
THERE’S BEEN A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AT GROWERS EDGE SINCE YOUR APPOINTMENT AS INTERIM CEO AT GROWERS EDGE! WITH YOU IN THIS POSITION, WHAT CHANGES?
We will continue to be focused on meeting our goals and ensuring our partners needs are prioritized for the upcoming crop year and beyond. We’re continuing to build for the future and looking into our product line for new ways to innovate and deliver partner and farmer-relevant products. We’ve also put a new lens on partner feedback and truly welcoming input that will help them achieve their business objectives.
YOU’VE BEEN WITH GROWERS EDGE FOR OVER TWO YEARS. WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST REWARDING ACCOMPLISHMENT DURING YOUR TIME HERE, AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE FUTURE?
Since joining the team as Vice President of Lending Operations in 2020, I have seen exceptional growth and product development at Growers Edge. I have been honored and proud to be a part of that growth. There’s been a strong foundation built, and I feel we’re well-positioned to make our vision for the future of fintech in agriculture a reality.
GROWERS EDGE RECENTLY BECAME GREAT PLACE TO WORK® CERTIFIED FOR THE SECOND YEAR. WHY IS CULTURE SO IMPORTANT AT GROWERS EDGE?
We value creating an environment where our team can grow and thrive here at Growers Edge, and have been working with the team at Great Place to Work to help us better understand where we can improve. It’s our responsibility to provide a culture that supports our employees and fosters their growth because we won’t succeed without them. Our certification as a Great Place to Work company is a testament to our dedication to maintaining a workplace culture built on transparency and positivity that will sustain us in the future. I’m looking forward to building our company culture for years to come.
HOW HAVE YOUR FIRST SIX+ WEEKS AS INTERIM CEO BEEN FOR YOU AND THE GROWERS EDGE TEAM?
Frankly, these past weeks have flown by! I certainly didn’t take the position as Interim CEO wearing rose-colored glasses, but I could not have predicted how much energy, passion and challenges I’ve experienced. We’ve celebrated several accomplishments and weathered a few storms thus far, but I have seen this company work harder than ever before, and that bodes well for our partners. This team is genuinely dedicated to building and delivering transformational products for the ag industry that will deliver value for our partners and their farmer customers.
YOU RECENTLY INKED A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH MUNICH RE. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT FOR THECOMPANY?
One of our key product refinements has been with our warranty-backed Crop Plan. We’ve taken a hard look at it to ensure it’s the best it can be, and to be frank, we found some hurdles impacting its potential. So, we reached out to Munich Re, the global leader in insurance-related risk solutions, for their expertise. With the help of our Data Science Team, Munich Re helped evaluate and confirm our models and increase the product’s efficiency while reducing risk. The results of this new relationship will allow our ag partners to more confidently implement the Crop Plan product in their organization.
ANY PARTING WORDS?
As I have been able to dig in and work with our Board of Directors, Executive Leadership Team and the entire company, I am really in awe of the dedication and commitment to innovation and quality that exists around our products. We’re growing every day with new product improvements, customers and employees. It’s really exciting to be a part of this company!