Tracey joined the Government Affairs team in 2018 as the Government Affairs Specialist. She brings with her three years of experience working with Representative Jeff Denham’s Congressional Office! Tracey graduated with a B.A. in Political Science and a Minor in History from CSU, Fresno.

Dennis Donohue currently serves as the Director of Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology, a premier agtech startup incubator based in Salinas, California. In this role, Donohue drives agtech initiatives; bolsters innovation programming; facilitates relationships between start-up companies and growers; and spearheads business development at the Center.

Donohue’s leadership in agriculture, as well as the agricultural technology industry, is extensive. He has played a key role in creating innovative business models, identifying new technologies and developing initiatives that integrate agtech and innovation into the business structure at organizations such as Cultiva Global, European Vegetable Specialties/Royal Rose, River Ranch Fresh Foods, Fresh Express Farms and Fresh Western Marketing. Additionally, his dedication to the community is unmatched. Donohue’s strong civic commitment includes his leadership as Salinas’ Mayor from 2006 to 2012 and serving on governing boards at the Grower Shipper Association of Central California, Salinas Chamber of Commerce and Steinbeck Innovation Foundation.

Donohue holds a master’s degree from Gannon University in religious education and a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of San Francisco. He currently lives in Salinas with his wife, Paula.

Teresa McQueen is Corporate Counsel for Western Growers. In that capacity she provides advice and counsel to the organization on employment law matters and commercial trade practices. She also provides legal guidance to Western Growers members on employment law, human resources, and commercial agreements, as well as providing law-related educational opportunities and overseeing annual updates to the Western Growers Personnel Procedures Manual. Teresa is a skilled trial attorney, published author, certified business etiquette trainer, and an active member of the Orange County legal community.

Prior to joining Western Growers, Teresa founded and was principal attorney at SAFFIRE LEGAL, PC, an employment and risk management law firm, and before that was a named associate at the employment litigation firm of Pedersen ▪ McQueen. While at SAFFIRE LEGAL, Teresa applied the skills and strategies learned over ten plus years as an employment law litigator and general counsel attorney to providing employers and employees with legal advice, education, and training on developing and maintaining successful employee/employer relationships.

Teresa is a recipient of the Orange County Bar Association’s Harmon G. Scoville Award for exemplifying the highest standards of the legal profession and championing our constitutional system of justice. In addition, she has been chosen multiple times as a Southern California “Super Lawyer,” named as a Super Lawyers Top Women Attorneys in Southern California, and a Super Lawyers Rising Star. Teresa is a recognized leader in the Orange County legal community, serving as a member of the Board of Directors for the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) and in numerous volunteer leadership roles for the OCBA and California State Bar. Most recently Teresa co-chairs the OCBA’s Education and Membership Committees. Teresa also serves the legal community teaching employment law as an adjunct professor at Western State College of Law at Westcliff University.

Teresa earned a Juris Doctorate from Chapman University School of Law in 2002 and her undergraduate degree from the University of Idaho.

Joining the Western Gowers Association in January 2021, Robert Medler is the Manager of Government Affairs for Arizona. Medler represent the most influential specialty crop producers in the fresh produce industry in the Arizona State Capitol. Medler represents Western Growers in all Arizona legislative and regulatory matters as well as monitor, analyze and report on policy recommendations for positions. Additionally, as part of his role, Medler develops, drafts and tactically implements policy strategies and legislation affecting agriculture, specifically relating to the fresh fruit, vegetable and nut sectors in Arizona.

Medler serves as Past Chair of the U.S. Chamber’s Board of Regents and the Curriculum Committee for the Institute for Organization Management. Medler also serves as past-president and treasurer of the 162nd Air Guardians, as well as Vice President and Treasurer of the Southern Arizona Defense Alliance.

Prior to joining Western Growers, Medler was with the Tucson Metro Chamber for nearly 14 years, and served as the founding Executive Director for the Southern Arizona Chamber of Commerce Association.

Medler is a graduate of Gonzaga University and the University of Arizona. He and his family reside in Marana, Arizona.

(Rob) Robert Steinmann joined Western Growers in August of 1988. Rob manages all reoccurring projects relating to membership such as the annual dues renewals, per package dues program and reapportionment. Additionally, he manages the MEWA (Multiple Employer Welfare Act) compliance for WGAT member participants. Rob oversees membership communication, manages all membership data, and maintains all membership statistics and reports.

Rob grew up in Illinois and spent his childhood working on the family farm where they grew soy beans, corn, wheat and hay. After serving a tour in the United States Air Force he migrated to Southern California. Rob joined Western Growers initially working in WGAT Administration and was promoted to Pension Administrator working with retirement plans. He later worked in the Human Resources department and was promoted to Flex Benefit Administrator. Rob was then promoted to the Western Growers Membership Department, where he has worked for the bulk of his tenure at Western Growers.