Board of Directors candidates

Stephanie Andresen

OCCUPATION: PRODUCT OWNER, BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD NEBRASKA

EXPERIENCE: • As an infrastructure product manager/owner with major companies, she has experience with strategic goals, planning, budgeting, and measuring outcomes • A lifetime of experience and volunteering with

Nebraska’s Gleoma Arbor, with which she served as president twice (1988-1990 and 2002-2019) • Sales and customer service as a licensed life insurance and annuity agent from 2008 to 2014 • Nebraska Fraternalist of the Year in 2010 (her daughter Shannon was Youth Fraternalist of the Year the same year) • Current Board of Directors, Gleaner Life Insurance

Society, one year • Supreme Arbor of Gleaner Life Insurance Society, 2011-2017 (Supreme Conductor, Supreme Vice Chief

Gleaner, Supreme Chief Gleaner) • Fraternal Committee, Gleaner Life Insurance Society, 2005-2017 • Nebraska Fraternal Congress Board of Directors, 2006-2017; Board President, 2011-2015

ABOUT STEPHANIE ANDRESEN: Stephanie Andresen grew up in Nebraska’s Gleoma Arbor and saw her parents’ leadership. Her mother, Trudy Hartline, became the Society’s first female Supreme Chief Gleaner in 2002. Stephanie followed in their footsteps by involving herself in the arbor, the Society’s Supreme Council, raising her own family and being a Gleaner sales representative (2008-2014). “I began thinking about running for the Board of Directors prior to the 2013 convention,” she said, noting that required her to first let her insurance license go inactive. Her subsequent career in system development faced the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, and her infrastructure team “built and implemented a plan to allow, with a moment’s notice, BCBSNE to lock our doors and enable 1,500 employees to work remotely.” This included a “hands on” upgrade of 3,000 workstations across 14 states on a tight schedule. She and her husband, Steve, live in Omaha and are grandparents with two grown daughters.

ANDRESEN GIVES THREE REASONS WHY SHE WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT DIRECTOR FOR THE SOCIETY: “Dedicated to giving back: Throughout my lifetime, I have tried to follow the first rule I learned as a Girl Scout — ‘Leave a place better than when you found it.’ This mentality has evolved into a deep desire to help others, serve my community, and raise up those around me. Over the last 40 years, I have volunteered through the Girl Scouts, my children’s schools, Omaha Food Bank, Special Olympics, United Way, Habitat for Humanity, Hereditary Cancer Foundation, American Red Cross, and a lifetime of volunteering through Gleoma Arbor on behalf of Gleaner Life Insurance Society.” “Positive Attitude: I prefer the glass half-full perspective. Instead of saying ‘no,’ I like to think in terms of ‘yes, if …’ In my mind, this is the key to success. I have been working with my latest team for about three years. When I joined, they were broken. We spent more time looking back, telling me why we could not do the things that needed to be done because of things that happened in the past. We have stabilized our infrastructure, we have delivered on our roadmap, and we have planned and maintained our budget. I will not say in times of stress there is not some backsliding, but it never lasts long.” “Conceptual: My Emergenetics profile is primarily Social and Conceptual; nearly 80% on each of them. It explains why I am so successful as a product owner/project manager. I am an idea person, a think-outside-the-box problem solving visionary. I excel at defining the steps needed to achieve a vision, to plan a program, and to drive a project to completion. Add to that my social skills and positive attitude, and I think it’ll be very useful in building a positive, collaborative Board of Directors.”

OCCUPATION: OWNER, DONNA BAKER & ASSOCIATES, CPA

EXPERIENCE: • WorkForce PayHub • Associate professor of accounting and Chair of

Master of Science in Accountancy, Adrian College, 2015-present • Associate professor of accounting, Accounting

Program Chair, Siena Heights University, 1990-2015 • Temporary faculty, Michigan State University,

Accounting instructor and Accounting Internship

Director, 1991-2001 • Launched full-service accounting firm in 2007 • Served 2010-2013 term on the IRS Advisory

Committee as a public representative to discuss relevant tax administrative issues • Current Board of Directors, Gleaner Life Insurance

