Business Session Speakers
Keynote Speakers
Nina Leigh Krueger
President and CEO, Nestlé Purina PetCare
As President and CEO of Nestlé Purina PetCare North America, Nina Leigh Krueger leads the organization’s vision to be the world’s most trusted company in enriching the lives of pets and the people who love them. She began her career at Purina in 1993 as an intern and has since served in many key roles, working to elevate key global brands, bring innovation to market, and lead priority initiatives to strengthen the business.
Nina Leigh led the integration of Purina’s marketing organization into Nestlé following the company’s 2001 acquisition. She was named vice president of Purina’s litter division, Golden Products, in 2010, driving record growth on the business through category innovation. In 2015, Nina Leigh earned the role of Chief Marketing Officer overseeing the marketing strategy for the company’s broad portfolio of more than two dozen pet care brands, including Purina ONE, Purina Pro Plan, Fancy Feast and Tidy Cats. She became the President of Nestlé Purina PetCare in 2016 before becoming CEO in 2021.
Nina Leigh is a graduate of Miami University with a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing and earned her MBA from Washington University’s Olin School of Business in 1994. She lives in St. Louis with her husband and their two dogs. She has three sons.
Nina Leigh is active in her community, serving on multiple boards and executive committees of various non-profit organizations including St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Greater St. Louis Inc., the St. Louis Police Foundation and the St. Louis Community Foundation. She received the Women’s Foundation of Greater St Louis’ Making a Difference Award in 2021. She also is an outspoken champion and supporter of the Purple Leash Project, an effort of Purina and the nonprofit RedRover that is helping more domestic violence shelters across the U.S. become pet-friendly.
Kevin Plank
Founder, President and CEO
Kevin Plank is the Founder, President & CEO of Under Armour, Inc., a global leader in performance apparel, footwear, and accessories. He launched the company in 1996 with the vision of creating athletic gear that enhanced performance through innovative fabric technology. Starting from his grandmother’s basement, Plank developed the first moisture-wicking compression shirt that became the foundation of Under Armour’s brand identity.
Under his leadership as CEO from 1996 to 2019, Plank transformed Under Armour from a start-up into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise recognized for its bold marketing, cutting-edge products, and athlete-first ethos. The company has since grown into an internationally recognized brand with more than 16,000 employees and a presence in over 100 countries.
In 2020, Plank transitioned to the role of Executive Chairman and Brand Chief, focusing on long-term brand strategy, product innovation, and community engagement. Beyond Under Armour, he is the CEO of Sagamore Ventures, his privately held investment company, which focuses on ventures in consumer products, real estate, hospitality, and social impact—particularly in Baltimore, Maryland, where he is deeply committed to urban revitalization.
Plank is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, where he served as the special teams captain for the football team. His entrepreneurial journey and business leadership have earned him recognition as one of America’s most influential and dynamic business figures.
Business Session Speakers
Charles “Chuck” F. Smith, Jr.
Chairman of the Board, Ducks Unlimited Inc.
Memphis, Tennessee
Chuck Smith is the Founder and Chairman of National Guard Products. He assumed his role as Chairman of the Board in 2024 after serving a two-year term as Ducks Unlimited’s 46th President, the first Tennessean to hold this position. Chuck is also a Wetlands America Trust (WAT) Trustee. A life-long Memphian, he played a key role in bringing DU’s National Headquarters to the Bluff City. Chuck is an avid waterfowler and angler. He is the owner of Circle T Duck Club near Stuttgart – a property protected in perpetuity through a conservation easement held by WAT – and a member of the historic Menasha Hunting and Fishing Club in Turrell, Arkansas.
Robert “Bob” S. Hester, Jr.
Secretary, Ducks Unlimited Inc.
Germantown, Tennessee
Bob is a retired Managing Partner at Deloitte Services LP in Memphis, Tennessee, and has brought his financial acumen to DU as a member of our Board of Directors since 2008. As a long-time Assistant Treasurer and a former Board Treasurer, he has been recognized by DU for his exemplary leadership of our organization’s financial resources. Bob was elected to his current position of Secretary in 2024 and is also recognized as an Emeritus Trustee for Wetlands America Trust. He enjoys spending time outdoors and, depending on the season, can be found hunting, fishing, or golfing.
