The Accountability Advantage: Coaching Skills Every Manufacturing Leader Needs

 

August 19 @ 11:30 am - 12:30 pm ET
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Retention, performance, and engagement are all influenced by one critical leadership skill: effective coaching. But in fast-moving food and beverage environments, accountability conversations often get delayed, softened, or avoided entirely—leading to recurring issues on the plant floor, friction between departments, and misalignment across teams.

This panel-style conversation explores what real accountability requires and how leaders at every level can coach more clearly and consistently. Blending leadership development best practices with firsthand manufacturing leadership experience, the discussion will focus on practical approaches leaders can use to drive accountability and improve performance.

Panelists will examine real-world scenarios involving operator performance, frontline leadership, cross-functional communication, engineering-to-operations handoffs, and service team interactions. They'll discuss what effective feedback sounds like, how trust is built—or lost—and how leaders can create a culture of ownership rather than simple compliance.

Attendees will leave with practical coaching techniques they can apply immediately to improve performance, strengthen accountability, and develop more engaged teams.

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Identify the core elements of accountability and how they show up across manufacturing, engineering, service, and leadership roles.

  • Use coaching techniques and language that reduce defensiveness, build trust, and encourage ownership.

  • Apply lessons from real-world manufacturing scenarios to improve expectation-setting, feedback, and follow-through.

  • Understand how effective coaching supports stronger performance, engagement, and retention in high-pressure environments.
Darin_Zehr

Darin Zehr

General Manager, Commercial Food Sanitation

Darin leads Commercial Food Sanitation (CFS). CFS specializes in Consulting and Training in Hygienic Design and Sanitation. With operations in the US, Europe, Brazil, China, and Australia, CFS is well positioned to partner with food processors and OEMs globally to help drive food safety and operational excellence. Darin is involved in numerous food industry groups and has spoken internationally on sanitation, food safety, hygienic design, and operational success. Prior to CFS, Darin worked in various roles throughout his 22-year career at Kraft Foods including Plant and Corporate Sanitation Manager, Business Unit Manager, and Plant Manager. 

Dave Gregory_Headshot-1

Dave Gregory

Director of Learning & Development, Weber Inc.

Dave Gregory is Director of Learning and Development at Weber Inc., a subsidiary of Weber Food Technologies, where he champions a shift from “check-the-box” training to productivity-driven learning. He leads initiatives that accelerate speed to proficiency, strengthen leadership capability, and directly support Weber’s brand promise of delivering the Perfect Portion for customers. Dave specializes in translating strategy into execution through evidence-based learning, adult learning principles, and behavior-anchored performance models. His work spans leadership development, technical capability building, talent management, and organizational performance.

Jen Jedrlinic_headshot-sq-1

Jennifer Jedrlinic - Moderator

Director, Education and Volunteer Relations, FPSA

Jennifer Jedrlinic develops educational programs, webinars, and leadership initiatives for the Food Production Solutions Association (FPSA). She also works closely with FPSA's volunteer leaders, supporting the association's industry councils and networks to foster collaboration, share knowledge, and advance the food manufacturing industry. Passionate about connecting people and ideas, Jennifer enjoys creating engaging conversations that deliver practical insights attendees can put into action.