CROP GROWERS - Key Persons
Alena C. Gfeller - Chief Legal Officer, EVP, Secretary
Job Titles:
- Corporate Secretary
- Executive Vice President
- General Counsel
Alena C. Gfeller is responsible for Farm Credit East's legal department and serves as the Standards of Conduct officer. As head of the legal department, she is charged with providing support on complex and innovative loan issues, ensuring regulatory compliance, supervision of outside counsel, and assisting with all facets of the Association's legal and governance needs. She serves on the Farm Credit East Human Resources Committee and works closely with the Board's Governance/Stewardship Committee. She joined Farm Credit East in September 2016, having previously been a partner and member of the executive committee at Murtha Cullina, LLP. She is a graduate of Arizona State University and received her law degree from Widener University School of Law.
Job Titles:
- Chief
- Member of Committee
Amy Walker-Bailey, of Fort Ann, N.Y., was elected to the board in 2023. Her current term expires in 2027.
Amy is chief financial officer of her family's three businesses: Walker Farms, LLC, a 1,300-cow family dairy operation with 2,700 crop acres of hay and corn; MGK Enterprises, LLC, a contract hauling trucking company; and Walker's Farm, Home & Tack, a retail farm store. For each entity, Amy is responsible for hiring, financial decisions and other day-to-day operations.
Amy has served as a delegate for Dairy Farmers of America and, along with her husband, was the 2007 National Milk Producers Federation Young Cooperator Chaircouple. She has been active in the Dairy Princess Committee and the Agricultural Stewardship Association. She has also been involved with her local PTSO and booster club, taught Junior Achievement, and served on the Fort Ann Central School Board for 10 years, including three years as president.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Executive Vice President
Andrew N. Grant leads the financial, treasury, accounting and asset-liability management operations of the Association. Prior to assuming his current position, he was chief financial officer of Farm Credit of Maine and has held several positions since joining Farm Credit in 1995. He is a member of the Association's Executive Leadership Team, serves as Chair of the Asset Liability Committee and works closely with the Board Audit Committee. He also serves on the CoBank, ACB Retirement Trust Committee, which oversees the defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plans for the Association and several other Farm Credit employers. He is a graduate of Husson University and holds both a B.S. in management accounting and a M.S. in business.
Barry Buck, of Mapleton, ME, was elected director in 2020 to a term expiring in 2024.
Barry has over 25 years of experience on the family's seed potato farm and was integral in developing new markets for the farm. In 2015, the Buck's diversified their farm with the addition of a malt house/grain facility to add value to crops they were producing.
Barry is past president of the Central Aroostook Young Farmers and is currently a member of the board of selectman for the town of Mapleton, a position he has held for nearly 20 years.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Erie County Agricultural
- Member of Committee
- Partner at Kreher Family Farms
Brett D. Kreher, of Clarence, N.Y., was elected director in 2023 to a term expiring in 2027.
Brett is partner at Kreher Family Farms (and related entities), an egg production business raising approximately two million hens that produce conventional, organic and pastured organic eggs across three locations. The business also has conventional and organic grain operations along with a conventional fresh-market vegetable/greenhouse operation and produces and sells organic fertilizer. Brett is responsible for advising the crop operations and administrative functions for all owned entities.
Brett is chair of the Erie County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board, serves on the Town of Clarence Municipal Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan Committee, and is vice president of the Board of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County. He has also served as trustee of his church, is past president of the Erie County Farm Bureau and past board member of the Western New York Land Conservancy.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Executive Vice President
Briana oversees the credit analyst and operations functions, ensuring alignment of all aspects of credit delivery. She also leads Farm Credit East's human resources, including benefits, recruiting, employee engagement, training, compensation and many other special projects. She joined Farm Credit in 2003 and served as loan officer in the Middleboro branch for seven years, and human resources for 13 years before transitioning to her current role as COO. She is Chair of Farm Credit East's Human Resources Committee and serves on the CoBank Retirement Trust. She serves as director of the board of Farm Credit Financial Partners (FPI), a service company owned by Farm Credit East and other ACAs. She is a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in animal science/ag business. She is also a graduate of LEAD New York and Farm Credit's Leadership Development Program.
Job Titles:
- Farm Credit East Director
- Member of Committee
David Folino has served as a Farm Credit East director since 2022. His seat expires in 2026. He was formerly a director of Yankee Farm Credit, serving since 2018.
David and his wife Sue own and operate Hillsboro Sugarworks in Starksboro, Vermont. While spending 20 years in the publishing industry, working as a marketing director, general manager and co-owner, he started a small sugaring operation, which grew into a small business. He is now full-time in the maple business, with about 15,500 trees currently tapped. He and his wife market throughout central Vermont and worldwide through their website.
