Vickie Graves brings over 15 years of leasing industry expertise to her role as Chief Operating Officer at Delta Financial Group, where she has been instrumental in shaping the company from the ground up. Her journey into leasing began in corporate real estate at a Berkshire Hathaway company. Still, it wasn’t until she moved to Florida in 2008 that she found her passion for equipment leasing — a field she’s remained committed to ever since.
From 2008 to 2020, Graves honed her skills at a small leasing company in Clearwater, FL. Starting as a Contract Administrator, she steadily rose through the ranks to become a Contract Manager. Along the way, she earned multiple awards and built a reputation for precision, reliability and leadership. Her years there laid a strong foundation in deal documentation, and by the time an opportunity to co-found a new firm came along, she was more than ready.
In 2020, Graves partnered with David Riggleman, Jerry Herrmann and Adam Woodard to launch Delta Financial Group. Backed by three financial sponsors, Delta opened its doors in October 2020 and has since experienced remarkable growth. In under five years, the company has built a portfolio exceeding $600 million, focusing exclusively on fair market value (FMV) leases with primarily Fortune 500 lessees. As COO, Graves leads all aspects of deal documentation, funding and operational oversight — helping Delta scale with both speed and precision.
While her core focus is on the “front of the house,” Graves also plays a vital role in shaping the capital structure that powers Delta’s expansion. Her leadership is grounded in teamwork and vision, qualities that are central to Delta’s culture. She’s built a high-performing team that shares her commitment to building strong, trust-based relationships with customers, funding partners and financial sponsors.
Graves is widely respected in the leasing industry for her integrity, dedication and deep technical knowledge. What began with expertise in IT and material handling equipment has expanded over the years to include construction equipment, locomotives, railcars and even barges — an area she never expected to master but now handles regularly, including registering vessels with the U.S. Coast Guard.
Beyond her technical skillset, Graves is known as a hands-on leader and mentor. She’s actively involved in employee training, particularly around documentation, and is always willing to jump in wherever needed to keep operations running smoothly. Her versatility and commitment make her a true “jack of all trades” within the company.
As Dave Riggleman, CEO and Managing Partner, puts it: “With her many years of experience, Vickie combines an unwavering protection of our company’s interests while delivering outstanding customer service. When we founded Delta Financial, there was never a second thought that Vickie would be a cornerstone of our business. It’s a privilege to have her on our team and call her our partner.”
Graves continues to be a driving force behind Delta Financial’s success — an operator, a leader and above all, a trusted partner.
“It is easy to accept accolades for a job well done but it should be just as easy to say I am sorry for any error you make. It is important to be responsible for everything you do.”
– Victoria “Vickie” Graves