Society, six years • Board of Directors of Bank Michigan and, prior,

United Bank and Trust • Treasurer, Dover Township Board (25 years) and

Lenawee Christian School Board (20 years) • Business consulting for a variety of companies to develop plans, achieve goals and stay financially stable ABOUT DONNA K. BAKER: Donna Baker’s worth ethic is reflected in her career as a CPA, her variety of business interests, and her service to her community. Her accounting employment began in 1986. Today, she is certified in both Ohio and Michigan and her company with approximately 20 employees is the largest CPA firm in Lenawee County. She also has been involved in WorkForce PayHub that provides payroll, HR and other management services to 300 companies in 15 states; Tax Pro Filers, an income tax preparation service; and Sossego, a furniture import company. Active with her husband Kim on the Baker family’s 600 cow dairy farm, she participates in 4H, the Lenawee County Holstein Association and Farm Bureau with special emphasis on teaching “Ag in the Classroom” and similar agricultural education projects. She also has worked as a member of the Adrian Arbor in its community projects. Her involvement with Clayton United Methodist Church includes teaching children in Bible Club, serving as VBS director, and assisting with the annual Turkey Supper and Potato Bake fundraisers.

BAKER GIVES THREE REASONS WHY SHE WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT DIRECTOR FOR THE SOCIETY: • “Strong work ethic: I was raised on a dairy farm. My family and I spent many long days working together to accomplish the tasks that were vital to the survival of the family farm. I learned at a very young age the rewards of hard work and the value of dedication and determination. Today, I live on a dairy farm, where my husband and I work to instill these values in our children.” • “Team member with a cooperative spirit: Goals can be achieved if you build on the strengths and skills of all those involved. I have had the opportunity to participate on several ‘teams’ and have witnessed the interaction and motivation required for a team to be functional and productive and the great things that can be accomplished when people jointly utilize their talents.” • “Commitment to community: I have a personal goal to always leave a place or organization better than before my involvement and to give back to the community whenever possible. I work to accomplish this through monetary donations, free financial services and volunteering.”

Russell E. Cunningham

OCCUPATION: CUNNINGHAM RENTALS, CF REFUSE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, CF AUTO

EXPERIENCE: • More than 30 years of sales and management experience — both corporate and private • Managing a three-time winner of “Branch of the Year” for Konecranes in the Toledo area, producing doubledigit sales gains each year for a decade • Co-owner of several different businesses including ones involved with real estate improvement, refuse handling, and property management • President, North Baltimore Arbor • Current Board of Directors, Gleaner Life Insurance

Society, four years • AFL-CIO negotiating committee member and union steward representative while employed at Equity

Meats Group in North Baltimore, Ohio • Organized fundraising and meetings with elected officials as part of Citizens Opposed to Petro

Environmental (COPE), a community group opposed to a local Petro processing facility • Personal development coaching and motivation to achieve excellence in sales • An Aaron + Hur supporter at Cornerstone Church in

Findlay, Ohio • Previously an usher, Sunday School teacher, teen mentor, building team member and financial team member at Maranatha Bible Church in Van Buren,

Ohio • Nine years coaching Upward youth basketball in

Findlay, Ohio

ABOUT RUSSELL CUNNINGHAM: Cunningham is from a family with multi-generational ties to Gleaner Life. He is a lifetime member of North Baltimore Arbor, holding numerous offices and currently serving as its president. His strategic planning has been evident also in business where he has managed a Toledo-area branch office for Konecranes — the world’s largest crane company with gross revenue of more than $2.2 billion. His branch has increased sales by more than 11% per year over the past 10 years, and has achieved “Branch of the Year” honors in three of those years. One of his successful early private ventures involved starting a real estate partnership company in 1990 with the purchase of one triplex. That partnership is still in existence. Cunningham worked with his wife to expand and they currently own and manage properties with more than 60 tenants. Another venture was the 2006 purchase of a refuse business that was struggling to survive. Its total revenue was $204,000 with low margins. Under Cunningham’s management its current gross sales are more than $324,000 with margins increasing into double digits. “I have mentored and helped start up numerous small businesses for friends and family. I have a strong desire to see others live out their dreams and passions.” He and his wife, Jamie, live in Van Buren, Ohio. CUNNINGHAM GIVES THREE REASONS WHY HE WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT DIRECTOR FOR THE SOCIETY: • “Project management and coordinating multimillion dollar accounts for the world’s largest crane company grossing over $2.2 billion with 11,000 associates.” • “Wise financial stewardship established through many successful ventures.” • “Strategic business planning to increase sales and margins from my years of experience and performance in the corporate and private sector.”

