Forty Under 40: Tai Crater

Managing daily cash activities for a Fortune 75 company would intimidate many people, but for Tai Crater, its just another day on the job.

Crater, who grew up in El Dorado and Little Rock, earned a bachelors degree in financial management/investments in December 2002 from the University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business.

During her junior year of college, Crater landed an internship at Tyson Foods of Springdale. After graduation, Tyson hired her full time as an associate financial analyst, where she was responsible for corporate leasing. She was promoted to financial analyst in 2004, and additional treasury responsibilities were added to her duties.

Working under Dennis Leatherby, Tysons senior vice president of finance, whom Crater says creates an environment that fosters success, Crater assumed the role of cash manager by 2005.

While at Tyson, Crater has participated on a project team that helped implement a $26 million supplemental fuel payment to growers. She also manages the finances of the annual Shades of You fashion show, which raises money for the Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation. Crater would like to attain the position of director or vice president of a Fortune 100 company before she turns 30.