Charles P Lykes Jr

Charles "Charlie" Lykes came to work for Lykes in 1972 and has served on the Lykes Bros. Inc. Board of Directors since 1974. Charlie worked throughout Lykes companies: at the Florida Ranch, Florida and Texas Feed Yards, Lykes Agri Sales, Lykes Meat Packing, and in the Audit Department in Tampa. Since 1983 he has managed the Ranch Division, which now encompasses Cattle, Forestry, Land and Resource Management, and the O2 Ranch in Texas. While under Charlie's management, the Lykes Ranch made the transition from a predominately stocker cattle operation to the fifth largest cow/calf operation in the United States. The sugarcane, improved pasture and timber plantation acres were expanded. Also, a hunting lease business was implemented, and a public/private partnership to store and treat regional storm water was established. In 2012, he became responsible for the Citrus Division. On January 1, 2015 he became the President and Chief Executive Officer. Charlie represents the company as a member and past chairman of the Florida Land Council, as a member of the Landowner Coalition of Texas which he helped establish in 2012, and on the Board of Directors of Citrus World, Inc. which owns the Florida's Natural brand. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Florida State Fair Authority.