This summer, 21 students took the opportunity to grow with GreenStone’s team through an internship program that takes place across multiple locations. They are already well underway in their various departments and roles!
As a GreenStone intern, these students are gaining exposure to professional projects and experiences that align with their career goals. During the program, interns spend their summer working closely with the professionals in their departments, while also participating in job shadows, branch visits, industry events, and volunteer opportunities. Get to know this summer’s class of interns below!
Josie Sonnenberg
Crop Insurance Intern
College: Michigan State University with a major in Agribusiness Management.
What drew you to intern with GreenStone? The opportunity to learn more about crop insurance and have a better understanding of the insurance side of the process.
Allie Blanchard
Crop Insurance Intern
College: Michigan State University with a major in Agribusiness Management.
What drew you to intern with GreenStone? I chose to intern with GreenStone to deepen my understanding in crop insurance. I like GreenStone’s reputation for serving farmers and their commitment to doing work in rural communities.
Valerio Bello-Munoz
Appraisal Intern
College: Cornerstone University with a double major in Finance and Economics.
What drew you to intern with GreenStone? I really enjoyed the values of the company and how the people make sure they are carried out with every interaction.
Bailee Crandall
Human Resources Intern
College: Michigan State University pursuing a Master’s of Human Resources and Labor Relations.
What drew you to intern with GreenStone? The people I met during my interview and how passionate they were about working here.
Robert Southwood
Credit Intern
College: Grand Valley State University with a major in Finance.
What drew you to intern with GreenStone? It seemed like a great company, with plenty of benefits, and there’s a lot of good people working here.
Eric Gumz
Credit Intern
College: University of Alabama pursuing a Master’s of Business Administration.
What drew you to intern with GreenStone? I wanted to work for a company that is deeply invested in agriculture and shares my values.
Matthew DeLuca
Accounting and Finance Intern
College: Michigan State University with a major in Accounting.
What drew you to intern with GreenStone? Learn more about farm credit and how it works.
John Welp
Legal Intern
College: Indiana University with a major in Information Systems and a minor in Law, Ethics, and Decision-Making.
What drew you to intern with GreenStone? The sense of family in the office and the feeling of interconnectedness between employees.
Mike Metzger
Information Security Intern
College: Central Michigan University with a double major in Computer Science and Information Technology.
What drew you to intern with GreenStone? Great learning opportunity within the agricultural industry and information security field.
Eric Faber
Client Support Intern
College: Central Michigan University with a major in Computer Science and minors in Information Technology and Business Administration.
What drew you to intern with GreenStone? Everyone during the interview process spoke very well of the company and talked about how much they liked working there.
Ben Blanchard
Quality Engineering Intern
College: Michigan State University with a major in Computer Science and a minor in Business.
What drew you to intern with GreenStone? The opportunity to gain experience from professionals while working on projects that support my community drew me to GreenStone.
Jarret Johnson
Business System Analyst Intern
College: Michigan State University with a major in Finance and minors in Financial Planning and Wealth Management.
What drew you to intern with GreenStone? I was drawn to GreenStone due to the positive influence they have on agriculture in Michigan.
Ally Tishler
Service Desk Intern
College: Michigan State University with a major in Information Science and a minor in Information Technology.
What drew you to intern with GreenStone? Since my degree is geared toward human-centered technologies and design, I saw this internship as an opportunity to improve my technical skills.
Brian Toscano
Client Support Intern
College: Michigan State University with a major in Information Science.
What drew you to intern with GreenStone? I heard good things, I was told this was a company that cares about their employees.
Charlie Chambers
Business System Analyst Intern
College: Michigan State University with a major in Finance.
What drew you to intern with GreenStone? I had heard great things about the company, and I’d love to be able to serve the farming industry.
Zoran Brickey
Business System Analyst Intern
College: Western Michigan State University with a major in Finance.
What drew you to intern with GreenStone? The collaborative environment created for the interns.
Camden Cook
Project Manager Intern
College: Northwood University with a major in Business Management.
