2023 Annual Meeting Speakers
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack
Secretary Vilsack was confirmed as the 32nd United States Secretary of Agriculture on Feb. 23, 2021 by the U.S. Senate. He was nominated by President Joe Biden to return to a role where he served for eight years under President Barack Obama.
Vilsack was the longest-serving member of President Obama’s original Cabinet. Prior to his appointment, he served two terms as the Governor of Iowa, served in the Iowa State Senate and as the mayor of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. He received his bachelor’s degree from Hamilton College and his law degree from Albany Law School in New York. Prior to returning to USDA, he served as president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) from 2017 until February 2021. There, he provided strategic leadership and oversight of USDEC’s global promotional and research activities, regulatory affairs and trade policy initiatives. In addition to his post at USDEC, he also served as a Strategic Advisor to Colorado State University’s food and water initiatives.
Under Secretary Vilsack’s leadership, USDA is engaging the agriculture and forestry sectors in voluntary, incentive-based climate solutions to improve the resiliency of producers and to build wealth that stays in rural communities.
Secretary Vilsack will be providing a keynote at Monday’s Leadership Luncheon.
NRCS Chief Terry Cosby
NRCS Chief Terry Cosby leads a premier federal conservation agency known for its 3,000 field-office network that helps farmers, ranchers and private forest landowners nationwide plan and carry out voluntary conservation activities on their operations.
Chief Cosby’s more than 40-year career with NRCS, he has held numerous leadership and staff positions. He began his career as an NRCS intern in Iowa in 1979 and rose through the agency’s ranks to become its 17th chief on May 24, 2021. Prior to his current position, Cosby served as NRCS’s Acting Chief for several months.
Chief Cosby’s conservation and agricultural roots run deep. He grew up on his family’s cotton farm and attended a land grant university that prepared him well to serve all producers, including those who were historically underserved. His childhood, education and passion for conservation and agriculture paved the way for him to reach great heights throughout his NRCS career. Prior to being named Acting Chief, he served as NRCS State Conservationist in Ohio for 16 years. His other leadership positions include Deputy State Conservationist in Idaho, Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations in Missouri, and Area Resource Conservationist in Iowa.
Chief Cosby will be providing a keynote at Tuesday’s General Session.
Martha Williams, Fish & Wildlife Service Director
Growing up on a farm in Maryland, Martha Williams gained an appreciation for open lands, waters, wildlife, and people. This passion led her to the wild places of the West and a career spent fostering a love of the outdoors and stewarding the protection of natural resources. On March 8, 2022, Williams was sworn in as the 23rd Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Williams was appointed to the Service as Principal Deputy Director in January 2021. Preceding her appointment, she served as the Director of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks from 2017 to 2020. As State Director, Williams delivered leadership that embraced the diversity of Montana’s natural resources and outdoor recreational values that also incorporated public expectations and values into the agency’s direction. Representing Montana and the state perspective, Williams chaired the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee and was a member of Joint Federal/State Task Force on Federal Assistance Policy. She also served a term as the Vice President of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
Previously, Williams was an Assistant Professor of Law at the Blewett School of Law at the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana. She also served as Deputy Solicitor Parks and Wildlife at the Department of the Interior for two years during the Obama Administration.
Williams will be providing a keynote at Tuesday’s General Session.
Lt. General Russel L. Honoré
An American hero who helped a New Orleans recover from catastrophe, he has been chosen to lead the security review of the U.S. Capitol’s security infrastructure, interagency processes and procedures and command and control. Gen. Honoré now shares candid and colorful leadership views how government resources, the private sector and we as individuals can work together to overcome the current challenges facing the world.
As the commander of Joint Task Force Katrina, LTG Honoré became known as the “Category 5 Gen.” for his striking leadership style in coordinating military relief efforts in post-hurricane New Orleans. He is a decorated 37-year army veteran and global authority on leadership. When Hurricanes such as Harvey, Irma, and Maria approach, news networks like CNN, Fox, MSNBC, and CBS consider him their go-to expert on emergency and disaster preparedness, as well as crisis management.
Lt. General Honoré will be providing a keynote at Monday’s General Session.
Nick Wiley, Ducks Unlimited Chief Operating Officer
Nick Wiley serves as Chief Operating Officer for Ducks Unlimited, Inc., headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. Prior to his work at DU, Wiley served in several roles over a 30-year career with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission including eight years as the agency’s Executive Director. He is a past president for the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; a fellow of the National Conservation Leadership Institute; professional member of the Boone and Crockett Club; Board member for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and Council to Advance Hunting and Shooting Sports. He is a Certified Wildlife Biologist with a Bachelor of Science Degree in biology from Georgia Southern University and a Master of Science Degree in Wildlife Management from Auburn University, and he serves on advisory committees for wildlife/biology/science programs at both Universities. He enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, and boating with family and friends.
