Season 2 Episode 36
When a headhunter asked Budd Bentley, "How do you feel about chickens and eggs?" in late 2019, it marked the beginning of a transformative journey. After decades in automotive engineering and technology development, Bentley was about to step into the unfamiliar world of poultry technology as President of PMSI (now Prism Controls).
In this revealing conversation with Brandon Mulnix, Bentley shares his unlikely path from solving Rubik's Cubes as a child to leading innovation in agricultural technology. His early career at Prince Corporation taught him a foundational principle: everyone starts on the manufacturing line because "what makes money is when we send product out the door." This grounding in practical operations would shape his leadership philosophy throughout his career.
Bentley's entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found a mobile app development company in 2005—two years before the iPhone existed—where he learned valuable lessons about innovation timing and market readiness. When he eventually joined the poultry technology sector in January 2020 (just before COVID-19 changed everything), he brought fresh eyes to an established company. "I didn't even know what end of the chicken the egg comes out," he jokes, but he recognized the passionate team's potential for growth through process implementation.
Under Bentley's leadership, Prism Controls grew from 28 to 44 people while developing crucial new technologies like Reach, Eggsite, and Therm. His secret? "Embrace the process, and the process will set you free." By documenting workflows, separating operational activities from innovation, and implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System framework, the company created a structure that could scale without losing quality or customer focus.
As Bentley prepares for his next challenge as President of Big Dutchman USA, he reflects on what makes the agricultural technology sector special: the directness of farmers as customers. "You don't have to spend mental energy thinking about what they really mean or what they're really thinking, because they just tell you," he explains. This refreshing honesty allows technology providers to focus entirely on problem-solving rather than decoding communications.
Whether you're new to agricultural technology or a seasoned professional, Bentley's journey offers valuable insights into leadership, process development, and industry transition. Listen now to discover how documenting the invisible can transform organizations and set innovation free.
Hosted by Brandon Mulnix - Director of Commercial Accounts - Prism Controls
The Poultry Leadership Podcast is only possible because of its sponsor, Prism Controls
Find out more about them at www.prismcontrols.com
Published on 2 weeks ago
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