What drew you to intern with GreenStone? I have heard that Greenstone is a great company to work for and that they also have a great internship program.
Olivia Shown
Business Systems Analyst Intern
College: Grand Valley State University with a major in Information Technology.
What drew you to intern with GreenStone? The staff are really kind and inviting.
Dakota Spink
Marketing and Writing Intern
College: Michigan State University with a major in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Education and a minor in Environmental Sustainability Studies.
What drew you to intern with GreenStone? I love working for a company with the same values as mine; advocating for agriculture is my biggest passion.
Sam Lyons
Graphic Design Intern
College: Grand Valley State University with a major in Graphic Design.
What drew you to intern with GreenStone? The internship program seemed very organized, and I really enjoy structure. I was also drawn to all the opportunities to learn that the internship provides.
Pictured above are GreenStone Financial Services Officer Joe Schlies and scholarship recipients Aaron Wavrunek and Julie Koeppel.
GreenStone Farm Credit Services is proud to announce the recipients of both the GreenStone Scholarship Program and the Dave Armstrong Scholarship Program in 2024, totaling $60,000 in educational support awarded to exceptional students. Since 2010, GreenStone has awarded $500,000 in scholarships to students preparing to make a positive impact in the agriculture industry.
The GreenStone Scholarship Program selected 23 high school seniors who demonstrated outstanding dedication to coursework, extracurricular activities, leadership, and a strong commitment to pursuing careers in agriculture. Recipients received either a $2,000 or $1,000 award to support their education.
The 2024 awardees for the GreenStone Scholarship Program are: Aaron Wavrunek (Denmark, WI), Abby Thelen (St. Johns, MI), Alexis Ewing (Jonesville, MI), Anna Woller (Montague, MI), Blake Barr (Yale, MI), Briar Albaugh (Manitowoc, WI), Bryant Janetzke (Saranac, MI), Chloe Steiner (Mecosta, MI), Dori Stuever (Capac, MI), Helen McBroom (Dickinson County, MI), Jaqueline Maye (Wausaukee, WI), Jocelyn Cerveny (Gresham, WI), Joshua Tomlinson (Baroda, MI), Julie Geiger (Harbor Beach, MI), Julie Koeppel (Two Rivers, WI), Karlee Whitmore (Ithaca , MI), Makaila Cantrell (Ruth, MI), Ross Kelsey (Blanchard, MI), Sophia Barnum (Leslie, MI), Talan Hiemstra (Marcellus, MI), Tyler Buckland (Armada, MI), Wyatt Epple (Watervliet, MI), and Zoe VanRijin (Deford, MI).
In addition, four outstanding college students were awarded the Dave Armstrong Scholarship, named after GreenStone’s former CEO who dedicated 41 years to advancing agricultural innovation and stewardship. This prestigious scholarship, $5,000 each, aims to recognize and support students pursuing careers in agriculture, timber, and natural resources.
The 2024 awardees for the Dave Armstrong Scholarship Program are: Amy Kern (Saginaw, MI), Clarissa Ulness (Manitowoc, WI), Laken DuRussel (Bay, MI) and Tyler Zelinko (Saginaw, MI).
“At GreenStone, we have a deep commitment to investing in the future of agriculture by empowering the next generation of leaders,” expressed Travis Jones, President and CEO. “By providing financial support to these students, we not only enable them to pursue their dreams but also instill hope and inspiration for a brighter future in agriculture. Their passion and dedication truly contribute to the heart and soul of our industry.”
Each student selected for either of GreenStone’s scholarship programs met specific criteria, including residency within GreenStone’s territory in Michigan or northeast Wisconsin, competitive GPA, and plans to pursue an agriculture or natural resources-related field. Additionally, awardees demonstrated active community involvement, leadership in school, and a passion for agriculture.
Applications for the 2025 scholarship will be available on the GreenStone website later this year, providing another opportunity for aspiring agricultural leaders to apply for financial support.
“Get outside your bubble and be open minded when listening to other farmers’ stories,” Sara Matchett says while giving advice to other young, beginning, small farmers. “Don’t be intimidated by the idealistic and unreachable standards that you may see in agriculture. Focus on what you can do, and how you can do it better.”
