Executive Team and Board of Directors
CFA's leadership brings decades of experience in agricultural finance, cooperative management, and rural economic development. Our Executive Leadership Team guides daily operations and strategic initiatives, while our Board of Directors—elected by member cooperatives—ensures alignment with member needs and accountability to the cooperative network. Together, they combine deep expertise in agricultural finance and lending, cooperative operations, risk management, and rural economic development to serve the needs of agricultural cooperatives and producers nationwide.
Executive Leadership Team
Ross Johnson
President & Chief Executive Officer
Ross serves as President and CEO of CFA, a position he assumed in January 2018. With nearly 40 years of experience in financial services, he has held executive positions in the Farm Credit System, commercial banking, and mortgage banking. Ross grew up on a family farm and maintains active farming interests, bringing firsthand agricultural perspective to his leadership role.
Doug Richards
Chief Operating Officer & Chief Technology Officer
Doug leads software, product development, advanced AI, and operations for CFA. Under his leadership, CFA developed Field Finance, the leading loan origination software in agriculture, modernized core systems, and achieved SOC 2 certification. His work has been featured in Yahoo Finance, PRNewswire, and other major outlets for driving innovation throughout the agricultural finance industry.
Justin Morris
Chief Marketplace Officer
Justin leads CFA's business development and go-to-market strategies as the organization has grown into a $6 billion+ cooperatively owned financial institution. Under his leadership, his team of Business Development Directors has driven CFA's transformational growth from $950 million to $4 billion in annual originations, making CFA the fastest-growing input finance provider in the nation through seamless financing solutions for agribusiness retailers and growers.
Stephen Hoefer
Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Stephen oversees CFA's financial strategy, accounting operations, capital management, and enterprise risk. He joined CFA in 2022 after extensive experience in public accounting with PwC and six years as Fund Controller at Platform Ventures. Stephen holds an MS in Accounting from Boston College and a BS in Business Administration from Rockhurst University.
Keith Becker
Senior Vice President & Chief Credit Officer
Keith has strengthened CFA's credit department since joining in January 2019, focusing on talent development, operational improvements, and customer service. His career in agricultural finance includes roles at AGRILAND FS, GROWMARK Inc., and CoBank. Keith's commitment to supporting agricultural enterprises through steady leadership reflects his dedication to sustainable growth in agricultural finance.
Joe Funk
Senior Vice President & Chief Program Lending Officer
Joe empowers CFA's dealer network through impactful grower programs and integrations with leading crop protection, fertilizer, and seed manufacturers. Prior to CFA, he spent 14 years with CHS Inc. and CHS Capital, directing a national lending team covering cooperatives and agronomy retailers. Joe graduated from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management.
Kathy Berg
Senior Vice President, Chief Administration & Human Resources Officer
Kathy leads CFA's human resources, administration, and organizational development functions, driving strategic initiatives that foster a high-performance culture. With over 20 years of HR experience, she brings deep expertise in talent management, leadership development, and employee engagement, focusing on building inclusive workplaces and aligning people strategies with business goals.
Jordan Nussbaum
Chief Security Officer
Jordan leads CFA's information security, technology infrastructure, and system modernization initiatives. He has transformed CFA's technical operations from legacy systems into stable, modernized platforms that support the organization's rapid growth. Jordan builds high-performing teams and combines strategic vision with technical expertise to enhance efficiency, productivity, and security across CFA's operations.
Board of Directors
CFA's Board of Directors represents member cooperatives and brings deep expertise in agricultural operations, cooperative governance, and financial oversight.
Danny Posch
Board Chairman
Executive Vice President and CFO
Mid Kansas Cooperative Association
Danny Posch has served on the CFA Board since 2012 and is Executive Vice President and CFO of Mid Kansas Cooperative Association. A CPA and longtime cooperative finance leader, he previously worked for Lindburg Vogel Chartered auditing cooperatives and credit unions. He is active in several professional organizations supporting cooperative financial practices.
Jeremy Wilhelm
Board Vice-Chairman
Chief Executive Officer
Frontier Cooperative
Jeremy Wilhelm has served on the CFA Board since becoming CEO of Frontier Cooperative in 2017. He brings extensive experience from prior leadership roles at Western Milling and in agricultural finance at Farm Credit Services of America and U.S. Bank. He also serves on multiple Nebraska industry and foundation boards.
Tim Burress
Board Secretary
Chief Executive Officer
River Valley Cooperative
Tim Burress has served on the CFA Board since 2012 and is the Chief Executive Officer of River Valley Cooperative. He previously spent eight years as River Valley's CFO and two decades in finance leadership roles at Deere & Company. He also serves on the board of Associated Benefits Corporation.
Gary Brandt
Board Treasurer
Chief Executive Officer
Cooperative Producers, Inc.
Gary Brandt has served on the CFA Board since 2021 and is the Chief Executive Officer of Cooperative Producers, Inc. He has held a wide range of leadership roles in the cooperative system, including operations, energy, and transportation oversight. He also partners in a family farming operation and previously led regional cooperative service groups.
Jeff Krejdl
Board Member
President and CEO
Ag Valley Cooperative
Jeff Krejdl has served on the CFA Board since 2022 and is President and CEO of Ag Valley Cooperative. He previously spent two decades in cooperative finance and operations, including serving as Ag Valley's CFO before becoming CEO. He is active in the Nebraska cooperative community and participates in national professional organizations.
Joanna McClendon
Board Member
Manager of Coop Financial Solutions
Tennessee Farmers Cooperative
Joanna McClendon has served on the CFA Board since 2021 and is Manager of Coop Financial Solutions for Tennessee Farmers Cooperative. She has more than 20 years of experience in cooperative accounting, credit, and financial services, including leading CFS's recent expansion. She is active in the National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives and other credit industry organizations.
Mark Orr
Board Member
Chief Executive Officer
GROWMARK, Inc.
Mark Orr has served on the CFA Board since 2025 and is the Chief Executive Officer of GROWMARK, Inc., where he leads an agricultural cooperative serving the U.S. and Canada across wholesale distribution, ag retail, energy, grain, and financial services. He brings more than 36 years of experience in cooperative leadership across finance, supply chain, and member services. He also serves on multiple national industry boards supporting cooperative advancement and agricultural education.