FCCS News & Insights

Accelerator of the Year Award Celebrates 5-Year Anniversary

While it typically takes a team to achieve large-scale success, those teams are often led and inspired by individuals who play a key role in overcoming obstacles and driving toward their shared goal. The FCCS Accelerator of the Year Award recognizes these difference-makers, the accelerators whose dedication and inspiration advance the mission at Farm Credit and other cooperative organizations.

“The Accelerator of the Year Award demonstrates and underscores the quality of the individuals and organizations within Farm Credit and the cooperative space, and celebrates bold, innovative thinking in times of immense change and challenge,” says Chad Moller, FCCS CEO. “We created an opportunity for public, national recognition and appreciation for the accomplishments of outstanding individuals at the cooperatives we support.”

Now celebrating its fifth year, the Accelerator Award was launched in 2020 in concert with the founding of the FCCS Accelerate Center, which forms the framework for FCCS’ extensive professional development programs and learning journeys. In 2021, the award program was expanded to include a Circle of Excellence in recognition of the leadership capability demonstrated in the outstanding caliber of the nominations received.

“The year 2020 was an exercise in reinvention and resiliency, and the development of the Accelerate Center and Accelerator of the Year Award recognized that transformational period,” says Stephanie Barton, Senior Vice President for Marketing and Communications. “The expanded program underscores just how much more teams and leaders continue to need to accomplish and accelerate for their organization’s success.”

In reviewing nominations, the Selection Committee considers:

• The breadth of impact the individual had across the organization or with customers

• The scope of the innovation of the program or initiative

• The overall impact of the program or initiative on the organization’s growth and success

• The alignment with the organization’s cooperative mission

Previous Accelerator of the Year Award winners include Byron Enix, now-retired CEO of American AgCredit; Kayla Robinson, COO, AgTexas Farm Credit Services; Kelly Miller, Director, AgTech Financing, Compeer Financial; and Allyson Tjoelker, Senior Vice President of YBS and Mission Lending, Capital Farm Credit.