Industry News
Jackie Lackey, Haskell, Texas, has joined The Wendt Group as a Business Development Consultant and also Interim Director of Marketing. In her consulting role, Lackey will work with the team to develop new and innovative tools to help sellers ‘do business better’ and continue to attract buyers to the industry’s leading online auction platform. Temporarily, Lackey will also lead the team’s strategic marketing efforts for Showpig.com. By recognizing needs within the industry and listening carefully to both buyers and sellers, Lackey will steer products, services and content relevant to all customers and audiences.
“As a long-time customer of TWG, I have always admired the team’s professionalism, integrity and desire to perform their very best for their customers. They are really good people and I’m excited to work with this talented group who shares the same passion as I do for this industry. I have always enjoyed building and working with brands that serve a bigger purpose and I believe this opportunity will be especially rewarding,” said Lackey.
Lackey brings a wealth of experience in being a change agent from many of her past roles. A graduate of Texas A&M University, with a bachelor’s in Animal Science and a Master of Agribusiness, Lackey spent the first 15 years of her career as the Owner and Creative Director at Encore Visions, a marketing agency serving hundreds of clients in agricultural fields. She also founded Unit Visions, an agency specifically designed to enhance the intra-communication and growth strategies for leaders in direct-selling companies. During that time, she started DRIVE, an initiative created to encourage and inspire those passionate about junior livestock projects and educate youth about opportunities beyond the ring. All of those experiences led to her most recent position as the Director of Strategic Marketing for global animal nutrition company, BioZyme, Inc., working to improve animal performance and well-being through natural feed additives.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to join forces with Jackie and have her as a part of our team. Her experience, passion for our industry, and unique perspective make her the perfect fit to help us continue to offer innovative business and marketing solutions. I have enjoyed every occasion over the last several years that we’ve been fortunate to work with Jackie, and I’m excited to watch her impact on our industry continue to unfold through this new collaboration,” says Megan Wendt, Vice President and COO, The Wendt Group.
Lackey plans to use her experience, creative thinking abilities and tendency to challenge the status quo to propel the future vision of TWG. She hopes to help livestock producers build viable operations through effective business practices as well as help ignite a strong community of young people and families passionate about raising livestock.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to work with The Wendt Group and their trust in me to help bring forth a vision for the future of marketing livestock,” she said.
Lackey and her husband Jason have two sons, Weston and Grant. They are the owners of Lackey Livestock, a show pig operation that farrows year-round producing breeding stock and show pigs for youth exhibitors nationwide. The Lackeys are committed to not only raising competitive show pigs, but more importantly, helping develop young people to be hard-working, independent thinkers who are problem solvers and always willing to lend a #helpinghand.