Michigan Sugar Company

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: With 15 years of experience in the field of company administration and logistics, Rachel Ross has planted her career at Michigan Sugar Company as our new Factory Administrator in Sebewaing. A native of the New Orleans area, Rachel relocated to Michigan in 2007 in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, which had struck two years earlier. She has a sister in Port Huron and another in Southfield. Her brother lives in Austin, Texas. Rachel earned her degree in accounting from Baker College in 2013 and most recently worked as a Dispatcher for Scotts Miracle-Gro in Imlay City and as Office Manager for F Schoen Trucking in Marlette. She said she was drawn to Michigan Sugar by the stability of the company and the challenge this new job will present. "I love a challenge and I heard Michigan Sugar is a great company to work for," she said. "I look forward to helping the company grow." Rachel and her boyfriend David live in Sandusky. Both have two children - Rachel's children are Chloe, 14, and Josephine, 6, and David's children are Brienna, 18, and David, 15. In her free time, Rachel enjoys cooking - especially Cajun food - camping, and reading. Her favorite author is Nicholas Sparks. Welcome to the Michigan Sugar family, Rachel! #employeespotlight #PlantYourCareer #SWEETJOBS #MakingLifeSweeter #CreatingGrowthandOpportunity

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Michigan Sugar Company is pleased to announce the hiring of Ben Faulk as our next Chief Financial Officer. Ben begins his duties today, and will replace retiring CFO Brian Haraga, who will remain with the company until November. Ben brings 20 years of finance experience in the manufacturing, health care, and public accounting sectors, including six years working for Valley Wide Cooperative and Valley Agronomics LLC, an ag retailer located in Nampa, Idaho. While there, he served as CFO from 2019 to 2022 and was responsible for the accounting, finance, treasury, and risk management functions of the $1 billion farm supply co-op with more than 1,000 employees. A native of Millbrook, Alabama, just north of Montgomery, Ben earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Pensacola Christian College in Florida and his master’s degree in accountancy from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He became a Certified Public Accountant in 2009. “I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to serve the grower-owners of Michigan Sugar Company and to once again be a part of the cooperative system,” said Ben. “I look forward to joining the company’s outstanding team of employees and am excited to see what we will accomplish together.” Ben began his career as an accountant working for a firm in Nevada. He came to Michigan in 2010 to work for MidMichigan Health in Midland, where he held positions as an Internal Auditor and Financial Analyst. He later worked for Deloitte & Touche, Chemical Bank, and Dow Corning Corp. before making the move to Idaho. In 2022, Ben’s wife Lovinda died after a battle with cancer, and he returned to Michigan with the couple’s two sons – Charlie 9, and Hank, 6. Most recently, Ben has worked as Strategic Assistant to the CEO for AgroLiquid, an agricultural fertilizer supplier based in St. Johns, Michigan. “Ben’s diverse experience, including several years with progressive responsibilities culminating in the CFO role in a grower-owned cooperative, make him the ideal fit for the Michigan Sugar team,” said Michigan Sugar President and CEO Neil Juhnke. “Please join me in welcoming Ben to Michigan Sugar.” In his free time, Ben enjoys spending time outdoors, especially fishing with his boys; fitness; and cheering for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Welcome to the Michigan Sugar family, Ben! #MakingLifeSweeter #CreatingGrowthandOpportunity #plantyourcareer #SWEETJOBS #EmployeeSpotlight

