Leslie Farmer, SHRM-CP
Controller/HR Manager, VP
Planters First Bank, Hawkinsville, GA
Member, GBA HR Committee
Published Jan. 15, 2026
Q: What was your first job, and is there a lesson you learned there that you still use today?
A: I was a cashier at the local Piggly Wiggly where I learned tons of lessons about people and the public. A friend once told me to “kill them with kindness” when I had customers who were really difficult to wait on – even though those customers were still difficult, it changed my perspective to always do what is good and right. This has carried me through both of my full-time roles (I’ve only had two, one at an Automobile Dealership and now at Planters First Bank).
Q: What was the most useful piece of advice you received from a mentor?
A: A former boss once said – Decisions have to made, right, wrong, or indifferent, the people who make those decisions are the ones we have to make sure are the right ones to be making decisions. Once a decision is made we have to judge whether or not it was the best decision and adjust accordingly. I hold on tight to this one being a creature of habit and remind myself that those making the decisions must make them, and if they don’t work, we’ll need to pivot. We know that regulations change all the time and we must constantly pivot to follow those regulations. Changes are much easier when I remind myself that decision makers are making decisions based on information they have at the time of the decision and as information changes, those decisions may need to be adjusted as well.
Q: Tell us about one experience that exemplifies being a banker or your role at the bank.
A: Since I am HR, party of 1 at our bank, I was thinking one day, what is something simple that I could do to let our employees know we are thinking about them? Then I remembered that at my former employer, we always delivered birthday cards, so I ordered birthday cards and deliver them with handwritten notes on the inside. Our employees love being remembered on their birthdays. It’s an easy way to connect with everyone as spread out as we are. Unfortunately, due to social media, Human Resources gets a bad wrap of “protecting the employer” as that’s the stories you hear about – the one bad apple infecting the whole bunch. Being able to attend the annual HR Conference helps me see that it truly is not the case; that we, as HR, are genuinely doing our best to do what is best for all parties. It’s a hard line to follow and the birthday cards is one simple act that doesn’t take long and lets the employees know they can always reach out to me.
Q: What would someone be surprised to learn about you?
A: Probably the most surprising thing would be that I love to deer hunt. Just being outdoors early in the day watching wildlife wake up and late in the day watching wildlife go down for the day. Nature is beautiful.
Q: First tap/click of the day?
A: The snooze button, I’m not a morning person
Q: Book that you love/has made an impact?
A: The Bible – currently using The Bible Recap plan to read the bible in a year
Q: Pet peeve?
A: Laziness
Q: Most used app?
A: Sirius Radio app – station: The Message Radio