FCCS News & Insights

FCCS Welcomes New Governance Team

FCCS is pleased to welcome two governance experts: Chad Klawetter as Vice President of Board Governance & Education, replacing the now-retired Leslie Hilton, and Barb Wilkinson as Senior Board Governance Consultant.

Chad will provide consulting, training and coaching to boards and directors seeking to accelerate their governance effectiveness, working with executive and board leaders to support directors’ leadership growth, ultimately contributing to their organization’s ability to achieve its mission. He will oversee the popular Premier Governance Series and Advanced Governance Series director training and certification programs.

“A high performing board positions an organization for success, and this starts with a commitment to training and building governance capacity,” says Chad. “Change will continue to confront all businesses, so boards need to be nimble and ready to change with the market. Preparing for that starts now.”

Chad brings more than two decades of experience in governance, nonprofit management and community development to the FCCS team. Prior to joining FCCS, he was a senior relationship manager with NeighborWorks America where he collaborated with board chairs, executive leaders and other stakeholders to develop strategic community partnerships. In all, he spent 18 years in various roles with the organization.

Barb will also deliver governance consultation and training to support cooperative boards in delivering value to their stakeholders. FCCS governance services include board leadership development, board and director peer evaluations, strategic planning facilitation and director training. Barb will also provide guidance and support for cooperative boards and their directors to help build and establish more effective governance practices.

“Effective governance is a balance of people and processes: directors need to be ready to work within the established processes, and the processes need to work for, or evolve to work for, the directors,” says Barb. “I’m looking forward to delivering the exceptional programs and targeted tools within FCCS’ governance programs to help directors and board leaders do their jobs effectively.”

Barb’s career encompasses three decades in the non-profit association realm, including twenty years focused on governance and leadership development. Before joining FCCS, she served as Senior Executive Director of Governance and Leadership Development for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association where she delivered board training, coordinated governance activities and organized leadership development workshops. Prior to that, Barb held communications roles with several livestock organizations.

Chad earned a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications from Baylor University and master’s degree in urban and intercultural ministry from the Denver Seminary. Barb earned an associate’s degree in agriculture from Northeastern Junior College and a bachelor’s degree in technical journalism from Colorado State University. She is a certified Gallup CliftonStrengths^® coach and a certified practitioner of Insights^®, a personal and professional development assessment tool.

“I am thrilled to welcome our new colleagues to the Governance team! They bring fresh perspectives and energy that will help us keep supporting boards and leaders in powerful ways. Together, we’ll keep building on our strong foundation and raising the bar even higher,” says Jean Cantey Segal, Chief Learning Officer and EVP, FCCS.

At FCCS, we believe strong governance is more than oversight—it’s the foundation for growth, resilience, and future readiness. As Farm Credit leaders face new challenges and opportunities, our governance development programs and services are designed to equip boards and executives with the insight, structure, and confidence to lead with excellence.

Partner with FCCS to strengthen your governance practices today—because when boards operate at their best, the entire System benefits. Contact

[email protected] or [email protected] for more information on FCCS Governance Excellence programs.