Agri-Business Council of Arizona, Inc.

Executive Committee

	Executive Director Chris Udall Mesa, AZ
Chris Udall joined the Agri-Business Council of Arizona in November, 2004 after serving as a Congressional Aide to U.S. Representatives J.D. Hayworth and Rick Renzi. As an Agricultural Economics graduate of Brigham Young University, Chris brings extensive experience in federal and state resource issues to this position. He is especially aware of the importance of secure water resources to rural Arizona families and agricultural enterprises. The Agri-Business Council of Arizona was incorporated in 1978. Chris is the fifth Executive Director in the history of the organization and only the third native Arizonan to hold the position. Along with responsibilities as Executive Director, Chris also serves in the following capacities: State Executive and Federal Affairs Committee Member, National Water Resources Association. Advisory Council Member, Family Farm Alliance. State Technical Committee Member, Natural Resources Conservation Service. Advisory Council Member at A.S.U. Polytechnic Campus, Morrison School of Management and Agribusiness. Member, Central Arizona College Agricultural Advisory Council. External Advisory Board Member, Arizona Water Institute. Agribusiness Committee Member, Arizona Mexico Commission.

	President N.W. "Bill" Plummer Water Resources Consultant Scottsdale, AZ
Bill Plummer retired as Manager of the Yuma Mesa Irrigation and Drainage District in Yuma , Arizona on December 31, 2007. Prior to being Manager he provided consulting services to a number of irrigation districts, cities and towns and served as an advisor for the World Bank on various assignments in South and Southeast Asia . From 1988 to 1991 he served as the Director of Water Resources for the State of Arizona . He was employed by the Bureau of Reclamation and the Department of the Interior from 1960 to 1985 in various positions from construction engineer in Yuma , Arizona , to Regional Director in Salt Lake City , Utah , and later in Boulder City , Nevada . As Regional Director he was responsible for all Reclamation activities in both the Upper (1978-1981) and Lower (1981-1985) Colorado River Basins.

	Vice-President Jackie Meck Buckeye, AZ
Jackie Meck has served as the General Manager of the Buckeye Water Conservation and Drainage District since July, 1996. He is currently President of the Agri-Business Council of Arizona. He is a native of Buckeye, Arizona. He and his wife, Verlyne, have three children and one granddaughter. Other Professional Activities: President, Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce Board Member, Buckeye Valley Development, Inc. City Councilman, Town of Buckeye Community Advisory Board Member, Mesquite Power (Sempra Energy); Redhawk/Palo Verde Nuclear (APS). Chairman, Decons-First Southern Baptist Church, Buckeye

	Secretary James Sweeney Maricopa Water District Surprise, AZ
James R. Sweeney joined Maricopa Water District (MWD) as its General Manager in April 1997, and has worked in the irrigation and electrical utility field for over 26 years. Since 1997, Mr. Sweeney implemented Maricopa Water District’s first in-lieu recharge program and has developed a policy and procedure to wheel non-district water to cities and municipalities within the district boundaries. He currently is responsible for a proposed 2,701-acre planned community located on MWD owned property, which is being developed to assure the continuation of economical water and power rates for MWD landowners in the future. Prior to Mr. Sweeney’s employment with the MWD, he served joint roles as the General Manager of the Central Arizona Irrigation and Drainage District (CAIDD) and Electrical District No. 4 for nearly 21 years. Mr. Sweeney holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business from ASU, is married to Sheryl A. Sweeney and has two children, Dublin, who is attending ASU and Erin, a law student at Seattle University. Other Professional Activities Board of Directors, Irrigation and Electrical Districts Association Co-Chairman, Technical Advisory Committee to the Governor’s Water Management Commission Chairman, Governor’s Livestock and Agriculture Advisory Committee

	Treasurer Dr. George Seperich Arizona State University Polytechnic Campus Mesa, AZ
Dr. George Seperich’s holds the position of Associate Dean and Professor at the Arizona State University Polytechnic Campus. His academic interests include identifying necessary conditions for agribusiness economic development at the state level, corporate strategy and the development of management, and marketing agribusiness case studies as teaching tools. Dr. Seperich received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Michigan State University. He has co-authored a book, Introduction to Agribusiness Marketing, edited Case Studies in Agribusiness Management with several authors, and authored Food Science and Technology.

	Wade Accomazzo Accomazzo Company Tolleson, AZ


	Stan Ashby Roosevelt Irrigation District Buckeye, AZ
Stan Ashby lives on his family farm located west of Litchfield. After graduating from Arizona State University in 1969, Stan farmed in the Litchfield Area. He became Superintendent of Roosevelt Irrigation District in 1986. Stan has been married to Judy Ashby for 29 years and has two children, Molly and Chuck. He enjoys gardening, boating and camping and has been a member of the Litchfield Kiwanis Club for many years.

