Candidate: Mark A. Wills

OCCUPATION: Owner of Mark Wills Farm

EXPERIENCE:

• Gleaner Life Insurance Society Board of Directors (six terms, Vice Chair six years)

• Sterling Energy Group Board of Directors

• President, Sulphur Springs Arbor

• Maine Township Drainage Board of Directors

• Braceville Township Board Trustee

• Past President Coal City Lions Club and active member

• Grundy County 4-H Livestock Committee

• Auction chairman for the Friends of 4-H Committee

• Past chairman of Grundy County Extension Council

• Past chairman and member of the Farmers Elect Committee (U.S. Department of Agriculture)

ABOUT MARK A. WILLS

Wills is the current Vice Chair of Gleaner Life’s Board of Directors. He has served on a number of boards and manages four full-time employees on his 2,500-acre grain farm and hog and cattle operation which consists of 40 head purebred angus herd, selling feeder calves and bulls and breeding heifers. He also has managed eleven properties for Wills Rentals LLC. Previously, Wills ran a successful Pioneer Seed agency for 30 years with two employees and a customer base of 150. He holds an Associate’s Degree in Agriculture from Joliet Junior College. He also has been especially active working with youth through both the Grundy County 4-H and the live auctions in both Grundy and Kankakee counties. Wills describes himself as a caring, financially stable person who pledges to make the best decisions for Gleaner, placing members first and foremost. Wills resides in Coal City, Illinois, with his wife, Penny.

WILLS GIVES THREE REASONS WHY HE WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT DIRECTOR FOR THE SOCIETY:

• “Leadership. Owning my own businesses and the responsibility that comes with them builds my confidence as a leader. You lead by example and I strive to be an excellent example, especially to the 4-H youth.”

• “Trustworthy.”

• “Integrity, respect and accountability. While serving on numerous boards, my goal is to maintain respect for the people and community I serve.”

I am proud to be a lifelong Gleaner. My father, Elvin Wills, also served as a board director for Gleaner. You could say it is in my blood. Gleaner is a society that has helped families with financial needs for more than 100 years. Gleaners’ generosity has benefited 4-H programs, given scholarships and provided Arbors with funds to give back to their community. I cannot think of a better way to build solid and lasting relationships between people and business. I am proud to be a member and to serve on the Board of Directors.