Brent Lackey
Executive Director
Brent has over 16 years of experiences as a Business Development Specialist for KCARD and brings over 3 years of cooperative management experience to the KCARD team. Brent has extensive experience in developing new cooperatives, assisting cooperatives and producer-owned businesses, conducting feasibility studies, and analyzing business management and operations. In Brent’s free time, you can find him hanging out with his two kids, John and Hannah.
(606) 271-2998
blackey@kcard.info
Kati Bowman
Marketing and Business Development Specialist
Kati Bowman has rejoined the KCARD team in 2024 after spending time in the healthcare industry. She brings over six years of technical assistance to Kentucky producers and will be assisting producers as they look to expand their markets, increase direct-to-consumer and wholesale sales, scale up their businesses, or explore new markets. Kati received her bachelor's degree in Community and Leadership Development with a minor in Agriculture Economics from the University of Kentucky. Before KCARD, Kati worked for several Kentucky Agritourism entities in Central Kentucky. She and her two kids enjoy venturing to Kentucky's amazing agritourism destinations, baking delicious treats, and hiking.
(270) 883-1387
kbowman@kcard.info
Logan Crawford
Business Development Assistant
Logan joined the KCARD team in March 2023. Prior to working with KCARD, he spent two years working as a credit analyst for a commercial bank. Logan has been personally involved in agriculture his whole life and currently runs a beef cattle operation with his family. In his free time, Logan enjoys spending time with his wife and son, woodworking, and playing disc golf.
(859) 363-6438
lcrawford@kcard.info
Maddie Grider
Communications and Marketing Associate
Maddie joined the KCARD team in July 2021 after graduating from Western Kentucky University where she studied Agriculture, Literature, and Professional Writing. She provides support on client communications, data analysis, and project planning. In Maddie’s free time, she enjoys spending time with her dogs, visiting botanical gardens, and helping on her family farm.
(502) 849-3082
mgrider@kcard.info
Spencer Guinn
Business Development Specialist
Spencer joined KCARD in August 2017 as a Business Development Specialist and brings over 7 years’ experience of working in agriculture production to KCARD. Prior to coming to KCARD, he worked as an engineer, developing, testing and redesigning agricultural and material handling equipment, conducting cost of production studies, and evaluating process efficiencies in new and current manufacturing. Spencer works with businesses on business plans, cost analysis, and other needs. When Spencer isn’t busy developing business plans, he enjoys managing his own family’s farm and making horseshoe art on rainy days.
(502) 771-0811
sguinn@kcard.info
Ali Hulett
Business Development Specialist
Ali joined the KCARD team in February 2022. Prior to working with KCARD, she worked as the Loan Programs Manager for the Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation. She has over six years of experience in Finance and a background in Animal Science. In Ali's free time, you can find her on the farm managing her beef cattle operation and spending time with her family.
(859) 428-8224
ahulett@kcard.info
Lora Kurtz
Administrative Assistant
Lora joined KCARD in January of 2022 as an Administrative Assistant. She has over 20 years of clerical experience in working with different companies and a degree in Office Systems. As a team member of KCARD, she will be assisting with data entry, management of client contact information, among many other projects. Her free time hobbies include spending time with her husband and three boys, shopping, doing ministries with her church family, hiking, and putting together 1000-piece puzzles.
(502) 694-2110
lkurtz@kcard.info
Kellie Padgett
Business Development Specialist
After spending time in the manufacturing industry, Kellie Padgett has rejoined the KCARD team in 2024. She brings over five years of technical assistance to Kentucky producers and will be assisting producers as they scale up their businesses, transition to the next generation or explore new markets. Kellie holds a master's degree in Community and Economic Development from Murray State University and received her bachelors degree in Agriculture Economics from the University of Kentucky. Prior to KCARD, Kellie was a crop protection sales rep in both Illinois and North Dakota. She and her husband are settling back home in central Kentucky with their two kids.
(270) 883-0052
kpadgett@kcard.info
Thomas Pierce
Business Development Assistant
Thomas joined the KCARD team in June 2023. He is no stranger to the organization, having served as an intern for KCARD in 2021. He completed his master's degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Kentucky in the summer of 2023, with an emphasis in agribusiness management and marketing. In his spare time, you can find Thomas honing his guitar skills and hiking the trails in Red River Gorge.
(502) 219-7425
tpierce@kcard.info
Hannah Mallett
Business Development Assistant
Hannah comes to KCARD with six years' experience in the production agriculture industry, focusing on grain production. She has a bachelor's degree in agribusiness from Murray State University. She will be completing her master’s in agribusiness in the fall of 2023. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her family on their small cattle farm and expanding her gardens.
(270) 601-0334
hmallett@kcard.info
Cara Stewart
Grant Facilitator
Cara comes to KCARD with over 12 years of experience in agricultural non-profits most recently as the Grassroots Director of Kentucky Equine Education Project. Joining KCARD in January 2021 as a Business Development Assistant, she works with businesses and projects on business planning, marketing research, recordkeeping, and financial analysis. When she is not working for KCARD she loves spending time with her husband and two children on their family farm, riding horses, herding cows and just being outside.
(502) 514-9079
cstewart@kcard.info
Terryn Varney
Business Development Specialist
Terryn joined KCARD in February of 2022 as a Business Development Assistant. She comes to KCARD with 14 years of experience in the nonprofit sector where she focused on communications, grant writing/administration, program development and volunteer coordination. Terryn is also a graduate of Western Kentucky University with a master’s degree in public administration. When not working for KCARD, Terryn likes to spend time with her family, read mystery novels and search for treasure with her metal detector.
(270) 594-3450
tvarney@kcard.info