Board of Directors - North Dakota
JoAnn Mueller
PARTNERS
partner@megavision.com
JoAnn Mueller is facilitator for PARTNERS Project located in Kimball, Nebraska. The PARTNERS Project, developed and carried out through the Center for Rural Community Revitalization at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, is designed to sustain rural communities through sustaining their agricultural economy. In addition, JoAnn works part-time as a Field Representative for the Nebraska Cooperative Development Center.
JoAnn obtained her master’s in Adult Education Textiles and Design from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Prior to her current position with PARTNERS, she was owner and CEO of Carol's Nut List/Midwest Gourmet, a gourmet food, nut and candy distribution business. Carol's Nut List/Midwest Gourmet includes a retail outlet, mail order business, wholesale distributing company to approximately 100 small stores, a fund raising component, and an executive gift component.
Professionally, JoAnn focuses her time on many rural economic development activities. In 1994, she was appointed to the State Rural Development Commission. She has served as Government Task Force Chair, Commission Vice Chair, and now as Chair of the Commission. She helped to organize a group of Agricultural Producers in the Southern Panhandle to formulate consensus on Farm Policy and to discuss it with local, state, and national legislators. In addition, JoAnn also serves on the board to form U.S. Ag Producers Alliance, a regional multi-state cooperative of ag producers working together to control more of the value-added side of agriculture. U.S. Ag Producers Alliance is a project initiative directed through the NGP Inc.
William C. Davis
Community Development Program Director, USDA
Bill.Davis@ND.usda.gov
Bill Davis is the Community Development Program Director for USDA/Rural Development for North Dakota. Mr. Davis is responsible for staff training for community development, tribal coordination and targeted communities programs.
Before coming to the Agency, Bill served as the Economic Development Director for U.S. Senator Byron L. Dorgan where he was responsible for long-term strategic development planning of the state´s economic growth. He provides technical services to individuals and businesses, and designed special programs and targeted assistance to high out-migration and poverty-stricken areas with special focus on tribal and minority businesses.
Bill was a charter member of the Red River Trade Corridor. Throughout his career Mr. Davis served in various positions from Special Projects Coordinator to Acting Deputy Director for the Department of Economic Development and Finance from 1986 to 1994. Bill has over 20 years experience working at all levels of government, and as private consultant in community planning and economic development.
A native of Devils Lake, ND, and a graduate of St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN, Bill and his wife, Susan, are owners of Davis Designs of Bismarck. Bill and Susan reside in Mandan, ND and have six sons.
Judd Graham
NGP Inc. Secretary-Treasurer
judd.graham@wellsfargo.com
Judd Graham serves as Community Banking President of Wells Fargo Bank North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Previous banking experience includes four years with Farm Credit Services in St. Paul, Minnesota (1986-1990), four years with First National Bank in Grand Forks as a credit analyst and business banker, and six years with Wells Fargo as a business banker.
Judd was born and raised in Grand Forks, graduating from Red River High School. He attended Moorhead State University in Moorhead, Minnesota graduating with a degree in Finance. Organizational activities include the Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce, Grand Forks Downtown Leadership Group, Grand Forks Community Foundation and the Grand Forks Lions Club. He and his wife, Idette, have two children, Megan and Alyssa. Hobbies and/or leisure include playing golf and family time at their lake home in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.
