Forty Under 40: Dennis Leatherby

A Tyson Foods Inc. acquisition of Holly Farms in 1989 also got the company a new employee. Corporate banker Dennis Leatherby, 38, counted Tyson as one his clients in the late ’80s and was attracted to the company’s entrepreneurial spirit and people. So after helping Tyson on the Holly Farms deal, he came aboard in 1990 as assistant treasurer.

Now Leatherby is senior vice president of finance, handling cash management, loans and analysis.

Outside the office, Leatherby is involved with Fayetteville’s Central United Methodist Church’s Sunday school and Promise Keepers activities.

Despite being part of the company for almost 10 years, he says he’s still having fun at his job, which holds new surprises everyday.

“It’s fun. I’m not a person who can do the same thing everyday,” he says. “Like everyone, I thrive in an exciting and changing environment.”

Leatherby, a Kansas State University graduate, says he likes the brisk pace of nailing down the company’s numerous transactions.

“It’s a very active environment here, and I think just keeping the projects moving – getting them done and moving to the next one – makes the job exciting.”