Meet the new IA Board members
Three industry professionals officially joined the Irrigation Association’s Board of Directors at the conclusion of this year’s Irrigation Show and Education Week. Each brings his own experience and expertise to the board and shares a commitment to working together with other professionals. They’ve joined the 15-member board for a three-year term each, supporting and driving the IA’s strategic direction, policies and programs.
Tyler Fields is a seasoned agricultural engineer with extensive experience in irrigation design, water management and project leadership. As the senior global director of water solutions at Valmont Industries, he leads large-scale irrigation initiatives and cross-functional teams. He holds a B.S. in agriculture and biological engineering from the University of Florida and is an active advocate in the ag irrigation industry.
“The Irrigation Association should be the leading voice in irrigation, across both landscape and agriculture,” says Fields. “As the current chair of the Advocacy – Agriculture Advisory Group, I’ve seen firsthand how competitors and sectors can unite to advocate for irrigation with real results — like influencing regulatory change on Capitol Hill. Consistent, visible advocacy is essential to maintaining the IA’s authority and impact.”
Jonathan Lauer, CIC, CLIA, is CEO of Pro Outdoor, a leading provider of irrigation and home service solutions in the Midwest. He founded the company in 2001 (originally Professional Irrigation Systems) and led its evolution into Pro Outdoor in 2023. A graduate of the University of Missouri with a degree in business management, Lauer brings a passion for strategic growth, innovation and industry leadership.
“A trade association board should act as a strategic compass, fiduciary steward and ambassador for its mission,” says Lauer. “As a board member, I see three core responsibilities: setting strategic priorities grounded in industry insight and member feedback; upholding financial and operational discipline to ensure long-term sustainability; and advancing the IA’s brand and voice with regulators, partners and the industry.”
A.J. van de Ven is president and CEO of Calsense, a national provider of smart irrigation solutions for public agencies and institutions. With over 20 years in the industry, he brings expertise in engineering, operations and sustainability. Under van de Ven’s leadership, Calsense has advanced innovation in water conservation and earned multiple awards. He is also active in community- and education-focused organizations and holds a B.S. in business administration from California State University San Marcos.
“A trade association board must balance long-term vision with the evolving needs of its members — setting strategy, ensuring strong governance and amplifying the industry’s voice,” says van de Ven. “I see the Irrigation Association board as a platform to unify perspectives and elevate the role of water management in today’s environmental and economic landscape.”
IA announces 2025 SWAT Award recipients
Colorado Springs Utilities in Colorado and North Fort Bend Water Authority in Houston were named recipients of the 2025 Smart Water Application Technologies Awards, recognizing their contributions to water conservation and public engagement.
Colorado Springs Utilities received the 2025 Outstanding Industry Partnership Award for its program to pair rebates and retrofits with targeted education so customers and contractors can maximize savings from smart irrigation technology. The utility now requires commercial participants to use landscape contractors trained through the Irrigation Association’s Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor program for irrigation retrofits. This ensures all installations are handled by professionals with proven water-efficiency expertise.
“By pairing rebates with education and requiring IA-certified irrigation professionals for commercial retrofits, they’ve created a model for utilities, contractors and customers that ensures water savings are both measurable and durable,” says IA CEO Natasha Rankin. “This kind of utility-industry partnership sets a new benchmark for collaboration and impact across the green industry.”
The program has delivered measurable results, exceeding goals across multiple initiatives. On average, these irrigation and landscape retrofits gain over 40 acre-feet of savings each year while boosting professional engagement through Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor and Certified Irrigation Technician training.
North Fort Bend Water Authority is being recognized for its Water Provider Conservation Program, launched in 2022 to reduce land subsidence and promote outdoor water efficiency across northern Fort Bend County. The program incentivizes water utilities with 10 cents per 1,000 gallons and promotes smart irrigation through rebates, audits and customizable tools such as smart meter portals and irrigation evaluations. Education and resources help communities adopt efficient practices for long-term water management.
“By engaging utilities, local leaders and residents around smart irrigation practices — from audits and rebates to smart meter engagement and data-driven scheduling — the North Fort Bend Water Authority is delivering real water savings today while cultivating a culture of long-term stewardship across the community,” says Rankin.
Since its launch, the program has credited over $2.3 million to participating water utility retailers, including $972,596 in 2022 and $1.4 million in 2023, with 38 participants from 2024 on track for incentives.
