Farmer Mac is a vital part of the agricultural credit markets and was created to increase access to and reduce the cost of capital for the benefit of American agriculture and rural communities. As the nation’s premier secondary market for agricultural credit, we provide financial solutions to a broad spectrum of the agricultural community, including agricultural lenders, agribusinesses, and other institutions that can benefit from access to flexible, low-cost financing and risk management tools. Farmer Mac‘s customers benefit from our low cost of funds, low overhead costs, and high operational efficiency. In fact, we are often able to provide the lowest cost of borrowing to agricultural and rural borrowers. For more than a quarter-century, Farmer Mac has been delivering the capital and commitment rural America deserves.
Brad Nordholm is the President & Chief Executive Officer of Farmer Mac, the largest secondary market lender for American agriculture, where he leads the company’s efforts to successfully deliver on its core mission of increasing the availability and affordability of credit for the benefit of American agriculture and rural communities.
With a career that spans over four decades, Brad is a seasoned executive with a wealth of experience in the financial services environment, including his involvement in agricultural and energy finance, capital markets, and credit. He has built a reputation for high-integrity leadership, collegiality, consistent results, and purpose of mission. He is well respected for his financial and business acumen and has devoted his career to solving complex problems, creating opportunities, and delivering value on a broad scale in the agriculture, banking, and energy and power sectors.
Brad joined Farmer Mac in October 2018 from Starwood Energy Group Global, LLC, a leading private investment firm specializing in energy infrastructure, where he served as the company’s first CEO from 2006 to 2016 and, more recently, as Vice-Chairman. Prior to his time at Starwood Energy, Brad founded and served as CEO of an energy and power-focused investment firm, Tyr Energy, after serving as General Manager at Aquila, Inc., a leading merchant energy company. He spent the first half of his career in banking focused on agriculture and cooperative organizations, including serving as CEO at U.S. Central and as Managing Director at National Cooperative Bank (NCB), as well as working in various management positions at Federal Land Bank of St Paul and Interregional Service Corporation of Minneapolis, both of which were acquired by successor organizations of the Farm Credit System.
Brad was born and raised in Cloquet, Minnesota and completed his undergraduate degree in Economics at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.
Brian is Farmer Mac’s Senior Vice President of Rural Infrastructure and is responsible for the division’s business development and customer success strategy. He steers Farmer Mac’s endeavors in providing affordable capital to enhance the delivery of essential services – like electrical power and telecommunications access – and related capital investments to rural America. Brian joined Farmer Mac in 2000 and most recently served as Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis, where he led the development of the company’s strategic planning initiative and guided its financial projections and data analytics.
Brian’s interest in Farmer Mac began while attending Pennsylvania State University for his Masters in Agricultural and Applied Economics. He won the Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award for his thesis titled “An Analysis of Farmer Mac Prepayment Penalty Designs.” Brian is a CFA Charterholder and FRM Certified.
As Executive Vice President – Chief Business Officer, Zack leads the vision, development, and go-to-market strategy of the Farmer Mac brand. He also oversees the company’s Agribusiness activities, including the business development and marketing efforts for its foundational lines of business that provide agricultural lenders across the country with financial solutions and effective risk mitigation tools that allow farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses access to flexible and affordable credit. In this role, he oversees the company’s expansive loan portfolio, partner and business development strategies, product innovation and standardization, and marketing and corporate communications.
Zack has devoted much of his career to facilitating dependable credit and financial solutions for American agriculture and rural communities. A respected executive with a reputation for building high-performing teams who share his same passion for and dedication to rural America, Zack has accumulated deep expertise developing and innovating financial solutions across the agribusiness value chain while developing strong relationships with other providers of capital. Before joining Farmer Mac, Zack spent nearly a decade in various management positions at CoBank, most recently as a Managing Director and Sector Vice President of its Corporate Agribusiness Banking Group, and previously as Executive Director of its Capital Markets division. He has also served as a vice president in finance and corporate strategy at Goldman Sachs.
