January 2019 - 43

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Q&A WITH JENNIFER PICKETT
Jennifer Pickett is
executive vice president,
CEO of the National AgriMarketing
Association
(NAMA).
NAMA is the nation's
largest association for
professionals in marketing
and agribusiness.
By participating in
NAMA, members gain
knowledge, skills and
contacts that help individuals and organizations meet
business challenges and capitalize on opportunities.
Pickett, who has been in her current role since 2007,
was previously the chief operating officer for NAMA.
Her previous responsibilities with NAMA included
budget oversight, staff management and primary
responsibility for Ag Day, NAMA Boot Camp, Best of
NAMA, membership and careers committees.
Pickett's current responsibilities include fiscal
management, overseeing office staff, which is
currently responsible for operations and logistics to
support membership recruitment and retention, as
well as local and national programming including the
Agri-Marketing Conference, Best of NAMA awards
program, Agribusiness Forum and NAMA Boot Camp.
She also interacts with numerous volunteer
committees related to these functions. Additionally,
she has the responsibility for expanding sponsorship
revenues and developing relationships with
agribusiness partners.
Prior to joining NAMA, Pickett was in advertising.
She is a graduate of Creighton University and lives in
Kansas City with her husband and two sons.
1What are the best words of advice you've ever
received?
So many great words of advice! Hard to narrow it down.
Make your goal to take on as much responsibility as you can. It will never
backfire.
2 What are your goals for the next 12 months?
The needs of our members are changing. Younger members network
in different ways and look to the association for different things. My goal
is to support our leaders in launching several new initiatives to keep the
organization relevant. We have some new programs coming in 2019.
This is a challenging time for agriculture. My goal is to help the leaders find
the opportunities that exist between these challenges.
3What do you do to
relax?
I spend time with family and friends. I
also have a weakness for spa visits!
4 What would you
like to be your
lasting legacy?
NAMA belongs to the members
and leaders and it's always been
about the association and its
greater good. My hope is that
NAMA has made better marketers
along the way.
5What are the top things on your bucket list?
6What job or work
would you have
pursued if you had not
been in the fruit and
vegetable industry?
It was an accident that I ended up in
ag. I went to work at an ad agency out
of college and was assigned to a crop
protection account. My agency career
brought me to Kansas City where I
eventually ended up at NAMA. Had I
not ended up in ag, I would likely still
be in the ad agency world.
My biggest bucket list item is to own my own business. That is what I'd
like to do when I " retire. " I hope to return to the Greek islands some day and
would love to see Cuba. Anywhere warm and sunny is on my list!
7What is the one truth
you've learned about
the fruit and vegetable
industry?
While not directly in the fruit and
vegetable industry, I will direct my
answer to the agriculture industry in
general. The truth I have learned about
the ag industry is that there are no
better people to work with. Whether it
be ad agency, media or ag company,
the people are fiercely dedicated and
fiercely proud of the industry they serve.
I consider myself extremely lucky to
have happened into this industry.
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VGN | JANUARY 2019 | 43
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January 2019

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