Dr. David Kohl, Ph.D.

The business and economic landscape of agriculture can be described in one word as “anxious.”  Global trade uncertainty and the shift from fossil fuels to the green movement coupled with inflation and supply chain bottlenecks are only a few of the challenges.  However, with these headwinds, opportunities exist for those who manage the business proactively despite all of the economic megatrend shifts. 

How can you place the odds in your favor to manage your business and personal finances?  What are the strategies and actions for success in a world where chaos is the new normal?  Dr. Dave will present his outlook along with actions that do not guarantee but improve the odds of success.  His work as an academic, speaker, writer, business owner, and coach will provide wisdom and perspectives in an economic environment where uncertainty and opportunity coexist in the decade of the 2020s.  

The economic environment is surrounded by uncertainty, but also opportunities for those with a high business IQ and financial management mindset.  Join Dr. Kohl as he discusses macroeconomic variables ranging from global economic trends to inflation, interest rates, supply chain disruptions, and consumer trends that will impact the financial bottom line.

Given these trends, what are time-tested business and financial practices that could increase the likelihood of success?   Practical tips, techniques, and tools will be presented that can be used in your business, family and personal life based upon his decades of engagement with agricultural businesses, research and even business ownership.    

There will be a widening of the profit gap for agricultural producers in the 2020s.  Dr. Kohl will present some time-tested fundamental business and financial principles for successful businesses regardless of size, enterprise, geographic location, or stage of the business.  Find out the seven “P’s” of the high-octane business strategies that could set up your business for success.  What are fifteen business problems your business should exhibit?  How do you stack up concerning business and financial IQ?  What is some wisdom by the numbers in business and personal finance that can set you ahead for profit on your journey to a successful business?  Don’t miss this informative session.

The decade of the 2020s will be one of economic and financial divide. Stimulus checks from the government along with rising commodity prices in some industries have presented profits not seen since the Great Commodity Super Cycle.  Extreme volatility and uncertainty created by geopolitics present an economic roller coaster environment for most businesses. These factors coupled with inflating costs, a shift from fossil fuels to the green movement, consumer and technology trends, and supply chain bottlenecks are only some of the challenges.  Visionary CEOs must strategically analyze the challenges and opportunities.  They must conduct both an industry and business SWOT analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in their business plan, and a pathway to remaining on the positive side of the ledger.  Don’t miss out on this engaging session that applies the big picture variables to your business, family, and personal life.      

The pandemic has been a disruptor and an accelerated game-changer for businesses, consumers, and societies worldwide.  What is in store for the remainder of the decade of the 2020s?  What are the global and domestic economic trends and trade implications for agriculture?  How will consumer trends and changes in global economic power shifts influence the fortunes of agricultural producers?  What will be the shifts in management mindsets to meet and capitalize on these forces?  This session will be led by Dr. Dave Kohl, Virginia Tech Academic Hall of Famer, who has spent decades in education roles working with young farmers and ranchers across the globe.  He will integrate his experiences and wisdom as an educator and business owner to bring it down to strategic and tactical applications to your business and personal life.  

Dr. Kohl’s extensive travel and work experiences with a wide range of groups including ag producers, agribusinesses, lenders and corporate board members give him a unique pulse on trends that will impact the landscape of agriculture.  This session is designed to link global perspectives down to the business level and will cover changing consumer trends, dietary trends, technology and productivity, global issues, international trade, the transition from baby boomers to millennials and generation Z, and the urbanization of global populations.  The saying, “think globally, but act locally” is critical for the proactive business person attempting to gain a strategic advantage.  

Dr. Dave provides key viewpoints from his travels on the road and throughout the U.S. and globally.  He will share his knowledge of global economic trends and the state of the U.S. economy.  This session is designed for groups and individuals to critically think about how events around the world and the U.S. are impacting their business’ bottom lines and the future of the industry. 

On the road ahead, the good doctor will draw upon his decades of experience as an educator and business person to present common financial and business practices that will proactively position your business or customer regardless of the economic cycle.  This session is very versatile for a wide range of groups including lenders, producers, agribusiness owners, and even students, with nuggets for each regardless of age, size of business, background, or experience.     

The pandemic’s impact and lasting effects have created economic and financial ripples that will be observed throughout the decade.  Global trade, consumer behaviors, supply, and marketing chains, and other disruptors are creating challenges, while simultaneously presenting opportunities in the agricultural lending marketplace.

Dr. Kohl will draw upon his decades of engagement and interaction with the agricultural industry to provide wisdom and actionable items that can be used with your agricultural customers. Topics include the high tech, high touch approach to building relationships, aligning with producer mindsets, assessing business IQ as it relates to financials and bottom-line economics, and the growth of ag businesses of the future.  Get ready for an action-packed session that provides answers to some of the most commonly asked questions in the agricultural lending marketplace.  

The COVID-19 black swan landed like no other bird creating economic, financial, social, and emotional anxiety in its wake.  This major disruptor created challenges for some but opportunities for others.  What will be the future of global and domestic economics, trade, land values, customer behaviors, and everything in between?   Come join us to discuss the four pillars of success for converting economic uncertainty and disruptions into business opportunities. 

A high business IQ will be one of the common denominators of success.  What are the components of a high business and financial IQ that provide resiliency and agility to navigate the accelerated change that has been created by the pandemic?  Tune in to this informative session with Dr. Kohl to learn some action items that will position your business and management team to navigate the economic white waters of the decade of the 2020s. Join Dr. David Kohl, Virginia Tech Academic Hall of Famer, for his views and perspectives that will impact producers, ag lenders, and agribusinesses.  

The sudden impact and lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have created accelerated changes.  Economic and financial ripples will be felt for years in many agriculture businesses.  The 2020s will be a decade of the economic divide that will test the art and science of agricultural lending.

Dr. Kohl will draw upon his decades of engagement and interaction as an educator.  He will provide his big-picture wisdom and actionable items that can be used with your agricultural customers in 2022 and beyond.  As usual, he will provide answers to some of the most commonly asked questions that he has received from participants of his more than 250 virtual speaking engagements in the U.S. and globally since the pandemic limited his travels.  You won’t want to miss this opportunity to continue your lifelong learning journey with this informative session.    

The decade of the 2020s will be one for widening the economic and financial divide.  Come join us to discuss the four pillars of success for converting economic uncertainty and disruptions into business opportunities.  A high business IQ will be one of the common denominators of success.  What are the components of a high business and financial IQ that provide resiliency and agility to navigate the accelerated change that has been created by the pandemic?  Don’t miss this informative session with Dr. Kohl to learn some action items that will position your business and management team to navigate the economic white waters of the decade of the 2020s.  

Agricultural credit analysis will go to new levels in 2022.  Disruptors such as possible changes in government payments, global trade, and of course the weather will create economic volatility.  Credit analysis tools to enhance communications not only with the customer but internally and with regulators will be a priority.  This session will focus on these credit tools of the times and how they can be used to jump-start your assessment of credit risk as well as business development opportunities.