coup at AAA

[bookcliff]

the gossip phone tree has it that that a coup has been attempted at Angus ...............


five fieldmen fired this morning and a letter of complaint about Brice's managment style to the board signed by 17 employees. also heard Brice survived the board meeting by 1 vote.

don't know any of this for a fact, but this seems to be the the talk.

[Glenn]

Heard the same. I heard had the 'field men' won, the AHA would have had a position to fill.

[Deleted]

Does anyone know what fieldmen got the gate?

[Glenn]

Chuck Grove, Richard Dyar, Matt Caldwell, Jerry Cassidy, Matt Printz, Rod Wesselman, Bill Bowman, Sally Northcutt, Don Laughlin, Lou Ann Adams, Scott Johnson, Robin Ruff. All Fired.

[Deleted]

This is going to get interesting. It cannot get any uglier or can it?

[lily]

www.angus.org/Pub/041114_ImportantAnnouncementfromAmericanAngusAssociationCEOBryceSchumann.pdf

[Deleted]

Apr 11, 2014 19:07:28 GMT -6 Glenn said:

Heard the same. I heard had the 'field men' won, the AHA would have had a position to fill.

Hmmm... Maybe the AHA could build on their "A-Team" by picking up a couple of the people. They certainly have some holes that could be filled. The Fieldman that they fired from this region has a very strong commercial cattleman and purebred base. I doubt he will do anything but go right on with business, only this time around he will be getting a % or set $$ on every order buy. 

   Great fieldmen don't grow on trees, it takes years of experience and contacts to make a good one.

[bookcliff]

office staff

Bill Bowman (chief operating officer & #2 man)
Sally Northcutt (genetic research director)
Don Laughlin (director of member services)
Lou Ann Adams (director of information systems)
Scott Johnson (director of angus information management software)
Robin Ruff (activities and events AKA show director)

and these fieldmen

Chuck Grove (Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee)
Richard Dyar (Alabama, Louisiana,Arkansas, Mississippi)
Matt Caldwell (Kansas, Oklahoma)
Jerry Cassidy (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin)
Matt Printz (Colorado, Nebraska)
Rod Wesselman (Idaho, Oregon, Washington)

[bookcliff]

positions of the folks that got sent down the road

office staff

Bill Bowman (chief operating officer & #2 man)
Sally Northcutt (genetic research director)
Don Laughlin (director of member services)
Lou Ann Adams (director of information systems)
Scott Johnson (director of angus information management software)
Robin Ruff (activities and events AKA show director)

and these fieldmen

Chuck Grove (Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee)
Richard Dyar (Alabama, Louisiana,Arkansas, Mississippi)
Matt Caldwell (Kansas, Oklahoma)
Jerry Cassidy (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin)
Matt Printz (Colorado, Nebraska)
Rod Wesselman (Idaho, Oregon, Washington)

[talin]

Wow like a bad episode of Mad Men. All I can say is time will tell but people don't put their job on the line unless there is something really wrong if it was a stock short it!

[nicky]

What was it all about?

[Deleted]

Apr 13, 2014 17:34:04 GMT -6 nicky said:

What was it all about?

nicky, Call Rod or Rob... They will be happy to enlighten you...

[nicky]

That's ok, figured someone here could do it

[Deleted]

(Posted from Facebook)
Colyer Herefords & Angus
11 hours ago
I wonder who is answering the phone at the American Angus Association? HELLO.... IS ANYBODY THERE???

[George]

Repost from the Advantage Message Board:

The Letter
March 21,2014
To: Officers and Directors, American Angus Association

We write this letter at a time of stress at the American Angus Association, and make this attempt to communicate the desperation felt relative to the future of the Association by many concerned employees. This is a difficult letter to write and provide to the Board of Directors, but we believe conveying a formal complaint against the Chief Executive Officer cannot be delayed any further. The current situation is not healthy for the organization, and this environment ultimately jeopardizes the ability to provide the services and support expected and deserved by a loyal membership.
As a staff, we have tried to maintain and cultivate a positive, professional approach in dealing with our membership and the industry. The commitment to always put the best foot forward has likely provided a false impression of the working relationships at the Association, not only to our members, but especially to you, the Board of Directors. We are faced with a deteriorating culture and the staff morale is spiraling downward. There is a complete lack of confidence, trust, and respect for the CEO's ability to provide the leadership and atmosphere needed to maintain, let alone grow, the relevance of this organization.
The CEO is not a strategic planner, but reacts to circumstances and events. There is an apparent lack of preparation and a failure to work together in all planned events, even regularly scheduled Board meetings. This absence of planning is worsened by indecision, which also creates additional frustration for all involved. Without confident direction on a regular basis, staff motivation and efficiency is unachievable. The procrastination, indecisiveness, and apparent lack of purpose by the CEO further hampers productivity.
The use of the word team has been grossly abused the past few years at the American Angus Association. The CEO has not broken down walls to foster a real team, but instead has continued to foster a divisive approach at the top of this organization. A combative mentality has developed and is destroying the organization.
As we contemplate the characteristics necessary to lead a 50 million dollar business forward, it requires someone who displays selfless dedication, work ethic and passion for the breed and the organization. Strategic vision, and the ability to share that vision with a unified team is a necessary requirement. The CEO has been given ample opportunity to unify a dedicated staff with common goals, but has failed to make improvement in this area.
A challenging atmosphere takes its toll in other fashions. We have seen dedicated colleagues, because of the existing environment, seek other employment opportunities. We are on the brink of expanded attrition unless steps are taken. We cannot afford the loss of valuable employees due to the deteriorating culture and environment.
The dedicated breeders of the American Angus Association deserve better for their investment. We all believed that given time, operations would improve, or else arrive at a point that the need for change would become obvious to all. Four years ago, a fellow staff member asked, "At what point are we as staff considered negligent by the Board and our membership if we fail to communicate just what the situation is like here in the office?" That time has arrived. We feel it is our fiduciary duty as a staff to voice our lack of confidence in the performance of the CEO and request his removal before the situation deteriorates further.
We bring our concerns to you because we care about the Angus breed, our breeders and their future. We all intend to continue providing service to the American Angus Association without interruption. Thank you for your consideration of this formal complaint.

Sincerely,

The following Association staff (and their years of service):

Jerry Cassady, 22 years
Chris Stallo, 17 years
Vern Frey, 10 years
Don Laughlin, 34 years
Matt Caldwell, 16 years
Robin Ruff, 6 years
Chuck Grove, 39 years
Lou Ann Adams, 31 years
Matt Printz, 10 years
Sally Northcutt, 11 years
Wes Tiemann, 6 years
Scott Johnson, 18 years
Richard Dyar, 35 years
Bill Bowman, 22 years
Rod Wesselman, 21 years

The Vote:

Votes to keep Schumann:
1. Watkins
2. Sankey
3. Sawyer
4. Silveira
5. Boyd
6. Howell
7. Meyer
8. Burke
9. Harrell
10. McDonnell

Votes to fire Schumann:

1. Sitz
2. Schroeder
3. Foster
4. Pfeiffer
5. Yon
6. Schiefelbein