Baking & Snack - December 2015 - 12

Mission: Possible

As we head into 2016, be on the lookout for the new buzzword. This
word isn't a trend or a fad, and it isn't even new. And one thing's for
sure, it isn't "millennial."
It's leadership. It's everywhere, and it's important.
Whether you're managing a magazine, running a bakery or leading a
squadron into battle, leadership is a critical factor. Any team can work
hard and share ideas, but without a person out in front - a visionary,
an "ace" - the team loses direction, and the mission fails. Ultimately,
the leader will fail, too.
For two days last month at the BEMA-U leadership workshop, the
group Afterburner, a consulting firm that applies military principles
to high-functioning leadership, reiterated the vital role a leader plays
in syncing a team to one common mission objective. (See "Becoming
Mission Ready" on Page 18.)
To guarantee a flawless execution, according to Afterburner, the
mission objective must be clear, measurable, achievable and aligned.
Coincidentally, just a week after participating in the workshop, I
witnessed that principle in action when I had the privilege of sitting
down with Baking & Snack's 2015 Operations Executive of the Year,
German Chavez, vice-president of manufacturing for Irving, TX-based
Mission Foods.
Mr. Chavez' mission (forgive the pun) was clear: Take over the world,
one tortilla at a time. But nothing's really that simple, is it? It takes more
than tortillas to reach such a level of domination. It takes getting people
- namely the company's nearly 7,000 employees - on board. And that
requires leaders who can identify a clear mission objective and move
everyone in the same direction.
"I believe that today at Mission Foods there is much more alignment
than we have ever had before," Mr. Chavez noted. "We are all working
with an extremely clear goal." Maintaining alignment, he explained, ensures that the company is always able to adapt to changing conditions
in the market.
And this is something that Mr. Chavez emphasizes in his own leadership. "I believe that in order to lead, you must first gain the trust of
the people working for you and with you," he said. "Only when
you have established trust are you able to influence and lead. I
am in this position because of my employees and colleagues
... I am here because of my team and the results we have
accomplished together."
You can read more about his thoughts on leadership in
"Path to Success" on Page 20, and Editorial Director Dan
Malovany will take you through Mr. Chavez' leadership in action on a tour of Mission Foods' Panorama City, CA, location
in "Taking it to New Heights," on Page 28.
- Joanie Spencer, editor/managing editor
jspencer@sosland.com

12 Baking & Snack December 2015 / www.bakingandsnack.com

EDITORIAL STAFF
Editorial Director
Dan Malovany
dmalovany@sosland.com
Executive Editor
Laurie Gorton
lgorton@sosland.com
Editor/Managing Editor
Joanie Spencer
jspencer@sosland.com
Senior Editor

Charlotte Atchley
catchley@sosland.com

Multimedia Editor

Matt Hamer
mhamer@sosland.com
Contributing Editors:
Donna Berry
donnaberry@dairy-food.com
Theresa Cogswell
bakercogs@sbcglobal.net
Jim Kline
jkline@theensolgroup.com
Joe Stout
joe.stout@cf-san.com
DESIGN STAFF
Design Services Manager Sadowna Conarroe
Associate Design
Services Manager
Ryan Alcantara
Designer
Brian Peterman
Manager of Advertising Design Becky White
Classified Ad Layout
Nick Martens
PUBLISHING STAFF
Chairman and CEO
Charles S. Sosland
President
L. Joshua Sosland
President Emeritus
Mark Sabo
Publishing Director
G. Michael Gude
Publisher
Paul Lattan
Associate Publisher
Steve Berne
Vice-President and CFO
Melanie Hepperly
Audience Development Director Don Keating
Director of E-Business
Jon Hall
Advertising Manager
Nora Wages
Ad Materials Coordinator
Debbie Maniez
Digital Systems Analyst
Marj Potts
Circulation Manager
Whitney Hartman
Director of Online
Advertising & Promotions Carrie Fluegge
Promotions Marketing Manager Jim White
Editorial and Midwest Sales Office
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E-mail: BakingSnack@sosland.com
Internet: www.bakingandsnack.com

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Baking & Snack - December 2015

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