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: With more than 25 of experience in engineering, supervision, and managing site operations, Tim Schuster has joined the Michigan Sugar Company family as our new Bay City Factory Manager. Tim grew up in the New Baltimore, Michigan, area near Macomb and earned his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Michigan in 1994. He began his career at The Woodbridge Group, working as a Process Engineer at the company's facilities in Whitmore Lake and Chesterfield, Michigan. He would go on to work as Process Manager at the company's facility in Fremont, Ohio. During his career, Tim has worked in the specialty chemical manufacturing sector where his expertise ranges from polyurethane foam formulations to making ingredients for personal care items, including conditioners, lotions, and sunscreen, as well as household products like fabric softeners and surfactants. From 1998 to 2007, Tim held a variety of positions at Arkema in Riverview, Michigan, and then worked as Operations Manager for Taminco in Riverview; Site Manager for Evonik in Janesville, Wisconsin; Operations Manager for HB Fuller Co. in the Grand Rapids area; and Site Manager for BASF in Muskegon. Most recently, Tim worked as an Area Manager for DuPont in Midland in specialty monomer and copolymer manufacturing for ion exchange resin, similar to what is used in Michigan Sugar's juice softening systems. Tim and his wife Julie have been married for 30 years and have three children - Abby, a graduate of Grand Valley State University; Nick, a student at Northern Michigan University in Marquette; and Evan, a student at Saginaw Valley State University. In his free time, Tim enjoys hiking, fishing, and home remodeling. Welcome to the Michigan Sugar family, Tim! #employeespotlight #PlantYourCareer #SWEETJOBS #MakingLifeSweeter #CreatingGrowthandOpportunity

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Michigan Sugar Company welcomed Becca Tracy as its Benefits & Retirement Plan Administrator in June, working out of the Corporate Office in Bay City. A native of Saginaw, Becca graduated from Arthur Hill High School in 1999. From there, she attended Saginaw Valley State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in international studies and Spanish. She began her career working for a division of Hewlett-Packard called Hewlett-Packard Business Services, a contractor of The Dow Chemical Company. Becca then transitioned to an internal role at Dow in the Retiree Call Center. Becca held multiple roles during her 13 years at Dow, including as an Administrative Assistant, where she also held responsibility for managing time off and family and medical leave, and as an HR Administrator, supporting various HR Business Partners. Her most recent role was at Covenant HealthCare in Saginaw as a Total Rewards Specialist. Becca was drawn to Michigan Sugar Company because of the opportunity to help build the company’s health and wellness offerings. “This is a close-knit company,” she said. “Everyone has been friendly, and it’s been great to make new connections.” Becca, her husband Tony, and their 9-year-old son Cristian live in Saginaw with their cats Raya and Winston. They enjoy watching movies, camping, going to the beach, and golfing. The Tracy family is also looking forward to the upcoming football season so they can cheer on their favorite teams, the Michigan Wolverines and the Detroit Lions. Welcome to the Michigan Sugar family, Becca! #employeespotlight #PlantYourCareer #SWEETJOBS #MakingLifeSweeter #CreatingGrowthandOpportunity

Congratulations to Brian Groulx, who has been hired by Betaseed as their new Sales Manager for its Michigan Sugar Region, serving sugarbeet producers in Michigan and Ontario, Canada. “Michigan and Ontario’s unique and varied environmental challenges, due to the proximity to Lake Huron, present unique challenges to sugarbeet producers," said Jason Evenson, Betaseed Brand Sales Leader. "Brian brings tenured experience and agronomic knowledge in this market that producers will find a valuable resource to assist them in achieving their crop production and profitability goals." Before his new role, Brian worked for 15 years at Michigan Sugar Company, including his most recent position as Research Manager, leading the research group. Brian resides in Munger with his wife and has a daughter attending college. He is actively involved with his local volunteer fire department, where he serves as Captain. Brian will lead a team of seven Independent Sales Agents serving the region. He will work alongside Rob Gerstenberger, the current Michigan Sugar Region Sales Manager, until his retirement on Nov. 5. Gerstenberger has been a part of the Betaseed sales organization for more than 30 years, including 23 years as Sales Manager. He started as an Independent Sales Agent in 1992 and was hired as a Sales Manager in 2001. Rob, we wish you a very sweet retirement and Brian, congratulations again. We'll miss you, but we're happy you'll still be working closely with many of our grower-owners.

