BEHIND THE SCENES In this behind the scenes, we hear from two GreenStone executives as they speak to the future of the cooperative and withstanding a challenging market.
Melissa Stolicker Executive VP & Chief Internal Auditor East Lansing, MI 18 Years of services Describe how your role carries out the GreenStone mission of supporting rural communities and agriculture. The audit department is designed to add value and improve operations through evaluating and assessing the effectiveness of risk management and internal control. Our members benefit from an organization with a strong culture and cooperative governance, as well as efficient and effective operations. What opportunities do you see as we move forward with a new CEO? We have a strong track record of providing credit and financial services across the agricultural and rural communities we serve, so I do not predict wholesale changes in structure or operations. All changes in leadership bring a different perspective and our new CEO will bring their unique viewpoints and strategies. In looking back at the cycle of agriculture over the past decades, where do you see the greatest challenge for GreenStone and our members? The volatility of inputs and commodity prices seem to challenge our producers. Our members are very good at agricultural production, managing the costs and ensuring a strong value for the sale of the product is where we see the challenges. What do you enjoy about your role? The role of auditor can sometimes be intimidating. I enjoy meeting with staff throughout the organization and helping them understand that our department is here to ensure GreenStone has strong controls in place to support the long-term viability of the organization. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? In the summer we enjoy spending time up north on the lake with family, friends and our two horribly spoiled dogs.
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Our members benefit from an organization with a strong culture and cooperative governance...
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Summer 2022 — Partners