Birth Year: 1964
Occupation: Certified Public Accountant
I am transitioning my career from public accounting to
a controllership in a privately owned, community-minded
group of affiliated businesses, which includes a
farming operation.
Farming
My husband, son, daughter-in-law and I own and
operate a farm producing corn, beans and hay with
a cow-calf operation.
Education:
University of Northern Iowa, BA Accounting / subsequent CPA certification
FCCS Premier Governance Series (PGS), Director certification
Current Leadership:
Director and Human Capital Committee Chair, Farm Credit Services of America Board
Director and Human Capital Committee Member, Farm Credit Foundations Board
Vice President/Secretary/Treasurer, BS Farms, Inc. and BS Lands, LLC
WHY I WANT TO SERVE ON THE BOARD:
I am driven to be a contributor to the agricultural
community. My years of varied experiences provide
value in the boardroom. I support the cooperative
business model and want to serve the members as we
work through changes in the financing needs of farmers,
ranchers, agribusinesses, the economy, the political
environment, and the operating structures of the Farm
Credit System, the Association, and its members in a safe
and sound way.
EXAMPLE OF A LEADERSHIP ROLE THAT PREPARED ME FOR A POSITION ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
I have held many leadership roles in school, nonprofits,
local communities and within my profession. The best
example is the role I have had on this Board, which has
broadened my perspective on strategy at a whole new
level as you listen, watch, train, learn and participate with
other Directors, members, and leadership teams here and
nationally with similar visions.
BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE AND/OR
EDUCATION IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:
Strategic Planning: My career in public accounting
allowed me to be a strategic planner and contributor
with client operations and agribusinesses, including
startups, operational decisions, investing opportunities,
and anticipated or immediate succession planning. As
a CPA, strategic planning has been a part of my varied
experiences as a firm owner, audit partner, senior tax
manager, business unit director and office manager. My
background is full of strategic knowledge coming from
training and real-life experiences within our farm operation
and that of others. These experiences have helped me be
a contributing Association Board member where strategic
planning and implementation is a purposeful
and continuing process.
Corporate Governance: I have been trained in
governance and the component pieces that create
a strong governing body. Governance defines the
operating structure for the Board and the Association.
I served on the Association’s Governance Committee in
the past. My experiences include contributing to creating,
updating and implementing policy. The structure of the
Board and the Strategic Alliance with Frontier Farm
Credit has been an education in governance like no other,
preparing us all for future decisions.
Financial Reporting: Performance and the reporting of
results are second nature to me. I am a past audit partner.
I have experience in analytics and the reasonability of
measurement. I am familiar with financial statement
reading, reporting and disclosure. My knowledge,
experience and education in this area are extensive inside
and outside the Farm Credit Services of America arena.
Business Technology: I have spent my career working
with technology and learning its benefits and challenges.
The Association is continually addressing strategic
initiatives to perform business operations as well as assist
members with their needs. I am educated as a user and
recently attended PGS cybersecurity training to further my
knowledge as a Director to recognize cyber risk potential.
Risk Management: My risk management/oversight
experiences come from working with business, farm
operations and the changing environment. It became
much broader becoming familiar with the risks within
this large financial institution. I believe being prepared to
assess risk requires experience and continuous education
of the environment.
Talent Management: I am the chair of the
Association’s Human Capital Committee. Attracting,
hiring, compensating, developing and retaining team
members is an investing strategy for the Association.
I am well-educated in this area and have experiences
from years of managing people. I am driven to
successfully continue current committee goals,
which includes understanding and improving our
environment of diversity, equity and inclusion.