Matchett is a young farmer who was raised on a farm in Holland, but moved to the Charlevoix area two years ago when she married her husband, Noah. Together they operate his family farm of 900 acres of land and 1,600 ewes.
Matchett’s family farm in Holland was very different from the one she and her husband run now. With her diverse background, she is able to bring different perspectives to the table at the Matchett farm.
In February, Matchett attended the Underground Innovations conference in Frankenmuth, Michigan. She was able to listen to multiple guest speakers talk about their farms and how they came to be.
While listening, Matchett was inspired by the experiences they shared. “It was inspiring to see the different farmers and the ways that they are implementing very different practices but still reaching the same goal. And for me it was more of a shift in perspective,” Matchett reflects.
Charlevoix growing season is very short compared to southern Michigan, so Matchett and her husband have had to adjust their farming techniques based on the growing season. “Like the amazing things that are being done with double cropping and cover cropping, that doesn’t really work up here. But the idea of finding something that works for us, such as conservation tillage or rotational grazing, we are improving our efficiency and conservation,” Matchett mentions.
With the help from GreenStone’s CultivateGrowth grant, Matchett was able to continue to diversify her portfolio and gain knowledge of different perspectives in farming by attending the Underground Innovations conference. This will help her and her husband on their farm to think about the different ways they could improve farming techniques.
“Honestly, the financial support was essential for me to get down there. It was quite a ways away to attend a meeting in Frankenmuth and so to have the cost of the meeting covered it just took away that barrier of the finances. So, the fact that GreenStone was able to cover that was very helpful,” Matchett smiles.
With the help that the CultivateGrowth grant, Matchett is able to gain a different perspective of her and her husband’s farm. GreenStone understands the importance of advancing education for young, beginning, and small farmers. We work to provide the educational and financial resources needed to help establish a solid foundation. To apply for a grant, visit CultivateGrowth Grant.
Build a solid business plan
When people are looking to make a move from part-time to full-time farming, the most important thing to consider is their business plan. Since there are probably not any historical financials or financials from the operation, a lender’s appetite to lend is most focused on what a customer is able to present.
A business plan is crucial and should be based on market analysis, how similar operations are performing in the industry, financial projections and best- and worst-case scenarios.
Be sure your business plan answers important questions such as:
- What’s the current market like?
- What are my long-term goals and objectives?
- What is a feasible level of initial investment I can make?
- What ongoing costs will I incur?
- How much revenue can I generate from the operation?
- What is the anticipated yield or output?
- How will I promote the farm and its products?
There are resources available to assist with building a solid business plan including the Developing and Educating Managers and New Decision-makers (DEMaND) program through Michigan State University Extension. The program helps the next generation of farm operators develop into managers and decision-makers on the farm by learning about financial and business management strategies.
Create a realistic budget
Another factor to help guide new farm operators is being realistic with your living expenses. Moving to full-time farming means relying solely on your farm income for you and your family’s livelihood. Ensure you have a solid financial plan in place to cover living expenses, farm maintenance costs and unexpected expenses.
Consider the profitability of your farming enterprise and create a realistic budget. Those who have had the most success have run projections based on existing businesses or have worked for an established farmer to learn from them.
Consider crop insurance
Risk management is another important thing to consider for up-and-coming farm operators. Farming is inherently risky, as it is heavily influenced by unpredictable factors such as weather, pests and market fluctuations.
Crop insurance provides a safety net against losses due to these risks, allowing farmers to manage their financial exposure and plan for the future more effectively.
Crop insurance is also a good way to hedge a market that depends on Mother Nature for revenue. You can even get a certain percentage in subsidies off your insurance premium because you’re just starting out. Be sure to talk to a crop insurance specialist who can help create a safety net for long-term stability.
Benefit from resources
Farming takes courage and resources — both the tangible like financing and the intangible like education and networks. Several organizations offer support for the intangible needs, like the DEMaND series noted above.
