Susan Lester is the Director of External Affairs and Operations at the National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE). She joined NCAE in 2021 as the Manager of Association Services. Susan previously served as a Legislative Correspondent in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Susan is a proud graduate of Oklahoma State University and is excited to support America’s incredible farmers, ranchers, and growers nationwide.
For the last two decades, John Hollay has been deeply engaged in shaping the politics and policies that have impacted American farmers and their ability to feed the world.
John previously served as Director of U. S. Government Relations for the International Fresh Produce Association, and held similar government affairs roles previously for United Fresh Produce Association and the National Milk Producers Federation.
Prior to joining the private sector, John served as senior legislative assistant for Congressman Joe Courtney of Connecticut where he established the Congressional Dairy Farmers Caucus and Congressional Modern Agriculture Caucus.
John resides in Arlington, VA with his wife Kate.
Since taking the helm in May 2019, Christopher Valadez has led the Grower-Shipper Association (GSA) in defending the interests of agricultural employers—growers, harvesters, processors, and shippers—in California’s Central Coast, America’s Salad Bowl. His advocacy centers on easing labor challenges that threaten operational viability, including chronic workforce shortages, rising compliance costs from wage-and-hour regulations, occupational health and safety mandates, housing requirements, and restrictive immigration policies
Valadez has driven efforts to streamline burdensome regulations, shape balanced state and federal labor policies, and secure reliable workforce access while mitigating politically driven cost increases. During the COVID-19 pandemic, GSA, under his direction, delivered model programs. These initiatives earned national recognition for enabling employers to maintain a healthy, productive workforce amid shifting rules. Valadez continues to champion evidence-based solutions that reduce employer burdens, enhance workforce stability, and ensure the economic sustainability of agriculture for a reliable North American food supply.
Tom Bortnyk is másLabor’s Sr. Vice President and General Counsel. He advises clients on regulatory compliance issues, oversees quality assurance, and heads the company’s Enterprise division, which provides services related to employment-based immigration and TN professional visas. Tom has a B.S. in International Affairs from Florida State University and a J.D. from Washington & Lee University School of Law in Virginia.
Daniel Ross was born and raised in rural Linden, Texas, where he grew up working seasonal jobs – loading trucks at a commercial greenhouse in the Spring, baling hay in the Summer, and Christmas tree farming in the Fall and Winter. He first became interested in immigration law while teaching English in Mexico before ultimately attending Florida State University College of Law in Tallahassee, Florida, where he graduated cum laude in 2012. He is a member of the Florida Bar and American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Over the course of his almost ten year career in private practice, Daniel has represented clients across all areas of immigration law, with a primary focus on employment-based immigration and serving employers in blue collar industries. In March of 2022, he joined Seso, Inc. as in-house counsel, focused on H-2A compliance and agricultural labor-related matters.
Outside of work, Daniel enjoys being outdoors, fishing, duck hunting, watching all sports (especially the Florida State University Seminoles), his dogs, and spending time with his family. He splits time between Tampa, Florida, and his hometown in East Texas.
Jeanne M. Malitz is the principal of MalitzLaw, Inc., a boutique law firm specializing in employment-based immigration matters. MalitzLaw, Inc. has a national presence representing employers on a wide variety of immigration-related matters with an emphasis on permanent labor certification and temporary labor certification for agricultural employers. Her practice also includes counseling on employment verification including E-Verify and I-9-related issues. Ms. Malitz actively participates in advocacy for immigration reform through national committee work on behalf of the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association (AILA) and the National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE). She served as a member of AILA’s national Department of Labor Committee for 14 years. Ms. Malitz also chaired the H-2A Committee for the NCAE. She frequently presents and writes on immigration-related topics. Ms. Malitz received her B.A. degree from the University of San Diego (Magna Cum Laude, 1985) and her J.D. degree from the Boston University School of Law (1990). She was employed by several national and international law firms including: Gray Cary Ames & Frye and Morrison & Foerster. Ms. Malitz and has been nominated as a San Diego “Top Lawyer” for the years 2013 to the present.