	Kenneth Baughman Wellton-Mohawk IDD Wellton, AZ


	Cliff Cauthen Hohokam I & DD Coolidge, AZ


	Tommy Caywood West Pinal NRCD Casa Grande, AZ


	Michael Curtis Attorney Phoenix, AZ
Michael A. Curtis was a charter member of the Agri-Business Council of Arizona, Inc. and has been a continued supporter financially, through his office, and has served as Secretary for several years. Mr. Curtis is admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Arizona District Court, the Supreme Court of the State of Arizona and the Northern District Federal Court of California. Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Curtis began working with Arizona consumer-owned power entities. He has been Executive Secretary of the Arizona Municipal Power User’s Association and has served as a legislative consultant on electrical power matters to the Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative Association. In 1993, Mr. Curtis received the American Public Power Association’s Kramer-Johnson Award in recognition of outstanding service. Other Professional Activities Special Counsel, Wickenburg; Thatcher; Cortaro-Marana Irrigation District; Electrical District No. 2, Pinal County, City of Mesa and Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation & Drainage District Founder, Martinez & Curtis Member, State Bar of Arizona; Maricopa County Bar Association; American Bar Association Member, Utility; Natural Resources; Litigation Sections of the America Bar Association

	Tom Davis Yuma County Water Users Association Yuma, AZ
Tom W. Davis joined the Yuma County Water Users' Association as manager in January 2007. Prior to joining YCWUA, Tom was manager of the Carlsbad Irrigation District, Carlsbad , NM . He was also employed for fifteen years by the USDA-Forest Service. Tom is a graduate of Oklahoma State University . Member of: National Water Resources Association Family Farm Alliance

	James K. Henness Henness Farms Casa Grande, AZ


	John Hetrick Salt River Project Phoenix, AZ
John Hetrick is currently a Principal Water Rights Analyst with the Salt River Project. His primary duty is to preserve and protect the rights of the Salt River Project (SRP) and its shareholders to use water. Before coming to SRP, John was employed by the Arizona Department of Water Resources in the Office of Colorado River Management. John has a M.A. from Arizona State University and a B.A. from the University of Maryland Baltimore County campus. He is a recent graduate of Project CENTRL a 2-year rural leadership program and is currently a class member of the Western Energy Institutes Business Acumen for Emerging Leaders. He is an Executive Committee Member of the Agri-Business Council of Arizona and is a member of the Arizona-Mexico Commission.

	John R. Hoopes Hoopes & Adams, PLC Chandler, AZ


	Robert E. Hurley Hurley Land Company Phoenix, AZ


	DeWayne Justice McMicken Irrigation District Waddell, AZ



	Joel Lorenzen Farm Credit Services Southwest Tempe, AZ


	Douglas Mason San Carlos, I&DD Coolidge, AZ
Douglas Mason has been the General Manager for the San Carlos Irrigation & Drainage District since 1988. His first job was working for the Bureau of Reclamation in Bismarck, North Dakota and he continued working for the Bureau for the next 19 years in five different Project offices with increasing job responsibilities. His last assignment with the Bureau was at the Willows Project office as the Chief of Operation and Maintenance. Mason has been an Arizona resident on and off since 1959 when his father transferred to the Bureau of Reclamation Phoenix Project office. He attended both Glendale High School and Phoenix Junior College and graduated from Arizona State University with a BS in Civil Engineering in 1969.

	Wade Noble Attorney Yuma, AZ
Wade Noble has been in private practice in the Yuma area for the past 26 years. Wade was a member of the Westover Law Firm until its dissolution in 1996. His primary clients include: Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District, Yuma Irrigation District, and North Gila Valley Irrigation and Drainage District. He has participated with the Yuma Area Water Resources Management Group since its formation. Wade is a fifth-generation native Arizonan. Born in Safford, he grew up in Wilcox and went to high school in Tempe. He received a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Arizona in 1973, followed by graduate credits from Arizona State University and a Jurist Doctor from St. Mary’s University of San Antonio in 1977. His wife Kathleen is the mother of their five children. The youngest son will graduate from Yuma High School in 2003. Other Professional Activities: Committee Member, Resolutions (now Policy Development) Committee of the National Water Resources Association Vice Chairman, Resolutions Committee of the Colorado River Water Users’ Association Member, Agri-Business Council of Arizona Executive Committee & the Family Farm Alliance Advisory Committee Alternate Member, Imperial Dam Advisory Board

	Michael Proctor University of Arizona Tucson, AZ
Mike Proctor is Assistant Dean for External Relations for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at the University of Arizona. He is involved in managing CALS external affairs, including public policy and legislative issues, strategic initiatives for the College, and relationships with industry and community contacts across Arizona. He is also an extension specialist in Watershed Management in the School of Natural Resources, and teaches Environmental Law in the Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science. Mr. Proctor has a long affiliation with the University of Arizona which includes a 1983 bachelor's degree in renewable natural resources from CALS and a 1988 J.D. from the UA College of Law. He has worked in natural resource positions in Arizona and New Mexico; practiced law for 12 years, including 7 years as a UA attorney; and served nearly five years as director and assistant vice president of corporate relations for the UA.