VETERAN OF THE MONTH: Congratulations to Greg Killey, Michigan Sugar Company’s Veteran of the Month for August 2024. A Bay City native, Greg enlisted in the Air Force in 1996 and completed his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He earned his journeyman’s card in maintenance scheduling at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas. Greg deployed to Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Georgia, where he served as a maintenance scheduler for the 347th Operations Support Squadron. Greg joined the Michigan Sugar Team in 2015 and is a Sugar Foreman at the Bay City Factory. He resides in Hampton Township with his wife and three children. Congratulations, again, to Greg, our August 2024 Veteran of the Month. We thank you for your continued service to our country and our cooperative. To nominate a Michigan Sugar Company employee for Veteran of the Month, send an email to Tyler Kring at tyler.kring@michigansugar.com. #thankyou #veteran #veteranofthemonth

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Today, we’re introducing you to Scott Battley, the Packaging & Warehousing Supervisor at the Croswell Factory location. A native of Wheeler, Scott attended Breckenridge High School. After graduating, he took a position as the manager of McDonald’s in Alma. After 12 years there, Scott became a supervisor at Roadway Express, a trucking company that falls under the YRC Worldwide Inc. brand. During his time with Roadway Express, Scott held a variety of positions, including those in inbound/outbound trucking, line haul, and dispatch. He lived and worked in Minneapolis for a short time, moving back to Michigan in 2000. Scott began his position as P&W Supervisor at Michigan Sugar in January 2024. “I love the ideas that the people at this company have,” he said. “I love that it’s a co-op. There’s a family feel here; the people that I get the ability to work with are just wonderful.” Scott and his wife Michelle live in Port Huron with their two Shih Tzu dogs, Mojo and Diamond. Scott and Michelle enjoy gardening, watching movies, hunting, fishing, and any outdoor activities. Scott has also found a hobby in vintage stereo equipment and especially enjoys finding vinyl records. Welcome to the Michigan Sugar family, Scott! #employeespotlight #PlantYourCareer #SWEETJOBS #MakingLifeSweeter #CreatingGrowthandOpportunity

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Ma. Lot Payano joined the Michigan Sugar Company team in May 2024, working as a Food Safety/Quality Assurance Coordinator covering Bay City. A native of the Philippines, Ma. Lot earned her bachelor’s degree in food technology from Visayas State University, located in Baybay in the Philippines. After graduating, Ma. Lot spent time working in China, Pennsylvania, and Nevada before moving to Michigan in 2023. She held various quality assurance roles at companie,s including Unilever, Lucky Jack LLC, Red Ribbon Trading Limited, and CafeFrance Corporation. Ma. Lot’s most recent role was at Graham Packaging Company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where she served as the Quality Assurance Manager. Her responsibilities included enforcing health and safety policies, conducting food safety and quality training, and managing the plant’s quality systems. She also spearheaded initiatives to help the company ensure a safe workplace and uphold quality standards. The Michigan Sugar Company culture is what drew Ma. Lot to her new role. “Michigan Sugar values employee well-being, and that is something that’s important to me both personally and professionally,” Ma. Lot said. “When I started here, I immediately noticed how nice and welcoming everyone was. The kindness and support of my colleagues has really stood out to me, and my transition into this new role has been an incredibly positive experience.” Outside of work, Ma. Lot enjoys spending time with her husband Oscar and her family. She is passionate about music and enjoys playing the guitar. Welcome to the Michigan Sugar family, Ma. Lot! #employeespotlight #PlantYourCareer #SWEETJOBS #MakingLifeSweeter #CreatingGrowthandOpportunity

