NC Agricultural Finance Authority - Staff Directory
Sean McKeon - Executive Director
Sean McKeon has been appointed Executive Director of the North Carolina Agricultural Finance Authority by the Authority’s Board of Directors and will assume the role on May 1, 2026.
In this position, McKeon will oversee the Authority’s operations, including the origination, financing, and servicing of loans for North Carolina farmers and agribusinesses, as well as the issuance of agricultural development bonds.
Prior to his appointment, McKeon served as General Manager of the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center and the Mountain State Fair in Fletcher, North Carolina. “It is an honor to continue my career with the Department in this important role,” said McKeon. “I am grateful to the Finance Authority’s Board for their confidence in me, and I look forward to working alongside the board and staff to build on their strong foundation and continue providing critical support to North Carolina’s farming community.”
Before joining the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, McKeon served as State Executive Director for the USDA Farm Service Agency in Dover, Delaware, where he managed a broad range of farm loan, disaster assistance, and conservation programs. McKeon brings more than 25 years of experience in public policy, agriculture, and government relations. Prior to his USDA appointment, he served as Director of Communications and Community Relations for Mountaire Farms, Inc., the nation’s fourth-largest poultry processor. He also served as President of the North Carolina Fisheries Association from 2005 to 2013 and founded the Northeast Regional Forest Foundation in Vermont. Earlier in his career, McKeon worked as Brokerage Director for Herbert L. Jamison & Co., a mid-sized insurance brokerage firm in New York City.
Throughout his career, McKeon has served on numerous state and federal advisory boards, including as Chairman of the Communications Committee for the National Chicken Council. He has also held leadership roles with the North Carolina Poultry Federation, the Delaware Manufacturers Association, and the Delmarva Poultry Industry.
McKeon attended Columbia College in New York, where he studied political science and law.
Susan Marcks - Interim Director
Susan Marcks has dedicated more than 22 years of service to the North Carolina Agricultural Finance Authority, demonstrating exceptional leadership and commitment through progressive roles including Administrative Assistant, Accounting Manager, Assistant Director, and Interim Director during a key organizational transition. She currently serves as Assistant Director, where she continues to support the agency’s mission and operational leadership.
Prior to joining the Authority, Susan gained valuable experience in the private banking sector, building a strong foundation in financial operations, customer service, and administrative management. Originally from rural West Virginia, Susan relocated to Knightdale at the age of eight and has remained deeply connected to her North Carolina community. She values family, public service, and community engagement, bringing both professionalism and compassion to her work and leadership.
Outside of her professional responsibilities, Susan enjoys sports, outdoor activities, and travel with her family. She is the proud mother of two sons, Andrew, who also serves in state government, and Austin, who remains lovingly remembered and deeply cherished at the age of 21.
Larry A. Green - Program Loan Officer
Larry Green grew up on his family’s farm in Davie County, North Carolina, where he developed a lifelong connection to agriculture and rural communities. A graduate of Davie County High School, he attended Brigham Young University beginning in 1971. In 1972, he volunteered as a representative of his faith in France for two years, gaining valuable cultural experience and becoming fluent in French. He later returned to Brigham Young University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture in 1978, followed by a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics in 1985.
Larry began his professional career as the Horticulture Agent for Alamance County, North Carolina, before launching and operating a nursery business in Iredell County. He later transitioned into agricultural finance and lending, building a distinguished career with the Farmers Home Administration and the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Over the course of more than two decades, he served in a variety of leadership and lending roles across North Carolina and Utah, including County Supervisor and Farm Loan Officer. His responsibilities included farm and rural housing loan origination, loan servicing, financial management, and oversight of multi-county operations throughout western North Carolina. Recognizing the needs of the agricultural community he served, Larry also pursued Spanish language studies to better assist Spanish-speaking farmers and loan applicants. In 2009, he joined the North Carolina FSA State Office in Raleigh as a Farm Loan Servicing Specialist, where he managed farm loan servicing programs statewide until his retirement in 2011.
Following retirement, Larry continued supporting agricultural producers as a self-employed financial and loan specialist, assisting farmers with recordkeeping, loan administration, and operational management. He also served part time with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services in the Plant Protection Division as a Plant Pest Aide for approximately six years.
Today, Larry serves as a Farm Loan Officer with the NC Ag Finance Authority, continuing the work to which he has dedicated his professional life. He and his wife, Debra, reside in Mocksville, North Carolina, near their children and grandchildren.
Barbara B. Smith - Program Loan Officer
Barbara Bryant Smith grew up on her family’s heritage farm in Mitchell County, North Carolina, where she developed a deep appreciation for agriculture and rural life. The farm primarily produced burley tobacco and beef cattle, while also growing market tomatoes for several years. Raised on a mountain farm before widespread mechanization, Barbara gained firsthand experience in the hard work and dedication required to sustain family farming operations.
Barbara earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from North Carolina State University in 1977, with additional academic concentration in Agronomy. She began her professional career the same year with the Farmers Home Administration as an Assistant County Supervisor in Lillington, North Carolina. Over the following years, she served in multiple counties across the state before being promoted to County Supervisor in Yancey County in 1983.
