NESARC’s Diverse Membership
Our broad membership includes agricultural interests, cities and counties, conservationists, electric utilities, energy producers, farmers, forest product companies, home builders, oil and gas companies, ranchers, realtors, water and irrigation districts, and other businesses and individuals throughout the United States.
American Agri-Women
Washington, DC
American Farm Bureau Federation
Washington, DC
American Forest and Paper Association
Washington, DC
American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers
Washington, DC
American Petroleum Institute
Washington, DC
American Public Power Association
Washington, DC
Association of California Water Agencies
Sacramento, California
Central Platte Natural Resources District
Grand Island, Nebraska
Charles Mix Electric Association
Lake Andes, South Dakota
Coalition of Counties for Stable Economic Growth
Glenwood, New Mexico
Colorado River Energy Distributors Association
Phoenix, Arizona
Colorado River Water Conservation District
Glenwood Springs, Colorado
Colorado Rural Electric Association
Denver, Colorado
Colorado Springs Utilities
Colorado Springs, Colorado
County of Eddy
Carlsbad, New Mexico
Dixie Escalante Rural Electric Association
Beryl, Utah
Dugan Production Corporation
Farmington, New Mexico
Garrison Diversion Conservancy District
Carrington, North Dakota
Merced Irrigation District
Merced, California
Moon Lake Electric Association
Roosevelt, Utah
National Association of Counties
Washington, DC
National Association of Conservation Districts
Washington, DC
National Association of Home Builders
Washington, DC
National Association of Realtors
Washington, DC
National Cattleman’s Beef Association
Washington, DC
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
Washington, DC
National Water Resources Association
Washington, DC
National Waterways Conference
Washington, DC
Northwest Public Power Association
Vancouver, Washington
Public Lands Council
Washington, DC
Renville-Sibley Cooperative Power Association
Danube, Minnesota
Salt River Project
Phoenix, Arizona
San Luis Water District
Los Banos, California
Sangre De Cristo Electric Association
Buena Vista, Colorado
South Columbia Basin Irrigation District
Pasco, Washington
Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative
Willcox, Arizona
Treated Wood Council
Washington, DC
West Side Irrigation District
Tracy, California
Wheat Belt Public Power District
Sidney, Nebraska
Whetstone Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Milbank, South Dakota
Wilder Irrigation District
Caldwell, Idaho
Wyrulec Company
Lingle, Wyoming
Y-W Electric Association, Inc.
Akron, Colorado
NESARC Governance
NESARC is led by a Board of Directors and an Executive Committee consisting of representatives from a cross-section of the coalition’s membership. The Board establishes major policy priorities with input from the coalition’s membership. The Executive Committee oversees financial and administrative operations, including membership recruitment.
2026 Board of Directors
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers
American Public Power Association
American Petroleum Institute
Association of California Water Agencies
Colorado River Energy Distributors Association
National Association of Home Builders
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
National Association of Counties
National Water Resources Association
NESARC Staff
The law and public policy firm of Van Ness Feldman, LLP provides all of NESARC’s management and administrative services, legal and legislative drafting services, strategic counsel, and lobbying expertise.
Jordan Smith
Executive Director
Jordan has over two decades of experience providing public policy advice and representation on federal legislative and regulatory issues, with special emphasis on energy, environmental, natural resource, and healthcare matters. As Executive Director, Jordan works closely with the NESARC leadership and members to pursue the priorities of the Coalition’s diverse membership. He is responsible for the day to day operations of the Coalition, including strategic positioning, congressional and administrative lobbying, public outreach, media relations, and membership development and services. Prior to his appointment as Executive Director in 2016, Jordan served in various capacities on the Coalition staff since 2001. Jordan is a Principal at Van Ness Feldman.
Tyson Kade
General Counsel
Tyson provides the Coalition strategic guidance on legal and regulatory matters under the Endangered Species Act. He is responsible for research related to, and drafting of comments on, many of the Coalition’s regulatory filings with the Executive Branch. Tyson’s legal expertise also includes National Environmental Policy Act and Clean Water Act compliance and liability issues, providing advice on Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act matters in West Coast and Alaska fisheries, and assisting clients with permitting for energy development and hydropower projects. He is a Partner at Van Ness Feldman.
Nancy Macan McNally
Senior Advisor
Nancy brings more than 40 years of coalition building experience to NESARC. As the Coalition’s Executive Director from its inception in 1991 through 2016, she is a respected expert on public policy matters. Nancy continues to provide strategic counsel to NESARC as a Senior Advisor. She is a Principal at Van Ness Feldman.
Richard Agnew
Senior Advisor
Rick served as Chief Minority Counsel to the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs (now the Committee on Natural Resources) from1985 to 1991. Rick provides legal services, assists with legislative drafting, and provides strategic counsel. Rick also provides expertise on many of the contentious ESA issues involving the Pacific Northwest. Rick is a Senior Counsel at Van Ness Feldman.