Morrison Fall 2022 Newsletter

IN THIS ISSUE:

CORTO OLIVE: INNOVATION AND A FRESH START

SOFTWARE TRANSITIONS: A FACT OF BUSINESS LIFE Morrison

Principals

Brent

Morrison

and Ana Klein discuss the challenges of software transitions and how they can impact your business.

Rooted in Italian heritage, Corto Olive

Calabrian Chili and Yuzu Citrus, created by

Company has produced high quality, fresh,

crushing and cold-extracting fall harvested

extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) since 2005.

olives simultaneously with fresh seasonal

Made exclusively from California-grown

ingredients. And for foodies and the truly

olives, the oil is expertly crafted by the

adventurous, Corto offers regular virtual

company’s master miller to achieve a bright

online

flavor profile that professional chefs have

Reserve your spot and you’ll receive a tasting

relied on for more than a decade.

kit and instructions shortly before your

Corto Olive Company was founded by

scheduled guided tasting experience.

Dino Cortopassi was heavily influenced by his Italian heritage, including a love for

Italian immigrants in 1937 in Stockton,

agriculture, food, and olive oil. His success

California,

in

was not without challenges; after graduating

February 2022, confident in the strong

from Stockton High School in 1954 on a

family-oriented organization he had built.

vocational

Cortopassi

passed

away

characteristics to olive oil. Corto’s master miller balances the art and science of olive

People Solutions Manager.

experiences.

California food and agribusiness. Born to

varietals bring their own distinct flavor

Learn more about Jeff Boian, Morrison’s

tasting

Dino Cortopassi, a well-known fixture in

Similar to great wines, different olive

GETTING TO KNOW JEFF BOIAN

educational

oil crafting to create exceptional products.

The

time

and

care

taken

evaluating,

measuring, and tasting each batch ensures that consumers, chefs, and restaurateurs can

count

on

fresh

and

distinctively

Corto is known for its fresh and innovative Their

Cortopassi

contracted

warned to “go lightly” by his doctor, but that wasn’t in his nature and he subsequently suffered a mild heart attack. When doctors told him he must slow down his physical activity or risk his life, he took the advice of his future father-in-law and enrolled in the agriculture program at University of California, Davis.

After graduating in 1958, Cortopassi began

flavorful oils.

products.

track,

rheumatic fever, damaging his heart. He was

TRULY®

100%

farming with a modest, rented 65-acre

EVOO

is made from olives harvested in their prime,

cold-extracted,

then

sealed

in

unique oxygen-free packaging to maintain freshness. Their La Padella® Sauté Oil is a blend crafted for high-heat sautéing

CLIENT CORNER

without compromising the olive oil flavor.

Combining olive, rice bran, avocado, and

There is always something new happening

grapeseed oils, La Padella® is made to

so catch up on the latest news from our

take the heat. Corto’s Argumato-Method

clients and colleagues.

Box Set offers two seasoned olive oils,

WWW.MORRISONCO.NET

Amerigo Cortopassi, age 19, working in the artichoke fields.

1920s, Santa Cruz, CA

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

NEWSLETTER | FALL 2022

SOFTWARE TRANSITIONS: A FACT OF BUSINESS LIFE Business software transitions are about as old as business software itself. Companies and the environments in which they operate change, as do the options available, leading to inevitable changes in systems. However, we have recently observed an uptick in the number of

common to ignore or put off the possibility of a change, but there are indicators (think of them as “symptoms”) that companies should look out for: 1. KEY

INFORMATION

NOT

AVAILABLE.

Information you need to guide critical decisions

may

simply

be

unavailable

through your system, which ties back

organizations that are considering or transitioning to other software options.

to what we often see in regard to lack

Members of the Morrison team have worked with software transitions going back to the early

certain that the function you need is

and mid-1980s when many companies were making their first move from all paper accounting.

Some were installing computers for the first time. And while a lot has changed, there have been a number of constants that should be considered in making a smooth and effective transition.

truly absent before going to add-ons or other work-arounds. We have seen cases where a function was available, but the organization was simply not aware of it

DRIVERS: We see a number of reasons for the growth

3. EASE OF USE. Ease of use can be underlooked

in software transitions, but an informal

as a consideration when choosing software,

survey of clients and others indicate a few key

and to be fair, some ease of use issues may

drivers:

not be obvious until you actually use it.