Throughout her career, Barbara managed farm loan and rural housing programs while overseeing office operations and staff development. In 1995, following the reorganization of the Farmers Home Administration, she chose to continue her work in agricultural finance with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) as a Farm Loan Manager in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. In this role, she supervised loan officers and administrative staff while managing agricultural lending programs across a large region of western North Carolina, stretching from Watauga County to the Georgia and South Carolina borders. Her lending portfolio supported a wide range of agricultural enterprises, including livestock operations, produce farms, and Christmas tree producers.
Barbara retired from the Farm Service Agency in 2015 after more than 39 years of dedicated public service in agricultural lending and rural development. Following retirement, she served as Financial Officer for the Southeastern District Church of the Brethren.
Barbara and her husband, John, a retired dairy farmer and graduate of North Carolina State University in Agricultural Engineering, continue to enjoy operating their small farm and remaining active in their church and community. In addition to gardening, preserving produce, and caring for her home and flowers, Barbara treasures time spent with her growing family, including her grandchildren. Today, Barbara is pleased to continue supporting North Carolina agriculture through her work with the North Carolina Agricultural Finance Authority, where she remains committed to serving farmers and rural communities through agricultural lending.
H. Rossie Bullock - Program Loan Officer
Rossie Bullock is a native of Chadbourn, North Carolina, and a graduate of North Carolina State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics.
Rossie brings decades of experience in agricultural finance, rural development, and banking to his role with the North Carolina Agricultural Finance Authority. He retired from USDA Rural Development after 30 years of distinguished service, during which he held a variety of leadership and program management positions, including Assistant County Supervisor, County Supervisor, Business Programs Specialist, and Area Director. Throughout his career, he worked closely with farmers, agribusinesses, and rural communities to support economic growth and agricultural development across North Carolina. In addition to his public service experience, Rossie has seven years of experience in the banking industry, further strengthening his expertise in agricultural and commercial lending.
Today, Rossie serves as a Farm Loan Officer with the North Carolina Agricultural Finance Authority, where he continues his longstanding commitment to supporting North Carolina agriculture and rural communities.
Carl Bond - Program Loan Officer
Carl Bond is a highly experienced agricultural professional with more than 31 years of expertise in agricultural lending, farm business development, property appraisal, and rural community service. Throughout his distinguished career, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting farmers, landowners, and families through financial guidance, operational planning, and agricultural program administration.
As an Agricultural Marketing Specialist and Farm Loan Manager, Mr. Bond specialized in assisting clients with securing financing for residential construction, farmland acquisition, farm operations, and equipment purchases. He worked closely with individuals and agricultural producers to develop comprehensive financial strategies, family budgets, and Farm Business Plans designed to support long-term financial stability and loan qualification. His professional experience includes: agricultural and rural lending services; farm business and financial planning; real estate, housing, and equipment appraisal; crop, equipment, and property inspections; loan portfolio management and compliance oversight; and customer advisory and technical support services. Mr. Bond also provided leadership in managing loan operations across Martin County, Pitt County, Greene County, and Wayne County, supervising Farm Loan Officers and administrative personnel while ensuring efficient and effective service delivery across multiple offices. In 1998, he completed specialized training as a Civil Rights Investigator for the Farm Service Agency, where he served for two years conducting investigations and representing the agency in civil rights matters.
In addition to his agricultural finance and administrative leadership, Mr. Bond has contributed extensively to education and workforce development as an instructor in Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Machine Shop, and adult education programs. Recognized for his professionalism, leadership, and dedication to rural development, Carl Bond continues to bring decades of knowledge, integrity, and service to the agricultural community.
JoAnn Rozier - Accounting Manager
JoAnn S. Rozier is a native of New York who relocated to the Raleigh area in 1992. Since joining the North Carolina Agricultural Finance Authority in 2016, she has served as Accounting Manager, bringing extensive experience in financial management, operations, and customer service.
JoAnn’s diverse professional background includes leadership roles as Director of Sales in the hospitality industry, as well as Finance Manager and Office Manager positions within the automotive industry. Her broad experience has contributed to her strong organizational, financial, and administrative expertise. In addition to her professional accomplishments, JoAnn is deeply committed to community involvement and volunteer service. She has participated in activity committees, supported local schools, and previously served as Vice President of her homeowners association, reflecting her dedication to community engagement and leadership.
JoAnn and her husband reside in Knightdale.
Pam Hysong
Pam Hysong was born in Landstuhl and raised in a United States Air Force family, living throughout various regions of the Midwest and Southern United States during her childhood. She earned a degree in Animal Science from Louisiana State University, where she was an active member of the university’s livestock judging team and participated in competitions across the Southeast and Midwest.
Following graduation, Ms. Hysong managed a livestock farm in Welsh, Louisiana before beginning a distinguished 42-year career with the United States Department of Agriculture. During her tenure, she served communities across 19 counties in western North Carolina, holding leadership and administrative roles involving staff supervision, housing and business grant administration, and management of multiple lending programs.
Her professional expertise includes: Rural housing and community development programs; Farm and agricultural lending; Water and sewer infrastructure financing; Community facilities funding; Grant administration and program oversight; and Staff leadership and operational management .
Outside of her professional career, Ms. Hysong is an active member of the CrossFit community and volunteers with Carolina Boxer Rescue, where she supports rescue efforts through transportation, fostering, and financial assistance initiatives in support of the organization’s mission to “Save the Nubs.”