The Pesticide Stewardship Alliance Announces 2026 Board of Directors and Honors Industry Leaders at Annual Conference

The Pesticide Stewardship Alliance (TPSA) recently held its 2026 Annual Conference in Charleston, SC, bringing together leaders from across the pesticide stewardship community. During the conference, TPSA members elected the 2026 Board of Directors and recognized outstanding individuals and organizations for their leadership, innovation, and commitment to stewardship.

2026 Board of Directors and Officers Elected

TPSA members elected the following officers to serve in 2026:

• President: Rick Anderson, NewLeaf Symbiotics
• Vice President: Kerrie Fersch Ihnen, BASF
• Secretary: Dowen Jocson, Washington State University
• Treasurer: Tehane Ali, Bayer Crop Science
• Immediate Past President: Nicole Jansen, Corteva Agriscience

Newly elected to the Board of Directors for two-year terms are:

• Tanner Walter, Schuetz Container Systems — Container Management Representative
• Kelby Neal, Clean Earth — Waste Management Representative
• Lauren Traub, Syngenta Crop Protection — Pesticide Industry Representative
• Stephanie A. Smith, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets — Environment/Public Health Representative

Continuing board members include:

• Jimmy Hughes, Delaware Department of Agriculture — Government Representative
• Bob Mann, National Association of Landscape Professionals — End User Representative
• Michelle Wiesbrook, University of Illinois PSEP — Institution Representative
• Melissa Rosch, Office of the Indiana State Chemist — At-Large Representative

Serving as ex-officio members are Thomas Lopiano, US EPA Office of Pesticide Programs, and Rodney Schmidt, TPSA Operations Manager.

2026 Member Contribution Award

TPSA presented the 2026 Member Contribution Award to Tehane Ali of Bayer Crop Science in appreciation of her significant contributions to the organization, its goals, and its growth.

Although relatively new to TPSA, Ali became fully engaged from her first conference, volunteering to serve as Chair of the Annual Conference Planning Committee. Her organizational and leadership skills were evident throughout the year. In 2026, she will also serve as Treasurer of the association.

2026 Program Excellence Award

The 2026 Program Excellence Award was presented to to the Ag Container Recycling Council (ACRC). Mark Hudson, Executive Director and Leigh O’Neill, Recycling End User Manager, accepted the award on behalf of ACRC. The award is presented in recognition of a program that has transformed agricultural stewardship. Setting standards for recycling, education, and industry collaboration, ACRC has fostered continuous improvement in sustainability and helped expand recycling access and compliance. This helps promote the mission of The Pesticide Stewardship Alliance.

ACRC implemented in 1992, this 1st in the nation industry stewardship program will celebrate its 34th year in 2026! The recycling of 268,000,000 lbs. of Ag Chemical containers has resulted in: saving of more than 1,333,000 cubic yards of landfill space; reduction of 104,300 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; energy savings equal to 34,840,000 gallons of gasoline; and, the equivalent of 78,400 households’ annual energy consumption.

The ACRC staff are true stewards of U.S. agriculture and exemplary members of TPSA.

2026 President’s Award

The 2026 President’s Award was presented by Nicole Jansen to Wendy Sue Wheeler of Washington State University and Jack Ranney of Waste Options Southwest, LLC, in recognition of outstanding leadership and commitment to TPSA.

Wheeler, a long-time TPSA member, served as the 2018 TPSA President and has been Treasurer since 2020. She has served on the Board of Directors since 2014 and is widely respected for her mentorship and expertise in stewardship issues.

Ranney has been an active TPSA member for many years and has served on the Pesticide Disposal Committee for the past five years. He is recognized for his dedication to the agricultural industry, pesticide stewardship, and his willingness to support TPSA initiatives whenever called upon.

2026 Program Innovation Award

The 2026 Program Innovation Award was presented to the Iowa State University Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP). Betsy Danielson and Evan Alderman accepted the award on behalf of the program.

The award recognizes the development and coordination of programs that elevate pesticide stewardship practices and enhance educational outreach related to container management, rinsing, and recycling.

PSEP provides educational programming throughout Iowa focused on effective pesticide use while protecting human health and the environment. The program develops and presents commercial and private Pesticide Applicator Continuing Instruction Courses in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

About The Pesticide Stewardship Alliance

Founded in 2000, TPSA is a diverse organization of federal, state, and local governmental agencies; educational and research institutions; public organizations; private corporations; and individuals involved in various aspects of pesticide stewardship.

The goals of TPSA are to increase the effectiveness, efficiency, and longevity of pesticide stewardship efforts across the United States.

The 2027 Pesticide Stewardship Conference is scheduled for February 2–4, 2027, in San Diego, California.

For more information, please visit the TPSA website.