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At Versova, leadership development isn't left to chance; it's an intentional investment in people.

To be a company where the best people want to work and grow, Versova knows it must offer more than a job. It must offer a future. That belief is rooted in a vision established by the board of directors: For Versova to be recognized as a trusted egg company, known for its people. Being an employer of choice means creating an environment where employees can truly see themselves growing.

That kind of environment doesn’t happen by chance. It’s built on:

• Career paths that are visible and real

• Managers who coach, not “boss”

• Psychological safety, where people feel heard, seen, and respected

• A culture of clarity, fairness, and recognition

“We are stewards of the birds in our care, of the land we operate on, and of the people who work tirelessly at the Versova farms,” says JT Dean, president. “We are committed to investing in our employees to help them reach their potential and equip them to lead others.”

That investment takes many forms. Whether someone is stepping into their first leadership role, managing a team of dozens, or representing the company across the agriculture industry, Versova believes leadership is developed at every stage of a career.

Advancing from within

For Tania Orellana, production manager, Versova has been a place to learn, grow, and embrace new opportunities.

She joined Iowa Cage-free in Goldfield, IA, in May 2018 as a flock specialist, caring for the very first flock placed in a newly constructed barn. Her career has steadily evolved through a progressive series of new roles, including production generalist, farm compliance, and now production manager, where she oversees the farm’s laying hens and leads a team of approximately 32 employees.

Looking back, she credits curiosity with opening every new door.

"I've always learned from a curiosity standpoint, and that has guided and helped me grow within the company," says Orellana.

That willingness to keep learning has allowed her to take on increasing responsibility while preparing for her next goal of becoming a senior manager at a larger complex or a business unit leader.

Her leadership style is grounded in servant leadership, ownership, continuous improvement, excellence, and execution — Versova core values she works to model every day with her team.

“Every person on the team knows they are accountable for the health and welfare of the birds in their care. I encourage each team member to treat their assigned barns and responsibilities as if they were their own,” says Orellana when discussing how her team prioritizes ownership.

Rather than waiting for someone else to fix an issue, she has encouraged team members to identify problems early, communicate them, and take the initiative to resolve them, which creates accountability and builds confidence within the team.

For employees hoping to build their own careers at Versova, her advice is straightforward.

"Take ownership of your current role and be curious," she says. "That's how you learn."

Her story reflects Versova's belief that meaningful career growth often happens one opportunity at a time.

Leadership through ownership

At Versova, developing leaders means giving them opportunities to lead — not just in title, but in responsibility and accountability.

The business unit leader model was created with that philosophy in mind. These leaders are entrusted with responsibility for their area of the business, allowing them to make decisions, manage resources, and be accountable for results. They oversee their department’s profit and loss statements, report outcomes, and work within the larger organization to identify opportunities, solve problems, and drive performance.

This level of ownership gives these leaders a broader understanding of how their decisions affect the entire business. It also creates space for them to learn from both successes and challenges while developing the skills needed to lead their teams and their operations.

The model reflects an important part of Versova's approach to leadership development: People grow when they are trusted with meaningful responsibility.

Leading beyond the farm

Leadership development doesn't stop once someone reaches a management position.

For Mat Simmons, business unit leader at Trillium Farms, it continues through serving employees, supporting the agriculture industry, and helping develop future leaders.

After beginning his career in agricultural research at The Ohio State University, Simmons joined Trillium Farms as an environmental compliance specialist before advancing through several leadership roles into his current position overseeing live production, processing, and financial performance.

While his responsibilities have grown, his leadership philosophy is rooted in lessons and a work ethic learned growing up and working on several family farms. Through those experiences, he saw owners and farmers directly involved in the day-to-day operation.

“Whether we were changing semi tires, cleaning manure pits, or working late into the night during harvest, they were always there leading by example,” Simmons recalled.

Those moments shaped how Simmons leads his team and interacts with his team members. He believes leaders should ensure their teams have what they need to succeed, and that can’t be accomplished from behind a desk.

"The best leaders serve and lead their teams rather than simply manage them," Simmons says. "If you aren't working alongside your people, you'll never fully understand the challenges they face."

That servant leadership mindset shapes how he supports employees every day and how he supports his community and industry.

Outside Versova, Simmons volunteers with FFA, 4-H, local schools, and internship programs to help introduce young people to careers in agriculture while strengthening the future of the industry.

His commitment has earned recognition as an International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) Young Leader Under 30 and an Honorary Chapter FFA Degree recipient, honors he views as a reflection of the leadership culture Versova continues to build.

"We have an incredible mix of experienced leaders and emerging talent," says Simmons. "These recognitions are a testament to the culture of growth and development that Versova has created."

Investing in people

To ensure the investment in leadership development reaches every corner of the company, Versova’s learning and organizational development team hosts in-person training for employees supervising others. The curriculum covers topics such as setting clear expectations, conflict resolution, coaching, delegation, and other practical leadership skills they can immediately apply within their teams.

Beyond leadership classes, the team is also building mentorship tools tailored for every role across Versova, while developing career navigation resources that help employees better understand potential career paths throughout the organization.

The goal of this process is simple: Provide employees with the knowledge, support, and opportunities they need to build long-term careers at Versova.

“When we empower our team members with growth pathways and skills, we directly drive innovation and elevate operational standards,” says Claudia Duarte, senior learning and organizational development specialist. "Growth doesn't always have to be vertical, sometimes it's about becoming a subject-matter expert, expanding your skills, or preparing yourself for future opportunities."

Building leaders for the future

As Versova continues to grow, so does the need for leaders who can build strong teams, create trust during times of change, and help employees succeed and advance within the family of companies.

At its heart, leadership at Versova has never been about titles or positions. It’s about people. It’s about the supervisor who takes a few extra minutes to check in on a team member’s day, the manager who listens before they react, and the mentor who sees potential in someone and takes time to develop them. This shared commitment to lift up others travels home with every leader, to every farm, and every team.

Investments in developing its people strengthens the teams, the culture, and the future of the organization, creating opportunities for the next generation of leaders to grow with Versova.