1. OBSOLESCENCE.

of costing capabilities. Check first to be

Unlike

fine

wine,

software does not age well. Software obsolescence comes faster than it once did, with frequent upgrades and options geared at specific needs. Let’s face it: typewriters didn’t change much after the invention of the electric machine, nor did pen and

We see software that has functions that sounded good when selected, but in practice proved not to be intuitive or to be clumsy to use. This may lead to underutilization

and went on to implement unnecessary add-ons.

2. UNTIMELY INFORMATION. Information for decision making purposes is best served fresh. If a process is too cumbersome and time-consuming, it may be stale at best, and possibly worthless. If this is an ongoing issue, it’s time to look at options.

of certain capabilities, or a cumbersome

3. USE OF MULTIPLE ADD-ONS. Some add-

collection of software add-ins and other

ons are almost inevitable, for example to

work-arounds.

meet certain industry-specific needs. But if it’s beginning to look like Frankenstein’s

paper, but software and cloud options do.

4. LACK OF KEY CAPABILITIES. Perhaps the

We ran across an article suggesting that

most common reason we hear for a software

software programming experience and

transition is a lack of key capabilities. For

education has a half-life of about three

example, we work with many companies

years; we’d guess it’s even shorter for

that process, assemble, or manufacture

4. EXCEL-ERATING. This is what we dub the

software. That’s not to say that if you’ve

CPGs (consumer packaged goods) or other

stampeding creation of uncontrolled Excel

used XYZ software for three years it’s time

finished products, so tracking of inputs,

workarounds by needy users. We see this

to change, but you should make sure that

work in process, spoilage, finished goods,

when users, desperate for information,

it’s a system that is continuously upgraded

etc., is critical. It is not uncommon for

create their own Excel models simply

and improved by the provider.

new or small businesses to start with

because they know how and see no other

QuickBooks, which is well-supported and

options. Two or more people may try to

user friendly. However, companies with

create the same information, and will

critical manufacturing/processing costing

almost inevitably come up with different

needs may find themselves using work-

results.

2. MINIMAL OR NO SUPPORT. This can go hand in hand with obsolescence. As a program gets older the availability of support may decline or the version you are using may be simply discontinued. It may be straightforward to upgrade to the next version, but in other cases the changes can be so radical that for all practical purposes it is a completely different program.

arounds or simply lacking key information.

We know of companies that have hung onto software well past its suitability, but a breaking point will come if not addressed.

INDICATORS: Most businesses look forward to a software transition about as much as a root canal, and understandably. The current situation may be painful, but they fear that the process will be excruciating, time consuming, and costly. It’s

ERP, with countless limbs and appendages bolted on to make things work, it’s time to reconsider.

There are more, but if you see any of these indicators in your organization, it is time to take a hard look at your systems.

QUICK WARNING SIGNS:

There can be tinges of this in a software

We can assist in interviewing users to

A detailed evaluation is necessary before

conversion, but a well-planned approach can

determine their practical needs and concerns,

choosing new software, but there are key

avoid the worst of it. There is a lot more to it

assess reporting cycles (e.g., sales, expenses),

signs that are relatively quick and simple

than can be summed up in one short article,

identify audit points, determine lack of

to determine before taking the dive into the

but following are some key steps:

segregation of duties, and assist with other

details. They include:

1. GET THE RIGHT HELP.

The

software

matters that could hamper a successful transition. We can help review the internal

1. LOW NUMBER OF INSTALLATIONS. We

provider may offer resources, but for many

have worked with organizations using

situations you’ll need a good software tech

software that has fewer than a hundred

firm specializing in the software you are

installations worldwide. Frankly, it may

transitioning to (and hopefully from). For

not be a whole lot more comforting if they

the record, this is not Morrison and we are

Clean-up and preparation is key, but there is

have only a few thousand. The software

not a tech consultancy, but we can provide

often not enough internal staff availability

may be fine to start with, but it will

needed assistance as detailed below. We’ve

to handle that along with everything else.

often be underdeveloped due to low user

seen companies try to stumble through

We can help with both the planning and the

input and because the size and income

transitions on their own, and it can be a

day-to-day activities to avoid unnecessary

of the software company isn’t sufficient

bigger climb than anticipated. The right

disruptions.

to provide adequate ongoing support or

consultancy should be able to tailor their

development. Smaller companies are also

services to your needs.

more vulnerable to economic downturns and other issues. Let’s face it: SAP, NetSuite (Oracle), and Microsoft Dynamics aren’t going anywhere, and if they do another software giant would snatch them up and life would go on.

