June 15, 2022

Meet The Team

Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance’s Steadfast Leadership

Jeff Lucas | Executive Director

Jeff Lucas, a native of Fort Madison, Iowa, is a proud alumnus of Iowa State University, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree. Jeff has a heart for service and a talent for collaboration. Throughout his career, Jeff has embraced diverse experiences across the United States, from the high desert landscapes of Idaho to the vibrant music scene of Nashville, Tennessee. His professional journey includes managing a non-profit organization dedicated to raising beef cattle for food banks and pantries and serving as the Marketing Director at YSS, a substance abuse treatment center. Most recently, he excelled as the Chief Operations Officer for a leading livestock trailer manufacturer. Jeff's passions include bass fishing, travel, family time, and rodeo. Alongside his wife, Brooke, Jeff enjoys life with their one-year-old daughter, Emmy Lu, and their Australian Shepherd, Khloe. Now, he is excited to embark on a new chapter with IAWA.

Rebekah Jones | Director of Communications

Rebekah drives the communication of water quality needs and strategies. As a journalist, Rebekah previously told stories around the country - talking to farmers in Iowa about the cost of land, growers in California about fruit production, and hearing from small business owners in Alabama about the importance of coastal conservation. In Colorado Springs, Rebekah anchored the weekday morning newscast for the CBS affiliate for four years and won a Regional Edward R Murrow award for her documentary. IAWA brings Rebekah back to her roots. She was raised on a farm in Northeast Iowa and will always remember when her dad took her out to the fields, put soil in her hands, and explained what kind of topsoil is the backbone of their farm. She and her husband, Ryan, bought a farm with their family in 2022. Together they’re planning conservation strategies to protect the soil and water for years to come.

Adam Sodders | Communications Specialist

Adam supports communications efforts for IAWA and partners, combining his experience as a journalist with an interest in agriculture and conservation. Born and raised in central Iowa, Adam developed an interest in writing as a student at West Marshall Schools in State Center. He took his interest in storytelling down Highway 30, earning a degree in journalism and mass communication from Iowa State University. In his roles as an award-winning journalist and school communications leader, Adam has continued to grow as a writer and content creator. He is especially proud of his farming and conservation coverage for Marshalltown’s Times-Republican newspaper. Adam is an avid fisherman and enjoys hunting and hiking all over Iowa. As a new father, Adam is now more than ever committed to using his skills to support, in concert with IAWA’s partners, efforts to improve Iowa’s water quality for future generations.