IAOM First Break Podcast: Troy Anderson, VP Operations, Ardent Mills
How the challenges of COVID-19 forced Ardent Mills to improve.
Troy Anderson is vice president of operations at Ardent Mills, a role he has held since 2019. He grew up in McPherson, KS before attending Kansas State University (KSU), Manhattan, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in milling science and management-operations.
After graduating in 1992, Anderson began his milling career with Cargill in Albany, NY. He joined Ardent Mills in 2014 as senior director of operations and is based in Manhattan, KS.
Operating Through the Pandemic
“I remember very vividly a statement Dan Dye, Ardent Mills CEO, made to us back in March 2020. He said, ‘This pandemic will be the most influential event in our careers, in terms of leadership development and growth.’ It seems Dan was a prophet that day, because he has been absolutely right.
This article consists of paraphrased remarks from an interview with Troy Anderson, vice president of operations, Ardent Mills, Denver, CO, from an episode of the IAOM First Break podcast. To listen to the podcast, go to iaom.org/firstbreak
“Day one of the pandemic, Ardent Mills narrowed its focus to two things: the safety and health of its employees and their families and delivering to our customer’s needs. We knew that our mills had to continue operating. People still need to eat. Millions rely on grain-based products every day. We did not know early on how much the pandemic would increase retail demand for flour, and of course, the sit-down restaurant industry fell off a cliff.
“In a time of so much uncertainty and uncontrollable variables, we honed in concerning ourselves only with the things that could be controlled.
“We had almost daily calls with everyone in the leadership team to make sure we remained grounded in the facts and weren’t getting caught up in the hysteria. We established strict protocols for things like wearing face coverings, physical distancing, maximum occupancy for specific spaces, etc. We also shut out contractors and outside visitors to our facilities as much as possible.
“Watching the news, it’s hard to know what you can believe, especially in regard to COVID-19. Ardent Mills decided to focus on what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for guidance.
We use a phrase at Ardent Mills – “the genius of the and.” It’s not enough to work the roll- stands properly or be safe. It’s about working the rollstands properly and being safe.
-Troy Anderson, Ardent Mills
“I do not see the world returning to the way things were prior to COVID-19. The challenges of the pandemic have pushed businesses to develop ways to operate better, safer, and more efficiently.
“We use a phrase at Ardent Mills – ‘the genius of the and.’ It’s not enough to work the rollstands properly or be safe. It’s about working the roll- stands properly and being safe. This philosophy has helped us develop better ways of doing things, and we’re never going to go back to the old way. We’ve taken leaps and bounds during the pandemic, especially in terms of technology.
Today’s Technical Miller
“My background is in technical milling, so this topic is something very important to me. I often tell my team that being a miller is a very special role. It’s a balancing act of art and science to send stock through a roll stand. You also need to develop the ability to see, smell, and hear what’s going on operationally on a minute-by-minute basis.
“I believe that technical millers have the hardest job in the entire flour milling industry, so we need to make sure we always are investing in the role.
“Things like developing talent through training and education and providing the right technology are always priorities for Ardent Mills.
“These things are especially important during a pandemic. We ask so much of today’s millers that we better make sure they are equipped and prepared to do their jobs effectively and safely.
“Technology is a real enabler both for the growth of the individual and the business. This can come in the form of automation, better process controls, and more advanced equipment and tools.
“Put the best tools in the hands of the miller, and he or she can get better at what they do every day.
Tucker Scharfenberg, managing editor