CentralStar celebrates exceptional team-member contributions and achievements

CentralStar Cooperative recently honored exceptional team members during its annual CentralStar Team Member Awards Program, recognizing employees whose performance, leadership, and dedication have made a meaningful impact across the organization during the past fiscal year.

The virtual event highlighted individuals who go above and beyond to support fellow team members, serve dairy and beef producers, and advance the cooperative’s mission.

“Our success is built on the talent and dedication of our team members,” said Dori Lichty, communication specialist. “This program provides an opportunity to celebrate their achievements and recognize the positive impact they have on our members, customers, and cooperative every day.”

CentralStar’s team includes professionals working in artificial insemination (A.I.), Dairy Herd Information (DHI) milk testing, sales, consulting, laboratory services, research, and administration. Awards were presented to team members for achievements including service milestones, sales excellence, exceptional customer service, and outstanding contributions across the cooperative.

Brad Fossum, Lodi, Wis., was honored with Area Sales Manager of the Year. Scott Woepse, Kiel, Wis.; Katherin Parsons, Wisconsin Dells, Wis.; and Daniel Row, Delavan, Wis., all received A.I. Specialist of the Year awards. Julie Retzlaff, Elroy, Wis., was named Team A.I. Technician of the Year, and Kyla Heise, Edgar, Wis., was Runner-Up Team A.I. Technician of the Year. Laura Styczynski, Pulaski, Wis., was awarded Consultant of the Year.

Within CentralStar’s DHI milk-testing business unit, DHI Specialist of the Year honors went to two individuals: Kevin Pederson, Milbank, S.D., and Danielle Schlueter, Hortonville, Wis. The company-wide honorable Outstanding-Effort Award was presented to Area Sales Manager Jason Goke, Belleville, Wis.

At CentralStar, teamwork is at the heart of success. Each year, team members nominate and vote for Team Star-Member Award recipients, recognizing colleagues who consistently demonstrate collaboration, customer commitment, and a positive attitude that reflects the cooperative’s values. Team Star-Member Award winners include Danielle Schlueter; Jason Goke; Kyla Heise; Allyse Stafinski, Mendon, Mich.; Chris McTaggart, Sterling, Mich.; Ryan Besaw, Omro, Wis.; Kelsey Brigham, Lansing, Mich.; Dawn Torres-Raimer, Menasha, Wis.; James Pals, Freeport, Ill.; and Catelin Sanders, Beaver Dam, Wis.

In addition, CentralStar honored A.I. specialists and team A.I. technicians who achieved lifetime A.I.-service milestones during the past fiscal year, recognizing their dedication and long-term contributions to producers. Major lifetime A.I.-service milestone winners: Tom Mahoney, Glenwood City, Wis., 100,000 A.I. services; Bryce Buchda, Fox Lake, Wis., 100,000; Brian Landis, Goshen, Ind., 100,000; Katherin Parsons, 100,000; Shannon Sauer, Berlin, Wis., 100,000; Garret Carnahan, Hilbert, Wis., 150,000; Jim Neuser, Cato, Wis., 200,000; and Scott Woepse, 400,000 A.I. services.

In CentralStar’s DHI business unit, employee team members were honored for lifetime-number-of-cows tested. Major milestones in this area include Julianna Zapata, Neenah, Wis., 1 million cows tested; Kristina Brown, Huntington, Ind., 1 million; Katelyn Loeks, McBain, Mich., 1 million; Danielle Paschke, Pulaski, Wis., 1 million; Cassandra Wade, Saginaw, Mich., 1 million; Nick Wagner, La Porte, Mich., 1 million; Makayla Ricketts, Mason, Mich., 2 million; Cindy Milligan, Parma, Mich., 2 million; John Snider, Wautoma, Wis., 2 million; Deanna Rigby, Bryant, Ind., 2 million; Jessica Bradley, Oshkosh, Wis., 5 million; and Jayne Steuer-Birkholz, Elkhart Lake, Wis., 7 million cows tested.

CentralStar celebrated several team members for achieving meaningful service milestones and demonstrating years of dedicated service. Those with the most tenure include Roger Sweeney, Ubly, Mich., 20 years; Eric Westphal, Byron, Wis., 20 years; Heather Noskowiak, Bryant, Wis., 25 years; Carol Beihold, New Paris, Ind., 25 years; Christine Zahm, Marne, Mich., 25 years; Leland Shaum, Goshen, Ind., 25 years; Marla Stookey, Milford, Ind., 25

years; Carla Stetzer, Alma Center, Wis., 25 years; Ben Slack, Viroqua, Wis., 30 years; Lorie Reese, Posen, Mich., 30 years; Brent Beeker, Constantine, Mich., 35 years; Carol Decker, Menasha, Wis., 35 years; Scott Woepse, 35 years; and James Iverson, Mindoro, Wis., 50 years.

CentralStar’s FUSION Culture initiative celebrates the values that define its workplace: a fulfilling career, uniqueness, synergy, independence, opportunity for professional development, and nurturing leadership. Brandy Allender, South Whitley, Ind., earned the CentralStar FUSION Culture and Mentoring Award for her exceptional commitment to developing future talent and supporting fellow team members. Through recruiting ride-alongs and new-team-member training, Allender generously shared her time and knowledge to help others succeed.

CentralStar’s mission of enhancing producer profitability through integrated solutions for mutual success is fulfilled by incorporating an array of products and services critical to dairy-and-beef-farm prosperity. CentralStar’s product and service offerings include Accelerated Genetics, GenerVations, and Select Sires genetics; extensive artificial-insemination (A.I.) technician service; genetic, reproduction, and dairy-records consultation; DHI services; diagnostic testing; herd-management products; research and development; and more. CentralStar’s administration and warehouse facilities are located in Lansing, Mich., and Waupun, Wis., with laboratories in Grand Ledge, Mich., and Kaukauna, Wis. The cooperative serves dairy and beef producers throughout Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana, with additional DHI territory in various surrounding states. For more information, visit CentralStar Cooperative Inc. at www.mycentralstar.com.