Principled Leadership

April 24, 2016

Written By Adam Buckallew

A company’s guiding principles are like the ability of a gyro-compass to consistently signal the direction of the true north. No matter the circumstances, they always point out the correct course to follow. MFA Oil Company has a strong set of six principles the Board of Directors relies upon to guide its actions. These principles are based on the company’s unwavering commitment to always do the right thing by its members, employees and communities.

“Our guiding principles were put in place to ensure integrity, fairness, respect and excellence in all that we do,” says Benny Farrell, chairman of the MFA Oil Board of Directors. “They serve as a beacon that shines the way forward and keeps us focused on our mission of returning value to our fellow cooperative members.”

Fiscal Responsibility

• Maintain a strong balance sheet
• Generate a reasonable return on our farmer-owners’ investment by consistently paying patronage refunds
• Retire member equities within a reasonable time frame as defined by the Board of Directors

Excellent Products and Service

• Provide our owners and customers with high-quality products that meet or exceed their needs
• Provide the highest level of customer service
• Respond rapidly to any product issues or customer concerns

Operational Excellence

• Deliver products and services in the most efficient manner while maintaining high levels of customer service
• Embrace technology to lower costs and improve customer service
• Provide employees with the tools they need to operate in the most efficient way possible
• Stay focused on what we are good at, providing high-quality energy-related products and services to our customers economically

Ethics and Corporate Citizenship

• Maintain high ethical standards with our owners, customers, employees, vendors and the communities in which we operate
• Give back to the communities where we do business
• When in doubt, do the right thing, ethically and morally
• Ensure that our owners and employees are proud to be a part of MFA Oil Company
• Strive for win-win solutions to problems, issues or in negotiations

Safety and Compliance

• Provide a safe work environment for our employees
• Adhere to all federal, state and local safety and environmental regulations

Hire and Retain Excellent Employees

• Recruit excellent employees
• Provide competitive salaries and benefits to retain high-quality employees
• Provide training and development opportunities
• Encourage open and honest communications between employees, management, owners, customers, vendors and the communities we serve