Ron Brown, President

Brown & Sons Orchards
Milton-Freewater, Oregon
Walla Walla River Irrigation District Board

Ron operates a third-generation apple orchard, as well as a packing plant that serves a number of other family-run orchards on the Oregon side of the Walla Walla valley. In 2003, the Oregon Republican Party selected him as Oregon Business Man of the Year. Ron figured prominently in the local irrigation district's decision to work cooperatively with the USFWS to voluntarily bypass water in the Walla Walla River on behalf of fish.

Pat McConnell, Vice President

Western Region Business Manager - The McGregor Company
Managing Partner - 2M Farms
Walla Walla County Conservation District Supervisor
Walla Walla, Washington

Pat is a Certified Professional Agronomist, Certified Crop Advisor, and is a past chair of International Certified Crop Advisor board, representing all CCAs in North America. He received his B.S. in Agronomy and Soils from Washington State University and is a supervisor for the Walla Walla County Conservation District. In addition to his duties with the McGregor Company, Pat is a fourth generation farmer managing a 5500-acre dry-land farming operation. He serves on several local boards and is an outspoken advocate for production agriculture, using his public speaking opportunities and writings to applaud the accomplishments and positive aspects of agriculture, the importance of environmental stewardship, and the challenges for U.S. producers today.

Megan Clubb, Director

President/CEO
Baker Boyer Bank,
Walla Walla, Washington

Megan's lineage reaches back to Dorsey Baker, one of the financiers in the early days of Walla Walla. Under Megan's leadership, the predominantly family-owned Bake Boyer Bank has earned national recognition for its contributions to the community. The bank also has a long history of supporting Walla Walla's agriculture industry. In addition, Megan's family owns and operates the very successful L'Ecole #41 Winery.

Bob Rupar, Director

Vice President of Marketing
Nelson Irrigation, Walla Walla, WA
Landowner-farmer on Yellowhawk Creek,
Walla Walla, Washington

As Vice-President of Nelson Irrigation, Bob brings to the Alliance the perspective of a successful innovative business that has a global reach in the irrigation efficiency industry. In addition, Bob personally farms a range of crops using state-of-the-art irrigation technologies, from the conventional (alfalfa) to the innovative (wine grapes, poplar agroforestry).

Kathryn Brigham, Director

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Board of Trustees
Pendleton, Oregon

As a long-standing member of the CTUIR Board of Trustees, Kat has served her tribe at numerous levels, including international negotiation with Canada and the U.S. on salmon fishing allocations. She sits on the Board of the Oregon-side Walla Walla Basin Watershed Council, and is an eloquent spokesperson for the role that healthy waters and fisheries play in Native American culture.

Jim Timmons, Director

Data Manager, Washington State University GEAR-UP Program
West Richland, Washington

Jim grew up on his family farm near Othello and in addition to his current work with Washington State University, Jim also is an adjunct Professor at Heritage University in Toppenish, teaching Economics and Computer Science. He's a graduate of University of Washington (Economics) and Washington State University (MBA). As a resident of West Richland, Jim provides an Eastern Washington perspective in his service on the board of the Washington Environmental Council, where he’s served since 2005.

Hal Thomas, Secretary/Treasurer

Kevin Scribner, Director

Kooskooskie Fish
Portland, Oregon

Kevin Scribner is a long-term member of the Walla Walla community with extensive experience in natural resource planning and management, community cultural development, alternative food systems, ecological restoration and commercial fishing. A 1975 graduate of Whitman College, Kevin is Founder of Kooskooskie Fish, a for-profit organization that promotes and coordinates a Fisher's Community Marketplace that links small-boat sources of native and non-native seafood in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest to community-based buying groups. Kevin also serves on the board of the Oregon-based Walla Walla Basin Watershed Council.

Steve VanAusdle
Director Ex-Officio Status

President, Walla Walla Community College
Walla Walla, Washington

An eastern Washington native, Steve VanAusdle was born and raised in Pomeroy. He earned B.S. and M.A. degrees in Agriculture Economics from WSU in 1966 and 1968, and a Ph.D from Ohio State University in 1980. As president of Walla Walla Community College for the past 20 years, Steve's vision has enabled WWCC to provide innovative education and training in a wide variety of programs.