ESP 2003 Visionary Leadership Award

Dr. Monks has been employed as an Extension Specialist in the horticultural science depce since 1998. His leadership qualities have been exemplified in the following ways.

Dr. Monks has been instrumental in the development and implementation of the new agent orientation training program. This program provides new agents with the basic horticultural information they need to effectively serve their clientele in counties across North Carolina. The training covers all facets of horticulture and integrates the expertise of allied disciplines such as soil science, plant pathology, entomology, biological and agricultural engineering, and agricultural resource economics. The training program focuses on three topics: crop cultural management; pest management; and economic/market considerations and postharvest practices. New agents receive two to three day training in each of the primary topic areas. The orientation and training involves the coordination of over 40 Extension Specialists and the training helps to familiarize new agents with the key items and contacts they need to have in each Specialist's subject area. In addition to gaining important knowledge, the time facilitates the opportunity to develop a "team approach" that characterizes Cooperative Extension and provides Specialists and County Agents some more informal one-on-one time to visit and get to know one another in a more relaxed atmosphere. With dwindling resources, the new agent training helps to consolidate resources so that a larger pool of new agents can be trained simultaneously. New agents have reported the training to be very beneficial and industry has supported the training with donations of over $10,000. This training across disciplines for new agents has been cited as a model for agent training for other subject matter areas.

Dr. Monks has provided leadership which involved the training of agricultural industry representatives of Southern States. Southern States is a mid-Atlantic southeastern U.S. agricultural supply company and "serves as a showcase for all the latest information relating to crops and livestock of all kinds". Southern States updates information regularly with all the latest news to keep the consumer on the cutting edge of agricultural technology. This includes the commercial vegetable industry. Approximately 30 technical representatives were trained with the most current information as it relates to key vegetable crops grown and marketed where Southern States' businesses operate. Key information regarding production, pest management, economics, and postharvest considerations were provided for the professional development of Southern State employees. Dr. Monks coordinated this entire effort with Specialists and Southern States. In a survey taken after the training, Southern States employees rated the training session as very valuable. Southern States provided funds for the training including publications and other printed materials, transportation, lodging and compensation for Specialists' time. These funds were utilized to help subsidize new agent training sessions which have been conducted 3 times over the past 5 years.

While providing leadership in the training of agents and allied industry personnel, Dr. Monks has also provided leadership in Weed management. He has developed research based information which provide weed control solutions using traditional chemical control as well as IPM practices which has utilized scouting and several options utilizing mechanical control. Dr. Monks' weed management program is known and well respected nationally as evidenced by numerous cooperators he works with from other states and funding in excess of $2 million. He provides the leadership for weed management extension recommendation in the southeastern United States and has hosted the Weed Science group in Fletcher, NC during the past 5 years. Participants from Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, and Florida have all been involved.

Dr. Monks has helped to coordinate Specialist team meetings and cooperation in three major commodity areas in horticulture. He has provided the catalyst to bring Specialists together on a regular basis. These meetings help to improve communication and esprit-de-corps. Through his even handed, quiet approach, Dr. Monks has brought groups together in a spirit of harmony. The final result is a "team approach" to various situations.

Dr. Monks has certainly provided the leadership in the areas mentioned, but what makes his leadership so effective is his willingness to lead by example, the ease at which he works with others and ability to make others laugh. I hope you will give serious consideration to Dr. Monks for the Visionary Leadership Award.