Jim Matheson
Chief Executive Officer
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)
Jim Matheson is Chief Executive Officer of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives. NRECA members provide service to 42 million people in 48 states. Jim joined NRECA in July 2016 following distinguished careers in both the public and private sectors.

Prior to joining NRECA, Jim served as Principal, Public Policy Practice, for the international law firm Squire Patton Boggs, based in Washington, D.C.

From 2001 to 2015, Jim served as a United States Representative from Utah for seven terms. During his tenure on Capitol Hill, Jim was known as a legislator who was able to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

Jim was a Chief Deputy Whip for the House Democratic Caucus and served as co-chairman of the Blue Dog Coalition. He was a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, as well as the Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Science committees. Prior to entering government service, Jim worked in the energy industry for several years.

Jim was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Government from Harvard University, and an MBA in Finance and Accounting from UCLA. Jim's wife, Amy, is a pediatrician, and they have two sons, William and Harris.

Bernt Nelson
Economist
American Farm Bureau Federation
Bernt Nelson joined the American Farm Bureau Federation in 2022 as an economist. His work focuses on livestock markets, rural development, finance and agricultural research, with additional expertise in emerging markets, risk management, broadband and precision agriculture.

Raised on a family farm in North Dakota, Bernt remains closely connected to production agriculture, including cattle and row crops. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural economics from North Dakota State University, where he was also a rodeo team bareback rider.

Before joining AFBF, he spent more than five years as a livestock Extension economist with Clemson University, working across the Southeast.

Mary Snapp
Senior Fellow, Corporate External & Legal Affairs
Microsoft
With over 35 years at the forefront of technology, Mary recently "rewired" from Microsoft to focus on civic responsibility, public speaking to demystify AI and data centers, and to advocate for rural opportunity across the country. She will continue to support Microsoft as Senior Fellow in the Corporate External and Legal Affairs team.

At Microsoft, Mary worked side by side with both coders and C-suite executives. As Deputy General Counsel, she was the "deal" lawyer for large mergers & acquisitions, she led teams driving large scale commercial transactions and providing critical counsel on IP, marketing, antitrust and privacy issues, including meeting with leaders in international, federal and state governments.

More recently, she was also the first leader of Microsoft's Global Philanthropies, focusing on STEM education and technology support for nonprofits around the globe.

Most recently she was a Microsoft ambassador for the responsible and safe use of AI around the world, rural opportunity across the United States, and she has been an active participant in state and city policy and on nonprofit issues.

Mary was Microsoft's fourth attorney and its first female lawyer. She has served on the Boards of many nonprofit organizations in human services, youth development, agricultural innovation, and in the arts, both in the Seattle region and nationally, including the Seattle Art Museum, Washington STEM, the YWCA of King/Snohomish County, Farm Foundation, National 4-H Council, FFA's Corporate Sponsors Board, Emerging Prairie in Fargo North Dakota, University of Michigan's President's Advisory Board, and many others.

She is excited to explore for profit opportunities as a Board member with companies where she has a shared passion for the mission.

Mary graduated from the University of Kansas School of Journalism, Wayne State University's MBA program and the University of Michigan Law School.