Pay Dirt 2025 has a great speaker line up
We’re thrilled to announce that Phillip Anderson, CEO and Chief ReThinker at ReThink!, will be moderating the entire event, bringing his unique “doing outside the box” perspective to our discussions.
Chuck’s leadership style goes beyond a title. He has an uncanny ability to connect with people, leveraging common interests, and building partnerships to move the rural and agricultural industry forward at scale. His ability to work closely with landowners, government officials, and contractors enables ISG to deliver effective design solutions that fulfill project needs.
Chuck is a strong advocate for the balance between rural drainage and environmental sustainability, helping clients prioritize land stewardship practices that benefit everyone. Chuck firmly believes in what he does, as he is on the Lake Association Board for improving water quality on his local lake and enjoys kayaking and boating on Minnesota’s lakes and streams.
Fred Whitford is the coordinator of Purdue Pesticide Programs of the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service. He received a B. S. in wildlife management from Louisiana Tech University, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in entomology from Iowa State University. He has authored more than 250 research, extension, and regulatory publications, and has delivered over 2800 presentations to a wide array of audiences. He has written three books: The grand old man of Purdue University and Indiana Agriculture: a biography of William Carroll Latta, published in 2005 by Purdue University Press; The complete book on pesticide management: science, regulation, stewardship, and communication, published in 2002 by Wiley & Sons; and The complete federal and state compliance guide for Hoosier businesses, published in 2001 by Purdue University Press. Dr. Whitford’s prior professional activities include lab and field research, extension outreach, regulatory work, and commercial pesticide application.
Joe Moore, CPESC, MS4 CECI, is the Founder & Chief Brand Ambassador of Erosion & Construction Solutions Inc, with two divisions: Siltworm and Erosion Construction Services. Self-described as a Clean Water Nerd, Joe is an expert in clean water regulation and environmental management, serving on the Indiana MS4 Partnership Executive Board and the Northwest Indiana Storm Water Advisory Group. As a former constructor he brings a practical approach as he educates on SWPPP and BMP related topics.
Matt Meersman developed a strong connection to the water growing up near the St. Joseph River and spending summer weekends at his family’s lake cottage in southern Michigan. He now lives along the river in downtown South Bend, IN and works as the Director of the St. Joseph River Basin Commission. He also serves as President of the Friends of the St. Joe River Association. When he is not working on watershed projects, you will likely find him paddling upstream in preparation for the biggest canoe races in the world. His passion for conservation and paddling both come from a love of being in and on the water.
Paul is the recently retired Superintendent of Indiana Dunes National Park. Paul’s almost 35-year National Park Service career included river conservation and trail development in over 25 states and work in National Parks and Protected Areas in Eastern Europe. Paul has a passion for public lands and making them accessible for everyone. Paul earned a BS in Forest Science at The Pennsylvania State University and an MBA at Frostburg State University in western Maryland. Prior to his National Park Service career, Paul was the Forester, Wildlife Biologist and Manager of the Rockwell-Somerset-Woodlands, a 10,000 acre private property in SW Pennsylvania, owned by the former CEO of Rockwell International. Paul and his wife Sue live in LaPorte County with their dog Teton. Three adult children live in Ohio and New York. Paul is originally from Philadelphia.
As the founder and Chief ReThinker at ReThink!, I draw upon my experiences and the insights of partners to help individuals and organizations ReThink their conversations and connections, and seek collaborative solutions. Groups are constantly challenged to “think outside the box,” but then become frustrated when they step back in the box to do their work. I share that frustration so ReThink! is about thinking outside the box, then staying outside the the box, and finally, doing outside the box.
As a passionate and strategic connector-of-dots I have helped all kinds of organizations and communities invest their talents and passions in each other. As an engaging and articulate speaker, I share stories and lessons learned in 23+ years as the chief staff officer for four non-profits in agriculture and rural community development and subsequent experiences as a private consultant.
I’ve designed and presented training programs for the Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, sharing the philosophy, principles, and practices of servant leadership with individuals and organizations. In food and agriculture, I’ve helped farmers, especially beef, veal, and corn producers, pursue opportunities in local, regional, national, and international food markets; tackle tough animal health, environmental, trade, and marketing issues; and strategically manage associations and media relations.
I have consulted on some exciting projects., including the development of Whitewater Canal Scenic Byway, Whitewater Valley Gateway Park, Nickel Plate Arts, Indiana Glass Trail and assisted historical societies. In community development, I’ve co-managed a comprehensive statewide rural development plan, conducted community planning visits, and helped local leaders rediscover community assets.
Throughout my career, I have served in numerous local and statewide leadership roles and been fortunate to work along side great leaders and followers.
My travels have fueled my passion for Indiana history and geography. For over 30 years, I have been “Wandering Indiana” on a mission to visit all 2,230 dots (villages, towns, and cities) on Indiana’s map – and am nearly 93 percent complete.
I graduated with a B.S. in agricultural economics from the Purdue University College of Agriculture, specializing in sales and marketing. I was a member of the Indiana Agriculture Leadership Program’s Class 2, a two-year educational program presented by AgrIInstitute. I am also a co-owner of my family’s grain farm near Frankfort, Indiana. My family and I reside in Carmel, Indiana.
Rodney Rulon began farming full-time after graduating from Purdue University with a B.S. (in 1994) and M.S. (in 1996) in agricultural systems management. Rulon Enterprises is a fourth-generation family farming operation run by brothers Ken and Roy Rulon, cousin Rodney Rulon, and Roy’s sons, Nick and Neal Rulon. The Rulon Farm started off as 80 acres in 1869 and has since grown to include over 6,400 acres of no-till corn and soybeans across central Indiana. The Rulon family operation also includes a market hog operation called Bryant Premium Pork LLC; a Beck’s Hybrids seed dealership; The Peer Network – a subscription-based agriculture discussion website; and a custom drainage design and installation business.
Sue brings 30 years of professional experience in water resources, specializing in erosion and sediment control, wastewater, drinking water, and water rights. She has played a pivotal role in the development, permitting, and approval of various projects, including road and bridge construction, building sites, stream relocation, wetlands, and mitigation sites. Her experience also includes developing stormwater pollution prevention plans (SWPPPs), spill prevention control and countermeasure plans, hazardous waste contingency plans, air monitoring and reporting, and wastewater reporting.
Certified Crop Advisor, Certified Pesticide Applicator. 34 years as a Cornell Cooperative Extension multi-county Field Crop and Soils Educator and Program Leader for Agriculture/Horticulture at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County, New York. For the past 3 years as private consultant, he has been conducting cutting edge research on forage, plant nutrition, and bio-industrial crops in partnerships with both university and private industry. He works directly on farm consulting in multiple states of the US. From solving problems in the broad based farm system to detail answers in crop production; solutions, not the problem, has been the focus.
Tom Mortensen has over 36 years of experience in site design, landscape architecture and related design and construction professions. His work includes expertise in site planning of urban spaces, parks and public open spaces, trails, plazas, private developments, restoration plans and integrated stormwater management using green infrastructure and native landscape.
He has collaborated on design projects with the US Forest Service, National Park Service, Boy Scouts of America, Indigenous North American Tribes and the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
Tom has given presentations throughout the US at various conferences, symposiums and events on topics related to our water ethic, site design, master planning, rainfall integration and site development. Since 2011, he has been teaching a class at the UWM School of Continuing Education in the Water Technology Certification Program on the topic of green infrastructure and using native and adaptive landscape and site design for more resilient management of rainfall on sites.
Bio coming soon.
Need a place to stay during the event? Checkout our hotel accommodations.