2. SPECIALIZED

SOFTWARE.

2. START WITH A DETAILED ASSESSMENT OF YOUR NEEDS. This may seem obvious, but the best approach involves working

controls and procedures currently in place to avoid transferring less-than-ideal practices to a new system.

You wouldn’t climb Mount Everest without a guide, and we can serve in that capacity in software transitions. A software transition can have a great impact on a company’s future.

Make sure you plan and execute accordingly.

with all user levels. It is a mistake to rely solely on executives, division heads, or managers. This is necessary for the big

Be

careful

when considering very industry-specific software. We have seen software specific to certain crops, to home delivery of farm products, and other niches. No doubt those businesses have their needs, but something that specialized is likely to have a small number of installations, and the providers will be vulnerable to anything that negatively impacts their industry niche.

3. SCALABILITY. It’s one thing to outgrow QuickBooks; most businesses past the Ma and Pa stage will get there at some point.

It’s another thing to outgrow Sage. Unless you don’t think you’ll look much different over the next 10 years, make sure anything you consider can adapt with you to a reasonable extent. Software conversions can be necessary, but like a root canal, don’t plan to do more than you need to.

HOW TO APPROACH: There is an old joke that there are six phases of a major project: 1) Wild enthusiasm; 2) Total confusion; 3) Fear and uncertainty; 4) Search for the guilty; 5) Punishment of the innocent, and; 6) Promotion of the uninvolved.

picture, but get direct feedback from users at all levels.

3. GET USER SUPPORT. This relates to the point above, but work to get the support of users at all levels. We have seen elements of transitions fail because the users weren’t sold in the first place.

4. PLAN, PLAN, PLAN—AND TAKE YOUR TIME. This means the transition may take longer than you’d like but it is critical to get it right. You wouldn’t rush a heart transplant, and an ERP conversion can be the business equivalent. We are aware of a major ERP transition for which the company was given only a few months;

ABOUT THE AUTHORS Brent Morrison and Ana Klein are

the old system was being unplugged on

principals at Morrison. Brent Morrison

a set date and there was no moving it.

is

Predictably, it was a fiasco. The issues were

strategy

resolved over time and it was successful

practice

in the long-term, but years of challenges

development,

could have been avoided with better

oversees services to Morrison clients. Ana

planning and transition time.

Klein oversees the Business & Accounting

HOW MORRISON CAN HELP:

Morrison’s

Advisory

founder

and

and

development, and

team,

oversees

implementation, infrastructure

both

serving

serves

and

clients

in

industries including food, agribusiness,

Morrison is not a software tech firm but a

trade

successful transition is also driven by an

and processing, distribution, and the

associations,

understanding of the needs of an organization

non-profit sector. Ana also oversees

compared to the options. We can assist in

practice

discussions with software providers to plan

practice, including long-term strategy,

both the technical and practical help needed

identifying and implementing service

based on our work with the organization and

options, training, implementation of

experience with other transitions.

appropriate technologies, and business

development

manufacturing

for

the

B&A

growth. To get in touch with Brent or Ana visit www.morrisonco.net/contact.

CORTO OLIVE, CONTINUED parcel. That has grown to 7,000 acres today,

box. In addition to ensuring freshness and

with multiple partners, growing oil olives and

reducing quality degradation from light,

other crops. Corto also contracts with outside

air, and heat exposure, FlavorLock™ boxes

growers to meet demand for its quality

have a significantly lower carbon footprint.

products, and is currently looking to contract an additional 3,000 to 4,000 acres of new or existing oil olives for its growing needs.

It is interesting to note that olives are an incredibly sustainable crop by their nature. They require very little water in

Honoring Dino Cortopassi‘s legacy, quality

comparison to many other tree crops.

is the driving force at Corto. Using only top

Additionally,

quality olive varieties grown for this purpose,

which refers to the capturing, removal,

Corto harvests their olives at peak freshness

and storing of carbon dioxide from the

when they are green, with just a hint of violet.

atmosphere. According to the International

are grown in Super-High Density groves

The oil is cold-extracted in their state-of-

Olive Council, the worldwide production

(approximately 680 trees per acre), further

the-art mill within 24 hours of harvest.

of olive oil absorbs the amount of carbon

improving water efficiency. On average,

By contrast, many imported olive oils use

produced by 20 million vehicles annually.

