About This Issue
Life is all about balance, and it's also what this issue of The Animal Science Monitor is about. On the one hand, we'll broach the subject of current economic conditions with the third article in our "In This Economy Series." This article is directed primarily at those who are currently unemployed. On the other hand, we'll also discuss the importance of celebrating accomplishments. While many of you might not feel "in the mood" to celebrate much, especially accomplishments, this is the perfect time for such an activity. So enjoy this issue of The ASM . . . and bring a little balance to your life.

-Dan & Don

Attend the MANC . . . and Visit Dan Simmons!
(By Matt Deutsch)

There might be no better time than now to attend an industry event like a conference or convention.  “How's that?" you may be asking.  “Can't you see we’re in a recession?"  While that’s true, the networking and training opportunities that a conference offers can arm you with the contacts and knowledge you need in order to successfully navigate its perils . . . and position yourself for greater success once the economy begins to recover.

With that in mind, we encourage you to consider attending the 7th Annual Mid-Atlantic Nutrition Conference (MANC), which will be held at the end of this month. The specific dates for the event are Wednesday, March 25, and Thursday, March 26, and the location is the Crowne Plaza Baltimore in Timonium, Md.  Once again, those attending the conference include students, professional nutritionists, consultants, government officials, university scientists, allied industry personnel, farmers, and ranchers.

And of course, our own Dan Simmons will be in attendance, as well.  As some of you know, Dan is a regular attendee of the MANC, and he enjoys making the short trip to Timonium each year.  But enough about Dan for a moment.  Let’s examine the conference more closely.

Networking, training, and certification
According to the MANC’s official Web site, the event is “recognized as the premier educational event for the animal nutrition industry.  Local, national, and international nutritionists share new, innovative, and practical research being conducted at universities, in industry, and at government institutions."  The conference is primarily focused on poultry, dairy, and equine nutrition, with an emphasis on regulatory issues and opportunities in these areas for the future.

On the first day, March 25, there will be a General Session and Technical Symposium during the day and then a reception in the evening.  The following day will be filled with Concurrent Programs and Poster Sessions, as well as Vendor Breaks, and of course, lunch.  As we’ve mentioned many times before, attending industry events is a wise investment in your career, and this year’s MANC presents a great opportunity to make such an investment:

• Face-to-face networking allows you to open doors that you didn’t even know existed.  You’d be surprised at the opportunities that arise as a result of this type of networking.

• In this economic climate, it’s crucial to keep your skills honed and your knowledge of the industry up-to-date.  The training sessions at the MANC can help provide you with the information you need to make 2009 the best year it can possibly be.

• By attending this conference, you can also add to your certification credentials.  The meeting qualifies as 20 CEUs through the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) and as 12 CEUs through the Maryland State Board of Veterinary Examiners.

Keep an eye out for Dan
If you’re in the Maryland area, this is definitely an event you should consider attending.  The deadline for registering is Sunday, March 15.  The registration cost to attend the two-day conference is $100.  However, one-day registration for Thursday, March 26, is available for $65.

For more information about the conference, or to sign up for the event, visit http://www.manc.umd.edu or call Kelly Brannan at (301) 405-8746.

And don’t forget to meet with Dan.  In fact, email him in advance of the event at dan@consearch.com to let him know you’ll be in attendance.  He’ll definitely look for you there.

(If you have information regarding other industry events, email the details of those events to matt@animalsciencemonitor.com.)

Celebrating Accomplishments
(By Dan Simmons)

It’s easy to celebrate accomplishments when everything around you is rosy.  However, it’s even more important to celebrate them when everything is not.

During times of transition and economic stress, you should keep your spirits up, your work focused, and your family and team engaged.  One way to do this is to celebrate your achievements.  These achievements do not have to be life-changing, simply noteworthy.

It could be that you landed a new customer or that you wrapped up your project under budget and/or ahead of schedule.  It might be that you hired someone special (or got rid of someone who wasn’t special).  It could be that you completed a training class.  It’s important for your psyche to acknowledge progress.  This is true for you, for me, and for the members of your team.

By acknowledging team members’ successes and encouraging the celebration, you will lift the morale of your team and keep the focus on continued progress, which should also keep productivity high.  The celebration could be as elaborate as a vacation or as simple as pizza for everyone on the team.  The funny thing about celebrating and recognizing accomplishments is that the event does not have to be elaborate to be meaningful, only sincere.

Consider what you’ve personally accomplished during the last 60 days and set up a celebration with your family and friends.  Then consider what other team members have accomplished and start the celebrations!

If you have any questions about this article, you can contact me at dan@consearch.com.

