Erinn Oliphant Raleigh, North Carolina Manager of Outreach Services Dairy Records Management Systems
Please describe your agricultural background.I was incredibly fortunate to grow up in an agriculture-heavy county in southeast Virginia. My fondest childhood memories include bottle feeding calves, holding nearly every possible office in 4-H and practically living at the State Fair for two weeks each September. While I came from a crop and beef cattle background, a love for the dairy industry was awakened at Virginia Tech where I was “adopted” by the Dairy Science faculty and students and became active in the Dairy Club. I have never looked back and know that I’m in the industry where I belong.
What education are you bringing with you to this position?
The first four years of my college experience took place atVirginia Tech, where I majored in animal and poultry sciences and minored in agricultural economics. Upon completion of my bachelor’s degree, I moved to Raleigh and obtained my Master of Science in animal science, focusing on ruminant nutrition.
What are your new responsibilities?
The word “outreach” encompasses much of what I do on a daily basis. One of my top priorities is to research regional markets to determine what promotions, user support services and educational programs are needed for the unique markets we serve. DRMS works closely with our DHI customers to deliver management information and on-farm dairy herd management software, primarily PCDART, to 15,000+ dairy producers. So, I work hand-in-hand with Service Affiliates to ensure that we surpass our current customers’ expectations and that we are offering valuable services that are attractive to prospective customers as well.
What excites you most about working in your new role?
When I was interviewing for this position, I realized that it is a combination of everything that I love to do! Strategic planning and implementation is challenging because it requires insights to the industry, understanding of the products and so much projection. The position combines travel to various markets, meeting interesting people and forming meaningful relationships to identify new opportunities. I find that my position is very fulfilling which excites me more than anything.
How will you be of most help to producers in your region or area of expertise?
Our mission is to deliver top-notch services and support to our customers. My day-to-day activities center on outreach, training workshops and customer service. Given my background in education, technical support and customer service, I will draw on my entire skill set to deliver the best possible results. Features such as PCDART and DHI reports help producers make more informed decisions for their operations. It is my job to ensure they are aware of everything available to them and they know how to use features efficiently and easily. During these difficult financial times, making the most profitable decisions is critical.
What’s your best story from the first day on the job?
Generally speaking, the first day on the job is usually a little awkward and slow. However, this was not the case the day I came on board with DRMS! I was amazed at how busy I was from day one. Note taking is one of the habits I have picked up over the years as no one’s memory is perfect. I was amazed to see that the spiral notebook I had just been given at the beginning of the day was at least one quarter full by the end of the day. No time wasted here!
Why did you choose this company?
From years out in the field and through school I knew about PCDART, but didn’t know about DRMS. After going through my interview, I was so impressed by their mission, the quality of the people and the technology offered to the dairy industry that I knew I couldn’t find a better place to work.
What goals would you like to accomplish while in this position?
There is a lot I want to accomplish in my new position but a few of the highlights include: ensuring customers are aware of all of the tools available to them, continuing the tradition of unrivaled customer service/education and achieving vibrant market representation from coast to coast. I want to see our customer retention and prospect conversion numbers increase as we continue to deliver the tools and resources that producers need to make the best possible decisions. PD
