Executive Leadership

Jeff Norte has more than 30 years of experience in banking. He started with Capital Farm Credit in September 2010 and served as chief credit officer before being selected as CEO in January 2021. Before Capital Farm Credit, Norte spent five years with CoBank in Denver, overseeing credit teams for Corporate Agribusiness and International Trade Finance. He spent 14 years as a bank regulator with the FDIC and two years working for a large regional bank in Kansas City. Norte is an Army veteran, a CPA and has a B.S. in accounting from MidAmerica Nazarene University and a master’s in business administration from Concordia University in Austin, Texas. He is actively involved in Farm Credit System efforts, including having previously worked with the Risk Management Workgroup and currently serves on the President’s Planning Committee.

Chris Burt is the chief human resources officer for Capital Farm Credit. Burt has more than 20 years of experience in various human resources positions. Prior to joining Capital Farm Credit, Burt served as executive vice president chief employee experience officer for GM Financial in Fort Worth, Texas. He is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) specializing in leading the development of human capital strategies that both engage people and deliver on business commitments. Burt received his undergraduate degree in psychology from Auburn University and his MBA from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Jon Hutchinson is the chief credit officer for Capital Farm Credit and directs association credit functions. Hutchinson joined Capital Farm Credit in 2010 as a senior credit officer and has held a variety of credit leadership positions, most recently senior vice president and director of commercial credit. Prior to joining Capital Farm Credit, he served in credit leadership positions within John Deere Credit and as an examiner with the Farm Credit Administration. Hutchinson has a B.S. degree in agricultural business from Colorado State University and an M.S. in business administration from Iowa State University.

Sally Lawson is the chief financial officer for Capital Farm Credit and supervises association accounting and financial reporting. Lawson has more than 30 years of financial and accounting experience, with more than 16 years of experience in the Farm Credit System. She was instrumental in building expertise within Capital Farm Credit’s finance and accounting functions, including the development and management of the association’s Treasury Services Department. Lawson has a bachelor’s degree in finance from Texas Tech University and an advanced degree from the American Bankers Association Stonier Graduate School of Banking, in partnership with The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, she also holds a Certificate of Leadership from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Joseph Paulraj is the chief digital officer for Capital Farm Credit and leads the IT department, which includes consulting, infrastructure and support, as well as the information security teams. Throughout his career at Capital Farm Credit, Paulraj has led several transformative initiatives, including the design and execution of a three-year IT roadmap that drove innovation and aligned technology with organizational goals. He implemented cutting-edge solutions, such as cloud adoption, workflow, low-code platforms and generative AI models, enhancing efficiency and future-proofing operations for long-term success. As an active leader in several Farm Credit System IT groups, he fosters collaboration through training, outreach and strategic partnerships, driving innovation across the system. He holds a master’s degree in IT management (MSITM) from Indiana University and a bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronics engineering from Anna University in Chennai, India.

Phil Peabody is the chief lending officer for Capital Farm Credit and is responsible for overseeing association lending operations. He has been a member of the Capital Farm Credit team for more than 15 years, most recently leading the association’s Enterprise Risk Management function as chief risk officer. His background includes managing corporate lending relationships for widely syndicated loans across the Farm Credit System. In addition, Peabody served as a branch manager and loan officer in West Texas. Prior to joining Capital Farm Credit, he worked for ADM as an oilseeds merchandiser. Peabody has B.S. and M.S. degrees in agricultural and applied economics from Texas Tech University.

Wes Sutton is the general counsel for Capital Farm Credit and leads the association’s legal operations and corporate governance. He began his Farm Credit career with AgFirst Farm Credit Bank in 2002. Prior to his position at CFC, he served as the general counsel for AgSouth Farm Credit in Statesboro, Georgia. Sutton holds a J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Erskine College.

Jennifer Thompson is the chief administrative officer for Capital Farm Credit and supervises the loan administration team, working closely with both the lending and credit departments. Thompson has more than eight years of experience with Capital Farm Credit, initially directing the internal credit review team before managing association efforts around compliance and procedures as senior vice president of compliance. Thompson has additionally held numerous positions and responsibilities, including liaising with the Farm Credit Administration and serving as association representative in the Farm Credit System. Prior to her career at Capital Farm Credit, she was a commissioned examiner with the Farm Credit Administration. Thompson is a graduate of Texas A&M University, Mays School of Business.

Glenn Trant is the chief operating officer for Capital Farm Credit and leads association business operations and processes. He has more than 30 years of Farm Credit experience across a variety of lending, credit and support functions. He joined Capital Farm Credit in 2008 after a merger with First Ag Credit, where he served as chief lending officer and regional president. Prior to taking on the role of interim chief lending officer, Trant served as senior vice president lending and relationship management, as well as regional president for Capital Farm Credit. Trant has a B.S. in agricultural economics and an MBA in finance and accounting from Texas A&M University.