For Those Who Are Unemployed . . .
(By Don Hunter)

Layoffs are skyrocketing nationwide, and it’s my hope that you and your family are not going through this experience.  If you are, then hopefully this article will be of assistance to you in developing a plan to re-enter the workforce.

As a result of these layoffs, there have been many people heading to online networking sites and job boards.  These networks are definitely a valuable tool in securing new employment, but they are by no means a silver bullet for the unemployed.  In the end, getting the right job still depends on personal contact and other skills/tools that have withstood the test of time.  Regardless of the amount of technology, you still have to present yourself well in a face-to-face interview and have good references.  So lay your Blackberry aside for a moment and let’s discuss four tools that are essential to finding your next opportunity.

1. Contact a recruiter: Don't try to do it all yourself—get help from the professionals.  Let them be your eyes and ears to your industry.  Today’s recruiters are very specialized, and they have key contacts within your industry or specialization.  They possess the key that opens the door to the hidden job market.  A recruiter can put you in touch with companies you didn’t know were hiring and give you a chance at jobs that you’d never hear about otherwise.
   
   
2. Networking: If no one knows you’re looking for a new job, you could be extending the length of your search.  Talking with friends and acquaintances is one of the best ways to identify new professional contacts and learn about job openings, many of which may not even be advertised.  Develop a broad list of contacts, including people you’ve met through various social and business functions.  Talk to co-workers, colleagues in your industry, and those you’ve met in your industry.  Set a goal for yourself, such as five contacts a day.
   
   
3. Update your resume: Take the extra time and effort to customize the information to each opportunity that you’re interested in pursuing.  You may have unique skills and abilities that match the requirements of each position.  You should also consider a cover letter.  It allows you to explain, in detail, the specific ways in which your expertise can benefit the organization.
   
   
4. Determine your true objectives: The first thing you should do is conduct a self-assessment, with an honest review of your strengths and weaknesses.  Consult family members while developing your objectives.  These objectives must include what type of position you really want and what type of company you want to work for.  Create a vision of where you see yourself in five months and in five years and be sure all of your goals are realistic.  This will give you a clear vision and direction to focus your energies and resources in finding your new job.

Coping with the loss of a job can be extremely stressful.  Try to be frank and honest about your circumstances, and don't make excuses for what happened.  Remember that other people, probably some of your own friends and family members, have also lost jobs.

Be proactive.  Don't wait or make a day's project out of writing one letter or making one phone call.  Getting a job is a numbers game—the more potential employers you get in front of, the better your chances of getting a job.  Do the things you need to do, using technology and the four time-tested strategies above . . . no matter how you might feel.

If you have any questions about this topic, please send me an email at don@bayresourcegroup.com.  And if you’re currently engaged in a job search or are interested in advancing the scope of your career, be sure to send me your resume.  I’d be happy to discuss your career goals and ambitions, including ways in which I can help you to achieve them.  Any exchange of information, including resumes, will be kept in total confidence and handled in a discreet fashion.

Discover Conference Slated for April 19-22

The 16th Discover Conference on Food Animal Agriculture, scheduled for Sunday, April 19 through Wednesday, April 22, will be held at the Brown County Inn in Nashville, Tenn.  The theme for this year’s conference is “Direct Fed Microbials/Prebiotics for Animals: Science and Mechanisms of Action."  Consequently, the event will address direct fed microbials and/or prebiotics for dairy cattle, beef cattle, swine, poultry, aquaculture, and pets.

Below are some of the main topics slated for discussion at the conference:

• Bacterial species and strain selection
• Mechanism of action
• Delivery systems, including stability of the bacteria
• Animal species specific issues
• Prebiotics

The Discover Conference Series provides a format and venue that encourages the in-depth discussion of cutting-edge scientific topics.  American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) Discover Conferences focus on topics of importance to the science of food animal agriculture and are held in a relaxed and informal setting.  Sessions for the conference will allow ample time for discussion, networking, and relaxation.

For complete details regarding this upcoming event, click here.

Coming Up in the Next Issue . . .

Our Guest Writer Series continues during the month of March, as we’ll have an article by Debbie Fledderjohann, President of Top Echelon Contracting.  In Debbie’s article, aptly titled “The Advantages of Hiring on a Contract Basis," she’ll outline not only how contracting can enhance the profitability of any company, but also how candidates can reap the benefits of working on a contract assignment.  Of course, since it’s the second issue in March, we’ll also present our “Video Link of the Month."  Remember, if you’d like to submit a link, send it to matt@animalsciencemonitor.com.

The next issue of The Animal Science Monitor is scheduled for publication on Tuesday, March 17.