D. Lee Buckner
Owensboro,KY
Summary
Dynamic leader with a proven track record at Farm Credit Mid-America, excelling in team leadership and relationship building. Spearheaded initiatives that increased consistency supporting the sales process across the association and transformed credit administration results. Adept at critical thinking and decision-making, fostering high-performance teams to drive efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice President Retail Operations
Farm Credit Mid-America
09.2017 - Current
- Lead 5-8 Directors of Retail Operations at any given point who collectively lead up to 120 Retail Operations members in multiple states.
- Cultivated strong relationships with leaders in all Louisville departments to promote collaboration and consistency with Ag Retail.
- Maintained very high credit administration results consistently for the past 5 years.
- Served on various teams to implement association strategic initiatives and departmental objectives including implementing vendor, CSC Global for UCC management, past and current phone systems for Ag Retail, DNA for Rural 1stand most recently Small Business Data Collection and HMDA refresh for Ag Retail
- Act as current liaison for our Compliance Team and Ag Retail
Regional Vice President
Farm Credit Mid-America
06.2014 - 08.2017
- Utilized my past sales experience and nearly 5 years credit experience to lead a newly formed region that exceeded our 125% variable compensation new money measure and improved credit administration results from unsatisfactory to a satisfactory rating in my first full year as RVP.
- Served on Relationship Implementation Team, then as Account Specialist Stakeholder during Roles and Responsibility implementation.
- Completed Leadership Breakthrough 1, Rapport Leadership International, Nevada 2015.
- Actively completed loan reviews each month and coach loan officers and retail service team members to improve overall credit administration and first pass yield on credit packages.
Credit Analyst
Farm Credit Mid-America
12.2009 - 06.2014
- Utilize traditional underwriting processes to approve large complex agricultural requests within my delegated authority. Recommend decisions of credit requests exceeding my delegated authority.
- Enhance credit skills of Financial Officers and operations team. Mentored new credit analysts.
- Provide technical credit support during sales calls on key accounts.
- Owensboro CPU interview team, CPU Dairy Specialist, Heart of Coaching Facilitation Certified, various continuous improvement teams.
- Successfully completed Strategically Managing Key Accounts - Purdue University in 2012.
- FCMA Leadership College graduate.
Feed Sales and Technical Representative
Southern States Cooperative
10.2005 - 12.2009
- Technical support for equine/beef nutrition and products and direct sales to large accounts.
- Coordinated key sales people at 50+ locations.
- Provided group and individual training on animal nutrition, feed products, and related services.
- Presented product and technical nutrition information to large audiences.
- Entrusted to handle all feed complaints in my area as well as assisting in other territories.
- Named Feed Sales and Technical Representative of the Year in the West KY Region in 2008.
- Obtained and maintained American Registry of Professional Animal Scientist (PAS) Certification in both Equine and Beef Cattle.
Horseman, Farrier, Bloodstock Agent
Self Employed
02.2004 - 10.2005
- Worked as an independent bloodstock agent for Ingordo Bloodstock Services.
- Selected / purchased yearling prospects and eventual stakes winners for clients such as insurance mogul Bill Shively, record giant Jerry Moss, and basketball coach Rick Pitino.
- Selected / purchased Zenyatta at 2005 Keeneland September Yearling Sale undefeated Horse of the Year 2010 - first filly ever to win the Breeder’s Cup Classic.
- Also, individually bought, trained and sold Quarter Horse team roping prospects.
- Maintained a small book of clients for horseshoeing business.
Assistant Sales Manager, Breeding Farm Manager
Ruidoso Horse Sales Company / Hubbard Breeding Far
12.2002 - 02.2004
- Assisted with four Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred sales annually.
- Integrated computer programs to manage the sales side of the business.
- Traveled extensively throughout Texas and Oklahoma selecting racing and sales prospects for the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.
- Along with my veterinarian wife, helped Mr. R.D. Hubbard plan and start Hubbard Breeding Farm in Hondo NM, (which today is JEH Stallion Station NM).
- Responsible for total herd health, overseeing the farm manger on day to day decision making, mating planning, foaling, and general farm services.
- Direct sales to increase boarding clients and breeding services.
- Cowboy duties on Mr. Hubbard’s 80,000 acre Angus cattle operation, through fall and spring works.
Broodmare Manager
Juddmonte Farms
12.1996 - 12.2002
- Management of total herd health for 100 Thoroughbred broodmares.
- Responsible for international quarantine for both incoming and outgoing horses.
- Assisted reproductive and orthopedic veterinarians with equine care and procedures.
- Managed mare heat cycles, teasing, and all aspects of reproductive care.
- Directly supervised a staff of 35+ employees each breeding season throughout the 24-hour workday.
- Worked closely with universities and Kentucky Equine Management Internships to obtain student labor from the US and other countries including the Czech Republic, South Africa, Ireland, England, Australia, Mexico and Brazil.
- Personally foaled multiple Grade 1 Stakes winners, including Belmont Stakes winner (Empire Maker 2003), a Kentucky Oaks Champion (Flute 2001) and two horses that finished 2nd in the Kentucky Derby (Empire Maker in 2003 and Aptitude in 2000).
Education
Bachelor of Science - Animal Science - Equine Emphasis
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY05.1994
Skills
- Team leadership
- Relationship building
- Decision-making
- Critical thinking
Timeline
Vice President Retail Operations
Farm Credit Mid-America
09.2017 - Current
Regional Vice President
Farm Credit Mid-America
06.2014 - 08.2017
Credit Analyst
Farm Credit Mid-America
12.2009 - 06.2014
Feed Sales and Technical Representative
Southern States Cooperative
10.2005 - 12.2009
Horseman, Farrier, Bloodstock Agent
Self Employed
02.2004 - 10.2005
Assistant Sales Manager, Breeding Farm Manager
Ruidoso Horse Sales Company / Hubbard Breeding Far
12.2002 - 02.2004
Broodmare Manager
Juddmonte Farms
12.1996 - 12.2002
Bachelor of Science - Animal Science - Equine Emphasis
University of Kentucky
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