Alberta beef producers group loses manager again

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Published: March 3, 2005

The Alberta Beef Producers is looking for its third general manager in less than five months.

Michael Rodyniuk left his position as general manager after only six weeks on the job. He was hired Jan. 4 and left the beef organization Feb. 18.

“All these positions start on a probationary period and basically they mutually decided it wasn’t a fit,” said Ron Glaser, ABP’s public affairs co-ordinator.

On Oct. 1, it fired Gary Sargent as general manager after he worked there for 14 years.

ABP chair Darcy Davis was reluctant to talk about Rodyniuk’s departure, saying it was an internal personnel matter and not a public matter. All 35,000 Alberta cattle producers are automatically members of the organization. A $3 per head checkoff is deducted each time an animal is sold. Revenues are used to promote and develop the beef industry.

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“It was an internal matter of ABP. Michael came on and he was serving a probationary period. After several weeks we felt it wasn’t a good fit for both Michael and ourselves and decided to part ways,” said Davis.

Before being hired as general manager, Rodyniuk worked in the airline industry with Westjet and Zip, Air Canada’s discount airline.

After Rodyniuk was hired, parts of his resume, with his approval, were circulated to delegates, including the information that he had a Doctorate in Business Administration from Northwestern International University Ltd. in Gibraltar.

At this university, a degree can be conferred for $496 US after the student does some self-directed study, usually completed within the first six months, according to the university’s website.

Davis said Rodyniuk’s university qualifications didn’t factor into the organization’s decision to part company with him.

“That didn’t play any role. That was just something we dealt with and as we went forward we felt it wasn’t a good fit,” said Davis.

Brent Heidecker, a member of the ABP board of directors from eastern Alberta, resigned from the board after it refused to fire Rodyniuk after the January board meeting.

“I couldn’t live with the decision that was made by the board,” said Heidecker, who said the board discussed the issue for about five hours.

“It was a very heated discussion.”

Heidecker said he believes in the need for a strong beef organization, but also believes a strong general manager is critical.

The most important work the board does is select and guide the general manager, he said.

ABP lawyer Adrienne Waller with the law firm Beaumont Church, who is now interim general manager, said a placement agency was hired to search for a general manager and prescreen the candidates.

“The question is whether they properly vetted this candidate before he was provided for an interview. And information came to light as a result of that; he’s no longer the general manager. It was a mutual decision based on information,” she said.

Karen Gordon, an ABP delegate, said she wanted all the delegates in her area to resign in support of Heidecker’s stand.

“I felt we should all resign to back him up, but that wasn’t the feeling of the zone. I felt very strongly we had to support him,” she said.

Gordon said she was more critical of Rodyniuk’s lack of agricultural experience to lead the organization.

“As a delegate I wonder what the criteria is and where we are going with the organization … who is identifying the issues this organization needs to be aware of,” she said.

Stuart Thiessen, a cattle producer and feedlot operator, said as an ABP board member the correct decision was made for the two sides to part company.

“I’m happy with the board decision, but I sit on the board so I’m not going to say much more than that.

“I think it was the right decision.”

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