William “Bill” C. Ansell
Treasurer, Ducks Unlimited Inc.
Galveston, Texas
Bill Ansell is an Assurance and Tax Partner with Ham, Langston & Brezina, LLP. A practicing CPA for over 35 years, he has extensive experience in individual and estate tax planning. Bill is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin. His passion for wetlands and waterfowl conservation has called him to serve as a Ducks Unlimited volunteer for more than three decades. In addition to his position as Ducks Unlimited Inc. (DUI) Board Treasurer, Bill also serves as an American Director on the Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) Board and a former President of Ducks Unlimited de Mexico (DUMAC).
Robert “Bob” G. Spoerl
President, Ducks Unlimited Inc.
Waupaca, Wisconsin
After more than 35 years of volunteer service to Ducks Unlimited, Bob reached our organization’s highest volunteer leadership role when he was elected Ducks Unlimited’s 47th President at our National Convention (May 2024) in San Diego. In addition, Bob is a Wetlands America Trust Trustee, serves on the Board of both Ducks Unlimited Canada and Ducks Unlimited de Mexico and maintains his volunteer roots as a leader on his local Plover Shotgunners Chapter Committee. The retired President of Premium Brands, a Miller distributor, Bob enjoys pursuing his outdoor passions and is a member of the Ne Pee Nauk Duck Club, Wisconsin’s oldest active duck club.
Charles Jobes, decoy maker from Havre de Grace, MD has been carving decoys for 50 years. He learned under the tutorial of his father “Captain Harry R. Jobes Sr.”. He is also the Godson of the re-nowned decoy maker “R. Madison Mitchell”.
Charles likes to hunt, fish and crab on the Susquehanna Flats in Havre de Grace also known as “The Decoy Capitol of the World”. He is a Lifetime Member of the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum.
Charles has been married to his wife Patty just shy of 40 years. They are very dedicated to Ducks Unlimited and are Diamond Life Sponsors.
Charles is currently making decoys at his shop in Havre de Grace.
Adam H. Putnam
Chief Executive Officer, Ducks Unlimited Inc.
Memphis, Tennessee
Adam Putnam is Ducks Unlimited Inc.’s Chief Executive Officer. Prior to joining DU, he was elected to two terms as Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture and five terms in the U.S. House of Representatives representing the Central Florida-based 12th Congressional district. He is currently Board member of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Board, Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida, Property and Environment Research Center and Alico Incorporated. A native Floridian, Adam is a lifelong hunter, angler and conservationist.
Ed Farley is the Manager of Conservation Programs for GA, SC, NC, and VA, where he helps to lead conservation delivery in those four states. He heads a team of talented wetland conservationists, helping restore, enhance and protect wetlands that are important for wintering waterfowl in the Atlantic Flyway. Ed has worked for DU across several different regions for nearly ten years. Ed received his bachelor's degree in biology from the University of North Carolina and his masters degree in fish and wildlife biology and management from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
Mike Slattery is the Regional Landscape Conservation Coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Northeast Region. He serves in this role, leading landscape conservation partnerships and grant programs in the Northeastern U.S., including the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Prior to joining the USFWS in 2010, he was the Director of the Eastern Partnership Office for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, where he was responsible for conservation grant-making and financing activities across a 24-state region extending from Maine to Texas. During a 35+ year career as a conservation professional, he has also served as Assistant Secretary for Forests, Parks, Fish and Wildlife at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources; Director of Maryland DNR’s Wildlife and Heritage Service; Director of the Maryland Natural Heritage Program; and Director of the Maryland Nontidal Wetlands and Waterways Permit Program.
Richard “Rich” B. Smith
Chief Development Officer
Ducks Unlimited Inc.
Rich Smith is Ducks Unlimited’s Chief Development Officer. He previously held the roles of National Director of Development, Managing Director of Development, Director of Development and Regional Director. Rich spent time as a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Falmouth, Maine and was a partner in an independent insurance agency in Mattituck, NY before joining DU. Rich has an Associate in Science from Paul Smith’s College in the Adirondacks of NY, a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry in Syracuse and a Master of Science degree from Humboldt State University in California.