	Scott Riggins Riggins Farms, Ltd. Coolidge, AZ


	Dean Eugene Sander University of Arizona Tucson, AZ
Eugene G. Sander is currently Vice Provost and Dean of the College of Agriculture at the University of Arizona. He has also concurrently served as the director of the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Acting Director of Cooperative Extension. As a biochemist, Dr. Sander worked in the field of mechanisms by which enzymes catalyze reactions. His extramurally funded research program resulted in numerous publications, presentations and book chapters. It also contributed to the education of five graduate and eighteen post-doctoral students. Dr. Sander has held the rank of Professor at all of the institutions with which he has been affiliated. He holds degrees from the University of Minnesota (B.S.) and Cornell University (M.S., Ph.D.) with post-doctoral study at Brandeis University. He is married to Dr. Louise M. Canfield and has two children, Jay and Kathy, both of who are graduates of the University of Arizona. Other Professional Activities Vice President and Board Member, Glyndon Farms Senior Trustee, Consortium for International Development Board of Directors, Arizona Farm Bureau Chairman, 1995 NASULGC Board on Agriculture Budget Committee

	C.L. "Bill" Scott Marathon Farms Casa Grande, AZ


	Charles Slocum Wellton-Mohawk I&DD Wellton, AZ
Charlie Slocum has been with the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District (WMIDD) since 1968, currently serving as General Manager. He received his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering, holds a Law degree and a Masters in Water Resources all from the University of Arizona. Slocum is a native-born Louisianan who moved to Arizona in 1949. His father was an engineer with the Bureau of Reclamation on the Wellton-Mohawk project. He served in the Navy for four years. His wife is Billie and he has four children, 2 boys and 2 girls. Other Professional Activities Member & Past President, Agri-Business Council, Inc., Finance committee Yuma County Flood Control Advisory Board Yuma County Library Board of Trustees 12-year member, local school board

	John Sullivan Salt River Project Phoenix, AZ
John F. Sullivan has been Salt River Project’s Associate General Manager for the Water Group since May 1994. SRP, based in Tempe, Arizona, is one of the largest public water and electric utilities. Since joining SRP in 1971, Sullivan has served as Manager of Strategic Planning, Manager of Water Customer Service and Resource Planning, Manager of Contracts, Manager of System Planning, and Manager of Special Projects. Sullivan received his baccalaureate degree in electrical engineering from the University of Arizona. He was born in Arizona and is a resident of Chandler. Sullivan and his wife, Pat, have three children: Melissa, Brian and Rebekah. Other Professional Activities: President, Water for the West Foundation President, National Water Resources Association Board of Directors, Colorado River Water Users’ Association Board of Directors, Desert Botanical Garden


	Reid Teeples Consulting Engineer Phoenix, AZ
Reid Teeples is a Self Employed Consulting Engineer and was a charter member of the Executive Committee Board of the Agri-Business Council of Arizona, Inc. He retired from the Salt River Project as Associate General Manager – Water. His tenure with SRP was 39 years. Other Professional Activities Registered Professional Engineer in Arizona Former Member, Colorado River Water Users’ Assocation Former Board Member, Citizens Advisory Committee of the Maricopa County Flood Control District Former Arizona Representative on Board of Directors, National Water Resources Association

	Grant Ward Santa Cruz Water and Power Maricopa, AZ
Mr. Ward joined Maricopa-Stanfield Irrigation & Drainage District and Electrical District No. 3 as General Manager in July 1995. In 1997 was asked to also form and serve as the General Manager of a new organization called the Santa Cruz Water and Power Districts Association, which was for the purpose of bringing together the two districts he represented with two additional districts, the Central Arizona Irrigation and Drainage District, serving water to 87,000 acres of farmland and Electrical District No.4, serving electricity to irrigation, commercial, and residential customers in a 48,000 acre area. He was previously with the Central Arizona Water Conservation District where he served as Assistant General Manager, responsible for planning and environmental compliance. Prior to that position, he was the Executive Director of the Agri-Business Council of Arizona where he represented the Agricultural community, including irrigation districts, before the Arizona Legislature and State Regulatory Agencies, particularly on water issues. Previously Mr. Ward was the General Manager of the Roosevelt Water Conservation for nine years. Mr. Ward is a graduate of Brigham Young University.