Employee Highlight: Stephanie Janis

Akiptan is proud to introduce you to the team at Akiptan who are helping make a change in agriculture finance across Indian country. There is no question that every role helps to make the wheel turn in any organization and this month, we are proud to highlight our Finance Officer, Stephanie Janis.

Stephanie Janis joined the Akiptan team in February 2023 as the Finance Officer. She is a member of the Oglala Lakota, and currently resides on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Stephanie obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree at South Dakota State University in Business Economics. While working full-time, she earned her MBA from Black Hills State University in December 2019. Her years of experience in customer service, implementation and finance will be an asset in her role here at Akitpan in managing all finance, administrative duties, and strategic management. She is passionate about financial sustainability and helping others be financially independent.

In her time away from the office, Stephanie is a single mom to her son and she enjoys traveling to Disney parks and National Parks with him. They are avid movie goers and will most likely be found at a theater on weekends. She also enjoys creating with her hands and has made family and friends wood projects, such as benches, tables and porch swings and has recently taken on star quilt making. Stephanie is excited to join the Akiptan team and looks forward to helping the organization continue to grow and support the community

How did you start in the Native Ag Lending Industry? 

I began my journey in the agriculture industry with Akiptan in February of 2023, when I joined the team as the Finance Officer. I was eager and nervous about the new role because, while I have a history in finance, I wasn’t 100% familiar with working within the CDFI Industry. What made me excited about working with Akiptan was working with a dedicated team and learning new things to increase my knowledge around the finance industry, which also meant learning about investing. 

What is your favorite part of working at Akiptan?

My favorite part is the staff. Everyone is so fun, and I get to do what I love every day, which is helping the people behind the curtain. Working with numbers and being able to see the impact that we are making with agriculture clients has been inspiring. Since I began working with Akiptan, our team has doubled our finance numbers, and that means we are helping more producers across the country. I’ve also been able to help lead and streamline internal processes around data so that our team is able to showcase key information for both producers and investors. 

What would you say about the Akiptan team you work with?

I love the team; they are all so knowledgeable and helpful. But the best quality about the team is that their priority is the clients and making sure that they are taken care of. It's awesome how they put their clients first and use their personal experience to help, because they also work in the ag industry, so they understand firsthand what the obstacles are. 

What do you think makes Akiptan Unique? 

Being a frontrunner in the agricultural sector and extending our expertise to other organizations fills me with a sense of accomplishment. This collaborative effort not only strengthens our leadership position but also contributes to the growth and accessibility of financial resources for the agricultural community. By providing guidance and support, we are fostering a network of lenders who understand the unique needs of the ag sector, ultimately benefiting farmers, ranchers, and the overall agricultural economy.

How has your passion for assisting those in Native Agriculture financing developed since working at Akiptan? 

The agricultural community has been able to thrive for generations due to their strong community relationships and networks. Being part of the Akiptan team and witnessing their involvement in this process has been an incredible experience. Seeing people from the community joining the work that we do is great, and it has been rewarding to spread the word about the products and services that we offer. 

What are some of the successes that have happened while in your role as a Finance Officer at Akiptan? 

Since starting as Finance Officer, I’ve supported the Executive Director and led key components of the internal finance procedures so that our internal processes can run smoothly for our team of 15.  Helping others in our team to understand what the finance team does and how our departments intertwine to create a successful organization is key for me. I also take great pride in working alongside our Executive Director to build success around managing our finance and grant portfolio so we can continue the work we do for the producers across Indian country. 

What are your goals for the next few months or years as a finance officer? 

The main goal I have in terms of my department is to add a new team member to help assist with the many moving parts that finance consists of. This additional member will benefit both our short term and long term goals. I believe that adding support to the finance team would be a benefit to the success of supporting our team and the producers across Indian country in their operations. 

What is one thing you would like people to know about your job?

Although I look at numbers all day, I would like our audience to know that there is always something new and exciting to learn in finance; it never gets boring. The CDFI industry and ag industry is such a small community; everyone seems to know everyone, and I believe that it's great because we are able to ask for help or provide guidance when requested. 

Akiptan is excited about the work that we are able to do alongside producers across Indian country. To read more about who we are, you can read our staff blogs on our website at https://www.akiptan.org/akiptanblog