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Growing People 2022


Eugene’s Table, Knowledge Waits Consulting, and Northwest Food Solutions are teaming up to offer a workshop series for founders, managers and aspiring managers at emerging brands and other small to mid sized food and beverage manufacturing companies.  

Three Oregon companies have joined forces to offer a innovative workshop series to founders, managers, and aspiring managers at emerging and growing food and beverage manufacturing companies. This program - called Growing People - is designed to prepare owners and employees to address the challenges faced every day in manufacturing.  

Are you a business owner looking to provide opportunities to your employees to learn and practice new skills in the areas of leadership and continuous improvement?  Would you like to learn techniques to make your manufacturing process more efficient?  Would it be helpful to acquire knowledge and techniques for approaching the current supply chain challenges?  

Who Should Participate?

We know that better systems are developed and improved when diverse perspectives are integrated into management decisions. Growing People was developed to help empower manufacturing professionals to lead where they are regardless of background, experience, or company size. Workshop materials will be especially relevant to those working at companies with at least 3 FTE and no more than 300 FTE.  Ideal participants could be any of the following:

  • Entrepreneur leading a small, but growing operation, who wants to build operations that will scale sustainably with the company’s future growth

  • Experienced operator at a small to mid-size company who is ready to take on more responsibility and direct reports

  • Manager at established mid-size company who wants to improve current systems

Flexible Course Schedule

Whether you have time to take one class or the entire program, there is a spot for you.  Participants can enroll in one or more workshops, depending on their interests and availability, or they can complete a full certificate program. To earn a Certificate in Food and Beverage Manufacturing Management, participants are asked to complete the four core workshops and at least one elective workshop.  

Workshops are delivered virtually via Zoom. Most of the workshops are on Wednesdays, but a few fall on Tuesday or Thursday . All workshops are from 8:30 am to 11:00 am.  Specific dates are below.

Core Workshops

Conducted virtually by Zoom. All classes are from 8:30 am - 11 am on the dates listed below

(Take one or more; all four required for certificate) 

  1. Leading Change by Transforming Culture 3/30, 4/6, 4/13

  2. Building an Effective Visual Workplace 4/20, 4/26, 5/4

  3. Problem Solving in the Workplace 5/11, 5/18, 5/25

  4. Leading with Daily Improvement 6/1, 6/8, 6/15 

Elective Workshops 

Conducted virtually by Zoom. All classes are from 8:30 am - 11 am on the dates listed below

(Take one or two; at least one required for certificate)

  1. Improving and Strengthening the Supply Chain 6/22, 6/29

  2. Preparing for a Third-Party Audits 6/23, 6/30

The program also includes:

  • Professional and expert developed curriculum and materials tailored to specific needs of participants

  • Interactive workshops and coaching methods that engage participants in the solutioning process.

  • Access to a virtual mentoring community.

  • One-on-one coaching provided by Growing People facilitators between workshop sessions.

  • Cohort is small to ensure individual questions and needs are addressed.

  • Workshops can be taken à la carte or in combination to earn a Certificate in Food and Beverage Manufacturing Management

Pricing

Anyone can participate in these workshops. However, participants from Oregon based food and beverage manufacturing companies can enroll at a discounted price.

Growing People workshops are being offered at a substantial discount to Eugene’s Table members due to generous sponsorship provided by Lane Workforce Partnership.

All prices are listed per person per workshop.

Standard Pricing

Core Workshop - $495

Elective Workshop - $395

Discounted Pricing for Eugene’s Table Members

Core Workshop - $495 $55

Elective Workshop - $395 $35

Discounted Pricing for All Other Oregon Companies

Core Workshop - $495 $195

Elective Workshop - $395 $145

Register Today

Class size is limited!

Use the link below to register for each of the workshops you would like to attend. Those wanting to complete a certificate program must enroll in the 4 core workshops and at least one elective course.

Note: Completed coursework from 2021 Growing People workshop series can be applied towards the certificate program. Contact us if you have any questions about prior classes you completed.


Workshop Details

All content is delivered in a virtual format with live instruction, student interaction, coaching and relevant project work between classes.  Students will complete an assigned project as part of the coursework.  

All workshops are 8:30am - 11:00am

Workshop 1:  Leading Change by Transforming Culture

CORE WORKSHOP

Instructor: Cheryl Collins

Dates: Wed, 3/30, Wed 4/6, and Wed 4/13

Peter Drucker famously said: “Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast".  Is Culture Eating or Feeding Your Organization?  Culture is the underlying force that’s either helping or hindering your organization.  But culture is often misunderstood.  Culture is NOT simply “the way we do things around here.”  It’s essence is in our underlying beliefs and assumptions. It drives our behaviors on a daily basis.  Whether creating a physically or psychologically safe workplace, understanding our culture is key.  Culture is a system that cannot be quickly changed, but if understood, it can be transformed.

Using interactive learning techniques, this workshop will prepare you to:

  • Understand organizational culture and the role it plays in your company

  • Identify elements that are impacting your culture

  • Determine effective methods for assessing and transforming your culture

  • Understand the importance and impact of psychological safety

Workshop 2:  Building an Effective Visual Workplace

CORE WORKSHOP

Instructor: Teri Danielson

Dates: Wed 4/20, Tue 4/26, and Wed 5/4

Does your workplace speak to you?  Does it tell you how to do the work and what needs to happen next?  Imagine what your workplace might be like if there were visual cues that supported the performance of the day-to-day work and resulted in a more efficient process with less waste.  In this workshop students will learn how to go about setting up, organizing, and implementing a visual workplace.  

