Speaker Bios

Michael Boland, Ph.D., Professor of Agricultural Economics at North Dakota State University 

Michael Boland (Mike) is the AgCountry Farm Credit Endowed Professor of Agribusiness Finance at North Dakota State University, where he focuses on executive education and research related to risk management and governance in agricultural and food supply chains beyond the farm gate. Previously, he held the Koller Endowed Professorship in Agribusiness Management and Information Technology at the University of Minnesota. Mike has taught extensively in agribusiness, cooperatives, farm management, agricultural supply chains, and food policy, with courses reaching students across business, public affairs, and agricultural sciences. His graduate course on food and agribusiness and food security was among the University of Minnesota’s largest graduate classes in 2023. Mike’s research examines governance, value creation, and institutional arrangements within food and agricultural supply chains, and his work has taken him to more than 100 countries. He has worked with over 100 boards of directors globally on finance, equity management, strategic planning, and governance. Mike has received top teaching awards from both the University of Minnesota and Kansas State University. He is a Certified Corporate Director, a member of Harvard’s PAPSAC food policy group, and a former board member of Select Sires, Inc. and UniGroup, Inc. He also has an ownership interest in a cattle ranch in Argentina and comes from a production agriculture background in Minnesota. 

Paul E Bush, President and CEO of Calcot, Ltd 

Paul E. Bush is President and CEO of Calcot, Ltd., a grower-owned cotton marketing cooperative based in Bakersfield, California. He has worked with Calcot for more than 27 years, beginning as a field representative serving growers across Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, and later serving as Vice President overseeing Southwest U.S. operations, including logistics, warehouse operations, and member and gin manager support. Paul assumed the role of President and CEO in 2018 and is the eighth chief executive in Calcot’s nearly 100-year history, reporting directly to the board and guiding the cooperative’s strategy to maximize returns for cotton producers. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics from the University of Arizona and completed post-graduate work at Texas Tech University. Prior to joining Calcot, Paul held management positions with King Ranch, Inc. and Chickasha Cotton Oil Company, gaining experience in warehouse management, accounting, and gin operations. He is deeply involved in cotton industry leadership and currently serves on the boards of the National Cotton Council, Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council, and Amcot, the organization representing U.S. cotton marketing cooperatives. Paul is also a graduate of the National Cotton Council’s Cotton Leadership Program. 

Preston Cardinet, Principal, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP) 

Preston specializes in serving CLA’s agriculture and cooperative clients with their income tax compliance and consulting needs. His passion is helping privately held businesses and their owners navigate income taxes and tailor strategies for each unique business. Preston has been with CLA since 2017. He joined the firm after serving as a tax manager at Ernst & Young where he worked closely with both individuals and businesses, from privately owned to publicly traded Fortune 500. 

Jack Huerter, Partner and Co-Chair, Dorsey + Whitney LLP 

Jack is a Partner at the Dorsey & Whitney law firm, and Co-Chair of the firm’s Cooperative Law Practice. In his coop practice, Jack advises coops on a wide variety of issues ranging from commercial disputes to entity formation to governance and policy development. In his litigation practice, Jack represents clients in complex litigation often involving government investigations, fiduciary duty disputes, and thorny commercial contract issues. A significant portion of Jack’s work focuses on serving clients in the food, agriculture, energy, and financial services industries. Through his courtroom advocacy work, Jack manages all aspects of litigation, from the pleadings stage to trial, and has extensive experience with civil motion practice and complex discovery. In all aspects of his work, Jack draws upon the experiences he gained working in each of the three branches of government. Jack formerly served as a Senior Policy Advisor in the United States Congress, where he advised senior members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, and also worked at USDA as an aide to the Under Secretary for Rural Development. Immediately prior to joining Dorsey & Whitney, Jack served as a judicial law clerk in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.   

Emily Rooney, President, Agricultural Council of California 

Emily joined Ag Council in 2008 and became President in 2010. She manages the organization and handles regulatory and budget policy matters on behalf of Ag Council members. Prior to her work with Ag Council, Emily served as director of farm policy for the California Farm Bureau Federation where she represented the interests and objectives of California’s farmers and ranchers as they relate to farm policy, tax and biotech issues before the U.S. government and administrative bodies. In addition, Emily has legislative experience in Washington, D.C. where she worked for two members of Congress advising on issues including agriculture, budget, taxes and judiciary matters. Emily comes from an agricultural background in San Joaquin County where her family owns a beef cattle and sheep operation just outside of Lodi. Emily is a graduate of the University of California, Davis and Class 39 of the California Agricultural Leadership Program. 

Robby Walker, Principal, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP) 

Robby Walker is a tax principal at CLA’s Sacramento office with 20 years of experience serving California clients in agriculture, cooperatives, and food and beverage industries. With over 130 locations in the U.S., including fourteen in California, CLA creates opportunities through industry-focused audit, tax, outsourcing, digital, consulting, and wealth advisory services.  As CLA’s national agribusiness and cooperatives industry leader, he provides tax and consulting services to cooperatives and members. Robby holds a CPA designation and helps clients navigate complex regulations, optimize financial performance, and achieve strategic goals. His deep understanding of cooperative structures and agricultural operations has earned him a reputation for delivering insightful and actionable advice. Robby is a frequent speaker, contributing to thought leadership in the cooperative and agricultural sectors. He has presented at numerous conferences and seminars, sharing his expertise on topics ranging from fiscal management to governance and compliance. Robby's commitment to excellence and passion for supporting these communities make him an invaluable resource in advancing their financial stability and long-term success.