CentralStar Cooperative, serving dairy and beef producers in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana, held their virtual employee awards program on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021. Employees were recognized for everything from milestone accomplishments and work anniversaries to sales and outstanding-effort achievements.
Dave Lindberg, Mayville, Mich., was honored with Area Sales Manager of the Year. Eric Gudex, Oakfield, Wis.; Brian Pionek, Strum, Wis.; and Scott Woepse, Kiel, Wis., all received Artificial Insemination (A.I.) Specialist of the Year awards. Becky Spatz, Ripon, Wis., was named Team A.I. Technician of the Year, and Victor Lopez, Beaver Dam, Wis., was Runner-Up Team A.I. Technician of the Year. Brian Kelroy, De Forest, Wis., was awarded Consultant of the Year.
Continuing on with CentralStar’s Dairy Herd Information (DHI) milk-testing business unit, DHI Specialist of the Year recognition went to both David Kohn, Medford, Wis., and Jim Place, Morenci, Mich. First-Year DHI Specialist of the Year recipients include Jadyn Sander, Wauzeka, Wis., and Kylee Stout, Waterloo, Ind.
The company-wide honorable outstanding-effort awards were presented to MaryAnn Walker, Dansville, Mich., and Trevor Yager, Mineral Point, Wis.
Teams are critical to CentralStar’s success. Team Star-Member Award winners are selected by employee peers. Employees are asked to vote for team members who exemplify teamwork, dedication to customers, and overall enthusiasm for the company. Team Star-Member Award winners include Chaelynne Lohr, East Lansing, Mich., from CentralStar’s research and development business unit; Paige Dickson, Bellevue, Mich., from CentralStar’s Grand Ledge, Mich., milk-and-diagnostic-testing laboratory; and Carol Decker, Menasha, Wis., part of CentralStar’s Kaukauna, Wis., milk-and-diagnostic-testing laboratory. Office staff Team Star-Member Award winners include Linda Van Loo, Burnett, Wis., and MaryAnn Walker.
Team Star-Member Award winners from the field include Ginni Sheridan, Leslie, Mich.; Dave Lindberg; Rex Reinholt, Rochester, Ind.; Chris McTaggart, Sterling, Mich.; Hilary Triick, Conklin, Mich.; Carla Stetzer, Alma Center, Wis.; Don Baures, Thorp, Wis.; Perry Phend, Osseo, Wis.; Darrin Stein, Arkansaw, Wis.; Bob Brock, Shawano, Wis.; Scott Woepse; Trevor Yager; and Susie Martin, Brooklyn, Wis.
CentralStar recognizes A.I. specialists and team A.I. technicians for number of A.I. services. Achieving major A.I.-service milestones during the last fiscal year: Matt Cracraft, Brillion, Wis., 100,000 A.I. services; Roger Belling, Fond du Lac, Wis., 100,000 A.I. services; Eric Gudex, 150,000 A.I. services; Gabe Pehler, Fountain City, Wis., 175,000 A.I. services; Mark Rude, Ridgeland, Wis., 175,000 A.I. services; Syd Behm, Cambria, Wis., 175,000 A.I. services; and Kurt Barnes, Kiel, Wis., 200,000 A.I. services.
Area Sales Managers achieving 500,000 semen-units sold at this point in their careers include Kevin Cox, Sparta, Wis.; Terry Kraning, Seymour, Wis.; and Maurie Kline, Goshen, Ind.
In CentralStar’s DHI business unit, employees are honored for number of cows tested. Major milestones in this area include those who’ve tested 1 million cows so far in their careers: Annie Wisner, Yale, Mich.; Brian Lisowe, Chilton, Wis.; David Kohn; Deanna Rigby, Goshen, Ind.; Greg Ladd, Tustin, Mich.; Jill Kobza, Hudsonville, Mich.; Jim Place; John Snider, Fond du Lac, Wis.; Julie Schafer, Muir, Mich.; Loretta Broecker, Decker, Mich.; Maddy Wilbur, Gillett, Wis.; Martha Draper, Marlette, Mich.; Nate Harmon, North Branch, Mich.; Rea Dorzok, New Holstein, Wis.; and Ron Hemmer, Owen, Wis. The following six individuals have tested 2 million cows: Brad Lorge, Bear Creek, Wis.; Duane Zimmerman, Deford, Mich.; Jessica Bradley, Oshkosh, Wis.; Lauren Beltran-Cracraft, Kewaunee, Wis.; Mike Bradley, Oshkosh, Wis.; and Roger Sweeney, Ubly, Mich. Jayne Steuer-Birkholz, Elkhart Lake, Wis., was recognized for testing 3 million cows, and Rick Huth, Green Bay, Wis., achieved the 5-million-cows-tested level.
CentralStar Cooperative has tremendous longevity among employees, and several were honored for major levels in years of service during the virtual awards program. Those with the most tenure include Doug Rake, North Freedom, Wis., 25 years; Kim Walters, Charlotte, Mich., 25 years; Syd Behm, 25 years; Eric Bierman, Livingston, Wis., 30 years; Joel Franke, Hillsboro, Wis., 30 years; Dave Holzinger, Lancaster, Wis., 35 years; Howie Minnema, Fond du Lac, Wis., 35 years; Rod Alton, Monroe, Wis., 35 years; Greg Beavers, Bloomington, Ind., 40 years; Matt Kieler, Hazel Green, Wis., 40 years; Steve Reed, Owosso, Mich., 40 years; and Duey Vande Zande, Waupun, Wis., 45 years