Ryan is the Director of Human Resources for the largest Opal apple grower, FirstFruits Farms, located along the Snake River in southeastern Washington. In addition, Ryan is the owner of Desert Management Services, providing growers with assistance and guidance for each step of the H-2A process. Ryan has served in various consulting, accounting, and human resource leadership roles over the past 20 years. Ryan is a proud graduate of Washington State University. He currently serves on NCAE’s H-2A strategy committee as the committee chair and on NCAE’s Executive Committee as their Vice Chairman. Ryan has been using the H-2A guest worker program through various countries since 2013.
Mrs. Tracy Duda Chapman was appointed Senior Vice President/Chief Legal & Administrative Officer of A. Duda & Sons, Inc. in June 2016. In this role, Tracy is responsible for the Corporate Legal, Viera Legal, Human Resources, Safety, Purchasing and Fleet, Risk Management/Insurance and the Government Relations functions of DUDA. She also serves as Assistant Corporate Secretary. A fourth generation member of the Duda family, Mrs. Chapman joined DUDA in 1992 as Associate Counsel at the corporate headquarters in Oviedo, Florida. She was promoted to General Counsel in 2000. In 2005 she was appointed Corporate Vice President of Corporate Services, with oversight responsibility for Corporate Communications, Governmental Relations, Risk Management, Food Safety and Technical Services. In 2007, she was appointed a Senior Vice President of DUDA and Chief Executive Officer of The Viera Company, DUDA’s real estate subsidiary and the developer of the master planned community of Viera in Brevard County, Florida. She held that position until being appointed to her current position.
Before joining DUDA, Mrs. Chapman practiced law in the real estate department of the Dean Mead law firm in Orlando. Mrs. Chapman holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and a Juris Doctor from the University of Florida College of Law. She is a member of the Association of Corporate Counsel. Mrs. Chapman serves on the board of the Florida Land Council, The Florida Chamber of Commerce, Shands Teaching Hospital & Clinics, Inc. and the Florida Specialty Crop Foundation, Inc. She is a former Chairman of both the Florida Land Council and The Florida Chamber. Mrs. Chapman also serves on the Executive Committee of the National Council of Agricultural Employers and previously served on the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association’s Labor Committee and Environmental and Pest Management Committee, and the Board of the Brevard Zoo. In 1999, Mrs. Chapman was appointed by Florida Governor Jeb Bush as a Commissioner on Florida’s Environmental Regulation Commission, and served two consecutive four-year terms. She is a graduate of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources and is a Past President of its Alumni Association.
A Florida native, Mrs. Chapman was born in West Palm Beach, and attended high school in Oviedo, Florida. She and her husband, Marc, also an attorney, have two daughters, Amanda and Emma. The family lives in Oviedo and is active in St. Luke’s Lutheran Church.
Everglades Harvesting & Hauling, Inc. and its family of companies is based in LaBelle, Florida and was established in 1990.
Everglades harvests labor intense agricultural acres throughout the United States, transports raw agricultural crops from the farm to the first point of process or packing, and manages citrus and specialty crops all over Florida. Each of these tasks are accomplished with a significant number of H2A guest seasonal workers supported by many full-time employees. Paul is well versed in working with leaders in government and industry to create a positive outcome.
Paul is a fourth generation Florida Citrus and Vegetable Grower. Executive Board Member of the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, Vice President /Board Member of Florida Citrus Mutual, and Executive Board member of the National Council of Agricultural Employers. Past President of the Hendry/Glades County Farm Bureau. Past Vice President Gulf Citrus Growers Association, also a Broker/Salesman specializing in large tracts of Agricultural Property in Florida.
Married for more than thirty years, Paul and his family reside in Southwest Florida.
Daniel Ross was born and raised in rural Linden, Texas, where he grew up working seasonal jobs – loading trucks at a commercial greenhouse in the Spring, baling hay in the Summer, and Christmas tree farming in the Fall and Winter. He first became interested in immigration law while teaching English in Mexico before ultimately attending Florida State University College of Law in Tallahassee, Florida, where he graduated cum laude in 2012. He is a member of the Florida Bar and American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Over the course of his almost ten year career in private practice, Daniel has represented clients across all areas of immigration law, with a primary focus on employment-based immigration and serving employers in blue collar industries. In March of 2022, he joined Seso, Inc. as in-house counsel, focused on H-2A compliance and agricultural labor-related matters.
