Mixed Generations Challenge Cohesive and Productive Workforce

—Leadership Symposium speakers will help executives embrace differing ideas and energy —

NEWARK, Del., Jan. 3, 2012 —Today’s workforce mixed with multiple generations of differing values, attitudes and goals presents many challenges for company executives. Leaders must routinely decipher how best to capitalize on their people’s strengths yet balance differences in order to foster a unified workplace with a commitment to the company’s mission. Workplace generation-gap expert Seth Mattison and leadership coach George Metanias will advise on these topics during the final day’s discussions at the 2012 Produce Marketing Association (PMA) Foundation for Industry Talent Leadership Symposium. This educational leadership event, conducted in partnership with Cornell University, will run Jan. 18-20 in Dallas, Texas, USA at the Omni Dallas Park West. 

On the morning of the symposium’s final day, Mattison will present “Rocking the Workplace: Managing and Leading Four Generations.” Mattison falls into the "millennial" generation and is an acclaimed speaker with BridgeWorks, LLC, Minneapolis, a company dedicated to bridging generation gaps at work. Through his presentation, he’ll help attending executives understand what makes each generation so different – and perplexing – and will identify how to engage one generation without alienating another. Mattison will also look at how demographic shifts change the ways leaders recruit, retain and manage as well as will define what leaders can do now to plan for succession.

That afternoon, Metanias, CEO of GLS Worldwide, a Denver-based leadership and talent consulting firm, will follow Mattison’s presentation with “The Leadership Roadmap.” Metanias will show executives how to ensure they always respond in a manner that employees respect, admire, support and follow. He’ll frame the discussion around his Leadership Roadmap, which focuses on five key milestones, and will explain how each milestone affects the leader, their team and the company’s environment. Metanias will also provide individual assessments that measure motivation, thinking and behavioral preferences.    

To maintain an intimate, collegial environment and to ensure robust and relevant participation and thought leadership, registration for the 2 ½-day Leadership Symposium is limited to 75 senior executives who represent the top three or four decision makers in a business.  In addition to Mattison, Metanias and the other high-level speakers presenting the first day, the symposium includes networking and relationship-building opportunities through small-group discussions led by practical and effective facilitators, plus dinners and receptions. Visit the 2012 PMA Foundation for Industry Talent Leadership Symposium website for more information.