LCEF Executives and Senior Leadership

Richard C. Robertson

President/CEO

Richard C. Robertson began his tenure as Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) president Jan. 15, 2010. Prior to joining LCEF, Rich was managing partner of H&R Land Development Corp., Peachtree City, Ga. He has served in numerous senior executive positions in the consumer packaged goods industry, including as president and CEO of Wise Foods, executive vice president of The Kellogg Company, and vice president and general manager of Keebler Foods. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Rich was president, elder, Strategy and Planning Committee chairman, and mission trip team leader at different points in time for St. Paul Lutheran Church and School, Peachtree City. He provided counsel to the Florida-Georgia District on a number of business-related opportunities and was elected to the national LCEF Board of Directors in 2006.

Thomas Helfrich

CFO/Sr. Vice President—Finance

Thomas Helfrich has served as Chief Financial Officer and Sr. Vice President—Finance since December 1999. He joined LCEF in 1980.

Tom attended McKendree College in Lebanon, Ill., where he received a bachelor's degree in accounting and history. Before serving LCEF, he was in public accounting for three years and has his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certificate.

Thomas Buuck

Sr. Vice President—Chief Credit Officer

Tom Buuck joined LCEF as Chief Credit Officer in January 2012. In this role, he will guide the lending activities, ensuring guidelines, approvals and procedures meet policy standards, regulatory requirements and investor expectations.

Tom has been managing partner of Idaho Mutual Trust, a commercial real estate finance company. He also has served as senior vice president of commercial real estate with Idaho Independent Bank, Boise, Idaho.

In addition, Tom serves as chairman of the Investment Committee of the Concordia Wisconsin Foundation. He was a member of the Credit Committee of the State of Idaho Mortgage Pension Fund and a member of the LCEF Board of Directors.

Tom received his bachelor's degree from Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, and his MBA from Portland State University.

Larry Crume

Sr. Vice President—Loans and Real Estate

Larry Crume assumed the duties of Sr. Vice President—Loans and Real Estate in July 2008.

Previously, Larry served for nearly nine years as District Vice President in the Kansas District. He assisted many congregations, schools, rostered church workers and other LCMS organizations in arranging LCEF loans, investments and services.

His background includes professional experience and graduate education in banking, as well as financial planning. Larry is committed to reaching the lost and has completed training in the Kansas District as a Lutheran lay minister as well.

Jay De Beir

Sr. Vice President—District and National Operations

Jay De Beir has been with LCEF since October 2005, at first serving as Sr. Vice President—Ministry Services, now as Sr. Vice President—District and National Operations. Jay provides oversight for the LCEF District Vice Presidents, and other deployed ministry and consulting staff in the areas of CFS (Capital Funding Services), Laborers For Christ, and the Architectural Advisory Committee. He works in conjunction with the Vice President— District and Synod Relations, Rev. Jeff Miller.

Jay received a bachelor's degree from Aurora University in Illinois. He later received a master's degree in clinical psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in Chicago and an MBA from Benedictine University in Lisle, Ill and is currently a student at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO. Before accepting his call to LCEF, Jay served as a system director of business development and marketing for Aurora Healthcare in Milwaukee and most recently as the executive vice president with Signet Health Corp., Denton, Texas.

Becca Jones

Sr. Vice President—Marketing and Customer Support

Becca Jones was named Sr. Vice President of Marketing and Customer Support in January 2012. She has served LCEF since July 2002, first as communications manager and most recently as director of customer relations. Before joining LCEF, Becca was the ministry support coordinator at The LCMS Foundation and worked for the St. Louis-based brokerage firm Edward Jones.

In her current position, Becca manages a department staff that includes investment processing, information representatives, ministry resources and marketing team. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and management from Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon.

Rick Lauer

Sr. Vice President—Information Technology and Facilities Management

LCEF's Chief Information Officer, Rick Lauer, provides direction and planning for the wide variety of technology-related functions that support LCEF's mission. He has recently been named head of the Facilities Management team as well.

Rick develops strategy and coordinates information technology efforts. He oversees the operation of computer systems, management of data, infrastructure for the website, security of data information and planning for contingencies. He also oversees the management of LCEF-owned real estate property.

Rick has 20 years of experience with major St. Louis-area corporations, including MasterCard, CoreExpress, McDonnell Douglas and Monsanto. He holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Lindenwood University, St. Charles, Mo., and an associate's degree in computer science from St. Louis Community College.