ArborOne COO Kathy Heustess Receives FMU Outstanding Alumnus Award

Morgan B. Coker School of Business Honors Business Success, Community Involvement

especially honored by the award. FMU's business school has produced many outstanding leaders. I'm extremely grateful to be included on such a distinguished list.

Florence, SC (PRWEB) April 29, 2008 -- ArborOne's Chief Operating Officer, Kathy Heustess, has been chosen by Francis Marion University to receive the 2008 Outstanding Alumnus Award. The annual award, sponsored by the university's Morgan B. Coker School of Business, honors a former graduate who has demonstrated exemplary business success and community involvement.

Speaking to local press after the presentation, Heustess said she was, "especially honored by the award. FMU's business school has produced many outstanding leaders. I'm extremely grateful to be included on such a distinguished list." Heustess graduated from FMU in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. She is also a graduate of the School of Banking at Louisiana State University and a Certified Public Accountant.

Heustess began her career as an accountant and controller with local CPA firms and in the private business sector before joining ArborOne, a farm credit cooperative that also provides home loans in South Carolina, in 1989. As chief operating and chief financial officer for ArborOne she is responsible for the finance, operations, lifestyle and core agricultural lending, secondary market lending, human resources and marketing areas. In her position, she oversees Sarbanes/Oxley compliance, provides first line communication with the federal regulator and is responsible for presenting financial reports and other pertinent information.

In 2001, Pee Dee Farm Credit, now ArborOne, organized Farm Credit Group, a consortium of five Farm Credit Associations to buy and sell large loans. Heustess developed the accounting procedures for the consortium and managed the association's accounting staff.

In 2006, ArborOne joined two other associations to form the Rural America Capital Group for making investments in rural America. Heustess also developed the accounting policies and procedures for this group. In 2007 she was given the added responsibility of managing the Lifestyle and Core Agricultural Lending and the Secondary Mortgage Marketing staff. The Lifestyle and Core Agricultural unit is made up of lending and support staff who originate and service agricultural, farm operating and home mortgage loans in 12 Pee Dee counties.

Heustess was named Chief Operating Officer for ArborOne earlier this year, assuming responsibility for human resources and marketing. She currently resides in Florence with her husband, Billy, and their sons, Matt and Grant.

About Arbor One:
Arbor One Financial provides a full suite of lending solutions in the 12 county area of South Carolina. For the last 85 years, Arbor One has provided agricultural and home loans for people all across the Pee Dee region. A long-standing farm credit lender, Arbor One is community owned, and features patronage refunds and low interest rates. For more information, visit http://www.arboroneaca.com.

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