At GreenStone, our mission is focused on both through our CultivateGrowth Program for those who have been farming for 10 year or less, who have a farm income below $350,000, or are 35 years of age or younger.
There are several components of the CultivateGrowth program including to provide funding, networking, education and unique financing models to serve young and beginning farmers’ individual needs:
- Supporting continued education and personal growth by offering up to $40,000 in CultivateGrowth Grants.
- Offering new or young farmers unique learning and networking opportunities by working with an experienced farmer through CultivateGrowth Mentorship.
- Providing financing for unique and individualized situations through relaxed underwriting standards often based on projections, rather than historical records.
- Partnering with FSA to provide joint financing options, which can offer lower interest rates and/or require lower down payments.
Farming is not always an easy road — it can be a costly investment with much uncertainty. However, if you take these things into consideration, you’ll set yourself up for success and be ready for growth next season.
This blog was originally published in Michigan Farm News.
Are you considering purchasing a new home? Before you begin your next adventure of house hunting, add these few things to your checklist to make sure you purchase the best home for you!
Neighborhood
Choosing the right neighborhood for you is key. The average homeowner lives in their house for about eight years, so you want to make sure you enjoy the area! Ask yourself, do you prefer your neighbors to be cattle and crop land, or do you prefer human neighbors to be a little closer to you in town? How far would you like to drive to things like gas stations, grocery stores, work, or schools? If you have kids, or plan to have kids, what does the school system look like?
Know What You Can Afford
Knowing what you can afford will help you determine your price limit, so you can focus your search on houses within an acceptable range. Think about how much you would like to put down for a down payment, or how much you would like to use for remodels. Talk with a loan officer first about getting preapproved, loan terms, and interest rates. The market can be tough, so be prepared for any negotiations when putting an offer in on a house.
Fixer Upper or Move-In Ready
Knowing the style of home you want is something to think about when creating your house hunting checklist. Are you a handy person that would like a fixer upper, or are you looking for something that is more move-in ready? How many acres would you like? What size of house would you like? Is having a basement important to you? How many bedrooms and bathrooms would you like?
Once you find your perfect house, whether it is a fixer upper or move-in ready, make sure you do a home inspection before closing. A home inspection will help you know what you are getting into. Remember, not everything needs to fixed at closing, but the inspection gives you an idea of what there is to fix or update.
Looking at different houses can be intimidating. Before you jump in, make sure you create your house hunting checklist knowing what kind of neighborhood you want, how much you can afford, and what style you want.
GreenStone’s team of experienced experts are ready to finance your new home. Find our home mortgage loan options here.
Now offering DRP customers weekly dairy marketing calls to help them stay abreast of the latest industry trends and plan for anticipated market changes.
GreenStone is pleased to provide dairy producers with a trio of specialized services that work together to protect and assist their businesses.
Our crop insurance professionals, combined with one of the dairy industry’s leading experts, have developed personalized risk management opportunities for dairy farmers that go beyond insuring product to actively help dairy operations succeed. With an analyzer tool that tracks and compares data for budgeting and forecasting, and online presentations highlighting the latest dairy trends, GreenStone customers have insider access to a solid line-up of support. In addition, for ease-of-use, the Livestock Insurance Analyzer tool is available as a mobile app.
1. Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP) is a federally subsidized insurance product and a dairy farmer’s first line of defense against unexpected declines in quarterly milk sales revenue, relative to a guaranteed coverage level. The expected revenue is based on futures prices for milk and dairy commodities, and the amount of covered milk production elected by the dairy producer. Offered through GreenStone, DRP protects dairy farmers against losses incurred by market fluctuations beyond their control, providing a safety net for unforeseen challenges.
2. The Livestock Insurance Analyzer is an exclusive product designed expressly for members who have signed a Dairy Revenue Protection application with GreenStone’s crop insurance team. The Analyzer enables customers to follow live daily tracking of producer endorsements and to develop operational projections based on production and revenue floors. The dairy industry comes with an array of seasonal variables; this tool allows side-by-side comparisons of coverage details unique to each farmer’s operation, including tracking income, calculated loss probability and personalized risk management based on actual quarterly statistics. Ease of use, instant reports and GreenStone’s ongoing development adding extra features and benefits make the Livestock Insurance Analyzer an invaluable peace-of-mind tool for planning.
