Mike Chrisman, a fourth-generation Californian, is owner/partner of Chrisman Ranches, a family ranching and farming business in Tulare County.

Chrisman served as California Secretary of Natural Resources from 2003 until 2010. As a member of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s cabinet, he served as the governor’s chief adviser on issues related to the state’s natural, historic and cultural resources. Chrisman also chaired the California Ocean Protection Council, Sierra Nevada Conservancy and the Delta Stewardship Council. 

In leading the Natural Resources Agency, he oversaw the policies, activities, a budget of $6.1 billion and 17,000 employees in 25 departments, commissions, boards and conservancies. The issues ran the natural resources gamut from conservation, water, and fish and game to forestry, parks, energy, coastal marine and landscape.

In 2010, he became the Director of the Southwestern Partnership Office for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.  There, he oversaw the foundation’s fish, wildlife and habitat programs in the states of California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona until 2013.

Prior to becoming Natural Resources Secretary, Chrisman served as Region Manager for Southern California Edison Company, where he managed all phases of company and customer business, and the political and civic activities in Edison’s San Joaquin Valley service area. From 1994 to 1996, he served as Undersecretary for the California Department of Food and Agriculture. From 1997 to 2003, he served on the California Fish and Game Commission, where he also was Chair of the Wildlife Conservation Board.

Chrisman holds a master’s and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona in Tucson.

He joined the Water Education Foundation board in 2017. He became board president in January, 2020.