Dr. Charlie Sniffen is stepping down after 20 years of service. Charlie was first elected as an outside director on the board of Champlain Valley Farm Credit in 1992. At the time he was president of the William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute in Chazy, NY. In 1995 Champlain Valley Farm Credit and Farm Credit of the Connecticut Valley merged to form Yankee Farm Credit, and Charlie continued as an outside director on the Yankee board. Charlie served as chairperson of the Audit Committee 2002-2007.
Paul Gingue is stepping down after 12 years of service. He was first elected to the board in 2000. Paul was elected board chairperson in April 2009, only a few months after the financial crisis in September 2008. During his three years as chairperson, Paul dealt with many issues that were shaped by the financial crisis. There were national meetings to discuss fallout from the crisis. Association mergers in the northeast were discussed, and one was completed. There was a bank merger. There was an overall recession, and an outright depression in the dairy industry. Paul led Yankee successfully through it all.
Paul and Charlie continue to serve as directors through the April 17th annual meeting. Paul's successor will be elected at annual meeting. Charlie's successor has been appointed by the board - see this post.
Below are the board and CEO at the March board meeting:
Left to right, seated: Rocki-Lee DeWitt, Charlie Sniffen, Chairperson Paul Gingue, Paul Saenger, Celeste Kane-Stebbins. Standing: President and CEO George Putnam, Steve Taylor, Bryan Davis, Walt Gladstone, Paul Franklin, Alan Bourbeau, Vice Chairperson Rocky Giroux. This board includes three PhD's. That probably won't happen again for a while!
(The board table in the above photo is new. The March board meeting was the first time the full board had a meeting using this table.)
Paul and Charlie: Thank you for your leadership, wisdom and counsel over the years. Best wishes to both of you and Rosemary and Judy. Don't be strangers.
