfect. Thank you so much for spending some time with whole grain. Listeners appreciate it.
Adrianne Fjerstad-Miller:
Yeah, thank you so much, I appreciate it.
Jim Lenz, Host:
Okay, now we’re gonna go ahead and discuss our educational opportunities at exchange.
Betsy Polis:
Hi, my name is Betsy Polis. I’m senior project manager with jeeps.
Jim Lenz, Host:
That’s it great to have you here and tell everybody about all the great educational opportunities at GEAPS exchange 2024 we start kicking off education on Sunday morning with our keynote speaker.
Betsy Polis:
It starts at 8 am. We’re excited to welcome rock star and professional speaker Sandy Gennaro as the 2024 keynote speaker. Gennaro, who’s toured with Cindy Lauper, the monkeys and Joan jet, delivers a powerful, powerful presentation about beating the odds and becoming a rock star in business and in life. It’s one of those events you don’t want to miss.
Jim Lenz, Host:
No, betsy. We offer what I think is a really unique opportunity to uncover the landscape of Innovation in the grain handling and processing industry, and one of those means of delivery for innovation at exchange is Idea exchange. Just in case those listeners have not attended, can you elaborate a little bit more about what idea exchange is all about?
Betsy Polis:
So directly after the conference keynote, the idea exchange runs from 945 to 11 am On Sunday morning. This is a very popular event. Make sure to come see these short presentations from a variety of speakers on some of the newest and innovative products and ideas to the grain industry. We have so many new products, from the first ever rapid quantitative gluten strip tests for grain and milling products to New conveyor products, new grain drying products, new railcar loading, reverse sweep, all things. Check it out on our website to see the full list and Make sure to attend.
Jim Lenz, Host:
Thank you, betsy. In this single annual event, how many total hours of education are offered at jeeps exchange?
Betsy Polis:
Attendees at jeeps exchange have access to 45 hours of peer reviewed education.
Jim Lenz, Host:
That’s great. A lot of those things I’d love for you to address a little bit more and talk about how this is organized and what’s available.
Betsy Polis:
Sure, this year we have four individual tracks of education, maintenance, employee development, safety and grain operations. The tracks are planned so you can attend all the sessions in one or mix and match throughout the four as you go. Tracks start on Sunday afternoon in the expo hall innovation stations and run Monday and Tuesday, february 26 and 27th, with multiple session options. There are just so many great presenters this year, covering a plethora of topics. I can’t speak to all of them here, but our website can, so I encourage everyone to check those out and start building your schedule.
Jim Lenz, Host:
Good tip there to check out GEAPS dot com forward slash exchange For all the details there, something you definitely want to look through beforehand, actually, another thing just to give some people context Earlier in the show they talked about the registration process. Where that’s located? Where are these education sessions held in respect to everything else that’s going on?
Betsy Polis:
Yeah. So after you pick up your badge at registration, you will just head down the hall and up the escalators and you’ll be able to find all the education sessions there for keynote and idea exchange. That Sunday morning they’re going to be held in the grand ballroom. That’s on the same level as registration, so all within the conference center at the convention center.
Jim Lenz, Host:
Good to know when those conclude and they’ll just walk down the hallway into the large Expo hall. Just absolutely enormous, and we had already Brittany share a little bit of information about that, but a good thing. To touch base here is one of the most important Demonstrations that one will see, perhaps ever in the industry. For a lot of people Maybe have done this on site and be part of it, but we have something very unique. I’d love for you to trust this important piece.
Betsy Polis:
Yes, so we have a grain entrapment rescue demonstration. Oklahoma State University brings their training trailer into the Expo hall. It’s set up very central and they do daily, if not twice a day, demonstrations of Hands-on rescues. We will have representatives from the Kansas City Fire Department available for a panel discussion as well, along with the trainers within the demonstration. It is a very, very valuable type of training that you don’t want to miss. These happen five times throughout the three days of Expo hall and they are at the same time as the innovation stations, which are also Education, within the Expo hall you heard it from Betsy Absolutely action packed with educational opportunities.
