Success is driven by people, especially for a cooperative that prides itself on taking care of their customers. COBA’s board of directors is proud to recognize individuals that rise to the top of COBA’s elite team each year. Diligent, hardworking, customer-focused and knowledgeable, are merely a few qualities that are considered when selecting for the Distinguished Service Award – the qualities that member-owner-customers have come to know and appreciate throughout the last 75 years.
COBA’s board is pleased to announce and congratulate their recipients for this year: Rita Christopher, Adam Hahlen, Duane Logan, Mike Long and Marvin Stech. These recipients have never ceased in their efforts to improve the cooperative for the best interest of COBA’s member-owner-customers.
Rita Christopher – Rita started with COBA in 1979 as a data entry operator entering direct sales and breeding receipts for the northern territory. Her speed and accuracy were noticed early on, as she was able to process more than her share of items to be entered. Rita was given the tasks of processing weekly inventories, where her attention to detail was recognized, and she was promoted to computer operator. As COBA automated the sales accumulation process, Rita was promoted to head payroll and human resources. Rex Castle, retired information services manager, worked with Rita for more than 40 years. He commented, “Her level of professionalism, dedication and thoroughness is unparalleled. As a dedicated COBA employee, Rita is always willing to help others while she is very diligent in completing her work before it’s due. Accurate work is what she is known for and that is why she is a go to person for any type of job.” Rita remains an active and engaged staff member. She resides in Plain City, Ohio with her husband, Nick, and son, Nicky.
Adam Hahlen – Beginning as a technician in eastern Ohio 35 years ago, Adam has worked his way up the ranks. Throughout his career, he has served as reproductive supervisor/artificial insemination trainer, technician program supervisor, Select Reproductive Solutions® (SRS®) specialist and regional sales manager. Within these roles, he has managed more than 30 technicians, aided in rolling out the national SRS program and supervised three district sales managers. Duane Logan says, “I have worked with Adam since 1994, and I find that it is his competitive nature and passion for helping technicians and dairy producers succeed that has made him an integral part of the repro-management team on many of Ohio’s dairies. He strives to have each herd with which he works achieve the highest possible reproductive results that the farm and circumstances will allow.” These days he spends most of his time working with large-herd customers and meeting the reproductive training and evaluation needs of our Mexican customers. Adam, his wife, Kelly, and their four children reside in Salem, Ohio.
Duane Logan – Selling his dairy in 1994, marked the beginning of Duane’s fully dedicated service to COBA’s member-owner-customers. He started his career as marketing director-north, managing all the sales and service teams in the northern territory. In 2012, Duane received the highest compliment from the board of directors as he was selected as only the fifth general manager of the COBA/Select Sires cooperative. Duane was an integral part of the growth from 943,000 units in 2000 to 2.5 million units of semen sold in 2020. “Consistent, direct, and detailed, Duane has made a lasting impact on the member-owner-customers as well as the employees of COBA/Select Sires, says Chad Steinberger, current board president. We appreciate his dedication to cooperative members and employees. He has empowered his employees to serve cooperative member to the best of their abilities and it shows by growth of the cooperative. Thank you, Duane, for your passion, leadership, and forthrightness. You have made this cooperative better.” While still dairying, Duane served on COBA’s board for three terms, and he remains active within Ohio Dairy Producers and Ohio Holstein Association, today. Duane and his wife, Chris, call Plain City, Ohio home but are looking forward to a relocation to Arizona upon his recently announced retirement at the end of this year.
Mike Long – Following in the footsteps of his father (Russ) and brother (Mark), Mike has continued the Long family tradition of working for COBA for more than 40 years. Mike started as a technician for COBA in western Ohio. He transitioned to district sales manager in 2011, where he added responsibilities of overseeing sales, service and technicians in that area. Mike’s continued growth for sales and service enabled him to receive the Super Achiever Award as a technician and a salesman. Creating the color-coded price list that all COBA field staff rely upon is one of Mike’s crowning achievements. This sales piece includes all active dairy bulls, both proven and genomic, and their performance information in a quick, easy-to-use document. Recently, Mike has put his attention to detail and sales knowledge to work in the distribution department at COBA. He has turned his sales territory over and is helping all COBA field staff and customers through the accurate and timely shipping of semen and products. Mike and his wife, Karen, live in Minster, OH, and have two grown children, with whom he plans to spend more time upon his retirement at the end of July 2021.
Marvin Stech – Marvin began his long tenure as a COBA/Select Sires sales representative in 1966. He and long[1]time Select Mating Service® (SMS®) consultant, Weldon Petty, were the “COBA Team” on the road serving the member-owner-customers. Serving from the southern tip of Texas, northward through the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and up through Oklahoma along the I-35 corridor, and then westward toward the Texas/New Mexico border, he wore out many tires on his truck and trailer. His outstanding dedication and work ethic greatly contributed to the success and unmatched customer service that COBA/Select Sires is known for today. Marvin was such an inspiration to his many customers and those of us who had the privilege of working with him. He and his wife, Fanny, lived on their family farm in Fredericksburg, Texas. This farm was also the home of countless foster children over the years as Marvin and Fanny so graciously cared for many less-fortunate children. Marvin retired from COBA in 1995 and enjoyed his remaining years on the family farm in Fredericksburg. COBA/Select Sires, Inc., one of the founding members of Select Sires Inc., has become widely respected for its clearly demonstrated ability to provide the finest service and bovine genetics available in the world. COBA/Select Sires, Inc., operates as a true cooperative by encouraging member input and allowing members to share in profits through patronage refunds.
