Information technology (IT) is always changing and innovating – so to fill that role you need to have someone who is just as forward-thinking. For Jenner Ag, that person is Jeremy McCammack, VP of IT. From the routine of setting up new accounts to the complexity of installing and maintaining the latest cybersecurity for three locations and employees across two states, Jeremy excels. But his knowledge isn’t just limited to the IT side of things, he is also a key contributor on the company’s internal The Great Game of Business (GGOB) team that helps drive the culture at Jenner Ag.
The way the company uses technology on a daily basis has grown leaps and bounds since Jeremy started in 2009. “Tasks that associates completed used to be heavily based in paperwork. Now, information goes onto a server so associates can communicate easily between our three locations. That is something that has drastically changed and is still changing,” says Jeremy. “When I started, everything was on site; everyone wasn’t even getting emails on their phones. Now, we use IT to communicate between departments and upload to databases.”
Jeremy spends his time on the IT side keeping associates mobile and technology running. “Half the workforce here is mobile – our service technicians are always on the move,” says Jeremy. “With the constant advancements in technology, our technicians use their laptops or tablets to help them diagnose machines. Keeping things updated and staying on top of new developments is the best way to keep us secure.”
Even beyond technology, the company isn’t afraid of updating to innovate. In fact, Jeremy believes that the biggest pro to working at Jenner Ag isn’t the job itself, but management’s approach to change. “If something isn’t working, we aren’t stuck in our ways. We will change tactics until something works,” he explains. “We are always thinking ahead. We don’t think, ‘This is how it has always been done; so, this is how we will continue to do things.’”
That’s how the IT guy took a central role when the company sought out a way to enhance culture and performance. In addition to his tech duties, today Jeremy is also a main player in the company’s GGOB – a unique practice of open book management that encourages associates to think and act like owners. “When I started, Jenner Ag wasn’t playing the GGOB yet, so I was strictly IT – which I loved, but I have always had a desire to explore the more creative side of things,” says Jeremy. “I have always liked doing graphic work, and when we started playing the Game, I got to explore that side of myself at work, which was refreshing. The culture here has allowed me to expand way outside of my job description, which keeps it exciting for me.”