In the following article, explain what you learned about the practice of utilizing diversity in the management ranks.

DIVERSITY IN LEADERSHIP: Whitey's Ice Cream: Developing the Future F L A v ORS By William Woods With locations on either side of the Mississippi River in the Midv.est Illinois and Iowa b: -state region, Whitey 's Ice Cleam stores provide both high quality ice cream and service. MThen Chester "Vvrhitey" Lindgren started the company in 1933, it was just a local establishment. In 1935, Lindgren hired 15-year-old Bob Tunberg, whom he trained in the business and with whom he formed a milial bond that would prole important to the future of the company for decades to come (MThitey's Ice Cream, 2 0 22) In I g: 3, Lindgren made the decision to sell Whitey's to Tunberg and his wife, Norma. Tunberg was Able to benefit from Lindgren's mentorship, and even After the business switched hands, the Tunbergs still had access to Lindgren and his expertise if they had questions or concerns about the business. Mr. and Mrs. Tunberg raised their two sons, Jeff and Ion, around the business As the sons grew up, they learned many aspects of the operati on from their Eventually, the Tunberg s ons became v: ce pres idents of the company, with their father sawing as president. After Bob's passing in I ggl, Ion and Jeff continued on as coq'wners of MThitey's, leaving the president position open in honor of their late father. of Sue Th e Tunb erg family inside one of their Whitey's Ice Under the guidance of the Tunberg family, the company expanded from a single location in Moline, IL, to eight locations Acmss Illinois and Iowa. As part of the company's expansion, it Also began distributing its ice cam At Hy-Vee, the largest gncery store chain in the local bi-state area, as well as Fareway, Jewel, and other area gncery stores. As of 2022, VVhitey-'s has over 56, 000 followers on Facebook and more than 13,000 followers on Instagram. Like many other companies, Whitey's was challenged by the global COVID-19 pandemic. However, the owners and team innovated during 2020 and 2021. For enmple, the company transitioned from selling ice cream inside its locations and started using its parking lots for temporary multi-lane drive-through access. Employees would take and deliver oders in the parking lot while customers sat in the comfort of their cars Some store locations had up to three drive-through lanes filled with ice cam loving customers. By 2022, the customers were once again being sewed inside of the stores. As Jeff and Ion approach retirement age, they are having to consider plans for future leadership of the company. After three generations of men leading the company, part of the latest succession plan includes Jeff's and Jon's daughters, Annika and Jenny, stepping into management nles Both have been trained in many of the pos itions in the company and now sewing in important leadership positions Annika, Jon's daughtet; now serves as A company vice president. Her analytical and decision-making skills have been of great benefit to the company. She has found value in meeting with other families who own their own businesses in the area and has met with the Family Business Roundtable held by the Quad City Chamber of Commerce Annika also highly values her regular meetings with a group of Quad Cit}Area businessvmmen. Jenny, Jeff's daughter, serves as the manager of tv.O company stores She gains success out of her employees through using her people skills to motivate employee performance. She has found that, especially in light of the impact of COVID -Ig and A trend of people not returning to vnrk, it is very important to listen to employees and to focus on their needs For example, some of MThitey's pung employees have homework and athleti cs that are important to them. Such needs have led to allowing shorter hours for some emp Wyees. Part of both daughters' management style includes seeing the emplcwees as their family members. In taking the company into the future, both umnen will continue to benefit from their ability to analyze, learn, and adjust in an economy. Sources: Woods, W (2022, January 21). Notes on Whitsy's lcs Cream Personal communication]; Woods, W (2022, March 6). Notes on Il'hitey's lcs Cream Personal communication]