Ten Emerging Leaders Selected for 2025 LAUNCH Program

Ten Ohio agribusiness leaders have recently embarked on the Ohio AgriBusiness Association’s 2025 Leaders Achieving Unexpected New Career Heights (LAUNCH) program.

Hosted by the Ohio AgriBusiness Association (OABA), in partnership with Shift-ology Communication, the LAUNCH program is geared to help Ohio agribusinesses Elevate People, Elevate Ideas and Elevate the Industry. Participants were identified by their companies as emerging agribusiness leaders with a desire to meet higher level goals than the scope of their current position, and who seek to rise within their company.

The ten Ohio AgriBusiness Association members enrolled in the 2025 LAUNCH program include:

• Kelsey Brodman, Legacy Farmers Cooperative
• Bryce Clary, Nutrien Ag Solutions
• Jacquie Daniel, Morral Companies, LLC
• Nichole Daniel, Centerra Co-op
• Abigail Hurst, Consolidated Grain & Barge Co.
• Samantha Johnson, Deerfield Ag Services, Inc.
• Bryce Mosher, Nutrien Ag Solutions
• Ryan Parthemore, Morral Companies, LLC
• Olivia Pflaumer, Global Impact STEM Academy
• Nathan Simon, Legacy Farmers Cooperative

“We’re excited to welcome the 2025 LAUNCH class and provide them with opportunities to grow as leaders in agribusiness,” said Melinda Witten, OABA President and CEO. “Through this program, participants will develop essential skills, gain valuable insights, and strengthen their ability to make an impact within their organizations and the broader agricultural industry.”

LAUNCH is a transitional training – empowering employees to meet higher level goals, going beyond the scope of their current position. Agribusinesses continually compete with all industries to recruit and retain the best talent, but there is also a need to invest in those who are already passionate about agriculture.

Program topics and skills practiced include personal insight, next-level leadership skills and decision making including strategic planning, critical thinking, change management, goal setting and organizational skills; communication and presentation skills; global issues in agriculture; sales and marketing principles; Ohio/regional trends in agribusiness; state and local government; and a personalized capstone project.

Other staples of the LAUNCH experience are networking opportunities, webinars and the capstone project – a key component of LAUNCH where the participant selects a strategic project to implement at his or her place of business.

More than 20 different speakers will provide their insight through multiple interactive sessions. A visit to the Ohio State House with key leaders and a visit to Morral Companies in Marion, Ohio, will also be part of the program.

For additional information on OABA or the LAUNCH Program, contact Janice Welsheimer at 614-326-7520 or jwelsheimer@oaba.net.