Corto’s Super-High Density olives use 66%

overripe fruit that lack the fresh flavor of Corto’s premium oils. The olive pomace byproduct of olive oil production (the skins and pits remaining after the oil is extracted) is repurposed as animal feed.

olives

sequester

carbon,

Corto further reduces carbon emissions by powering its mill with solar energy. Solar accounts for 100% of the mill’s energy usage in the summer months and 70%

Amerigo showing young Dino the ropes on being a farmer. 1942, Lodi, CA

less water than leading California tree crops.

Water used in the mill is recirculated to irrigate cover crops, which saves water and helps amend the soil and keep it healthy.

throughout the year. The company is also

Morrison has been privileged to serve Corto

In addition to great taste, environmental

committed to conserving water, one of

Olive

sustainability is an important motivator

California’s most endangered resources.

controller services and executive recruiting.

at Corto. Their products are available in

Moisture monitors and 100% drip irrigation

We are always honored to work alongside

two sustainable packaging formats: 500 ml

are used to ensure that water is used as

innovative family-owned companies like

recyclable glass bottles and their FlavorLock™

efficiently as possible. Corto’s oil olives

Corto Olive Company.

Company

with

interim

fractional

MORRISON

SNAPSH TS

ROTARY PRESENTS ANA KLEIN Morrison Principal, Ana Klein, presented

CLIMATE-SMART CLIENTS Pictured with Elevated Foods CEO Steve Brazeel

(left)

and

USDA

Undersecretary

Robert Bonnie (right), Managing Principal, Toni Scott, joined our client Elevated Foods to celebrate the announcement of their $20

to Chico Noon Rotary on her life and

SPITFIRE GRILL

career with Sunsweet. Leading up from

Morrison’s very own Regan Penning put on

her upbringing as the daughter of farm

a great show at the Chico Theater Company

workers, Ana became the youngest and first

as Shelby, the kind and generous friend who

female CFO in Sunsweet history and later

helps out in the musical “Spitfire Grill.” To

oversaw Sunsweet’s Chilean operations.

support Regan, the team showed up in full

We’re thrilled to have Ana as our principal

force to cheer Regan on during her spectacular

overseeing the Business & Accounting

performance. She acts, she sings, she writes

Advisory practice line, and are so grateful

grants, what can’t she do? Great job Regan,

for her leadership and vision at Morrison.

we loved your show!

million grant award. Toni and the Morrison

TEE UP AT TOPGOLF!

team worked with several clients to submit

The Morrison team loves to celebrate together,

applications under the USDA Climate Smart

especially when it comes to birthdays.

Partnerships Program. A total of $170 million

Celebrating all our June birthday babies, the

has been awarded to Morrison clients thus

team headed to TopGolf, where we enjoyed a

far, with further announcements pending.

bit of friendly competition and pranked Toni

Great

and

with our Hawaiian shirts (ask her how she

congratulations to Elevated Foods. We can’t

feels about Hawaiian shirts). Happy birthday

wait to see your project unfold!

to Mayra, Daniel, Ann, and Michelle!

job

to

the

Morrison

team,

TEAM MEMBER PROFILE

Q&A WITH JEFF WHAT WOULD BE ON THE GAG REEL OF YOUR LIFE? Jokes. Lots of bad dad jokes.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK AND WHY? Prayer and the Art of Volkswagen

GETTING TO KNOW

JEFF BOIAN

Maintenance—it inspired me to buy a hunk-of-junk VW bus in college and drive around the country, looking for places I could help in whatever capacity was needed.

including agribusiness, manufacturing and processing, distribution, and non-profit.

IF YOU COULD TIME TRAVEL, WHEN WOULD YOU GO?

Focusing on executive recruiting, organizational development, outsourced and interim

My day of birth. That would be so meta

human resources management, and human resources advisement, Jeff’s expertise

to be there on the day I was born. I

includes organizational leadership, career strategy, leadership training, and professional

mean, I was there, but to be there

development.

twice?! Whoa. Mind blowing.