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Jenna Maher joined the Michigan Sugar Company team in July as an Agriculturalist in the East District, where she will cover the southern half of Sanilac and St. Clair counties. A native of Yale, near Croswell, Jenna graduated from Croswell-Lexington High School and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in ag business with a minor in agronomy from Michigan State University in December 2022. During college, Jenna held an internship at Corteva Agriscience, and after graduation, she took a position as a Crop Consultant at Nutrien Ag Solutions in Brown City. Most recently, she was a District Sales Manager for DF Seeds. A fourth-generation farmer, Jenna is no stranger to sugarbeet fields; her father Dennis is a Michigan Sugar grower-owner and served on the East District Board of Directors from 2012 to 2021. Dennis, along with his wife Reta, nephew Phil, and parents Bruce and Gail, run Gardner Family Farms LLC, a Yale-based operation that consists of 2,500 acres, including 600 acres of sugarbeets along with cucumbers, wheat, corn, soybeans, and hay. Jenna’s sisters Kristin, Dana, and Lauren also help out on the farm. “At Michigan Sugar, everyone cares about family,” Jenna said. “It’s a grower-owned cooperative, and I love that, being from a farming family myself. Everyone has been so nice and welcoming. I’m looking forward to continuing to meet growers and experiencing my first harvest as part of the agronomy team.” Jenna and her husband Logan live in the farmhouse that’s located on the Gardner family farmstead with their cat Flare. Earlier this year, they started Maher Family Farms. They have just more than 100 acres and currently grow soybeans but have plans to grow other crops in the future. Jenna also has a show cattle operation, and helps out at the other Gardner family businesses that include a landscaping and snowplowing business and a custom harvesting company. Jenna and Logan recently got married in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and love to travel, especially to Logan’s home state of Oklahoma to visit family. They also enjoy all types of outdoor activities, including hunting, fishing, and crop scouting. Welcome to the Michigan Sugar family, Jenna! #employeespotlight #PlantYourCareer #SWEETJOBS #MakingLifeSweeter #CreatingGrowthandOpportunity

After more than 40 years working in the finance industry, including the past two decades as Chief Financial Officer at Michigan Sugar Company, Brian Haraga has announced his plans to retire. A search is underway for his replacement, and he plans to step down later this year after a period of transition. Haraga has been with Michigan Sugar since 2003. Before that, he amassed more than 20 years of experience working in the automotive and shipbuilding industries. Highlights of Brian’s work at Michigan Sugar include securing financing for the company’s acquisition of Monitor Sugar Company in 2004, its purchase of a cane sugar refinery in 2016, and construction of a new molasses desugarization facility in Bay City that came online in May 2024. Most recently, he led an effort to secure a new Agent Bank and updated roster of bank partners for the cooperative. “With the recent completion of our molasses desugarization project, and the securing of a new Agent Bank, Michigan Sugar Company is on solid footing and has an incredibly bright future ahead,” said Haraga. “I joined this company shortly after it became a grower-owned cooperative in 2002, and it has been an honor to be part of its growth and prosperity over the past two decades. As I step away, I am confident that the executive leadership team, working in partnership with Michigan Sugar’s grower-owners and its 2,100 employees, will continue to set the bar for excellence in our industry.” Haraga earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Michigan State University and his master’s degree in business administration, specializing in finance, from Wayne State University. He became a Certified Public Accountant while working in Georgia in the early 1990s. Michigan Sugar Company President & CEO Neil Juhnke said Haraga leaves behind a legacy of solid financial leadership. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know Brian, as the man behind the numbers, so to speak, and want to personally thank him for his support during my first 18 months with Michigan Sugar. Brian is a great person with a huge heart,” he said. “His steady hand on the tiller has helped Michigan Sugar navigate through good times as well as challenging times. He richly deserves his retirement after more than two decades with the company. “I expect he may find himself on the golf course or engaged in a community building endeavor, but whatever Brian does next will be done with gusto.” Haraga is an avid golfer and sports fan, especially his beloved Michigan State University Spartans, the Great Lakes Loons and the Saginaw Spirit. He is a past volunteer for Junior Achievement and was named JA Volunteer of the Year in 2012. He is also past Treasurer of the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and past Chairman of the Mid America Cooperative Council. He and his wife Ann Marie live in Freeland, Michigan. The couple has two children – Christiaan and Shen.