Replacing a respected leader is a difficult task for any company, but during 2022 East Lansing-headquartered GreenStone Farm Credit Services successfully did just that, while also earning the No. 4 ranking among large companies in the Detroit Free Press Top Workplaces competition.
“One challenge this year was the transition of our CEO (Dave Armstrong) who retired after a 40-year career with the company, 14 of those as CEO,” said Beth Barker, chief human resources officer for GreenStone, a member-owned cooperative, which serves 28,000 members in Michigan and northeast Wisconsin. “It was important to the board of directors to choose a new leader who could enhance the already strong business results, work environment and people-focused culture. The board chose our CFO Travis Jones as successor.
“Travis’ proven focus on transparency, engagement and trust among coworkers made his transition welcomed and embraced by the staff. Department visits, weekly video messages, clear and proactive communication are just a few of the tactics that provided the path for this seamless transition. These efforts are supported by a quarterly engagement survey, which provides confirmation of the communication and trust between staff, including leaders.”
Jones assumed the chief leadership role Aug. 1, during a year when GreenStone is also undergoing the most significant software implementation in the organization’s history. Barker pointed to “trust” and the active “involvement” of team members at all levels as key factors that have led to a successful transition.
“GreenStone values developing a high trust relationship between management and employees; each person is crucial to the team and is given the necessary training and autonomy to carry out their job successfully, as has been the case with this system conversion,” Barker explained. “We operate in an environment of high trust, which allows the employees to have a great deal of independence in their work while developing personal and professional skills on the job.”
This article was originally published in the Detroit Free Press.
GreenStone Farm Credit Services
Industry: Agriculture and Financial Services
Top leadership: Travis Jones, president and CEO
Home: East Lansing
Employees: 560 (Michigan); 590 (U.S.)
Website: greenstonefcs.com