Catrina Terry is the waterfowl research scientist for the Great Plains Region. Catrina started with DU in May 2021 to head up a long-term nesting project and develop additional research projects in the Great Plains Region. Catrina received a master’s degree from Louisiana State University and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Davis. Catrina and her two bird dogs reside in Mandan, North Dakota, and are members of the local North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association and Hunting Retriever Club.
Vanessa Harriman is a Research Scientist with Ducks Unlimited Canada’s Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research. She joined DUC in 2018. Her research focuses on factors limiting wetland-associated bird populations and adaptation of conservation programs based on science. Vanessa enjoys building relationships and working with large interdisciplinary teams and with diverse partners to achieve common goals. Vanessa earned her Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Biology from the University of Saskatchewan, and a B.Sc. in Wildlife Biology from Humboldt State University, California.
W. Stephen “Steve” Maritz
President, Wetlands America Trust
Fenton, Missouri
Steve Maritz is the Executive Chairman of St. Louis-based Maritz Holdings and its former Chairman and CEO. Active on a variety of community and national boards, Steve serves on the Ducks Unlimited Inc. Board and is recognized as an Honorary Trustee, the organization’s highest honor. An avid outdoorsman who enjoys spending time with family, Steve is a member of the historic Dardenne Club at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, Waterhen Lodge in Canada and serves on the Ruffed Grouse Society Board. He also owns a conservation/hunting property in Missouri – Craghurst – where he actively works to improve the habitat for duck, deer, dove, turkey and quail.
Michael D. Nadler
Chief Executive Officer, Ducks Unlimited Canada
Stonewall, Manitoba
In February 2023, Michael was appointed to the role of CEO of Ducks Unlimited Canada. He grew up in interior British Columbia and his first professional job experiences were in
welcoming visitors and supporting waterfowl research scientists at a large managed wetland near his hometown of Creston. From there, his professional journey led him to Baffin Island in Canada’s Eastern Arctic where he managed federal lands and worked closely with the Inuit of Nunavut in the implementation of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. He continued his work with Indigenous peoples by leading federal negotiations of modern Indigenous rights, treaties and agreements in Quebec and the Northwest Territories. From there, Michael joined Canada’s national parks system in various leadership roles.
Patrick “Pat” O’Connor
President, Ducks Unlimited Canada
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Pat is the Founder and Managing Partner of Blackwood Family Enterprise Services, a financial services and planning company. He was elected Ducks Unlimited Canada’s 46th President in 2024 and has been a member of Ducks Unlimited Inc.’s Board since 2022. Pat’s dedication to conservation, fundraising, and community engagement was born from his love of the outdoors. He is an avid angler, hunter, hiker and cyclist and can be found doing all of these things at his home in Lake of the Woods, Ontario.
Randy W. Renner
Randy is currently the Manager of Conservation Programs-Land Protection at the Ducks Unlimited, Inc. Great Plains Regional office in Bismarck, North Dakota. He has a degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Management from the University of North Dakota. During his 35 years with DU his work has included; evaluating CRP for duck production, the effects of haying CRP on duck production, and managing the habitat restoration programs in MT and ND. He currently manages a realty staff and program that acquires grassland and wetland easements in partnership with USFWS Small Wetlands Acquisition Program. He also manages the Fall Flights Program for the Grant Plains Region that raises funds from state wildlife agencies to send to Canada for conservation work delivered by DU Canada.
Venkat Iyer is the Senior Director of Climate Resilience for The Coca-Cola Foundation. He leads the climate portfolio, which advances nature-based and water management solutions for vulnerable communities to prepare, recover, and adapt to climate change impacts.
Prior to joining The Coca-Cola Company, Iyer worked globally across organizations that included the World Resources Institute (WRI), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), leading multi-sectoral task teams to develop sustainable finance solutions for wetlands and forests in Asia, Africa, and South America. His development experience stems from co-designing resource management solutions with local communities in over 11 countries. His skillset includes structuring transactions with the public and private sectors, overseeing project portfolios, and building diverse coalitions to finance climate solutions in emerging markets.
