Trey Curtis is the CEO and owner of Concept AgriTek, headquartered in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. As a leader in the agribusiness domain, Trey has established himself as a symbol of hard work and dedication. He has a hands-on approach to leadership, learned from his father, and a commitment to setting an example by being willing to do any task within the company. With expertise in agronomy and a knack for scaling businesses, Trey drives Concept AgriTek's growth with a clear focus on product development, strategic sales, and meaningful customer relationships.
Episode Summary:
In this highly insightful episode of the Intentional Agribusiness Leader podcast, host Mark engages with Trey Curtis in a deep dive into the principles of intentional leadership and the monumental growth of Concept AgriTek. The conversation centers on the real-world application of leadership by example, the strategic decisions involved in growing a business, and the importance of staying grounded during exponential growth.
Tapping into Trey's journey, the discussion unveils the transition from hands-on logistics to strategic vision-setting required as a leader of a scaling company. We also get a glimpse into the challenges and decisions associated with such expansion, including logistics, hiring the right people, and ensuring company culture remains rooted in strong moral values.
- Work Ethic and Leadership by Example: Trey Curtis emphasizes the paramount importance of setting an example through hard work, something he has carried from early days at the company.
- Navigating Growth: Trey shares insight on the necessary shift from operational to strategic roles as Concept AgriTek began to expand rapidly.
Key Takeaways:
- Leading by example with a strong work ethic sets a cultural foundation for any growing team or company.
- Scaling a business requires intentional delegation and placing trust in a team built on shared values and work ethic.
- Maintaining company culture, particularly rooted in moral character and unity, is crucial during periods of growth.
- Strategic hires and consulting can support a company's expansion, especially when facing unforeseen challenges like logistics and infrastructure.
- Personal humility and grounding in faith can serve as guiding principles for leaders managing rapid business growth.
Notable Quotes:
- "Leadership to me is mostly by example...I'll never ask somebody to do something I wouldn't do." - Trey Curtis
- "Having the moral character...that person's going to treat this company like he would treat his own." - Trey Curtis
- "We don't want to outkick our coverage... and so we work really hard at training our folks up." - Trey Curtis
- "Without God, we don't have anything... Without him, none of this would have been possible." - Trey Curtis
- "There's no replacement for working hard and having great character." - Trey Curtis