Wiley will be speaking during the “Wings Over Water” Panel.
Charles S. Potter Jr., Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation CEO
Charles S. Potter, Jr. is president and CEO of the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation in Dundee, Illinois. In that role he worked with Dorsey Pictures, conservation partners Ducks Unlimited and the National Audubon Society, and SK Films to produce the IMAX 3D film “Wings Over Water,” the story of a hidden oasis in the heartland of North America.
Throughout his conservation career, Potter has led outdoor recreation businesses and has been engaged in agricultural investments focused on sustainability to benefit conservation and natural resource interests.
He has served as chief executive of the North American Wildlife Foundation (now Delta Waterfowl Foundation), and has worked on projects to enhance wetlands, habitat, open space, and efficiency in conservation funding throughout the U.S. and in Canada. He is a past chair of the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, and a past or current board member of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Advisory Board, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Delta Waterfowl Foundation, National Land Trust Alliance, Mississippi Wildlife Federation, Sand County Foundation, the Property and Environment Research Center, Lake Forest (Ill.) Open Lands, and The Wetlands Initiative.
Potter will be speaking during the “Wings Over Water” Panel.
Marshall Johnson, Audubon Chief Conservation Officer
Marshall Johnson serves as Audubon’s Chief Conservation Officer, overseeing its conservation strategies of Water, Coasts, Climate and Bird-friendly Communities, as well as its Science, Audubon Americas, Field and Network teams. Marshall leads strategic direction for hemispheric-wide conservation work at Audubon to address the unprecedented climate change and biodiversity crises facing birds.
He previously served as Vice President for Audubon Dakotas where he raised more than $50M, spearheading the development and launch of the Northern Great Plains Grasslands project, which has conserved nearly 500,000 acres across the Dakotas, enrolling over 300 farmers, ranchers and communities. Marshall also served as Vice President of Audubon’s Conservation Ranching (ACR) Initiative, now America’s largest regenerative, bird-friendly land certification, spanning more than 3.5M acres across 16 states. Marshall led the creation of the Urban Woods & Prairies Initiative which has created over 36 new nature parks across North Dakota, creating safe passage for migratory birds, while returning over 2,000 acres back to nature and increasing recreational access and ecosystem services across 5 communities.
Marshall serves on the boards of the U.S Prairie Pothole Joint Venture and the North Dakota Natural Resources Trust. Marshall resides in Fargo, ND.
Marshall will be speaking during the “Wings Over Water” Panel on Tuesday.
Will Primos, Primos Hunting Founder
Will Primos is the founder of Primos Hunting, American’s top-selling brand of game calls and hunting accessories. He is a passionate outdoorsman and conservationist. Primos has been a mentor to millions of people across the US for decades through his hunting videos, television shows, and seminars. His love of the outdoors and passion for hunting and conservation began at an early age. At age eleven, Primos crafted his first game call – a single reed duck call that would prove to be the forerunner of millions of Primos game calls. Primos resides in Madison, Mississippi with his wife Mary and they are active members of Broadmoor Baptist Church. He continues to be an avid conservationist who works with wildlife conservation groups promoting the wise use of wildlife habitat.
Primos will be moderating the “Wings Over Water” Panel on Tuesday.
Spencer Chase, NAFB President and Agri-Pulse Communications Managing Editor
Spencer Chase is a broadcast and news editorial journalism graduate of South Dakota State University and has been with Agri-Pulse, the nation’s leading farm policy publication, since 2014. After joining Agri-Pulse as an associate editor, Chase was promoted to deputy managing editor in 2017 and again to managing editor in 2018. In his role, Chase covers farm policy issues on Capitol Hill and across the country and coordinates coverage with the Agri-Pulse team.
Chase is the Past President of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting and has won awards of recognition for his work from NAFB, including the 2017 Horizon Award for emerging talent and the 2020 Doan Award for his work on the Deep Dive on Dairy podcast. Chase is originally from a farm near Wolsey, South Dakota, and is a proud part owner of the Green Bay Packers.
Chase will be the emcee for the event.
Robert Zemenchik, CNH Industrial Senior Manager of Sustainability
Robert Zemenchik was raised on a ranch in Western Canada and worked for 5 years in the coal mining industry. He holds an M.S. Degree in Soil Science and a Ph.D in Agronomy, both from University of Wisconsin-Madison. Zemenchik has published 5 papers in the Primary literature on Non-point pollution and Phosphorus and Nitrogen Management. He holds 25 U.S. patents in machine automation, robotics, and crop sensing. He has 25 years in the agricultural equipment manufacturing industry, with global roles in Precision Farming, Marketing, and Product Management. Zemenchik currently serves as the Senior Manager of Sustainability for CNH Industrial and lives in California.
