Leadership, enthusiasm and dedication are among the impressive attributes that characterize Kalyn Reed, this year’s 30 under 30 award winner from the global poultry breeding company, Aviagen.
Recognizing leadership talent
Intended to recognize leadership qualities in up-and-coming poultry industry professionals under the age of 30, the award was presented by U.S. Poultry and Egg Association (USPEA) President John Starkey on January 31 at the 2018 International Poultry and Production Exhibition (IPPE) in Atlanta.
USPEA initiated the 30 Under 30 program to promote leadership development in young leaders by engaging them in valuable technology and educational programs.
Kalyn Reed -- an exemplary young leader
A 27-year-old Clemson University Animal and Veterinary Science major, Reed’s first professional job was with Tyson Foods, where she worked as a broiler technical adviser. After joining Aviagen in 2015, she quickly grew from quality assurance coordinator to her current position as quality assurance manager. In this position, she is responsible for the quality assurance program for five of the company’s parent stock hatcheries and an egg depot. Reed sums up her job description as “ensuring the delivery of healthy chicks to our customers.”
“Kalyn is a talented and inspiring manager, and we are proud to nominate her for this honor,” says Kevin McDaniel, president of Aviagen North America. “We recognized her unique leadership capabilities from the start, and consider her the perfect candidate to represent Aviagen in the 30-Under-30 program.”
Kalyn’s manager Jeremy Martin, Aviagen North America’s director of Quality Assurance, agrees.
“From the time she started with Aviagen, she has always jumped right in to proactively offer new ideas to improve processes, and she passes on this can-do attitude to her employees, inspiring the very best from them. We brought her name forward for this award as recognition of the outstanding job she’s done for Aviagen.”
Reed says the most rewarding part of her job is the opportunity to bring in new graduates and help them develop into good employees and contributing poultry industry professionals. “I believe there are certain attributes of quality assurance staff – attention to detail, a high standard of excellence and others -- that make them suitable for upward mobility within the company. This means the people I’m helping to develop now may well be running the company in the future.”
She adds that winning the 30 Under 30 award is a confirmation of why she enjoys her job at Aviagen. “Aviagen has done a good job of helping me develop professionally, and I’ve had tremendous upper management support. I’m happy to work for a company where I look forward to coming to work every day because of the great people I work with and work for. Aviagen values my contribution to the business, and that’s why being awarded the 30 Under 30 means a lot to me.”
Tradition of choosing and developing the industry’s best
Aviagen traditionally hires and develops top talent, and makes a conscious effort to recognize employee accomplishments. Last year the company presented Assistant Breeder Manager Forrest Aldridge with the 30 under 30 award, and in 2016, Grandparent Breeder Manager Cory Shadden took the accolades. All award recipients are fine examples of excellent leadership skills developed in young poultry professionals.
