Geoffrey Vanden Heuvel is the Director of Regulatory and Economic Affairs for Milk Producers Council, a California dairy farmer trade association. Prior to joining MPC, he spent 39 years as a dairy farmer in Southern California. Geoff has been involved in statewide water issues for over 30 years, serving on various boards and organizations. He moved to the San Joaquin Valley in 2018, increasing his focus on agricultural water supply issues, including the implementation of SGMA. He currently serves as Vice Chair of the Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley, a coalition focused on ensuring sufficient water supplies for farming, the environment, and rural communities.

Bill Swanson is the Vice President, Global Practice Leader, Water Resources Planning and Management for Stantec. Stantec was selected by the California Department of Water Resources to provide water resource planning and facilitation services to support the California's Unified Water Plan.

Bill has more than 34 years of experience supervising extensive and sophisticated water resource projects. His areas of expertise include water supply/ allocation, hydrologic and hydraulic studies, economic & socioeconomic analysis, flood control, & ecosystem restoration.​

Rochelle De Groot and her husband Tony operate De Groot Dairies (a 4,800 cow operation in Hanford), alongside their son and daughter-in-law. The dairy was started in 1966 by Tony’s parents, who immigrated from Holland in 1956. Rochelle serves as the farm’s chief financial officer. Tony and Rochelle are industry leaders, who continue to adopt new strategies to boost environmental and economic sustainability. Rochelle serves on the Board of Directors for Milk Producer’s Council. She also has strong ties to the cattle industry. Her father founded Grimmius Cattle Company(cattle feeder, calf nursery, and genetics provider) in Hanford 1962, which is now run by her brother, Randall.

Karen Ross was appointed Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture in 2019 by Governor Gavin Newsom. In re-appointing Secretary Ross, Governor Newsom cited her unmatched leadership experience in agricultural issues nationally, internationally, and here in California, in areas including environmental stewardship, climate change adaption, and trade. Secretary Ross was initially appointed by Governor Edmund. G. Brown Jr. in 2011. 

Patrick Pulupa is the Executive Officer of the Central Valley Water Board. He started his career as an attorney representing the Board, advising the Board as it endeavored to find equitable solutions for the diverse water quality issues facing the Central Valley. As the Board’s Executive Officer, Patrick works to ensure the Board achieves its vision of ensuring that the Valley’s aquifers and surface waters meet or exceed water quality necessary to support all beneficial uses, and that all communities have access to safe, affordable, and resilient water supplies.