Jim Lenz, Host:
Once again, betsy, how many total hours at this single event at Jeep’s exchange in education 45 hours of education. All right, thank you, betsy.
Betsy Polis:
Thank you.
Jim Lenz, Host:
We also want to thank the great work of the EPC committee for steering the education at Jeep’s exchange. Now let’s talk about communication channels before, during and after Jeep’s exchange.
Julia Kloehn:
My name is Julia clone.
Jim Lenz, Host:
I’m the director of operations with Jeeps great to have you, julia, on the show. We want to make sure now that those who have registered or are Intending to register and tend incoming, that they understand the different means of communication Leading up to and while on site, because there’s some very exciting things that I think people be interested in knowing what you have to offer. So can you talk about some of the breakdown of the different communication channels that involve Jeeps exchange?
Julia Kloehn:
absolutely so. For those folks who’ve already registered and already reserved your hotel room, you already have a confirmation that details out those things. As we get closer to exchange, you can expect to receive a daily email, so that will kind of outline the schedule for the day. Hit some highlights for the day. The mobile app is another great Resource on site. So this is an app you can download on your smartphone, add to your phone. It’s a tool that has the schedule. It has the entire Exhibitor floor plan. It has all the companies, their products, companies can list, show, specials. I mean it’s got all the schedule details included as well. One of the cool features with the app is that you can really customize, kind of build your own schedule inside of the app. So if there’s companies you want to visit, you can star those. If there’s particular Sessions you want to attend, you can mark those as well. So it could be a real custom kind of guide for you throughout the exchange. If a mobile app isn’t your thing, we also print what we call the at a glance. So there’s a smaller paper version of a guide that you can pick up at Registration. That will also have some details about the floor plan and slightly less information than you can access on the map, but it’s still a great tool for the schedule and for some basic kind of trade show floor plan items. If all of those fail, there’s always the jeep’s booth. You can head to the jeep’s booth or the jeeps registration desk and Find some staff and ask a question. We’d be happy to direct direct you to wherever you’re looking to go Choose what’s best for you or choose all of them.
Jim Lenz, Host:
You just mentioned the jeep’s booth. It’s generally gonna be pretty easy to find, you’ll see with the signage. But just to help people as they’re coming in, what are some landmarks? How can people find the jeep’s booth?
Julia Kloehn:
Sure. So when you arrive at the Kansas City Convention Center, you’ll find you’ll follow the signs to the jeep’s registration area. You’ll grab your your name badge, you get all checked in and you’ll head up the escalators. The escalators are right there by the registration desk and once you get to the top of the escalators you are in the expo hall. So you’ll see the sights and sounds and noise of the trade show right away. If you’re looking for the jeep’s booth, you’re gonna take a left and head kind of around back behind you and you’ll find the jeep’s booth. You’re not gonna miss it because we’re right near the grain entrapment trailer, which is a big trailer, a very cool experience. If you have not seen that live happened before. A very good thing to check out. That’s repeated several times throughout the exchange. But there’s a big seating area there as well and the jeep’s booth is set up just behind that or just kind of beside that. So come, check us out and we’ll help you out with anything you need perfect.
Jim Lenz, Host:
Also, there’ll be announcements throughout the day on the intercom system to support you as well. So I think we’ve got you covered. Listeners for attending GEAPS exchange. In terms of communication, julia, thanks for sharing that.
Deb Most:
Thank you, Jim. Hi, my name is Deb most. I’m the member in chapter services manager at jeeps.
Jim Lenz, Host:
Deb, great to have you on this show because this is a great opportunity to tell people about the upcoming exchange. A lot of Exciting things is listeners heard Deb works with the chapters and so tell us about on the exchange trade show floor Something that’s pretty exciting and, I think, unique for a trade show industry events.