In addition, David volunteers as a Director for the Vermont Maple Sugarmaker's Association and serves on a committee with the Northeast Organic Farmers Association. He also teaches classes to other sugarmakers on maple economics and management.
Job Titles:
- Chief Experience Officer
- Executive
- Executive Vice President
David H. Pugh provides executive leadership and oversight of Farm Credit East's transformation office, including its digital strategy. As CXO, Dave and his team are responsible for both customer and employee experiences including the impacts of digital, process and delivery implementation and use. Dave started with Farm Credit in 1986 as a loan officer in the Cortland, NY, office. He served as branch manager in both the Cortland and Cobleskill New Yok offices before transitioning to develop the Country Living program in 2005, where he served as Director for 14 years. He is a graduate of Farm Credit's Management Development and Leadership Development programs and LEAD New York, Class VIII, where he also served on its board. Dave holds an AAS in Animal Science from SUNY Morrisville and a BS in Agricultural Economics from Cornell University.
Douglas W. Shelmidine (age 67) of Adams, NY, is owner and operator of Sheland Farms LLC, a 900-cow dairy with 730 head of youngstock and crops about 3,000 acres, as well as operating Sheland Farm Services, a business offering crop-related services.
Douglas W. Shelmidine, of Adams, N.Y., was first elected to the board in 2012 with his current term expiring in 2024.
Doug owns Sheland Farms, a multi-generational family business that Doug runs in partnership with his brother, Todd, and sons, Erik and Devon. The family farms 3,000 acres and milks 920 cows. They also operate Sheland Farms Services, doing field work for other farms.
Doug served five two-year terms on the USDA-NRCS Agricultural Air Quality Task Force, has been a member of Pro-Dairy/New York Farm Viability Dairy Advisory Committee, New York Farm Bureau Board of Directors and Jefferson County Farm Bureau President. Doug is the Town of Ellisburg Supervisor, serves on the New York Agriculture Commissioner's Dairy Marketing Advisory Committee, the Jefferson County Agricultural Council, and also chairs the Jefferson County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Governance Committee
- Member of the Compensation Committee
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Chairman of Committee
- Member of the Northeast Lumber Manufacturers Association
- President of Robbins Lumber, Inc
James Alvin Robbins II (age 51) of Searsmont, Maine, is co-owner and president of Robbins Lumber Inc, an Eastern White Pine Lumber mill with four locations, as well as sustainably manages over 28 ,000 acres of working timberland and operates an 8.5 MW biomass power plant. Learn more about Jim
James A. Robbins II, of Searsmont, Maine, was elected director in 2019 to a term expiring in 2024 (term extended by one year due to merger realignment).
Jim is president of Robbins Lumber, Inc., a fully integrated log yard, sawmill, dry kilns and planer mill that produces Eastern White Pine. Robbins Lumber owns and manages 27,000 acres of timberland. Additionally, Jim is the manager of Georges River Energy, LLC, a biomass power plant that burns wood waste in order to produce electrical power.
Jim is also member of the Northeast Lumber Manufacturers Association (NELMA). Previously, he was chair of Maine's SFI Implementation Committee and past president of the Maine Wood Products Association.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Services Officer
Jan oversees the ACA's farm tax and accounting programs, business consulting, and the crop insurance business unit. Jan began her Farm Credit career as a loan officer in 1982. She served as a branch manager in Central New York before becoming a regional manager, overseeing eight branch offices in the central part of the association's territory. Jan is past president of the Farm Financial Standards Council, which promotes uniform financial reporting in agriculture. She served as treasurer of the New York Agricultural Land Trust and volunteers at the Northeast Dairy Challenge and other ag and community groups. Jan holds a B.S. in agricultural economics from Cornell University and an MBA from Syracuse University. She and her family live in Skaneateles, NY.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Audit Committee
- Chairman of Committee
Jay McWatters, of Hamburg, NY, was appointed as an outside director in 2021 to a term expiring in 2025.
Jay is the Executive Account In-Residence for the Wehle School of Business at Canisius College in Buffalo, NY, where he teaches auditing and accounting. Previously, he was an assurance partner at Dopkins & Company, LLP and KPMG LLP where he served multiple cooperative clients.
Jay has served various cooperative organizations including the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National Society for Accountants and Cooperatives, and the Northeast Cooperative Council. He has also served on the board of directors of Catholic Health System, United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, Shea's Performing Arts Center, and Canisius College Council on Accountancy. Jay is a certified public accountant.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Member of the Compensation Committee
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Board Vice Chair, Compensation Committee Chair
- Principal Owner of Fa - Ba Farms
John was first elected to the board in 2013, with his current term expiring in 2025.
John P. Knopf is the principal owner of Fa-Ba Farms, LLC in Canandaigua, N.Y. Fa-Ba Farms is a dairy business consisting of 580 milking cows, 400 replacements and 800 acres of land devoted to forage production.
