At GENEX, our core values are more than words. They reflect how we act, live and work, and how we strive to show up each day. Every year, we celebrate team members who bring these values to life in especially meaningful ways. Nominated by their peers and selected by an independent committee, our GENEX Core Value Award recipients exemplify what it means to live our values and represent the very best of GENEX.
Join us in celebrating this year’s award winners and the impact they make across the organization.
GENEX Core Values
Integrity | Humility
Stewardship | Excellence
Cooperative | Loyalty
Reliability | Passion
Farmer’s Spirit | Teamwork
Congrats to the 2026 award winners!
Brett Venzke, AI Technician, GENEX USA
Throughout his 11-year career at GENEX, Brett has built a reputation as a trusted partner to producers and a dependable teammate. He consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic, positive attitude and commitment to helping others succeed.
Brett takes great pride in delivering high conception rates and providing producers with high-quality products and services that align with their individual goals and add value to their operations. For example, he recently assisted a dairy in implementing the GENEX HerdMonitor™ cow monitoring system, helping the farm’s team gain greater visibility into cow activity and make more informed management decisions.
The farmers Brett works with know that he is committed to helping them achieve their goals. As Tim Kolpack, his manager, shared, “His farmers respect him, rely on his expertise and trust his recommendations. This level of trust and loyalty is a direct result of the relationships he has developed throughout his career.”
Brett is a great example of GENEX core values in action, and his dedication continues to make a positive impact on members, customers and the cooperative.
Ben Giese, Strategic Account Manager, GENEX USA
According to U.S. Sales Director Brandon May, “When Ben says he will do something, his team and the producers he works with know they can trust he will get it done – and done to a high standard.” That commitment to reliability, integrity and excellence is at the heart of Ben’s work and reflects the qualities this award celebrates.
Ben demonstrates a passion for helping producers improve performance, and it shows in every interaction. He takes the time to understand each operation and works alongside producers to identify opportunities to improve genetics and reproduction. His recommendations are grounded in experience, data and an understanding of what matters most to the individual.
A strong advocate for the GENEX HerdMonitor system, Ben helps farmers leverage the technology to gain valuable insights into their herds and operations. He understands that technology is most valuable when it helps you make better decisions and improve your herd management.
In addition, Ben willingly shares his knowledge and mentors colleagues. His commitment to following through – for both producers and teammates – exemplifies the GENEX core values and makes him a deserving recipient of this award.
Christa Hoffman, Business Development Manager, GENEX Global
While Christa’s contributions often happen behind the scenes, the impact reaches dairy and beef producers around the globe. By developing partnerships and opportunities in emerging markets, she helps expand producer access to progressive genetics along with the practical knowledge to use those genetics effectively.
Christa has helped drive this progress in Algeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania and Nigeria, among other countries. By organizing grant-funded initiatives and helping those programs transition to sustainable commercial models, she is supporting a future in which producers have access to the products, expertise and support they need to improve their herds and businesses.
Day to day, Christa brings together the people and information to keep this work moving. As nominator Bob Stratton noted, “Christa anticipates needs, follows through on details and keeps partners informed and aligned. She is proactive and works with the interests of GENEX and the producers we serve in mind.”
Christa’s passion for the industry extends beyond her role at GENEX. She supports dairy promotion throughout her county and has organized local breakfast on the farm events. She is also a strong advocate for the cooperative business model and supports organizations that promote and strengthen co-ops.
Dany Fontaine, Sales Manager, GENEX Canada
When Dany joined GENEX, he shared that he was “passionate about using data and science to create results for farmers.” More than 15 years later, he continues to put that passion into action every day.
His commitment to helping producers succeed is evident in his work with the GENEX ICC™ indexes. An early adopter of the ICC index, he has worked closely with producers who have seen results firsthand and believe in the index’s ability to drive genetic progress and profitability on their farms. Recognizing the on-farm value of the indexes, Dany dedicated significant time to validating the 2026 ICC index formulas and helping teammates understand the enhancements. His practical knowledge and experience have strengthened ICC adoption around the world.
At the heart of Dany’s work is a true farmer’s spirit. He understands that the best solutions are the ones that deliver practical results on farm. His passion for producers, commitment to excellence and willingness to share his knowledge reflect the cooperative spirit of GENEX. He gives his time and expertise not only to help individual producers, but also to help his teammates and the broader cooperative succeed.
Dany’s career continues to reflect the purpose he identified when he first joined GENEX: using data, science and GENEX solutions to create results for farmers. His passion, humility, teamwork, reliability and commitment to the success of others make him a strong example of the values that define GENEX.
Luis Alfonso Gonzalez, Inseminar de Colombia, GENEX Distributor
As a GENEX distributor partner, Luis supports farmers and ranchers throughout Colombia, building trust through his commitment to progressive genetics for customer success. His collaborative approach, passion and dedication to excellence have strengthened relationships with customers, colleagues and GENEX.
Luis consistently puts our core values into action. He approaches challenges with integrity and professionalism and follows through on his commitments. His loyalty and reliability are evident in the relationships he builds, while his passion is reflected in the energy he brings to promoting GENEX and supporting those around him.
That passion was recognized when Luis received the 2025 GENEX Passion in Action Award, honoring a distributor who demonstrates exceptional enthusiasm for promoting GENEX through marketing, sales and customer activities.
Luis’ impact extends beyond his day-to-day responsibilities. Through the trust he builds, the people he supports and the high standards he brings to his work, he creates positive outcomes for customers and colleagues alike. His actions exemplify what it means to live our core values and make him a deserving recipient of this recognition.
Thank you for living our values
The GENEX Core Value Awards recognize more than individual accomplishments. They celebrate the people who strengthen our culture, support those around them and bring our core values to life every day. Your dedication, leadership and commitment continue to make a difference across GENEX and throughout the communities we serve.