Deb Most:
Yeah, we do a chapter cornhole tournament and we ask our chapters and other members to Sponsored team of two to play cornhole during the expo hours so people drop in, a couple teams can play and it’s a chance for our chapter members to network with each other and give each other graph at times and potentially win a trophy and cash prize. So we are very excited to be hosting this for the third year. It’s gonna be. The jeep’s booth will have the schedule up in the jeep’s booth and we invite people to come in and watch and cheer people on and if there’s not a game going on, you know, maybe we’ll have the cornhole boards there for you to play if you want to play with somebody.
Jim Lenz, Host:
That’s a fun thing to have a little competition and network.
Deb Most:
And speaking of networking, deb, tell us about a couple other things that are offered here at exchange we know that we have a lot of new people at the exchange and it’s hard to walk into a room of three thousand people and get to know others. So, instead of waiting to the expo hall floor or even the education program, we have started to have a mixer for our new attendees and International attendees, and this is a chance for you to come in as a new Attendee and meet our leaders, both our membership committee as well as our board, and to ask your questions and meet other new attendants. It is on six o’clock on Saturday night. Before they get a quaint a party. It’s just an hour and we really invite you to network and start your networking there, because you’ll be seeing these people around the floor the rest of the week.
Jim Lenz, Host:
That’s a great summary. Thank you, Deb, for sharing all the great news and the fun that’s happening at Jeeps Exchange 2024.
Deb Most:
You’re very welcome.
Jim Lenz, Host:
We’ll connect with Jeeps International Board President. Coming up next right after a brief message. Cargill is delighted to sponsor the Grain Elevator and Processing Society Exchange. Once again, they wish everyone a safe and enjoyable experience in Kansas City, cargill is committed to providing food ingredients, agricultural solutions and industrial products to nourish the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way. Sitting at the heart of the supply chain, cargill partners with farmers and customers to source, make and deliver products that are vital for living. Their 160,000 team members innovate with purpose, providing customers with life’s essentials so businesses can grow, communities prosper and consumers live well. With 159 years of experience as a family company, they look ahead while remaining true to their values. They put people first. They reach higher. They do the right thing today and for generations to come. For more information, visit Cargillcom and their news center.
Chuck Kunisch:
I’m Chuck Kunish, president of the International Board of Jeeps.
Jim Lenz, Host:
All right, we’re excited, chuck, and we’re excited for you to be on the show here. Chuck is Chiefs Board President. How excited are you?
Chuck Kunisch:
I’m unbelievably excited, Jim. Everything’s really coming together. The staff has done a fantastic job. I just can’t wait till we get to the opening session and things get started.
Jim Lenz, Host:
You have been to Chiefs Exchange. I think was it three or four times. I’m just kidding. You know how many times have you been to Chiefs Exchange? I don’t know a lot.
Chuck Kunisch:
Probably 20 plus.
Jim Lenz, Host:
All right, so let’s talk about those who are coming to Chiefs Exchange for the first time. What are your words of wisdom? How do you describe it? What should they consider for the big event?
Chuck Kunisch:
It can be a little bit overwhelming the amount of people in excess of 3,000, the amount of vendors, so sort of. Get a game plan together of who you really want to talk to. What are you looking for If you’re a regular member? What vendors you want to talk to, to make sure you get to those ones you really want to talk to, because if you just walk the floor without a plan, you can get overwhelmed. If you have a plan, meet the ones that you want to talk to and then maybe just stroll the floor to see what else you can find out, because there’s always a lot more to find out than you planned on.
Jim Lenz, Host:
Yeah, that’s great advice. What projects are you working on? What are some future projects? Think about discussions you have or should have with your team coming in, and we’re going to share in this episode the tools and resources to support you in those things that you described. Of course, you can go to GEAPSdotcom forward slash exchange. All right, Chuck. Thank you so much for joining the show. We look forward to seeing you and everybody else here at the upcoming Jeeps Exchange.