Venkat holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Cornell University, with a specialization in natural resources, and a master’s degree in environmental science and policy from Columbia University. Outside of work, he is an avid sports and wildlife enthusiast. A former professional tennis player who was Captain of the varsity tennis team at Cornell, his hobbies include nature photography and birdwatching.
Jack H. Hole
President, Ducks Unlimited de Mexico
Gunn, Alberta
Hailing from the prairies of Alberta and serving as Ducks Unlimited de Mexico’s President, Jack intimately understands the importance of our continental approach to conservation. Jack has an extensive biography that spans the continent and includes serving as the top volunteer of two of the three DU organizations (DUMAC and DUC). He is a current member of both the DUC and DUI Boards. Retired from Lockerbie & Hole Contracting Ltd., he enjoys spending too much time hunting, fishing, and other conservation-related activities.
Eduardo Carrera
National Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer
Ducks Unlimited de Mexico
Garza Garcia, Mexico
Eduardo joined DUMAC in 1984 and is Ducks Unlimited de Mexico’s National Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer. A biologist who specializes in wetlands and waterfowl, Eduardo collaborates with national and international organizations to develop wetland projects and build capacity in Mexico. He also spearheads international partnerships to support waterfowl management and research.
Dr. Philip Lavretsky is an associate professor of biological sciences at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), where he leads the Lavretsky Lab focused on wildlife genetics. With a passion for biodiversity and conservation, his research bridges field ecology and cutting-edge genetic analysis to better understand waterfowl populations and inform science-based conservation strategies.
Raised in Los Angeles, Lavretsky earned his bachelor’s degree from UC Davis and completed his Ph.D. at Wright State University. He joined UTEP in 2016, where his team investigates how species evolve and adapt—from the deserts of the Southwest to wetlands across North America.
One of his standout collaborative projects is DuckDNA, a nationwide citizen science initiative developed in partnership with Ducks Unlimited. The project empowers hunters to contribute tissue samples, helping researchers build a comprehensive genetic database of waterfowl populations—revealing critical insights about species diversity, hybridization, and resilience.
Dr. Mike Brasher
Senior Waterfowl Scientist
Dr. Mike Brasher joined DU in 2005 and currently serves as Senior Waterfowl Scientist at DU’s National Headquarters. In his current position, Mike collaborates with DU staff and partners to strengthen the scientific foundation of DU’s conservation activities, ensuring that our work is focused on issues and places of greatest importance to waterfowl populations. Mike also serves as co-host of the Ducks Unlimited Podcast and assists the Communications staff with science communication priorities. Mike is a Certified Wildlife Biologist and serves on the North American Waterfowl Management Plan Science Support Team and North American Bird Conservation Initiative Committee. Mike received a Ph.D. in Ecosystem Science and Management from The Ohio State University (2010), and his M.S. in Wildlife Ecology (2000) and B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science (1997) from Mississippi State University.
Jared D. Brown
At-Large Member, Ducks Unlimited Inc.
Clearwater, Florida
Jared Brown is a Principal at HG Brown & Associates, a family-owned and operated real estate investment and development business. A recognizable face to many waterfowl enthusiasts, Jared was a former co-host of DUTV taking viewers on hunting adventures across the continent. He is also a long-time volunteer leader on Ducks Unlimited’s Marketing and Communication team having served as the Senior Advisory Vice President, and Chairman of the national Marketing/Communications Committee, of which he is still a member. Jared is currently an At Large Member of the Board.
Connie S. Parker
Senior Advisory Vice President for Volunteer Engagement
Ducks Unlimited Inc.
Pensacola, Florida
Connie is the Executive Chairman and Managing Partner of Henley Ion, a for-profit biotechnology company that develops and implements patents for medical consumer and medical markets in New
Orleans, LA. She is also the Founder and CEO of CSPARKERGROUP, which is focused on middle-market companies in transition and revitalization. An active national volunteer and Board member since 2015, Connie is the Senior Advisory Vice President for Volunteer Engagement and Chair of the Volunteer Engagement Committee, DU’s newest Board leadership position and national committee tasked with recruiting, engaging, and retaining DU’s current and future volunteer leaders.
