UBG está gobernada por un Consejo de Administración de cinco personas, cuyos miembros son elegidos para mandatos rotatorios de cinco años. Bajo la dirección del Consejo, el equipo de UBG se encarga de la administración diaria de RetireMint y del plan UBG 401(k).
Consejo de Administración
620-385-2898
Chairman / General Manager, Alliance Ag & Grain
As a 20-year board member, Stan Stark has witnessed agribusiness grow and evolve in challenging and unpredictable ways. In that time, however, one thing has remained constant, and Stark is honored to be part of it.
“Our world and the environment we work in continue to change rapidly, and there are no signs of slowing down. The UBG Board, management team and the professionals who work with our plan are here to protect our defined benefit plan to ensure it’s not only available to our current employees but also to the employees of the future. As board members we are stewards of the plan with responsibility for protecting it and providing paths for our employees to retire with confidence and certainty.”
515-388-8028
Vice Chair / General Manager, Key Cooperative
United Benefits Group board service often requires Boyd Brodie to take time away from business and his personal life — two things with which he seldom allows to be interfered. For Brodie, however, investing time in RetireMint and other employee benefits is something he doesn’t think twice about.
“The benefits we provide through RetireMint and the 401(k) plan are tremendously significant, and they represent a legacy of trust with our employees I know many of us feel an obligation to uphold and protect, just as the generations before us did and the ones before that.”
Iowa State University
Bachelor of Science, Agricultural Business and Management
308-762-3112
CEO, WESTCO
Reflecting on his board service at UBG and with other industry and civic organizations, David Briggs notes that making a positive impact boils down to commitment and forward thinking.
“I’ve learned that if you want to make a difference, you have to show up. When elected officials are in my area, I show up to nurture those relationships. We have to be in front of them, continuing to talk to them. We show up for the benefit of our members, and we show up knowing we have a responsibility to understand what impacts us now and what the future holds.”
806-435-4016
General Manager, Equity Exchange
With decades of service at Equity Exchange and now serving as general manager, Shawn Hughes never loses sight of the benefits of being part of a co-op. In fact, he sees the shared value to communities and people around him every day.
“These towns are where our customers, member-owners and employees live, so their success is just as important as Equity Exchange’s success. We invest in RetireMint because we see the tremendous benefit for our employees. After a career of working hard, RetireMint allows people to feel confident and sure about how they’ll live after they decide to stop working.”
402-269-8009
CEO, Frontier Cooperative
As a United Benefits Group board member, Jeremy Wilhelm believes his responsibility goes beyond governance, protocols and following ERISA requirements. The roots of his commitment, he says, go much deeper.
“We’re talking about a plan legacy, and I remind myself and the people around me often that we all stand on the history that brought us here. And it’s on us to build the next generation: the next generation of agronomy managers and operations managers, and the next generation of CEOs, and to ensure the plan’s legacy continues for them and every other single employee.”
Doane University
Bachelor of Science, Finance/Management
Liderazgo
816-459-3312
President CEO
Described by colleagues as an unassuming leader, intelligent and compassionate, Brent joined UBG in 2002 and served as the company’s controller and treasurer until he became CEO in 2016. During his 20+ years at the company, Brent has had the opportunity to hear firsthand the ways the RetireMint benefit helps individuals, families and beyond. As he often observes, the impact makes a lasting impression and demonstrates why co-ops are exceptional employers.
“In rural communities, the co-op is important because it provides stability. In many communities, it’s everything — it brings fuel, the local farm and home store, and grocery stores. And employees at the co-ops in the RetireMint plan are exceptionally lucky because they have a benefit that provides a paycheck for as long as they live after they retire. It does more than provide financial stability for people though. It brings stability to entire communities.”
University of Missouri – Columbia
Bachelor of Science in Accountancy
816-459-3311
CFO
Chief Financial Officer Sam Saitta’s background reflects a professional history that began at what is now a top-four U.S. accounting firm. There, his professional experience was influenced by working across various industries and client types and by leveraging evolving systems and technology, chiefly to maximize business profitability. It's also there where Sam began to recognize it was more important to provide a high standard of work for the benefit of individuals vs. the benefit of the bottom line.
Principled and process-driven, Sam approaches his work with a vision that goes beyond compliance and financial accountability. People and communities, he says, are at the heart of his work.
“Corporations are clearly in it for the profit; I had an hourly rate and was expected to bill as many hours as possible. Profit was power. But being in a co-op translates to a different kind of power. I think of RetireMint as an extraordinary example of purchasing power. And it's rewarding to manage RetireMint for hardworking individuals and to hear their retirement stories and know the power of the co-ops made them possible.”
Rockhurst University
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Accounting
816-459-3349
Director of Business Development
Early in his career, Brett joined North America’s largest ag co-op at the time and discovered an industry that fulfilled him professionally and inspired him personally. Brett put it best when he described the motivators behind his work as UBG’s Director of Business Development:
“Folks in the ag business are genuine and they work long hours during their careers. So, it’s incredible their co-op’s benefits literally help them live better lives when they retire. Quality of life is important, and it shouldn’t be something people worry about after they stop working.”
As a plan steward for RetireMint and the UBG 401(k), Brett has served on behalf of co-ops and their employees for more than 20 years. For his industry knowledge and his drive to “do good,” he is a tremendous asset to co-ops, plan participants and UBG.
William Jewell College
Bachelor of Applied Science, Business Administration
816-459-3319
Director of Actuarial & Compliance
At a young age and with a destination in mind, Rosemary set out on a mathematical path leading to a career in actuarial science. If the profession doesn’t sound familiar, you’re not alone. Rosemary is used to answering the question, “But, what does an actuary do?” She recognizes her profession isn’t always immediately relatable and has an easy-to-understand description to help explain:
“The easy answer is that I work with other financial professionals to ensure the Plan is funded properly to meet its obligations. As its stewards, it’s our job to oversee the Plan’s health and to govern it in strict accordance with federal law, and it’s our fiduciary duty to see that it’s properly cared for now and for future generations.”
Rosemary is fueled by a passion for mathematics, statistics and financial theory, but she emphasizes there’s more to it than dollars and cents:
“What I do isn’t about helping corporations make more money. It’s about generations of people that revere the plan, and it’s about livelihoods.”
Washington University – Olin Business School
Master of Business Administration
University of Missouri - Columbia
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics
(Actuarial Science Emphasis)
816-459-3342
Director of Communication & Education
Adam Terrill emphasizes that effectively communicating RetireMint’s value involves highlighting its numerous benefits beyond the obvious. He notes that a predictable monthly check after retirement isn't the only attractive feature:
"The financial market's uncertainty is a constant challenge, even for savvy investors. RetireMint eliminates this worry by offering predictable performance, regardless of market fluctuations. This is particularly advantageous for younger participants who can avoid the stress of navigating market volatility."
As UBG’s Director of Communication & Education, Adam works closely with CEOs and HR managers to position RetireMint as one of the great benefits of a lifelong co-op career. He recognizes its impact on people’s lives and communities and feels fortunate to help participants understand the Plan's structure, governance and tremendous value.
University of Kansas
Bachelor of Science in Journalism