John is also a member of the Town of Canandaigua Board of Assessment Review and has prior service with the Soil and Water Conservation District Northern Watershed Committee and Ontario County Farm Bureau.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Farm Credit East Director
- Member of Committee
Kyle Thygesen has served as a Farm Credit East director since 2022. His current term expires in 2026. He was formerly a director of Yankee Farm Credit, serving since 2017.
Kyle, along with his wife Jennifer and son Keenan, own and operate the Farmstead at Falls Hill, LLC, in Tunbridge, VT. Currently, he is also the Director for Dairy Operations for Vital Farms. In his role, he manages the entire dairy portfolio and ownership of its long-term growth.
Kyle also actively volunteers with 4-H and FFA. He and his wife Jennifer were awarded the 2017 Ed Gould Memorial award by Vermont 4-H for their work with their 4-H club and support of the state dairy program.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Member of the Compensation Committee
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Vice Chair of the Town of Saratoga Planning Board
Laurie Keene Griffen (age 60) of Schuylerville, NY, is Co-owner and operator of Saratoga Sod Farm consisting of approximately 700 acres of turfgrass sod, a range of seed and fertilizer products and a sod installation service, 600 acres of corn and soybeans and a retail bagged garden soil operation. Learn more about Laurie
Laurie K. Griffen was elected to the board in 2011. Her current term expires in 2024 (extended by one year due to merger realignment).
Laurie and her husband Steve are co-owner-operators of Saratoga Sod Farm, Inc., a 600-acre turfgrass farm in Stillwater, N.Y. In addition, Saratoga Sod provides sod installation services, sales of seed and fertilizer products, and the Big Yellow Bag garden soil product to assist its customers across the Northeast. Saratoga Sod also grows roughly 500 acres of corn and soybeans as part of the crop rotation.
Laurie is also presently vice chair of the Town of Saratoga Planning Board, co-chair of the Schuyler Park Committee, trustee of the Quaker Springs United Methodist Church and serves on the New York Farm Bureau Labor Committee.
Job Titles:
- Business Risk Committee Chair
- Chairman of Committee
Lisa P. Sellew was first elected to the board in 2013, with her current term expiring in 2025.
Lisa and her family own Prides Corner Farms, in Lebanon, Conn., a wholesale nursery growing more than 2,200 varieties of nursery stock, perennials, roses, trees, herbs and vegetables that has been in business for more than 30 years. Prides Corner supplies plants throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Prides Corner also grows and supplies prevegetated green roof product called LiveRoof®.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Compensation Committee
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Member of Committee
LouAnne King, of Madrid, N.Y., was elected to the board in 2017, with her current term expiring in 2025.
LouAnne is an owner of Mapleview Dairy LLC, along with her brother, David Fisher, and extended family. The family operates multiple businesses which encompass a 3,100-cow dairy, a 2,800-replacement heifer facility, and approximately 5,000 acres for forage and grain. LouAnne serves as office and financial manager, while providing human resource functions, management support, and mentoring the next generation of managers.
LouAnne is a past member of the NEDPA board, the NYS Dairy Promotion Advisory Board, Pro-Dairy Advisory Board and the St. Lawrence County Dairy Promotion Committee. She currently serves on the Northeast Agricultural Education Foundation Board, the St. Lawrence County Workforce Development Board and the Scotch Presbyterian Church Session.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- President
Michael J. Reynolds has served as president and chief executive officer since 1/1/2020. He is a Farm Credit veteran having joined in 1990 after graduating from Hartwick College with a Bachelor's in Management and Accounting. Prior to becoming CEO, he served as Chief Business Officer where he provided executive leadership for all branch credit and financial services operations. He is also a member of Farm Credit East's Credit and Human Resources committees. He serves as chair of the Board of Farm Credit Financial Partners (FPI), a service company owned by Farm Credit East and other ACAs. He is also active in other workgroups within the Farm Credit System, including serving as Vice Chair of the Farm Credit System's Presidents Planning Committee, a national leadership group, and will serve as Chair in 2023.
Michael N. Brooks, of Elmer, N.J., was first elected to the Farm Credit East Board in 2014, with his current term expiring in 2025.
In partnership with his parents, William and Diane Brooks, he owns Dusty Lane Farms, LLC . Dusty Lane Farms is a diverse, 2,000-acre irrigated operation producing white potatoes, peppers, spinach, cabbage, sweet corn, corn, wheat and soybeans. The farm also includes 27,000 square feet of heated greenhouse space for vegetable transplants.
Mike serves on the executive committee of the Salem County Board of Agriculture and is the president of the New Jersey White Potato Association. He is past chair of the Woodstown-Pilesgrove Agricultural Education Advisory Committee and is a life-long supporter of the FFA Organization.
