COLAB announces new officers.

The Coalition of Labor, Agriculture and Business of Imperial Valley announced the new officers that will take office Sept. 1.

Darren Smith of Smith-Kandal Insurance and Real Estate will be the new president. William Collins of Farm Credit Services will be the first vice president and Rodney Foster of Foster Feed Yards will be the second vice president.

James Graves of Ewin, Johnson & Graves, LPC, will be the secretary and treasurer.

All four will serve a two-year term.

The Board of Directors includes these four leaders along with Carlos “Chuck” Aniza, Solar, LLC; Logan Carter, Tom Watson, Inc.; Paul Cameron, Mesquite Cattle Feeders; Diane Cason, CalEnergy, Inc.; Doug Dahm, The Dahm Team Real Estate Co, Inc.; Michael Dea, Laborer International Union, Local 1184; Sue Giller, Reliance Public Relations; Howard Elmore, Sahara Packing; Stephen Elmore, Helmsman Field Logistic; Michael Kelley, County of Imperial; Carlton King, Carlton King Consulting; Jeff Mercer, Granite Construction, Inc.; George Nava, Reach Air Medical Services; Erik Ortega, IID; Peter Osterkamp, Osterkamp Farms; Blake Plourd, El Toro Export; Kurt Rubin, Rubin Seed; Steve Snow, Philips Cattle Company; and Ralph Strahm, Strahm Farms.

Advisory Board members are Mike Abatti, Mike Abatti Farms; Jeff Alford, Alford Distributing; Jim Duggins, Duggins Construction, Inc.; Bill Plourd, El Toro Export; and Blake Reed, Sun Valley Applicators.