FCCS News & Insights

Leading Change: Why Tim Tjosaas is This Year’s Accelerator of the Year

In many organizations, change arrives as a reaction—something to respond to, manage, or recover from. But the leaders who truly accelerate performance don’t wait for disruption. They build systems, teams, and cultures that are ready for it. That’s what sets this year’s Accelerator of the Year, Tim Tjosaas, apart.

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As the leader behind Compeer Home, Compeer Financial’s home mortgage brand Tjosaas didn’t just scale a new business—he built it to evolve. From the start, his focus was clear: expand access to rural homeownership while creating a model that could adapt, grow, and sustain performance over time. He partnered with Compeer’s Chief Marketing Officer to develop customer segmentation strategies, leverage digital campaigns, and build brand awareness.

He empowered his team to reduce days to close, improve processes, modernize the loan operations system, leverage technology, and drive innovation. Tim’s ability to translate strategy into execution is grounded in how he leads. “A true leader sees the forest through the trees, balancing vision with the details, while creating space for every voice to be heard and valued. Tim has a unique ability to see the big picture, without ever losing sight of the people who make it whole,” says Chad McGlothlen, Director of Lending with Compeer Home.

From Growth to Readiness

Under Tjosaas’s leadership, Compeer Home achieved remarkable growth—originations increased more than 45% in each of the past two years, reaching over $600 million in 2025. But growth alone isn’t what defines a change-ready leader.

Tim’s approach centered on intentional transformation:

Launching a partner loan participation program that opened new channels and diversified how borrowers are served;

Championing a no-down-payment program for first-time homebuyers, already helping more than 140 clients access homeownership; and

Building partnerships and systems that extend beyond immediate results.

These weren’t one-time initiatives. They were strategic moves designed to position the organization for what’s next.

Tim’s people-first leadership creates the conditions for innovation, accountability and continuous learning across Compeer Home. “Tim is a humble, people-first leader who leads with trust. He gives his team the space to try new things, guidance when things don’t go as planned and the encouragement to learn and try again,” says Kirstin Merseth, director of lending delivery for Compeer Home. Merseth added that Tim’s leadership has enabled teams to take smart risks while maintaining strong performance. “His team’s consistently strong results speak to the confidence we have in his support as we take smart risks and explore innovative ideas. His steady leadership brings out the best in those around him.”

Operationalizing Innovation

Change-ready leadership requires more than vision—it requires execution. Tim led the modernization of underwriting and origination processes using AI and machine learning, improving both efficiency and consistency. But more importantly, he made innovation a shared responsibility.

By creating internal innovation cohorts, Tim empowered team members across the business to rethink how work gets done. These efforts culminated in a redesign of the home loan process, launched in early 2026, focused on reducing time from application to approval. “The innovation cohorts were great in getting people to think differently and maybe change how they think about their jobs. It made people more curious and that’s critical for innovation,” says Tjosaas.

But he didn’t stop there. Next, he launched the Compeer Home Think Tank, which created space for continuous idea generation. Through all these initiatives the result was measurable efficiency gains equivalent to nearly one full-time role, and a team more engaged in shaping the future of their work.

A Leader Who Builds Capacity for Change

Tim’s impact extends beyond his own organization. Colleagues across the Farm Credit System describe him as a connector—someone who brings people together, fosters collaboration, and strengthens relationships across the industry. Whether leading national committees or contributing to long-term initiatives like rural vitality, his leadership consistently expands what’s possible.

What’s Next for Tim

After 25 years in home mortgage lending and most recently leading the successful launch and growth of Compeer Home, Tim is stepping into a new role as Managing Director of Agri-Access. “I’m excited about this opportunity to learn something new and take what I learned and applied at Compeer Home and bring that to this team,” says Tjosaas.

Agri-Access partners with agricultural lenders, agri-fintechs, and agricultural retailers across the country to expand access to capital in rural America. Through loan participation programs and embedded financing solutions, the organization helps financial institutions increase lending capacity, manage risk, and deliver flexible financing options to farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses while maintaining the trusted local relationships they’ve built with borrowers.

“With more than 29 years in mortgage lending, I’ve seen how important strong partnerships are in supporting agriculture and rural communities. That focus continues to guide the work we do at Agri-Access,” says Tjosaas. “I’m looking forward to what’s ahead and to continuing to work alongside our team and partners across the industry.”