Leadership

Daniel Ritch | Chief Executive Officer

Daniel Ritch joined SunStream as Chief Executive Officer on October 25, 2021, with more than 25 years of leadership experience across the manufacturing, automotive, building solutions and financial services industries.

Before joining SunStream, Dan served as NorthMarq’s Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer since 2019. His previous roles include Vice President Connected Service and Chief Information Officer at Honeywell Building Solutions from 2015-2019, Vice President/Chief Information Officer at Dura Automotive Systems from 2014-2015 and Executive Director of Information Technology at Magna Powertrain from 2012-2014. His earlier experience includes roles at Crane Co., Remy International, Inc., IBM and Perot Systems.

Dan holds a Master of Science in Management/Marketing from Walsh College and a Bachelor of Science in History/Education from Eastern Michigan University. He completed the Chief Information Officer Certification at the University of South Carolina Upstate and holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification.

Dan and his wife Michelle reside in Plymouth, Minnesota with their twins, Avery and Olivia. SunStream is excited to welcome Dan and his family to Minnesota and the wealth of knowledge and experience Dan brings.

What is your favorite thing about working for SunStream?

The passion and focus our customers and team have for the Farm Credit mission. I feel that I am part of something bigger than SunStream and that we are helping to serve a larger community that brings incredible value to our nation.

What most excites you about the future of SunStream?

The opportunity to be the best Ag-Tech firm in the Farm Credit System. The owners and customers of SunStream entrusted us to transform the technology and processes and that drive their business. I come to work knowing that what we do matters and when we do it right….it will be a differentiator for the future.

What is important to you as a leader of SunStream?

To listen, to focus on what will help our customers and SunStream grow, to engage with our customers and teams, and to put words into action.

Cole Orndorff | Vice President of Technology Delivery

Cole joined SunStream on November 5, 2018 from Trimble Corporation where he was the executive director of strategic accounts in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry.

Cole previously held various executive leadership roles in the technology arena including chief information officer of Mortenson Construction. Prior to joining Mortenson, he was with Lawson Software (now Infor) for 23 years. His last two positions at Lawson were vice president of information technology services and vice president of global support. Cole has Bachelor of Arts degrees in Economics and Computer Science from the University of St. Thomas based in St. Paul, MN.

What is your favorite thing about working for SunStream?

The teams that I work with and their desire to provide a far superior experience to our customers and the communities they serve.

What most excites you about the future of SunStream?

The opportunity we have to continually improve our people, processes and technical solutions so we can transform the way our customers work, giving them a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Tom McHale | Vice President of Finance

Tom McHale is vice president of finance for SunStream Business Services. Tom joined SunStream on December 13, 2021 and comes with more than 15 years of leadership experience in the technology finance space.

Prior to joining SunStream, Tom most recently worked for Cenex Harvest States (CHS), where he held the role of corporate finance director with a heavy focus on supporting CHS’ technology organization. Before CHS, Tom held various IT finance leadership roles at Securian Financial, OneBeacon Insurance, and IBM and also comes to SunStream as a certified Technology Business Management (TBM) practitioner.

Tom holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of St. Thomas School of Law, a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Iowa State University, and is also a licensed attorney in the state of Minnesota.

What is your favorite thing about working for SunStream?

Definitely the people. Having the opportunity to work with fun, likeminded individuals all in support of our ultimate customers (farmers) is something I truly value and feel blessed to have the opportunity to do each day.

What most excites you about the future of SunStream?

SunStream is whatever we decide to make it. The fact that we have the opportunity to build a company from the ground up, with amazing support from our owners and customers, is something I get excited about each day I step into the office.

Ruth Anderson | Vice President of Product and Service Delivery

Ruth Anderson is vice president of product and service delivery. Ruth began her career in Farm Credit in 1986 working in Farm Credit Associations of Northwest Wisconsin in River Falls. In 1993, Ruth transferred to AgriBank in the information technology department and worked there for 24 years, holding various leadership roles. On January 1, 2018, Ruth moved to SunStream Business Services. Ruth graduated from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls with an undergraduate degree in Business Administration.

What is your favorite thing about working for SunStream?

I enjoy working with our customers, including getting to know their business and working with them on solutions that meet their needs.

What most excites you about the future of SunStream?

I am excited about providing products and services that are innovative, and collaborating with our customers on solutions that provide them value.

Louise Pesavento | Senior Director Enterprise Risk, Governance and Compliance

Louise Pesavento is vice president of governance and risk. Louise joined SunStream on September 4th, 2018 from Fairview Health Services where she was the director of the project management office (PMO) and IT mergers and acquisitions. Prior to joining Fairview, Louise held a number of roles at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota as the director of IT business strategy, director of enterprise programs and as a program and portfolio manager. She has worked in enterprise security and various PMOs – bringing an extensive background and thought leadership to this new role. Louise has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota.

What is your favorite thing about working for SunStream?

As part of my growing up on a small hobby farm in SE Minnesota, my stewardship of agriculture, community and serving others began at a very young age. Working here at SunStream with others of like mind in their desire to be a “premier business services partner” to our customers, owners and to our communities is very fulfilling and gratifying, and certainly my favorite thing about working here.

What most excites you about the future of SunStream?

SunStream’s mission and vision aligns with my personal philosophy of aspiring to consistently exceed customer expectations. We have many opportunities in front of us and I am excited to be a part of making positive changes, which will provide value to our customers, owners and communities. Executing on these opportunities, while collaborating with our partners, will be both exciting and rewarding.