Margaret Noe

OCCUPATION: PRIVATE ATTORNEY, RETIRED CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE

EXPERIENCE: • Lenawee County Probate Court judge (2005-2008),

Chief Judge, Lenawee County Circuit Court (retired in 2019) • Current Board of Directors, Gleaner Life Insurance

Society, eight years • Board member Siena Heights University (board president since 2005), Bank of Lenawee, Bixby

Medical Center Sage Advisory Board, Montessori

Children’s House, St. Joseph’s Academy, Sexual

Awareness Protection Center, Catholic Social Services • Managed a private practice law practice (19 years) while raising a family with three boys • Assistant prosecuting attorney (14 years) • Adjunct faculty member at Siena Heights University, teaching Business Law and Courtroom Demeaner • Lenawee Intermediate School District’s Strategic

Planning Team • Volunteered to take on specialty court duties as judge of Lenawee County Drug Court, providing alternatives to prison for drug criminals willing to complete the program • Also volunteers with the Ladies Ancient Order of

Hibernians, and for 25 years as coordinator of a community radio program, “Ask a Lawyer” ABOUT MARGARET M.S. NOE: Since graduating as president of her law school class more than 35 years ago, hard work has distinguished Margaret Noe. “I opened my law office the same year as my husband and I adopted our son, took in my nephew when his mother died and gave birth to our son. Three sons, ages 12, 10 and newborn, and a law career was started,” Noe recalled. “I would not recommend this but it is certainly one of the greatest accomplishments in our personal and professional lives.” Prior to her Board of Directors experience with Gleaner Life Insurance Society, Noe served with several other boards including the Bank of Lenawee and, currently, is president of the Siena Heights University Board of Trustees. These led to search committee positions that helped recruit a university president, a county prosecuting attorney, and a director for a social service agency. “My experience as a board member of a bank taught me a great deal about the importance of managing the assets of others. Specifically, how to manage and assume a hands-on relationship as a trustee with an owner. The importance of not just wealth management but the care of their life, all the assets that belong in another’s portfolio.” NOE GIVES THREE REASONS WHY SHE WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT DIRECTOR FOR THE SOCIETY: • “Honesty and integrity are key values that are part of a person’s make-up. You learn early in life the value of your word and the importance of your ethical standards. Your ability to be honest is the key factor others must and will depend upon. I have earned the respect of others but only after I earned the respect of myself.” • “Christian values are at the heart of my being. They make up the part of my life that challenges me the most and brings me the greatest joy. Fortunately,

I was blessed with strong Christian values in my home at birth. Having eight brothers and sisters at home certainly helped provide lessons for us to learn from. I gained a great sense of humor and a hard work approach to my work and responsibilities.

These attributes have provided me much guidance and comfort along the way many times as a Board

Member at Gleaner to date.” •

“Hard work is another value that was instilled in me at a young age. I started working at the age of 12 years as a babysitter. I have always sought to do the very best I could at every job I ever had. I have enjoyed every job I have ever had and found my work to be satisfying. I have always worked hard and performed well. That is true of my work as a Director for Gleaner, thus I seek this position, promising to serve to the very best of my capacity based on past performance.”

Report of the LAW COMMITTEE

The 2021 Law Committee of Gleaner Life Insurance Society meeting was held virtually on May 4, 2021. The committee was comprised of:

• Vivian Quinones- Solano, Chair, Gulf Coast Arbor, FL

• Chad Fabbro, Vulcaneer Arbor, MI

• Sheree Kozel-Laha, Homer Twp. Oak Arbor, IL

• Tom Matuszewski, Mid Michigan Arbor, MI

• Robert Place, North Baltimore Arbor, OH

Board Director Margaret Noe helped facilitate the discussion regarding the proposed change to the Constitution, shown below.

Proposed revision of Section 1 of Article 2:

ARTICLE 2

O cers of the Gleaner Life Insurance Society – Their Duties and Powers

Sec. 1. The o cers of the Society shall be the seven members of the Board of Directors and a President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. The seven members of the board shall be elected for a term of four years at regular meetings of the Supreme Arbor with installation at the biennial convention. The Board shall appoint the President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and one or more Vice‐Presidents, and such other o cers as it deems appropriate, and may appoint a person to more than one o ce. The Chair and Vice Chair of the Board, non‐management positions, shall be elected on an annual basis by the members of the Board. In recognition of long‐term service, the Board may appoint a non‐voting Chairman Emeritus.

The Law Committee unanimously recommends the Supreme Arbor of the Society approve the Constitutional change to delete the sentence, “In recognition of long‐term service, the Board may appoint a non‐voting Chairman Emeritus.”

The Board of Directors unanimously approved the report of the Law Committee.

Respectfully submitted.