3. Dairy Marketing Calls with dairy expert Dr. Marin Bozic, are invaluable add-ons for GreenStone’s DRP customers. These free, weekly video calls cover topics such as DRP sales, premium levels vs. risk ahead, key drivers of dairy prices and market uncertainty over the next several months. Dr. Bozic is an assistant professor in the department of applied economics at the University of Minnesota. His research program in dairy economics focuses on dairy policy, risk management, demand for dairy foods and economics of dairy food processing technologies. A leading contributor to the Dairy Revenue Protection program, Dr. Bozic is also the creator of the Livestock Insurance Analyzer. His shared expertise during Dairy Marketing Calls will give our DRP customers the trending insight they need to make knowledgeable decisions for their dairy farms.
Let GreenStone support your success
We can help you remove guesswork from forecasting and budgeting, while protecting your revenue from potentially devastating market lows. Contact a GreenStone crop insurance specialist by calling 800-968-0061.
Farms come in all shapes and sizes, from small urban farms in the cities, to the large acres that roll on into the countryside. Each farm is unique from each other, but they all have a passion for agriculture, and they all started from somewhere.
Each farmer started as a young, beginning, or small farmer, and they each faced several different challenges while getting started. Challenges like land barriers, lack of knowledge, and marketing obstacles are all things that Katie Brandt has seen throughout her years of teaching at Michigan State University.
In college, Brandt jumped into the agricultural industry and started working for a local farm. Later in 2006 she started her own organic vegetable farm. After gaining eleven years of organic farming experience she transitioned to working at MSU by teaching the Organic Farmer Training Program and Transition to Organic Partnership Program.
The Organic Farmer Training Program helps young, beginning, and small farmers break the barriers they face through seminars, guest speakers, on-farm visits, and field trips. “Our goal is to give people hands on skills to help them figure out what their short-term and long-term goals are for their farm,” Brandt says.
During the 38-week program participants learn a variety of skills that fit specifically into their operations, from soil testing to seed transplanting. They also learn the importance of equipment and produce safety. Each skill they learn will help them get started or grow their operation.
The fundamental skills of farming are not the only skills participants graduate with, they also network with each other and make connections across Michigan. “People can learn from each other within the group. They can network and make friends and allies that can help them as they’re getting started farming, scaling up, or shifting the focus of their farm,” Brandt mentions.
Over the years GreenStone has supported numerous farmers who attend the MSU Organic Farmers Training Program through our CultivateGrowth grants.
“I am so thankful for the GreenStone CultivateGrowth program,” Brandt says. “The grant really helps people because they are getting $500 or $1,000 off the total, and that could be what makes it possible for people to participate.”
GreenStone understands the importance of advancing education for young, beginning, and small farmers. We work to provide the educational and financial resources needed to help establish a solid foundation. To apply for a grant, visit CultivateGrowth Grant.
GreenStone Farm Credit Services is pleased to welcome Angela NaDell to the team as its Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO).
NaDell assumed the role in March, spending time working alongside longtime CHRO Beth Barker who will be retiring later this month. She reports to President and CEO Travis Jones.
“Angela will play a crucial role in shaping and implementing the human resource strategy aligned with GreenStone’s overall business plan and organizational direction. She understands the success of our business starts with our people. Her strategic thinking, business acumen, and depth and breadth of experience will allow GreenStone to remain an employer of choice and a successful leader in the marketplace,” said President and CEO Travis Jones. “Angela will oversee all aspects of the human resource function including talent acquisition, learning and development, change management, organizational development, human resource operations and compensation and benefits for GreenStone employees.
