LEADERSHIP KEARNEY CLASS #33 APRIL SESSION

Written by: Kristi Gargan

Leadership Kearney Class #33 kicked off another full day with a packed schedule highlighting several key businesses in the Kearney community for our Business & Industry Day! 

Our first stop was at Parker Hannifin, where we enjoyed muffins courtesy of Panera Bakery while hearing about the company’s history and participating in a brief safety meeting. We then split into three groups to tour their 1 million square foot facility, which specializes in filtration, employs around 1,100 people, and ships approximately 50,000 cases daily and over 13 million annually. One of the most notable takeaways was their commitment to community involvement. Parker Hannifin matches employee donations and has given over $500,000 back to the Kearney community.

Our second stop was Cottonwood Veterinary Clinic, a full-service animal hospital that has been serving the Kearney community since 2002. Fun fact: Dr Bob works at Cottonwood and is one of our Leadership Kearney #33 classmates! We toured the current facility and got a sneak peek at their new addition, which is still under construction! The expansion will include more exam rooms, dedicated dentistry space, additional surgery rooms, holding rooms, and an upstairs apartment designed on-call staff or interns. We also saw the Barking Barbershop, located within Cottonwood, which grooms about 40 dogs each day. While pets are being groomed, Cottonwood staff provides any necessary vaccinations or medical care. It wouldn’t have been a full visit without saying hi to a few of the daycare dogs at The Retreat, which offers training, daycare for 30 to 40 dogs per day, and boarding. 

We continued our day with a visit to The Buckle, where we enjoyed Jimmy John’s box lunches while learning about the company from Tyler Clay in Human Resources and Adam Akerson in Finance. They shared Buckle’s unique approach to retail, including the company’s deep-rooted history, steady growth, and strong brand presence over the years. One of the standout points was their pricing strategy, The Buckle rarely offers sales or promotions in order to maintain the value and exclusivity of their products.  We then got the rare opportunity to head upstairs into the heart of the buying process. From inspiration boards and trend forecasting to selecting final pieces, we saw how much thought and planning goes into every item on the shelf. Gussy walked us through how they stay ahead of trends and cater to their customer base. We even got a sneak peek at some long-sleeve apparel that could be landing in stores this fall.

Next, we made our way to Cash Wa Distributing, where we toured several areas of their facility including the dry warehouse, tobacco warehouse, cold storage, and the freezer. We were all impressed by the speed and precision of their electric forklifts and how efficiently their small team keeps operations running smoothly. Cash Wa uses over 1,300 tons of cardboard annually and distributes products across 13 states. It was interesting to learn that the company’s founder, Harvey Henning, got his start selling goods out of a trench coat. A highlight of the tour was their truck driving simulator a few classmates got to try, which is used to train and prepare drivers for real-world scenarios. The simulator can recreate a wide range of conditions including rain, snow, wind, heavy traffic, and even impaired driving situations. It’s also used to help drivers navigate unfamiliar routes. For example, if a driver has a delivery to a complex location like the Mall of America, the simulator can input GPS data to show the exact site and allow the driver to practice the best drop-off route in advance. We wrapped up our visit with some shopping at the Cash and Carry Store.

Our final stop of the day was Upper Room Brewery, where we met one of the owners and the brewer Michael Freitag. He shared the unique story behind the brewery’s founding, which blends his background as a former hospice chaplain with his passion for brewing. We toured the brewing area and learned more about their process. Some lagers can be ready in just two weeks, while certain ales may take over six weeks to complete. We wrapped up our visit by enjoying a beverage together and putting the finishing touches on our upcoming class project, which is just around the corner! 

On April 17, Leadership Kearney Class #33 will host a movie night at the World Theatre in partnership with the Family Advocacy Network (FAN), which helps victims of child abuse, sexual assault, and domestic violence.

For the event, attendees will be asked to bring an in-kind donation from a list provided by FAN in lieu of a traditional ticket. Our class will also be volunteering at the event, and all collected items, and financial contributions will go directly to FAN. We are thrilled to support such an important cause and are grateful to both FAN and the World Theatre for their support and partnership.