ELIZABETHTOWN, PA. – Registration to participate in a yearlong, online course designed for operators of small meat and poultry processing companies is currently open for a limited number of participants, the American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP) announced on Nov. 21. The Meat Processor Academy Mastermind Program is being offered by an industry consortium that includes AAMP, Kitchen Table Consultants (KTC) and the Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network (NMPAN) and is described as an immersive, peer-learning experience to address business and operational challenges. 

The course is scheduled to begin in February 2023 and run until March 2024. The course, which is designed for owners, operators and upper-level managers of companies with between 10 and 150 employees, is based on registrants participating in a monthly, three-hour online conference call and discussion and includes working with a business coach and creating an action plan using company financial information that is shared with the group. 

Participation in the course, which is a deep-dive version of the Meat Processor Academy short course, involves a competitive registration process with a cap of 20 companies of similar size participating. Registration cosa for the course is $1,500 and applications for participation are being accepted until Jan. 10, 2023. After reviewing applications, invitations to participate will be made the week of Jan. 23, 2023.  

Participation in the Mastermind Program includes:  

  • Monthly calls with two expert speakers, one case study, group discussion and problem-solving homework.
  • Each participant will be paired with a qualified business coach from Kitchen Table Consultants for up to 10 hours over the year to work on specific challenges each participant is facing.
  • Completion of a cleaned-up chart-of-accounts, key performance indicators, benchmarking numbers and an action plan.
  • Access to similarly sized industry peers for consulting and access to top consultants, coaches and service providers in the industry.

“The biggest benefit is that the Mastermind group helps any business owner get better at what they’re doing, whether in good times or bad, said KTC’s Elaine Lemmon. “It helps them maximize strengths in the good times. And in the bad times, the support network helps them through it, pushing them to do the things that they wouldn’t necessarily do on their own without the insight of others.”

Details of the program are available here.