NaDell brings over 20 years of human resources leadership experience to GreenStone, most recently working as a Chief People Officer in the banking industry, and held notable roles at companies like Consumers Energy, Eaton Corporation, and Campbell Soup. She earned a master’s degree in human resources and employment relations from Penn State University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Central Michigan University. NaDell’s proficiency has allowed her to fluently transition successfully into the role while Barker provides insight from her 25 years of service with GreenStone.
“One of our core four values is Customer First. It was clear from my first interaction with GreenStone they understand exceptional customer service begins with building the right culture. As evidenced by first quartile employee engagement results, they’ve demonstrated a best-in-class employee experience, and I look forward to building on that momentum and driving our people strategy to continue enabling delivery of our business outcomes,” NaDell acknowledges. “This is truly a great place to work. I’m honored to be here and look forward to maximizing the potential of our people, processes, and systems. My passion, tied with GreenStone’s culture, makes me even more excited to bring my focused energy to the team.”
The CHRO provides strategic and operational leadership to all areas within the human resources function, impacting the overall employee experience.
“Our staff have warmly welcomed Angela and I am pleased to say her wealth of experience is already contributing to our continued success as an association,” Jones said.
GreenStone is continuing to evolve each year with projects focused on improving the way we do business, creating efficiency, and evolving customer solutions. Here’s a glimpse of a few of the team behind these different projects:
Eric Thompson
14 years of service
Project Manager
How does your role help carry out GreenStone’s mission of supporting rural communities and agriculture?
A project manager is essentially a change agent, helping to guide teams to bring about positive change for our customers.
What do you enjoy about your role?
For me the most enjoyable part of my job is working with the project team members who share a common vision for the organization.
How does your portion of the loan process ensure great customer service?
A key aspect of project management is identifying risks that may impede or prevent a project from bringing value to the organization. This forward-thinking model allows me to guide the team to have a plan in place to react to a risk proactively rather than reactively.
What do you enjoy in your free time?
One of my passions is to coach high school boys lacrosse, which is a sport I learned as a young man growing up in New York. Working with young people keeps my outlook on life fresh and gives me hope for our future as I have a chance to show these athletes how discipline in sport can directly impact how they make lifelong decisions, and be part of something bigger than themselves.
How has your work changed over the years?
Some aspects of my work have remained steady – namely attention to detail, take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves. Project management is evolving as the model that I worked with a few years ago was highly predictive, planning a project from start to finish then managing change as needed through a structured method of approval. The new model we have been employing here at GreenStone is to be more adaptive, setting our initial goals for the project at the start but empowering the team to make decisions and trust them to get the work done to achieve our vision and deliver value.
Taylor Martin
5 years of service
Business Analyst
How does your role help carry out GreenStone’s mission of supporting rural communities and agriculture?
My role as a business analyst is to improve GreenStone’s internal processes and systems to provide value and increase efficiency across all departments to give our frontline staff the tools they need to provide quality service to our customers. I have a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from Michigan State University and we have a decent size dairy farm so I am not the “normal” person that you would usually see in a business analyst position. I use my degree and industry knowledge every day to improve GreenStone’s internal processes thinking about each project I work on and assisting my peers in thinking about their projects from the customer’s perspective. I try to keep in mind, especially in our current economy, how each item I work on will ultimately help us provide our customers with consistent financing, crop insurance, tax services, and so much more to help their farms and agricultural business be successful!
What do you enjoy about your role?
I love that there are so many jobs you wouldn’t ever think of as having an impact on the agriculture industry, including mine, but I get to support the industry I love every day.
How does your work ensure great customer service?
My role helps enhance business process and systems for our staff to follow and use to assist our customers. Without consistent processes and tools, GreenStone could not provide the level of service we do to our customers.
What do you enjoy in your free time?
Spending time with my husband, and our 2-year-old and 6-month-old children on our family dairy farm!
How has your work changed over the years?
I have been with the company five years. GreenStone implemented change management approximately three years ago to help improve the way we roll out changes. We have continued to become more and more efficient across the board, implemented better, more consistent communication across our internal teams, and reinforce changes with our staff. Change management has helped us to really streamline the process, which ultimately leads to a higher adoption rate and more consistency with our customer service.
