2022 RETA Breeze March-April

2021-22 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIRMAN Aer Teale, CARO, CRST Lineage Logistics PRESIDENT Keith Harper, CARO Tyson Foods Inc

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Bengie Branham, CIRO, RAI SCS Engineers TREASURER Michael Hawkins, CARO Midatlantic Refrigeration, LLC SECOND VICE PRESIDENT David Gulcynski, CIRO Dot Foods Inc. DIRECTORS Alan Gervais, CARO, CIRO Western Precooling Systems Andrew Palomar, CARO APCCO Bill Lape, CARO, CIRO, CRST SCS Engineers Debbie Koske Calibration Technologies, Inc. Edward Johnson, CARO

CONSENSUS Consensus is defined as a general agreement or accord, or an opinion held by all. When you think about it, consensus is a rare thing. Look at national politics, and it is hard to believe that we the people could agree on anything. Yet, we greatly value consensus. When we work together on teams (or boards), we strive to reach consen- sus because it is considered to be the ideal outcome. It really does feel good to get everyone together in the same place and have everyone headed in the same direction together. As the Old Testament prophet Amos said: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”. However, there can be a downside to consensus-building.

Keith Harper, RETA National President

Schwans Global Supply Chain, Inc. Gordon Rascoe, Jr, CIRO, CRST, RAI ConAgra Brands Jeff Lublin Kolbi Pipe Marker Co. JeremyMurfin AC & R Specialists Jim Kovarik Ricky Jimenez, CIRO Mericle Mechanical Inc Victor Dearman, Jr. Peco Foods, Inc COMMITTEE CHAIRS Certification: Lee Pyle, CARO SCS Tracer Environmental Education: Eric Girven, CIRO, CRST, RAI SCS Tracer Environmental Marketing: Dascha Whitmore Stellar Membership: Michael Hawkins, CARO Midatlantic Refrigeration, LLC National Conference: Jim Kovarik Gamma Graphics Services Publications: Ed Johnson, CARO Gamma Graphics Services Raymond Urban, CARO Lineage Logistics

Abba Eban is quoted as saying “A consensus means that everyone agrees to say collectively what no one believes individually.” The desire to achieve consensus can discourage dissent, and lead to “group think”. Even the most well-intentioned efforts at achieving consensus can stifle meaningful conversation that could lead to a more favorable outcome. Given how difficult it can be to reach consensus intentionally, how likely does it seem that it would just happen? Granted, there are things in our respective realms of experience we would probably all like and others we would try to avoid. I’m sure we would all like a raise. We might all agree that we would not be thrilled to have to go to the dentist. However, the more complex and nuanced the question posed, the less likely we are to see full consensus. For RETA’s Certification programs, we employ the services of Dr. Ron Rodgers, at the Employment Research & Development Institute. You have doubtless read some of his articles on RETA Certification in the RETA Breeze. In fact, he wrote an excellent article in the last issue of the Breeze reporting the results of the CRST Practices Survey, which was conducted in the fall of 2021. The full CRST Practices Survey Report, was presented to the RETA Board of Directors in Schaumburg, IL, and I can’t help but offer my two cents worth. The responses to a particular question caught my eye:

Schwans Global Supply Chain Executive Director: Jim Barron

There were a total of 188 Technicians, Service Managers, supervisors, and operators who responded to the survey. Every last one of them, when posed with a question about how

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