Friday Business Session Opener
Jolie Lichenstein
Jolie is13 years old and an 8th Grader from E.D. White High School, Thibodaux, Louisiana
She enjoys Gymnastics and Tumbling. She began hunting at the age of six with her late Great Grandfather Ron Bartels, and her Dad, Mom, and two brothers.
Jake Seidman
Jake is 14, just graduated from 8th grade at Maxine Smith Steam Academy, Memphis, TN. He will be attending Crosstown High in the fall. Plays trumpet with his school band
He was four when he went hunting for the first time and eight the first time he took a gun.
Hunts with Pops, Ronal Roberson, Uncle Kris, Aunt Lauren, Aunt Katie, Uncle Andrew, and cousins
Tom Smith - President/Owner of Wildrose Mississippi
Tom became the President/Owner of the Wildrose Oxford facility in 2019 after 4 years as the General Manager. After training his first dog in 1998, the American style, Tom visited Wildrose and decided to join the pack. Wildrose Dixie became his best friend, hunting partner, and office companion in 2008. He then became an associate trainer in 2010. After selling his industrial construction company and deciding to further the never-ending adventures with Wildrose, Tom joined the Wildrose staff full-time as the General Manager in October 2014. He received his bachelor's degree in history from the University of Kentucky and served in the military as an Infantry Officer from 1990 - 97 in Georgia, Alaska, Thailand, Japan, Egypt, and Virginia. He is originally from Tell City, Indiana. Tom and his wife, Tina, reside on the property with their dog Big Red and Mabel the cat.
Mike Stewart
Mike is the President of Wildrose International, which hosts full-service kennels in Oxford, Mississippi; Dallas, Texas; Mebane, North Carolina, and Sheboygan, Wisconsin, with additional training facilities in Colorado and Arkansas. Wildrose specializes in producing their trademark British retrievers, “The Gentleman’s Gundog” and “Adventure Dog,” Labradors that complement a family’s sporting lifestyle. Mike is best known for his appearances on Ducks Unlimited TV’s “World of Ducks along with Ducks Unlimited retriever training online features with Drake and Deke, the Ducks Unlimited Mascots, beginning in 2001 and continuing to date. Mike has been a member of Ducks Unlimited since 1985 and is now a proud member of the Feather Society of Ducks Unlimited.
A law enforcement officer for 25 years, Mike retired as Chief of Police for the University of Mississippi. He is a graduate of the University of Mississippi and the FBI National Academy, Quantico, Virginia. Mike retired from the US Navy Reserves in 2005 as a Commander after over 20 years of service. He was inducted into the Mississippi Outdoor Hall of Fame in 2018 and into the Ole Miss Alumni Hall of Fame in 2021.
Artist of the Year
Scot Storm, a four-time Ducks Unlimited Artist of the Year, masterfully captures the serenity and splendor of waterfowl in their natural habitat.
From a young age, Storm showed a keen talent for drawing, sketching, and design—skills that eventually led him to earn a degree in architecture from North Dakota State University. While working as an architect, his deep love for hunting and the outdoors inspired him to explore the world of wildlife art.
Entirely self-taught, Storm's passion for wildlife painting grew so strong that in 1999, he made the bold decision to leave his architectural career behind and dedicate himself fully to art. His breakthrough came in 2004 when he won the prestigious Federal Duck Stamp competition, launching him into national prominence.
Since that milestone, Storm has earned over 20 state stamp competition wins, another Federal Duck Stamp in 2019 and has been named Ducks Unlimited Artist of the Year four times. His most recent recognition comes with his painting Sunset Calls, a striking canvas that captures the essence of a late-season evening on the upper Midwestern prairies, as mallards descend like shadows spilling from the sky.
"My paintings reflect nature through my eyes—the delicate balance between everyday life, wildlife conservation, and the hunting heritage I will pass on to future generations," Storm explains.