Using interactive learning techniques, this workshop will prepare you to:

  • Understand principles of visual thinking

  • Learn to organize the workplace using 5S

  • Practice using mapping tools to eliminate waste in a process

  • Develop a daily improvement practice

Workshop 3:  Problem Solving in the Workplace

CORE WORKSHOP

Instructor: Maria Grzanka

Dates: Wed 5/11, Wed 5/18, and Wed 5/25

Albert Einstein famously said: “If I had an hour to solve a problem, I’d spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about solutions.”  For many people, the inverse is more accurate.  When we identify a problem we immediately jump to a solution, rarely slowing down to ask if we are solving the right problem, if we understand the root cause of the problem, and if our solution actually worked.  We have become conditioned to believe that the existence of problems in the workforce is a bad thing. What if it isn’t?  We need to start rethinking our approach to problem solving. The goal should not be to eliminate the existence of problems, but rather to develop a robust team of problem solvers. 

Using interactive learning techniques, this workshop will prepare you to:

  • Understand the important and helpful role problems play in the workforce

  • Understand the root cause analysis approach

  • Properly identify and define problems

  • Apply different tools to understand root causes to problems

  • Define and utilize metrics to demonstrate improvement

Workshop 4:  Leading with Daily Improvement

CORE WORKSHOP

Instructor: Teri Danielson

Dates: Wed 6/1, Wed 6/8, and Wed 6/15 

Taiichi Ohno of Toyota is quoted as saying, “People should not go to a job to work, they should go there to think.”  Daily Management is about taking time each day to engage people in thinking about their workplace and identifying, prioritizing, and solving problems that will make manufacturing products more effective.  In this workshop, students will learn how to implement a Daily Management system in their own workplace and how to link daily improvements to company objectives and customer needs.

Using interactive learning techniques, this workshop will prepare you to:

  • Understand how Daily Management Systems can improve production effectiveness

  • Tie company True North and Objectives to Daily Management metrics.

  • Develop and implement a Daily Huddle and an Improvement Board

  • Understand how to support a Daily Management System

Workshop 5:  Improving and Strengthening the Supply Chain

ELECTIVE WORKSHOP

Instructor: Dileep Kulkarni

Dates: Wed 6/22 and Wed 6/29

It has been said, what we know and what we believe is of little consequence.  It is what we do that is important.  When it comes to supply chain practices, this point is certainly true.  In this workshop, students will learn how to put in place practices and behaviors that support an effective purchasing process and supplier relationships. 

Using interactive learning techniques, this workshop will prepare you to:

  • Assess your supply chain availability risk

  • Understand supply chain costs and how to reduce expenses

  • Best practices for building supplier relationships

  • Performing a company specific opportunity assessment

Workshop 6:  Preparing for Third Party Audits

ELECTIVE WORKSHOP

Instructor: Teri Danielson

Dates: Thu 6/23 and Thur 6/30

Imagine that you are a small food company and things are going well:  sales are increasing; people are loving the product; you are looking for ways to expand offerings and hire more help; and suddenly a new opportunity for even more business opens up.  The only catch is the new buyer of your products is asking you to pass a Third-party Food Safety Audit.  Or maybe a customer you’ve been working with for years is suddenly asking for a copy of your Third-Party Food Safety Audit.  How do you prepare and what will it take to pass an audit like this?  In this class you will learn how to prepare your food safety program for a third party audit and maintain it long term.

Using interactive learning techniques, this workshop will prepare you to:

  • Determine the Audit Logistics

  • Choose a Certifying Body

  • Assess What Needs to be Done

  • Get the Facility Ready

  • Sustain the Gains


Instructor Bios

Teri Danielson is the co-founder and owner of Northwest Food Solutions where she helps clients implement improvements in supply chain and food safety. She has 30+ years of experience in operations and quality leadership roles, including 13 years at Starbucks Coffee Company and Tazo Tea Company and as an instructor at Portland State University's Center for Executive and Professional Education.  Teri holds a B.S. in Microbiology from Oregon State University, a Project Management certificate from Portland State University and is a Preventive Controls for Human Food Lead Instructor.

Cheryl Collins has more than 15 years of experience building and nurturing organizational cultures. Her work experience includes Teach For America, Oregon Community Credit Union and Ninkasi Brewing Company, holding key roles including director of operations, VP of organizational development, chief people officer, and CEO. She has a B.S. in Political Science from University of Oregon and a Master’s in organizational development from Gonzaga University

Maria Grzanka is a continuous improvement instructor, facilitator, and coach with 20 years’ experience practicing Lean, primarily focused on business processes. She designs and facilitates custom workshops for organizations and coach leaders in developing a continuous improvement culture. Maria is an instructor at Portland State University's Center for Executive and Professional Education. She holds a degree in Integrated Supply Management and has led Lean implementations at several large organizations. 

Dileep Kulkarni is a senior principal at Expense Reduction Analysts, Inc., a company that leverages specialized experts, industry benchmarks, and practical supplier industry knowledge to identify and deliver costs savings to clients.  Based in the Portland, Dileep specializes in the Food & Beverage Manufacturing sector and is committed to making companies more competitive. His clients include multiple well-known food manufacturers.  Dileep has an MBA in Finance from the University of Michigan.

Earlier Event: February 23
Food and Beverage B2B Networking
Later Event: April 29
Good Food Mercantile Portland