Pictured above: Jennifer Whitford (left) and Karen Messer (right)

Through every season, GreenStone has remained committed to serving as a strong financial partner to our members. This strength allows us to stand alongside you through every cycle. Our dedicated team of experts work closely with our members to deliver personalized solutions.

Two of our longest tenured financial services officers share what it means to remain committed to serving our member-owners. With a combined 54 years of experience, they are among many staff who have spent decades partnering with our members to support their individual goals.

Jennifer Whitford, VP of Lending, 23 years of service

Jennifer Whitford began her career with GreenStone in 2003 where she started as a credit analyst out of the Alma branch. Her journey started from the recommendation of a friend, when she decided to take a chance and apply for the role at GreenStone, seeking a career rooted in her local community. Over two decades later, Jennifer has built a career based on her love of supporting people and the agriculture industry.

“I would like to believe over the years of working with my customers, I have transitioned from being not only a lender, but a member of their farm management team,” Jennifer said. “With that transformation, my daily activities have moved from taking loan applications and fulfilling an immediate need for financing, to partnering with our customers for both short- and long-term financing needs.”

With the current commodity climate very similar to when she started with GreenStone in 2003, partnering is now more important than ever. “Most of my customer portfolio is cash crop commodity producers and the markets are always changing,” she said. “Something I learned very early in my career with GreenStone was the value of extending working capital to bridge unanticipated cash flow shortages to better support our customer’s operations during periods of uncertainty.”

After beginning her career as a credit analyst and building foundational knowledge of the financial metrics of farming, she transitioned to the role of financial services officer in 2009.

Jennifer reflected on what the market was like when she started her current role. “I got to know a lot of my customers at the time through the lowering interest rates, which were a result of the 2008 housing market crash,” she said. “I was able to work with them to better their financial position through interest rate savings.”

When working through the cycles with customers, Jennifer highlighted the importance of looking at the big picture. “In 2024 and 2025 we ran into a very similar commodity cycle where prices were down, and inputs had not followed. I know how important it is to look at all aspects of a farming operation and make individualized recommendations based on each farm’s long-term goals,” she said.

“I’ve also learned things change and that’s ok. The best of plans don’t always work out. The key is to communicate often and as early as possible. As a specialized lender, GreenStone can tailor solutions to our customers and their unique needs,” she advised.

As Jennifer remains committed to serving her local community, one thing is certain. “What I enjoy and appreciate most about my role are the relationships I’ve built with my customers.”

Karen Messer, Financial Services Officer, 31 years of service

When Karen Messer saw the listing in the newspaper for the position of loan processor at GreenStone in 1995, she jumped at the chance. “I wanted to work in my local community, and when I saw the listing, my thought was ‘what do I need to get this job?’ I was committed to getting the role!” she laughed.

After mastering that role, Karen worked in the risk asset department at GreenStone for 13 more years before moving into her current role where she has served as a financial services officer out of the Jonesville branch for the past 15 years.

“One thing that’s stayed the same over the years has been the importance GreenStone places on our relationships with customers. We want to be a part of our customers’ futures and will work with them to find a solution that meets their needs,” Karen shared.

Karen explained how the hurdles customers were facing when she started with GreenStone are similar to those they might be facing today. “When I started as a financial services officer, prices were going up everywhere, not just on homes. Today customers are facing the same challenges, just on a different scale.”

She recalled a customer she worked with to help them continue paying on their home. “It seemed like they were continually running into challenges. We were able to be flexible and find a solution that worked for their needs, which is a unique benefit of GreenStone. Today those customers are less than a year away from paying off their home, which is something that is incredibly rewarding to me.”

Karen says the decisions she’s made throughout her career with GreenStone have been guided by the long-term trust and loyalty of her customers. “One of the things that makes me the proudest is when a customer sends a referral my way or sends one of their children to me when they’re looking for financing. It’s that level of unspoken trust that’s humbling.”

When it comes to serving her customers the best she can, Karen emphasized the importance of looking at each customer individually and considering their own unique circumstances. “No two customers are going to be the same, so listening to their own unique story and making sure they feel heard is key.”

For her, commitment to her customers means building long-term relationships, and not transactions. “I especially look forward to seeing my customers on Patronage Day, when GreenStone returns a portion of its profits back to our members,” Karen said. “It never gets old when my customers are excited to see me and stop by the branch just to say hello. That’s what I love most about my role – the connections I’ve built throughout the years!”