Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee assists the Center of Excellence (COE) in accomplishing the objectives of the Center.  These may include:

• • Review and assess the effectiveness of COE projects, initiatives and activities.

  • Recommend occupational performance standards and criteria for marine programming.

  • Identify emerging labor market needs, trends, and opportunities.

  • Provide resources for COE and partner activities, including subject matter expertise, equipment, supplies, materials, and financial resources, as appropriate.

  • Assist with employee recruitment, orientation, and placement.

  • Assist in career opportunities for youth through industry internships, and career exploration.

  • Identify job skill requirements/gaps, including skill standards, and soft skills.

Randy Burke graduated from Washington State University in 2010 with a B.S. in Forest Management. He worked for three summers for the US Forest Service in Potlatch, Idaho, on a silvicultural crew. Following Randy’s education at WSU and short time with the USFS, he moved to Forks, WA, for a permanent forester position with the Washington Department of Natural Resources. After a couple years in the temperate rainforest of the coast, he moved to northeastern Washington where he still resides. From 2013 to 2021, Randy worked for the WA DNR in Deer Park as a Timber Sales Layout Forester on state timber sales, and a Landowner Assistance Forester assisting small private forest landowners. In 2022, he started his own forest management business. Randy primarily assists landowners with completing fuels reduction projects (“Firewise” thinning) with some forest management consulting and planning. He joined the ANR COE Advisory Board in 2020, and stepped into the Chair role in 2022. Randy currently resides in Elk, WA, with his wife and 2 young boys. They enjoy spending time outdoors hunting, fishing, and hiking.

Annie Byerley is a 3rd generation farmer in the Walla Walla valley. She sits on numerous boards including the Washington Alfalfa Seed Commission, Walla Walla Water 2050, and is on the Board of Trustees for the Washington chapter of The Nature Conservancy. She is also a conservation scientist at the Walla Walla County Conservation District and a graduate for AgForestry Class 40. She enjoys skiing, hiking, biking, and camping with her husband, Nick and son, Crosby, in the free time.

Leslie was born and raised in the Moscow, Idaho area and, aside from her degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Idaho, her most valuable education came from living in a rural setting where she learned hard work, being a good listener and spending time with family were the real keys to success. She and her husband, Heath, live on a dryland wheat farm near Colton, WA. Employed by The McGregor Company for 30 years, Leslie works closely with Alex McGregor,  Chairman of The McGregor Company, on public policy, economic development, and environmental issues – spending considerable time lately on issues related to the lower Snake River dams. Additionally, she is actively involved in ag literacy projects and workforce development.

In a career that includes professional baseball player and Alaska commercial salmon fisherman, Miguel Inzunza found his true calling in helping students get a college education.

“I love removing barriers for students and helping them navigate the intricacies of higher education so they have more career opportunities,” said Inzunza, whose original plan was to coach baseball. “During a recruiting internship while finishing up my degree, the coaching dream just disappeared.” That was over two decades ago, and now Inzunza is the new director for student recruitment and retention in WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences.

That initial internship and introduction to recruiting took place at Lewis-Clark State College, where Inzunza completed his bachelor’s degree after several years spent playing minor league baseball all around the U.S. Inzunza spent several years working at LC State before coming to the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine. He has also worked in the financial aid department at Walla Walla Community College.