Chuck Kunisch:
Yep great Go Jeeps.
Holly Betten:
In agriculture. We have so many great people and you get to put all of them in one place.
Randy Bowman:
In Kansas City. It’s really neat because you take the escalators out, it’s like the floodgates have opened.
Patsy Lee:
You see the scale of people and exhibitors and equipment and technology.
Dale Vinsand:
It’s amazing that first time where you walk onto the floor and you get to see how fresh, shiny and new it is each year. It just gives you a level of excitement to be back.
Chuck Kunisch:
Oh there’s so much equipment and to be able to go and look and kick the tires and talk to people about all the new equipment and learn about the equipment. I just love it.
Holly Betten:
Well, when I walk into the Expo Center, I’m an extrovert, so I see all these people that I need to meet. It’s the people that make exchange. It’s the people that you meet, it’s the relationships that you build. It’s those people that you call and ask for questions, that you ask advice to later on, because it’s that network built in that’s there to help you.
Randy Bowman:
A lot of what we do at Jeep’s is relationship building, being able to understand who you can talk to when you do have issues or problems, even just to run an idea past somebody that maybe they’ve got a different way of doing things better.
Patsy Lee:
It’s good to have this relationship and, hey guys, we met last year or a few months ago in the Jeep’s exchange. I’m Ramsay Farag. Let’s get this done as soon as possible. We have this personal connection.
Randy Bowman:
I can’t think of another industry group that shares that way, and it’s just great folks to work with and they’re so willing to share their knowledge or to send you to someone who might have that knowledge. There’s a lot of different opportunities for education here. We’ve got sessions in the morning, sessions in the afternoon and we’ve got also innovation stations up on the Expo floor.
Holly Betten:
You can do something within your role or you can say you know, I want to step out, try something different, and go to, maybe, an innovation station where you don’t know anything about that topic.
Dale Vinsand:
The idea exchange is a great way for new technology to hit the industry, especially when you get a new inventor that’s really excited about his product.
Holly Betten:
I think the value in the keynote is it really helps us put on that leadership hat and think about what are some things that we can take back and directly apply in just our everyday professional lives and then also our personal lives as well.
Chuck Kunisch:
Everybody is working towards a common goal to improve the industry, improve jeeps, improve their companies and all those relationships fuel that. It’s more than just a job, it’s a calling. We feed and fuel the world. What a more noble cause than that we’re really impacting people all over the world.
Holly Betten:
Well, that is the show we think you’re going to see.
Jim Lenz, Host:
If this is your first time joining the Whole Grain podcast, we welcome you. If you would like to ensure that you receive each and every episode as soon as they are released and to check on past podcast episodes, just go to your favorite podcast app to search for Whole Grain, hit the subscribe button. That’s all you need to do, and don’t forget to leave a five star rating on your podcast app. That ensures that others around the world can get to know you better. We already have listeners in 62 countries. Let’s keep growing this podcast. And, of course, you can also find this on our Jeeps website at GEAPS. com forward slash whole grain. Hey, if you’re a vendor or supplier of the green industry, do you know that Jeeps Whole Grain podcast offers a terrific opportunity to spotlight your business through audio ads? You can also be featured as a global thought leader by serving as a guest in the show as we work to advance the industry. If you and your organization want to create an audio ad for a future episode or you are interested in serving as a guest on the whole grain show, please reach out to me. Jim Lenz, director of global training and education at Jeeps, also the host and producer of this show, we have an in-house audio production studio where we can service all of your needs right from the very comfort of a virtual studio. We’ll be happy to work with you. Just reach out to me, james@geaps. com email is . That’s J-A-M-E-S at G-E-A-P-Scom. We look forward to connecting with you. Hey, continue listening. Share the news, this show, with your friends and colleagues. Have yourself a great day and thanks for listening to this very special episode of Whole Grain. Make it a great day.
