MCLEAN, VA. — The Food Production Solutions Association (FPSA) is trying to do its part to help the manufacturing industry close its leadership gap by introducing a new two-day leadership development conference called Cultivate: Leadership Growth Lab. The conference, set for Nov. 5 to 6 in Lexington, Ky., is designed for early-to-mid-career professionals in food manufacturing and production.
“Food production and manufacturing companies are about to hand the keys to a generation of leaders who have never been given a real chance to practice leading,” said Chris Lyons, chief executive officer of FPSA. “Cultivate exists to close that gap. We built an experience where early-career professionals don’t just hear about leadership — they practice it, get feedback on it, and leave with a network of peers holding them accountable to keep growing. That’s how we build the bench our industry needs moving forward.”
In today’s manufacturing industry, as more Baby Boomers are retiring and younger workers join the industry, Millennials and Gen Zers are moving into more leadership roles, however, many companies are not prepared for that transition. According to FPSA’s “2025 Member Research: Trends in US Workforce Gap and Solutions” study, 75% of fabricators and 64% of service technicians have leadership skill deficiencies when hired, but only 48% of companies have existing leadership programs.
FPSA’s Cultivate program will provide real leadership practice around three pillars — Labs, Challenges and Accountability. Attendees will complete a DiSC® workplace personality assessment before the event to help organizers create small, DiSC-balanced peer groups, Cultivate Circles, for the duration of the program.
The event will kick off with a keynote address from Jason Burke, founder and CEO of The New Primal, a high-protein meat snacks company. Burke will share leadership lessons from his career. Attendees will participate in interactive labs on communication, difficult conversations and leading with authority. The conference will also include a tour of a local food production facility to see leadership and production in action, as well as an operational leadership challenge business simulation to apply what they’ve learned.
The conference costs $995 for FPSA members and $1,495 for non-members. Companies sending two attendees will receive a complimentary third registration. Registration closes Oct. 30.
Learn more about the Cultivate: Leadership Growth Lab.
Read more about pet food and treat industry events.
