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Name: Frank Beurskens, IALP ‘94 Current Occupation:
Director of Product Development for E-Markets in Ames, Iowa.
Formerly president of Frank Beurskens Consulting, Inc. and
creator of www.agribiz.com.
Current Career/Leadership Role(s):
My new position provides me an opportunity to implement new
tools designed to improve efficiency in agriculture. Many of
these products connect producers with end consumers, which will
provide greater information sharing, and in turn value sharing.
E-Markets had been a consulting client of mine for the past two
years. I continue as in the past to do presentations around the
country on issues facing agriculture. My most recent focus is on
the impact of new technologies on the future of agriculture -
these include biotechnology and of course the Internet and
e-commerce.
How did you achieve your current leadership position(s)?
Industry leadership results from being engaged in the
industry, listening to everyone and staying on the edge with
new technologies. My personal approach is to always have an
opinion backed with research and experience - then share that
opinion wherever and whenever I can. The feedback that always
seems to result helps refine and redefine my vision and
perspective, which in turn is shared - it results in a
constant process of discovery. Leadership requires taking the
risk to share.
The opportunity to join an Internet start-up resulted from
my leadership position in the industry and understanding of
the issues facing agriculture along with a deep understanding
of the technology.
What do you feel are the agricultural industry’s top
priorities? Especially in your sector and how you’re impacting
them.
The number one priority is to get producers to align with
each other and with others in the supply chain. The era of the
independent producer is over. The business is too complex, the
technology too sophisticated and the demands of the consumer
too great for an individual producer to both respond
appropriately and to survive economically. The retail food
companies such as Carrefour, Ahold, Wal-Mart and Kroger will
soon drive agriculture. These global food giants will require
more information and safety assurances from producers. The
result will be a far more efficient agriculture. Producers
benefit because such linkages reduce their risk while
stabilizing revenue. In my position as product development
director, I am designing the exchange and information sharing
tools to enable producers and agribusinesses to prosper in
this new environment.
How did the IALP prepare you for where you are now?
The IALP provided me with the confidence necessary to hold
on to views and perspectives that to many appear
non-traditional. The exposure to different viewpoints and the
intellectual debate that followed helps shape us into
"discovery vessels". The ability to learn new things
stimulates a child-like feeling that as adults we too often
lose or are afraid to visit. The IALP program encouraged
curiosity, debate and discovery. I still remain in contact
with several past classmates and alumni. I have also presented
several times to IALP classes on issues related to my
consulting and business ventures.
What was your greatest benefit as a participant of the IALP?
I really enjoyed the programs in Chicago, both at
Northwestern University and at the University of Chicago.
Following the Northwestern program I purchased a book by one
of the presenters, NWU professor Max H. Bazerman, which led me
on a path for the next four years to learn more about a new
field of study called behavioral finance and greatly
influenced the way I looked at risk.
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