KCTC’s Casey Peck named ‘Woman of Achievement’

Casey Peck, the chief financial officer and general manager of Kalona Cooperative Technology Company (KCTC), was recently named one of 13 Women of Achievement by HER magazine, a publication of The Gazette.

Peck said that she was humbled by the recognition and was caught off guard.

“Those are things that people much more important than me would get,” Peck said. “In fact, when they called me, I didn’t respond to them because I thought it was a joke.”

She said that the award reflects well on KCTC and the entire community.

“It helps put Washington County on the map, because it’s my understanding that this is not an award that somebody in this part of the state usually gets,” she said. “I think it’s great for the community and gets the word out that there are good things happening in Southeast Iowa.”

Peck grew up on a farm in West Chester and graduated from Mid-Prairie High School and Coe College.

She started her career as an accountant with what is now Latta Harris, an accounting firm in Washington.

“In 2001, I made the transition to KCTC as an accountant at the time,” Peck said. “Ray Marner was who hired me, and we had a couple managers after that. I have moved up the ranks.”

She was eventually named CFO and general manager.

“At that time, the board decided to combine the two positions,” Peck said.

KCTC has continued to grow and adapt to a constantly changing industry under her leadership.

“There’s always a constant challenge,” she said. “The industry is changing, and I embrace change.”

Peck credited both the KCTC staff and board for the company’s success.

“We are all on the same page and want to learn and grow every day,” she said. “We want to capitalize on opportunities when they come available. Having a great team makes all the difference in the world.”

Outside of work, Peck keeps busy with a wide range of volunteer work.

She is active in the Kalona Area Chamber of Commerce, the Kalona Economic Development Group, the Mid-Prairie Student Boosters, Leadership Washington, the Iowa Communications Alliance Board of Directors and the Iowa Utilities Board Dual Party Relay Committee.

In 2019, she helped establish the Golden Hawks Archery Team, which has grown quickly over the past two years, with 55 student participants.

“That’s been a fun thing to do and get going,” Peck said. “We had to limit kids last year because we didn’t have enough volunteers. We could’ve doubled the size of the group.”

She also is active in several 4-H activities with her family.

She and her husband, Ben, have three sons: Payton, 17; Blake, 15; and Nickolas, 11. They live on a farm outside of Keota.

“My family is amazing,” she said. “They go along with all the things I volunteer for. We volunteer as a family, so we can spend time together and do things for others.

“I do what’s important to my kids. I try to be involved in what they are.”