Great Plains Transportation Services, a division of Scale Bank, is a factoring provider based in Fairmont, MN. Founded in 1995 by Jan Bosma and Sherri DeJong, Great Plains has developed a legacy as a strong resource in the trucking community and a steady, community-oriented employer in Fairmont.
This year, Great Plains was awarded a Best Workplace Award from Women in Trucking Association, a nonprofit whose mission is to
Scale Bank acquired Great Plains in October 2025, initiating a partnership rooted in the shared value of a people-centered workplace culture. By offering reliable back-end support to companies like Great Plains, Scale makes a flexible partner to businesses like Great Plains.
Ashley Wiederhoeft is Vice President at Great Plains. With nearly 15 years at the company, Wiederhoeft is well-suited to describe some of the qualities of the workplace that led to the award. Above all, Wiederhoeft says that the company’s commitment to a positive culture that promotes communication, flexibility, and professional development is what many women are drawn to. She shares, “The Great Plains division of Scale Bank is made up of 25 amazing, intelligent, forward-thinking women who truly keep everything moving. They handle the day-to-day operations of Great Plains/Partners Funding—and they do it at an incredibly high level.”
One employee says, “Great Plains doesn’t make you feel like you have to choose between work and family. They allow the two to mesh together.” Wiederhoeft describes that listening to employees and understanding their needs has helped guide many organizational decisions, particularly when it comes to benefits or working around family life. She says, “over the years, we've become more intentional about flexibility and work-life balance. We've learned that supporting employees as whole people, not just employees, creates a stronger culture and ultimately a stronger company.” She adds, “Our company truly supports flexibility and understands that life outside of work matters. That balance allows our team to show up fully—both at home and at work—and succeed in both.”
With improved benefits and greater flexibility for working from home, Great Plains
has adjusted to women who are caretakers, both
The partnership between Great Plains and Scale has improved benefit options, too. Wiederhoeft says, “Our partnership with Scale Bank has allowed us to offer enhanced benefits, including company-paid short-term disability and expanded healthcare options for employees and their families.”
The support that women employees receive at Great Plains includes opportunities to learn and grow. Wiederhoeft shares what she sees as one of the company’s great strengths, “One thing we do particularly well is recognize potential and create opportunities for growth. Many of our employees have advanced into roles they may not have initially envisioned for themselves, and we've worked hard to build a culture where advancement is based on ability, effort, and results.”
Business Development Manager Britta Helgeson affirms this by sharing, “[Founders] Sherri DeJong and Jan Bosma saw something in me and decided to offer me the tools and opportunities to grow not only professionally but personally. Every leadership skill, customer service standard, continuing education opportunity has come from Great Plains.”
By creating a culture that encourages reaching and sees professional potential in each employee, Great Plains ensures that women can see realistic futures at the company, rising to new roles, benefitting from mentorship, and gaining industry experience.
Great Plains was built on a foundation where women have always played an important leadership roles; indeed, co-founders Jan Bosma and Sherri DeJong were essential in establishing a culture where women were encouraged to contribute, lead, and grow.
Employee Emily Shumski, who works in executive operations, shares, “One of the things that stood out to me when I first started is that women in leadership weren’t the exception, they were part of the company’s foundation. Seeing women in influential roles inspired me and gave me the confidence to share my ideas without fear of judgment or being dismissed.”
Wiederhoeft adds, “Because of that foundation, we've focused less on removing barriers and more on ensuring opportunities are available to everyone based on their abilities, work ethic, and potential.” The Great Plains leadership team currently includes ten women with a combined 176 years of experience in the trucking industry! Wiederhoeft adds, “Trucking is essential to our country, and our team doesn’t just process work—they build relationships, support drivers through real-life challenges, and become a steady, friendly voice when it’s needed most.”
Great Plains has the experience and legacy meaningfully celebrated by the Best Workplace Award from Women in Trucking Association. With a strong culture in place, women will continue to benefit from the company’s deep-rooted values which are upheld and amplified by the acquisition by Scale Bank. Treasury Manager Emily Jagodzinske says, “We have a strong sense of teamwork and appreciation, and I think that creates a work environment where women can be successful.”
Wiederhoeft knows that the Great Plains team is at the top of their game. She says that when her team shows up to work every day, “They don’t just show up… they absolutely crush it.”