Mike Temple has been in the irrigation industry since 1994 when he installed his first system. At the time, he was studying to earn his bachelor's in horticulture and landscape design from Auburn University while he was the owner of a landscape maintenance company. After graduating from Auburn, he worked for an irrigation materials distributor as the irrigation department manager for two years. In 1999, Temple became a project manager for a respected irrigation consulting firm and remained there until starting his own consulting firm in 2012. Mike was a member of the IA Certification Board from 2006 to 2014 and was the chair in 2013. He was the technical advisor to the Certification Board from 2014 to 2019. In 2019, he joined the IA staff as the technical program director.

John Farner serves as the industry development director for the Irrigation Association. With more than 15 years of experience in working with water, agricultural and landscape technologies and more than 20 years working in international government and public policy, Farner's expertise in government and public affairs is closely aligned with issues and technologies relating to water use in agricultural production and landscape management. After serving on staff for two members of Congress, the George W. Bush for President Campaign and as a special assistant to the United States Secretary of Commerce, Farner joined the IA in 2008 and currently oversees the advocacy and public affairs programs, focusing on water use technologies in agriculture, landscape, turfgrass and golf. He speaks regularly on issues such as drought, agricultural water use, water restrictions, agricultural productivity and groundwater/surface water use, as well as irrigation technologies, trends and best management practices for irrigation technology application and adoption.