FoodGrads Podcast: Embracing Servant Leadership in Food Processing with Gavin Johnston, Plant Manager at Veg Pro International Inc. and Owner of Redpath Strategies

Embracing Servant Leadership in Food Processing with Gavin Johnston, Plant Manager at Veg Pro International Inc. and Owner of Redpath Strategies | Ep 78

Oct 18, 2023

On today’s episode, we are talking about what a food processing plant manager does, servant leadership and transitioning into leadership position as a young person.

Our guest is Gavin Johnston, Plant Manager at Veg Pro International Inc and Owner of Redpath Strategies. Vegpro International Inc. is a recognized leader in the innovative farming and processing of lettuce and vegetables. They are known under the "Attitude Fraîche" brand, and their pre-washed lettuces are available in major grocery chains.

Gavin is a manufacturing leader with success in servant leadership, business transformation, strategic planning and operational excellence. He has extensive segment experience in the hospitality industry, snack foods, high and low-acidic beverages, bakery ingredients and dairy manufacturing, pet food manufacturing and supply chain. He a firm believer in continuous improvement at all levels from C-suit executives to manufacturing operators.

Sponsors

This episode of the podcast is supported by CareersNow! CareersNow! is Food and Beverage Ontario’s multi-year workforce development initiative that is connecting students and job seekers with employers in Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry for exciting career opportunities. Check out CareersNow.ca for more information on exciting jobs, career information, industry mentors and training opportunities for professional development.

This episode of the podcast is brought to you by our Education Partner Durham College. Durham College Durham College (DC) offers more than 12,000 full-time post-secondary and apprenticeship students access to more than 140 full-time and part-time programs in a number of different disciplines, enabling them to develop the skills required to meet the demands of today's job market.

Timestamps

[2:40] What is VegPro

[4:15] What Gavin does as a plant manager at a food processing facility

[8:06] Gavin's journey to how he became a plant manager

[17:00] How Gavin decided that he wanted to become a plan manager

[20:59] How Gavin developed his skills to become a plant manager

[28:21] What to do if your supervisor isn't a good mentor or doesn't have the time?

[29:46] What is servant mentorship and how Gavin came to embrace it

[38:34] The skills and qualities essential for someone aspiring to be a plant manager

[44:53] Things that Gavin might consider if he wanted to perform continuous improvement on a food production line.