Kimberly Crawford
Corporate Vice President Human Resources, EHS & Learning & Development Birchwood Foods
Seminars
Wednesday 20th May 2026
Discover: Getting Plant Leadership Right: Birchwood Foods’ Data-Driven Approach to Reducing Turnover by 16%
3:10 pm
- Rolling out bilingual, just-in-time leadership tools designed for ease of use in fast-paced manufacturing environments, helping frontline leaders apply key behaviors like recognition, accountability, and communication with minimal training
- Leveraging lightweight AI-driven technology to provide clear expectations, reinforce consistent leadership practices, and ensure the program could be sustained at the site level, even with limited organizational development support
- Combining digital tools with peer-led learning sessions to create a scalable, collaborative structure that builds confidence, encourages knowledge sharing, and improves team performance across diverse leadership levels
Wednesday 20th May 2026
Develop: How Can Manufacturers Build Plant Leadership Models That Hold Up Under Real‑World Pressure?
3:50 pm
- Where are performance, safety, or retention issues being driven less by individual leaders and more by structural flaws, such as spans of control, unclear expectations, or inconsistent enablement?
- How can organizations align leadership structure, selection, and day‑to‑day tools so plant leaders are set up to succeed rather than compensate for system gaps?
- What role should data and technology play in clarifying expectations, reinforcing consistent behaviors, and reducing variability across sites without over‑engineering solutions?
- How can HR, TA, and Operations jointly define what “good” plant leadership looks like in practice and ensure it is tested before hire, reinforced early, and sustained over time?