To view the spring 2024 issue of Partners magazine in its entirety, click here.
Originally both from Michigan, Travis and Breezy Bernheisel built a life in Charleston, South Carolina. The hustle and bustle of city life excited them, and during their 14 years there, their family of two grew into a family of three, and eventually a family of four. It was that focus on family that drove their decision to move back to Michigan closer to loved ones.
“The last six years in Charleston, we were praying we would end up back in Michigan,” Breezy explained.
“The big city was great and has its own perks, but we were ready to be back in the country,” said Travis.
After Breezy obtained her master’s degree in educational nursing, the big move back to their home state started to fall into place.
“I got my master’s degree, and doors started flying open from there,” Breezy reflected. “Travis got a job offer from the company he was working for, and I was able to find work in Michigan as well.”
Since the summer of 2022 when they packed up and moved back to the mitten state, Travis and Breezy, along with their 10-year-old daughter and four-year-old son, have lived with family, but soon they will move into their brand-new home in Jackson County.
The couple worked with builders to make their dream home a reality.
“I definitely can’t wait for our house to be completely finished and my kids will have space. They’ll have their own rooms for playtime,” said Breezy. “Dreams are being unraveled in front of our eyes. It’s all coming to fruition. It’s been a blessing for sure.”
Although the moving truck is booked and the bags are mostly packed, this home build didn’t happen overnight. It all started with a plan drawn out by a friend of the two.
“We worked with someone to draw prints. We got to lay out the floorplan and incorporate almost everything we wanted into the floorplan. The homes we had in Charleston were predesigned, but with this house, we got to pick out the whole floor plan.”
Travis and Breezy worked with GreenStone Financial Services Officer Ben Hawes to finance their new endeavor. Being familiar with their family and having mutual friends, Ben was excited to help make their dream a reality.
“This is a small community. The fact that they wanted to come back and raise their family here is pretty sweet,” said Ben.
“We had talked to Ben a few different times,” said Travis. “I called him and asked him questions about moving, buying and selling. He helped with a lot of other stuff too. He was always willing to have a normal conversation.”
Many conversations later, builders were able to break ground on the three bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom house filled with features specifically picked out by Travis and Breezy.
“It’s ours,” explained Travis proudly. “We got to pick and design and there was some give and take between the two of us and budget wise, but for the most part, we’ve picked out and designed everything in the house. That’s a pretty cool feeling, especially now that it’s nearly done.”
“I love the marine blue siding we picked out,” said Breezy. “It’s one of my favorite colors and I love how it turned out.”
Ben, along with family and friends of Travis and Breezy, have been able to follow the home build in real-time as the couple posted Facebook live updates throughout each project.
“It has been really cool to watch them post their videos and see the build every step of the way,” said Ben.
The two plan on watching many sunrises and sunsets in their new abode, as well.
“I love the porch. The porch on the back has a great view of the sunrise, and the porch on the front has a great view of the sunset. It’s one of my favorite parts of the house,” said Travis.
And don’t worry, their two kids also had a say on their spaces — and they were both strategic.
“My daughter wanted the front bedroom so she can see the sunset,” explained Breezy. “My son wanted the back bedroom so he can see the deer and wildlife roam out back.”
It’s the countryside paradise the family always dreamed of having.
“Having a large property has always been something we’ve talked about, and now we’ll have some property to hunt on. That’s exciting,” said Travis.
With just a few more projects to wrap up, the family plans to officially move into the home this spring, and they are more than ready to unpack their boxes and enjoy their new forever-home.
“We’re just ready to be in,” said Breezy. “It’s our own space and I can’t wait to have my family at my house.”
And possibly more excited than them – their team at GreenStone.
“I get excited about their home construction as if it’s my own home,” explained Ben. “It’s a feeling you can’t really describe.”
“Everyone I worked with at GreenStone has been amazing, especially Ben Hawes and Renee Lewis,” said Breezy. “The people we’ve encountered were so kind. I’d point anybody to GreenStone, for sure.”
To view the spring 2024 issue of Partners magazine in its entirety, click here.