Zemenchik will be speaking during the ESG panel on Tuesday.
Steven Wall, Syngenta Development Manager of Sustainable and Responsible Business
Steven Wall is a senior scientist and leader in the agricultural industry with over 20 years of experience in product safety, risk assessment, regulatory science, and sustainability. He currently leads the development and integration of sustainability opportunities for Syngenta’s North America businesses. Wall has also led numerous diverse teams in North America, Europe and Latin America and has developed and implemented strategies for new technologies that incorporate evolving regulatory, safety, political and societal perspectives. He participates in numerous sustainability partnerships and industry groups that are helping to scale sustainable agriculture. Wall holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Toxicology from Texas Tech University, a MSc. From Clemson University and BSc. From Texas A&M University.
Wall will be speaking during the ESG panel on Tuesday.
Brooke Wynn, Smithfield Foods Senior Director of Sustainability
Brooke Wynn assumed her current position as senior director of sustainability in 2020. Based at the global food company’s headquarters in Smithfield, Virginia, she is directly responsible for overseeing strategy and initiatives for Smithfield’s corporate sustainability program, which focuses on animal welfare, environmental stewardship, food safety and quality, community development, diversity, equity and inclusion, health and nutrition and worker health and safety.
Wynn joined Smithfield in 2003 and has served in various positions in food safety and quality, most recently as senior director of quality assurance, in which she managed food quality assurance departments across 25 company facilities and oversaw regulatory labeling for Smithfield products produced in the U.S. Prior to joining Smithfield, Wynn supervised quality assurance for Gold Kist Poultry. She graduated from the University of Florida in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science and holds a Master of Food Science from Kansas State University with meat science and food safety and defense specializations.
Wynn will be speaking during the ESG panel on Tuesday.
Kristin Thomasgard, REPI Program Director of Development
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Since 2013, Kristin Thomasgard has served as Program Director for the Department of Defense Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program, which links communities, conservation, and national defense. The REPI program protects military mission capabilities through strategic partnerships with state and local governments and conservation organizations focused on preventing and mitigating restrictions to military activities and promoting military installation and community resilience to climate change. To-date, REPI partnerships have permanently conserved over 830,000 acres of land at 118 installations in 35 states and territories.
Thomasgard also serves as the federal chair for the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership, founded in 2013 by the U.S. Department of Defense, Department of Agriculture, and Department of the Interior. The partnership is a coalition of federal agencies, state and local governments, and non-governmental organizations that works to advance sustainable land management practices around military installations and ranges by conserving natural resources, bolstering agricultural and forestry economies, and promoting climate change resilience.
Thomasgard will be speaking during the panel on Collaborative Approaches to Natural Resource Stewardship on Tuesday.
Gloria Montaño Greene, Deputy Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation
Montaño Greene is a former State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency in Arizona from 2014-2017, a position she was appointed to by President Obama. With FSA in Arizona, Montaño Greene led implementation of the 2013 Farm Bill programs across the state. Currently, she serves as Deputy Director for Chispa Arizona, a program of the League of Conservation Voters focused on the empowerment of Latino voices in Arizona on issues including energy, public lands, and democracy access. She served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief of Staff to Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva of Arizona. She is a graduate of the University of Arizona.
Montaño Greene will be speaking during the panel on Collaborative Approaches to Natural Resource Stewardship on Tuesday.
Charles Sutcliffe, Louisiana Governor’s Office Chief Resilience Officer 
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Charles Sutcliffe is in his tenth year in the Governor’s Office Coastal Activities. He began with a strict policy focus related to the implementation of the Coastal Master Plan and now seeks to integrate an understanding of coastal change into other departments across state government. He coordinates closely with other state agencies, non-governmental organizations, and philanthropies as the State of Louisiana broadens its approach to managing the many implications of coastal change and positioning itself to capitalize on the opportunities that may arise. Charles is also one of three members of the Governor’s Office team working on the Climate Initiatives Task Force which will make recommendations for how Louisiana can reach net zero emissions by 2050.
Mr. Sutcliffe has a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Humanities and Social Thought from New York University, a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Animal Sciences from Louisiana State University. Before coming to the Governor’s Office he worked as a science teacher in Baton Rouge and Pittsburgh; with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services; and with Louisiana State University’s Economics & Policy Research Group.
Charles Sutcliffe will be speaking during the panel on Collaborative Approaches to Natural Resource Stewardship on Tuesday.