Brenda Frank has dedicated her career to making a difference in the business of agriculture. During her ten year career at Farm Credit Canada, she managed the commercial lending and point of sale finance functions for the Western Provinces of Canada. She also held roles working closely with the Board of Directors at Farm Credit Canada, to create long term business strategy, enterprise risk management and corporate planning processes.
Ms. Frank has a Bachelor Degree in Soil Science from the University of Minnesota, and an MBA from the University of Maryland. She is also a Chartered Director from McMasters University in Canada.
Ms. Frank’s twenty seven years of experience in agriculture started with managing the family farm in central Minnesota. She joined Syngenta in 1997 working in sales, and IT management. She then led a team of grain marketers and agronomy specialists at Cargill in Minnesota and South Dakota, prior to moving to Canada.
Brenda commented on the opportunity, “Yankee Farm Credit has a long history of commitment to agriculture. I look forward to working with the innovative and visionary people in the Association and the members we serve.”
In addition to work experience, Brenda is engaged in the study and advancement of good corporate governance, through the Directors College in Canada. Brenda’s community involvement has included working to address poverty for children and the elderly and dedication to ending the impacts of domestic violence.
George Putnam has been instrumental in the success of Yankee Farm Credit, serving as the President and CEO for the past 10 years. Under George's leadership gross loan volume more than doubled with the staff complement evolving to meet the growing needs of the members.
Board Chairman, Paul Franklin noted, "With such growth comes changes in human resources, technology, and regulatory compliance. The Board is thrilled to have Brenda take over the reins and apply the skills she has gained from her experience with Farm Credit Canada. Brenda is impressed with the diversity of agriculture in Yankee's geographic area and excited about meeting the challenges of Yankee's future. Brenda, and her husband Doug, are attracted to our region's beautiful landscape and its rich culture and history. The Board looks forward to working with Brenda and wishes them the best in their integration with the business and social fabric of our region."
