Association Spotlight on Rita Kauffman Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Tempe, Ariz. Office

This is the fourth in a series of articles highlighting Farm Credit Services Southwest staff.

Hometown: Alma, Mich.

Education: Michigan State University, B.S., accounting

Family: When I was in college, I researched our family tree as a gift for my father, and found some rather interesting ancestry. For example, I learned that we were descendents of Lambert and George Hitchcock, two brothers who came to the United States from England in the late 1700s. (My maiden name was Hitchcock.)

“George Hitchcock farmed and raised a family in Ohio and his daughter later settled Michigan’s Mecosta County. In 1818, Lambert started the Hitchcock Furniture Company in Riverton, Conn. The village was originally named Hitchcockville, before being changed to Riverton. Lambert at first made parts of chairs and sold the parts to chair makers.

“Later, he manufactured the signature Hitchcock chair, which is typically painted black over red, often with designs stenciled in colors or bronze. The seat is of wood, cane or rush. You know that you have an authentic Hitchcock chair when you find the name of L. Hitchcock or of Hitchcock, Alford & Company stenciled on the back edge of the seat. Unfortunately, the factory closed its doors in 1999 after being in business for 181 years.”

Farm Credit experience: “I began my Farm Credit career in 1987 with the Western Farm Credit Banks, in Sacramento, Calif. For several years, I flew back and forth every week from Phoenix while helping to convert the bank’s loan accounting systems. Western Farm Credit eventually asked me to work on the Arizona association’s operations and reporting, where I was fortunate to meet Gary Dyer. When Gary offered me a position as vice president of operations for Farm Credit Services Southwest, I was happy to accept and work back on my home turf.”

Responsibilities: “I oversee FCSSW’s business service center. This area provides services, such as technology, human resources and training, to our branch offices. I also work closely with the financial group on loan pricing and funding, specialized information technology projects and reporting.”

Vacations: “About twice a year, I travel to my home in South Carolina where I enjoy spending time with four generations of our family, including my mother, sister, niece and her children, 8-year-old Sydney and 12-year-old Joshua. Children don't often have the opportunity to grow up with their great grandmother, so Sydney and Joshua know that they are very fortunate to have this experience. When I'm there, I often whisk them away on surprise trips, such as to Disneyworld, Hilton Head or even the ballet.

“When not vacationing in South Carolina, I try to get to my timeshare on Maui, Hawaii. My late husband and I were married at Waimea Falls, in Oahu, and we used to travel to Hawaii as often as we could. It is an amazing location for enjoying breathtaking scenery or just relaxing.”

What Rita says ...

“It is an honor to work for an organization that serves American agriculture. American farmers and ranchers are the most hardworking, honest group of folks that I have ever met.”

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