Outside of work, Daniel enjoys being outdoors, fishing, duck hunting, watching all sports (especially the Florida State University Seminoles), his dogs, and spending time with his family. He splits time between Tampa, Florida, and his hometown in East Texas.
Melissa Frank is Vice President, Sr. Associate General Counsel – Government Affairs for The Wonderful Company. In that role, Melissa Frank manages government relations for The Wonderful Company and its related affiliates, including Wonderful Citrus, Wonderful Orchards, Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds, POM Wonderful, Fiji Water, and Justin Vineyards. Before joining Wonderful in 2009, Melissa was an associate at Nossaman LLP advising clients on water and land use matters. Melissa received her B.A. from California State University Fresno, where she was a Maddy Intern, and her J.D. from the University of California Los Angeles School of Law. Melissa is also an adjunct member of the faculty at California State University Bakersfield, teaching environmental law. In addition, Melissa serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Maddy Institute of Public Policy at California State University Fresno, and on the Board of for the Agricultural Council of California and the California Fresh Fruit Association.
Joseph Young grew up on his parents’ apple orchard in New Boston, NH. In January of 1993, after receiving his degree in business, he went to work for the New England Apple Council. In October of 2005, he was promoted to Executive Director. He is currently the Chairman for the National Council of Agricultural Employers. He is also the very proud father of 2 great kids: Hannah and Ben.
Jamie Fussell is the Director of Labor Relations at the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association. He represents the association in federal labor related legislative efforts, coordinates members’ use of the H-2A guest worker program, and assists with compliance efforts involving labor laws affecting agriculture. Fussell also leads the Agricultural Labor Relations Forum held annually in Orlando.
Prior to joining FFVA, Fussell practiced law at various governmental agencies, including the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and most recently the Southwest Florida Water Management District. He’s also worked for Georgia’s Commissioner of Agriculture, Gary Black. Fussell received his Bachelor’s degree in Food and Resource Economics from the University of Florida and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law.
Fussell is a sixth generation Floridian and remains involved at his family’s ranch in Arcadia.
Maureen is a member of a 12th generation family farm located in Western New York which encompasses fresh market and processing vegetables, grain farm, and dairy operations. She also operates a trucking company with her husband Paul Marshall.
She has served and participates in numerous organizations. She is past chairperson of United Fresh, past director of the Produce Marketing Association, first chairperson of the USDA Fruit and Vegetable Advisory Committee, and former seven year Director of NY Federal Reserve – Buffalo. Currently she is a trustee at Genesee Community College. She serves as Director on the Executive Committee of the National Council of Agricultural Employers, Erie Niagara Insurance, Summit Insurance, NYS Vegetable Growers, Ag Affiliates, and NYS Agri Business Child Care Board; and numerous other community Organizations. She participates in many local, state and national conferences as a speaker and information education source every year.
Michael Lalich is the President of Low Country Labor, a growing H-2A and B agency located in
Charleston, SC. Michael is a longtime, active NCAE Member. Prior to starting Low Country Labor Company in 2004, Michael majored in Language and International Trade at Clemson University. Besides being an active NCAE Member, Michael is also involved with the South Carolina Ag Labor Advisory Board and the Language and International Trade Advisory Board at Clemson. Michael is continually engaged with all levels of government officials from the DOL, OFLC, USCIS, and DOS advocating on behalf of agricultural employers. He resides in Charleston, SC with his wife and two children.
Michael earned bachelor’s degrees in history and accounting from the University of Wyoming where he also studied law. He is a certified public accountant.
Although Michael started his career in public accounting in Casper, Wyoming working for a CPA firm that had many farm and ranch clients, his career changed dramatically when he began to focus in the areas of forensic accounting and fraud investigation. In fact, it was a fraud he uncovered at the National Potato Promotion Board in Denver that ended up tying him inextricably to agriculture. He was subsequently hired to be the Director of Finance for the Almond Board of California and later became the CEO of the largest dairy producer trade association in the US at Western United Dairymen in Modesto. After consulting for a few years in the areas of litigation support and complex financial transactions in Federal District Court, Michael returned to his true passion advocating on behalf of America’s farmers and ranchers at NCAE.