Zack earned a bachelor of science degree in economics with a concentration in corporate finance from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA with specializations in corporate finance, accounting and business law from the Stern School of Business at New York University
Steve has been a part of Farmer Mac’s legal team since October 2000 and currently serves as Executive Vice President – General Counsel and Secretary. As one of Farmer Mac’s leaders, Steve exemplifies Farmer Mac’s brand values in his management of Farmer Mac’s legal affairs. He takes an active role in business initiatives and provides counsel to Farmer Mac’s board of directors, executives, departmental groups, and cross-functional teams. Steve’s work is integral in strengthening Farmer Mac both financially and operationally as well as promoting an ethical culture and effective corporate governance and risk management.
Steve received his undergraduate degree from Harvard College and graduated summa cum laude from Notre Dame Law School. Prior to his employment with Farmer Mac, he practiced law at the firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, where he focused on matters involving securitization, corporate finance transactions, commercial real estate, GSE regulation, and litigation.
Aparna leads the Farmer Mac finance team in developing innovative financial solutions and executing plans to enable the company to grow and thrive in a safe and sound manner as it carries out its important mission. She guides the company’s finance functions, including treasury, asset/liability management, financial planning & analysis, pricing, debt and equity investor relations, financial reporting and accounting and ensures the timely and accurate communication of goals and successes to various stakeholders.
Aparna’s career, spanning over two decades, has been marked by significant successes in mission-oriented finance roles. In her most recent role, serving as the Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, she led efforts to make the finance function more proactive and strategic, with a focus on incorporating new technologies and data analytics, including the FedNow real-time payment and settlement service. In 2017, she was one of 22 executives globally to be selected for the Aspen Institute Finance Leaders Fellowship for enlightened leadership in finance and society-at-large. Prior to joining the Boston Fed, she spent ten years in commercial banking at Cambridge Savings Bank and M&T Bank in roles spanning product management, asset-liability management and profitability.
Aparna holds an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management. She also holds a master’s in finance from the Rochester Institute of Technology and integrated masters degrees (economics, management, and engineering) from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science. She is also a graduate of the America’s Community Bankers National School of Banking.
Farmer Mac’s 15-member Board of Directors oversees the Corporation to ensure that Farmer Mac is managed in a safe and sound manner and with an appropriate balance between financial performance and fulfillment of its public mission. Farmer Mac’s charter legislation provides that Farmer Mac’s Board of Directors consists of 15 members.
(1) Presidential Appointee
(2) Director elected by holders of Class A Common Stock
(3) Director elected by holders of Class B Common Stock
We all take pride in the work we do and the important role we play in American agriculture.
Human Resources
Relationship Manager
Business Development
Audit
Manager – Business Development
Relationship Manager
Legal
Capital Markets
Project Manager
There are over 2 million farms and ranches across America – where are they? The map below contains USDA Ag Census data including number of farms, farmland acres, agricultural cash receipt ranking, and top five commodities produced for all 50 states. Click a state to learn more.
Here is a little bit about us. And a little about you.
WE: We are a diverse group of talented, engaged, and most importantly – passionate individuals who are committed to bringing vitality to rural America through innovation, collaboration, and excellence.
From recent graduates to the leadership team driving corporate strategy, our staff embodies the principles that have guided Farmer Mac since its inception and help us to serve as a champion for rural America.
YOU: You are an individual who continually seeks knowledge while bringing energy and mutual respect to fulfilling our mission. You ask questions. You look for answers. But most importantly, you have an appreciation for rural America and as such, want to devote your career to serving those who help set the global standard in agriculture and rural utilities while advancing the livelihood of rural communities.
To apply, please click on the position title and follow the instructions included in the job posting. Questions? Email careers@farmermac.com.
Assistant Manager – Credit Servicing
“I use Farmer Mac to compete. The more products I offer, the more loyal my customer.”
Bob Carpio, Branch President
Colorado Community Bank, Yuma, CO
