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.
Paul Anderson
Executive VP & Chief Credit Officer
East Lansing, MI
39 Years of Service
Describe how your role carries out the GreenStone mission of supporting rural communities and agriculture.
The credit department’s role is to extend sound constructive credit that balances the financial needs of individual customers with the overall financial health of GreenStone for the benefit of the 28,000 neighbors that are a part of this lending cooperative. We focus on three basic principles in the development of our rules and tools utilized to make the loans, service the loans and collect the loans:
- Calculating the correct amount of analysis to arrive at a reasoned business decision.
- Aligning the right resource with the right loan – automate decisions when possible, and incorporate knowledge and experience for a blended analysis when necessary.
- Get the room right. The strength of GreenStone is in the diversity of opinion in the development of our guidance.
How has GreenStone prepared to withstand future challenges?
An organizational culture of never being complacent, employees that live and are committed to our core values each day, and a team that is focused on supporting each other and serving our customer owners. With that, having a stewardship mindset of leaving this a better place than when we started individually and collectively.
In looking back at the cycle of agriculture over the past decades, where do you see the greatest challenge for GreenStone and our members?
Not forgetting the lessons of history. We are entering a cycle similar, but less severe at the moment, of the inflationary cycle of the late 1970s that were followed by the harsh correction of the 1980’s for agriculture. We are in a much better position as we start to move through the correction cycle we will experience over the next three to five years. During this time, we need to make sure we do not over or under react. Respectful communications, thoughtful development of options that include giving people adequate time to make rational decisions is paramount.
What do you enjoy about your role?
I enjoy the people, our team approach, and working with and for our customers. We have the privilege of partnering with our farm owners, the 1% of this country’s population that literally helps feed the world. During my time in the credit department, we have created a philosophy of looking for ways to say “yes”. We are in the risk management business, not the risk avoidance business. In part, that comes with the development of a team approach to wholistically serve our customers and the relationship philosophy of a “trusted partner” rather than a “banker”.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Spending time with family, friends, and community of our church; golfing; and fishing.
I also enjoy being a Green Bay Packer and Wisconsin Badger fan in Michigan!
To view the article in the online 2022 Summer Partners Magazine, click here.