Peter H. Triandafillou was appointed to the Farm Credit East Board, as its forestry expert, in 2016. His current term expires in 2026.
Peter retired as vice president of woodlands for Huber Resources Corp, a timber management firm managing 980,000 acres in six states.
Peter is also past president and current member of The Maine Forest Products Council, past chair and current member of the Society of American Foresters (Maine division), past president and current member of the North Maine Woods Corporation and past chair of the Advisory Committee of the Cooperative Forestry Research Unit. In addition, he is also a member of the Empire State Forest Products Council and serves on the board of the Farm Credit Council.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President and Chief Marketplace Officer
Roger E. Murray provides strategic oversight to the credit & appraisal functions in the capital markets, agribusiness, retail and Country Living segments. He serves as Chair of Credit Committee and provides program leadership for Farm Credit East's trade credit partnership with AgDirect, digital loan originations with Farmlend, and leasing services through Farm Credit Leasing. He serves on Farm Credit East's Executive Leadership Team, Credit, Asset Liability, Business Risk, and Human Resources committees and works closely with the Board's Business Risk Committee. He holds a degree from Cornell University in agricultural economics. He joined Farm Credit in 1981 and has held several positions with predecessor organizations as well as the Springfield Bank for Cooperatives and CoBank in Springfield, Mass.
Skip Hardie, of Lansing, N.Y., was first elected to the board in 2016 with his current term expiring in 2024.
Skip is a partner of Walnut Ridge Dairy, LLC, along with Steve Palladino, John Fleming and Keith Chapin. The farm milks 1,700 cows and operates 2,200 acres.
Skip is a director of the American Dairy Association North East. He is a member of the board of directors of Dairy Management, Inc and is the board secretary. In addition, Skip is a director of the US Dairy Export Council.
Terry R. Zittel, of Eden, N.Y., was elected as a director in 2018, to a term expiring in 2026.
Terry is corporate secretary and business manager of Amos Zittel & Sons, Inc., a wholesale vegetable, flower and retail market business growing 400 acres of hand harevsted fresh market vegetables, including sweet corn, peppers, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts, grape tomatoes and squash. In addition, they grow rooted liners and finished spring flowers in a 3-acre greenhouse range.
In addition, Terry is on the board of directors of Eden Community Foundation and Harvest Malawi, an irrigation/education project in Africa.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President of Knowledge Exchange, Public Relations and Marketing
Prior to assuming his current position in 2018, Thomas W. Cosgrove served as senior vice president for Public Affairs and Knowledge Exchange, and previous to that role, he was a vice president in Farm Credit East's Commercial Lending unit. Prior to joining Farm Credit East, he served in a variety of roles for CoBank in its capital markets, communications and agribusiness divisions. He has also served as a staff member of the United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. He is the immediate past chair of the Empire State Council of Agricultural Organizations and serves on the board of the Northeast Agricultural Education Foundation. He is a graduate of LEAD New York and holds a B.S. in communications from Cornell and an MBA from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Member of Committee
Timothy Benjamin, of Naples Fla., was appointed as an outside director in 2023 to a term expiring in 2027.
Timothy is retired from Seneca Foods Corporation where he was Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer from 2012 to 2023. Prior to that he was with Birds Eye Foods, Inc. for 15 years in increasingly responsible financial positions, reaching the position of Vice President and Treasurer. Previously he was with Price Waterhouse, LLP for nine years ultimately reaching the position of Senior Tax Manager.
Job Titles:
- Board Chair of the New York Wine
Wendy Oakes Wilson (age 57) of Lyndonville, NY, is general manager of LynOaken Farms and Leonard Oakes Estate Winery. She also serves as treasurer of the LynOaken Farms' Corporate Board and president of the Leonard Oakes Board. Learn more Wendy
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President, Chief Alliance and Risk Officer
Bill works closely with the Chief Executive Officer and members of the executive and senior leadership teams in leading and/or executing on association strategic and business initiatives, including developing alliances with Farm Credit System and non-Farm Credit System organizations. Bill is responsible for measuring and monitoring enterprise risk and analytics within Farm Credit East and provides the board and management reports demonstrating operational performance against the association's risk appetite. Bill oversees the association's cyber-related programs, including the business continuity and incident response plans, as well as the data governance and management programs. He also coordinates matters with the federal examiner, the Farm Credit Administration, and works closely with the association's technology partner, Financial Partners Inc. (FPI). Bill joined Farm Credit in 1987, initially as a regulator and has advanced through several positions throughout his career. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska with a degree in accounting. He serves on the Executive Leadership Team, chairs the Management Risk and Model Governance committees, and serves on the Credit Committee. He also works closely with the Board's Business Risk Committee.