SENIOR OFFICERS

Curt Hudnutt, Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Hudnutt was hired as Chief Executive Officer on October 19, 2020. He was previously Executive Vice President – Head of Rural Banking for Rabobank, North America. Mr. Hudnutt has over 20 years of agricultural banking experience and has served in a variety of leadership roles, including operations, business development, underwriting, and risk management.

Greg Somerhalder, Chief Operating Officer

Mr. Somerhalder has served as Chief Operating Officer since March 1, 2014. He previously served as Chief Corporate Strategist. He has over 40 years of experience with Farm Credit in many areas of banking, including lending, credit, risk, and strategy. Mr. Somerhalder serves as the Chair of the board of Farm Credit System Associations Captive Insurance Company. He also serves on the board of the Laham Family Foundation.

Rachel Angress, General Counsel

Ms. Angress was promoted to General Counsel in September 2013. She previously served as Deputy General Counsel from 2012. She has over 29 years of legal experience, including years of civil and bankruptcy litigation and general legal representation for many Bay Area financial institutions.

Mike Banks, Chief Credit Officer

Mr. Banks has served as Chief Credit Officer since January 1, 2017. He previously served as Senior Vice President for American AgCredit, leading the Association’s Credit Management Department. He has over 28 years of service with the Farm Credit System, primarily focused in various lending and credit functions.

Rich Hollis, Chief People Experience Officer

Mr. Hollis joined American AgCredit as Chief People Experience Officer on March 1, 2021. He brings over 26 years of executive leadership in the agricultural industry. Most recently, Mr. Hollis served as a member of the executive team for The Maschhoffs, the fifth largest pork production company in the U.S., leading the people strategies, environmental and sustainability initiatives, and generational transfer programs. Prior to that, Mr. Hollis led Rabobank’s people strategies.

Avery Hudson, Chief Audit Executive

Ms. Hudson joined American AgCredit as the Chief Audit Executive on July 12, 2021. She has worked in accounting, internal and external audit, and risk roles for more than 28 years. Most recently, Ms. Hudson was the North America Head of Audit with Rabobank, and before that, Senior Vice President, Head of Audit and Credit Review, also at Rabobank.

Sarah Kolell, Chief Brand Officer

Ms. Kolell joined American AgCredit on March 22, 2021, as Chief Brand Officer, leading the communications, legislative affairs, marketing, and storytelling functions that connect American AgCredit and our employees with our customers and communities. Prior to joining AAC, she led marketing, communications, and sustainability in senior vice president positions at Rabo AgriFinance.

Sean O’Day, Chief Lending Officer

Mr. O’Day assumed the role of Chief Lending Officer in September 2021. He previously served as Chief Banking Officer for corporate banking. Agribusiness lending and Capital Markets operate under the Corporate Banking umbrella. Prior to assuming the position of Chief Banking Officer, Mr. O’Day served as Senior Vice President-Capital Markets. For the past 30 years, his focus has been in the areas of corporate finance and loan syndications, and he has a total of 43 years of Farm Credit System service.

Paula Olufs, Chief Customer Officer

Ms. Olufs has served as the Chief Customer Officer since February 2020. She leads the centers of excellence for customer experience, business transformation, and product development, uniting the Association around a common vision and strategy for customer experience from the customer’s perspective. Prior to her current position she served as the Chief Innovation Officer. She has over 36 years of Farm Credit experience.

Erik Person, Chief Risk Officer

Mr. Person was named Chief Risk Officer on April 1, 2021. He previously served as the Chief Audit Executive and Director of Operational Audit and Risk. Prior to joining the Association, Mr. Person served as the Association’s Engagement Manager for its Risk Consulting Services and worked with several other Farm Credit System Institutions through Crowe, a national public accounting firm. Mr. Person has over 21 years of experience within the diversified financial services industry.

Jerry Rose, Chief Strategy and Financial Officer

Mr. Rose was named the Chief Strategy and Financial Officer on January 9, 2023. He previously served as the Association’s Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Risk Officer. He has held risk and financial management roles for more than 34 years in the Farm Credit System. He also serves as a member of the Farm Credit Foundations Trust Committee.

Lynn Scherler, Chief Alliance Officer

Mr. Scherler was named Chief Alliance Officer on September 1, 2021. He joined American AgCredit as Chief Lending Officer in October 2017. He previously served as President – Strategic Relationship Division for CoBank; as Interim President and CEO of Farm Credit of Southwest Kansas from October 2015 to March 2016; and a number of other relationship and leadership roles at CoBank. Mr. Scherler has more than 26 years of banking experience, of which more than 21 have been served in the Farm Credit System, with experience in the areas of relationship management, credit, and strategy.

Gary Van Schuyver, Chief Banking Officer

Mr. Van Schuyver was named Chief Banking Officer on September 1, 2021. He previously served as Senior Vice President – Corporate Banking. He has over 36 years of service with the Farm Credit System, primarily focused on corporate finance, loan syndications, and agribusiness lending.

Vern Zander, Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Zander served as Chief Financial Officer from 2012 to January 2023. He is a certified public accountant and was with American AgCredit for 20 years, with a total of 35 years of Farm Credit service. The responsibility for the Association’s financial information now resides with the Chief Strategy and Financial Officer.