ROBERT H. BUKER, JR.

Robert H. Buker, Jr. was named President and CEO in May 2005. He has over 21 years of sugar management experience. He has presided over U.S. Sugar’s major re-engineering project that will result in the largest raw sugar milling operations in the world and make U.S. Sugar the most cost efficient sugar producer in the United States.

Buker was promoted to his previous position of Executive Vice President, Sugar in 2003. In that position he led sugar operations, including agriculture, raw sugar manufacturing and white sugar refining. He also participated in the Company’s sales, hedging, political and public relations activities. Prior to that time he had numerous other positions in U.S. Sugar management including President of Southern Gardens Citrus, the Company’s citrus subsidiary. Buker joined U. S. Sugar in 1986 as Vice President, Legal Affairs transitioning to operational management. Before joining U.S. Sugar he had a five-year association with the Miami law firm of Mershon, Sawyer, Johnston, Dunwody & Cole. There, 90 percent of his practice was representing agricultural clients in business matters.

A native of Bangor, Maine, Buker spent his childhood living abroad while his father served as a medical missionary and later as a physician for the U. S. Army. He lived in Panama, Pakistan and Canada during this period. He received a BA in Psychology in 1973 from Wheaton College, Illinois.

From 1973 to 1979 Buker served as an officer in the U. S. Army, rising to the rank of captain. He was a pilot in command of a platoon of an attack helicopter company. After his discharge, he entered law school at the University of Florida at Gainesville and graduated in 1981 with high honors.

Buker and his wife, Barbara, have three children and four grandchildren.

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