Leadership Starts at the Individual Level First with Wally Beecroft

The Intentional Agribusiness Leader Podcast

Wally Beecroft has an extensive track record of senior-level business leadership in the agriculture, commercial horticulture, and the food industries. Since 2019, he has served as Chief Executive Officer of Exacto, Inc. an established market leader in adjuvant solutions in several markets including agriculture, turf and ornamental, and industrial vegetation management.Previously, he served on the Board of Directors and led Exacto’s parent company, Cox Family Holdings as President and COO. As Board member, he chaired the Human Resources Committee.

Earlier in his career, Wally was an LP with the Brickman Group leading a portfolio of businesses in major US markets through organic and acquisition growth. With private equity partners, Brickman grew rapidly leading to a $1.6B exit to KKR and subsequent merger with ValleyCrest creating a $2.2B combined company. BrightView (formerly Brickman) is the world's largest commercial horticultural services company (NYSE:BV). Along with other acquisition integrations and consolidations, Wally was responsible for the ValleyCrest merger integration in the Chicago market.

Wally earned a B.S. in Business Management from Northern Illinois University and continue his executive education at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He has served for over 20 years on both corporate and non-profit boards. Today, he serves on the Board of the Council of Producers & Distributors of Agrotechnology (CPDA). Wally and his wife, Stacy have been married over three decades and together have 3 adult children.

In this episode of the Intentional Agribusiness Leader podcast, host Mark Jewell engages in an enlightening conversation with Wally Bcroft, CEO of Exacto. Wally shares his approach to intentionality, leadership, and the development of talent within an organization. The dialogue opens with explorations of intentionality and how it cascades from personal growth to professional leadership.

The conversation then pivots to practical strategies for attracting and retaining talent, emphasizing the importance of a rigorous hiring process and a robust performance management system. Wally discusses the challenges and successes he has encountered, including navigating the supply chain crisis following COVID-19 and the Texas freeze of 2021. Additionally, he shares his excitement about Exacto's upcoming innovations and growth trajectory.

Key Takeaways:

• Intentionality in leadership starts at the individual level and extends outwards to relationships and business missions.
• A rigorous hiring process and clear performance management system are crucial for talent retention.
• Facing industry challenges like the supply chain crisis can lead to organizational growth when approached with agility and determination.
• Being involved in industry advocacy, such as influencing the farm bill and EPA regulations, is vital to ensure sustainable productivity in the ag sector.
• Vulnerability and open communication within an organization are pivotal for growth, learning, and effective problem-solving.

Notable Quotes:

• "The hardest person to lead is yourself. And that's really true."
• "You get what you're rewarding."
• "I've got to learn how to do that, those guys, at what they do. So, you know, I'm always trying to, trying to improve what I'm doing."
• "If you don't have enough tough conversations in your organization, I'd be wondering if everything's okay."

Resources:

• CPDA Website - Council of Producers & Distributors of Agrotechnology
• Books by David McCullough such as "1776" or "John Adams"
• "The Splendid and the Vile" by Erik Larson

Join us for more episodes that dive deep into the minds of industry leaders, sharing invaluable insights that drive successful businesses. Don't miss out on the full breadth of knowledge shared in this episode with Wally Bcroft on the Intentional Agribusiness Leader podcast. Stay tuned for future episodes full of wisdom for aspiring and established leaders alike.