Jeff Boian manages Morrison’s People Solutions practice area, serving clients in industries

Prior to Morrison, Jeff served as Vice President, Education & Professional Development, for California & Nevada Credit Union Leagues. In that role he led the overall planning, development, budgeting, and execution of select strategy, programming, and initiatives for over 230 credit unions in California and Nevada. He previously served as Associate Director for Career Strategy for the Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University,

WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED? If someone asks you to do something that you’ve never done before, say yes

and in multiple leadership roles at Azusa Pacific University.

… and figure it out.

Jeff holds a master of arts degree in organizational leadership from Azusa Pacific College

WHEN YOU’RE HAVING A BAD DAY, WHAT DO YOU DO TO MAKE YOURSELF FEEL BETTER?

and is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management. Additionally, he holds graduate certificates in Organizational Development & Change and Career & Life Planning, among others. Jeff is a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Certified Practitioner, a Certified Master of Career Services by the National Career Development Association, and holds a certificate in Strengths Based Leadership and Management from Noel Academy. He previously had his own consulting practice focused on organizational development.

If it’s possible, I like to go for a long walk or a run or ride my bike for a while. Just to get outside and clear my mind. I also enjoy talking with my wife about what made the day challenging.

Talking it out always seems to help make things better.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE FOOD AND WHY? Mango. And Rice Cakes. Especially Lundberg Family Farms Rice Cakes.

Growing up, my family said that they thought they tasted like cardboard. I loved them then and love them even more now.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CHILDHOOD BOOK? Good Night Moon.

1385 Ridgewood Drive Chico, CA 95973 5 3 0 - 8 9 3 - 4 7 6 4 • W W W. M O R R I S O N CO. N E T BUSINESS & ACCOUNTING ADVISORY • PEOPLE SOLUTIONS • GR ANTS

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C L I E N T CORNER The Morrison Client Corner is a regular feature of our newsletter.

If you’re a client of ours, we’d love to stay up to date with what is going

Here, you’ll find updates on what a number of our clients are up to,

on within your organization and invite you to share your highlights

their achievements and milestones, and the generally great things

in this space. Feel free to send any press releases, newsletters, or

happening in their companies or organizations.

happenings to Michelle at mgenova@morrisonco.net.

SECRETARY ROSS CONGRATULATES SONOMA COUNTY’S LEADERSHIP GRADUATES

FARMERS BREWING TAPROOM OPENS

PACIFIC COAST PRODUCERS WELCOMES MATT STRONG AS NEW CEO

Morrison

Co.

Pacific Coast Producers recently named

academy

recently opened the doors to their newly

Matt Strong as its CEO. Matt previously

recently produced their first class of

built Restaurant and Taproom in Chico

served Pacific Coast Producers in positions

graduates!

California.

delighted

including VP of Finance & CFO and VP of

Department

to be an early guest of the restaurant

Foodservice & Sales. Morrison Founder

Secretary, Karen Ross, the fifteen graduates

and thoroughly enjoyed Crazy Nachos,

and Principal Brent Morrison first met

attended eight half-day classes and two

burgers, and of course beer! An extension

Matt when Brent was short of cash at a city

field trips designed to enhance their

of their original taproom in their brewery

parking lot. Matt, noticing the problem,

leadership skills. These courses included

in Princeton, CA, the Chico Taproom

chipped in $4 to cover the fee. Not

topics

prominently features an incredible outdoor

knowing each other, they later found they

conflict resolution, financial literacy, wine

seating area, a retail shop, and over 40

were attending the same conference and

production, and much more. The graduates

beer taps. We are delighted at the success

struck up a conversation and a friendship.

are primed to lead the wine industry

of Farmers Brewing’s new venture, and the

Needless to say, we are ecstatic for Pacific

forward, and we look forward to seeing

team is all too excited to enjoy many more

Coast Producers as they could not have

lunches on the patio.

found a better leader than Matt.

this program continue to produce qualityU.S. POSTAG

client

Farmers

Morrison

Brewing

was

In early 2022, the Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation launched a leadership for

vineyard

Recognized of

covering

Food

HR,

employees by and

and

California Agriculture

communications,

FIRST CLASS M

leaders for the California Wine Industry.

PAID

CHICO, CA PERMIT NO

WELCOME NEW CLIENTS

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NEWSLETTER | FALL 2022