OUR LEADERSWASHINGTON TEAMThe southwest Council is represented in Washington by Combest, Sell & Associates, an experienced and effective team. |
| Tom SellTom Sell, in his role as founder and manager of Combest, Sell & Associates provides the firm steady guidance and management, fosters strong relationships with influential leaders in Congress and the Administration, and leads client development efforts.Prior to founding CS&A, Tom served as Deputy Chief of Staff for the House Committee on Agriculture, where he was instrumental in crafting the 2002 Farm Bill and the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000. He also served in the President George W. Bush Administration – on the transition team in 2000 and later as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs.A native of West Texas, Tom is a licensed member of the State Bar of Texas and received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Texas Tech University School of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness from Texas Tech University. Tom and his wife, Kyla, reside in Lubbock, Texas and have four children. He remains active in his family’s farm and ranch operation and serves on community, church, and charitable boards and commissions. |
Jeff HarrisonJeff Harrison serves as Senior Counsel at Combest, Sell & Associates. Jeff leads the firm in developing and implementing legislative and regulatory strategies, building coalitions, and promoting client priorities.Prior to joining CS&A in 2005, Jeff served 13 years on Capitol Hill, including as a Legislative Director in the U.S. Senate and as Counsel for the House Committee on Agriculture where he was lead counsel on the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 and numerous titles to the 2002 Farm Bill, including commodities and crop insurance. Jeff also clerked for the Honorable Paul A. Magnuson, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota where he was sworn into the Minnesota State and Federal Bar. Jeff has had a hand in crafting every major agriculture statute written in the past 25 years.A native of Bluffton, Minnesota in Otter Tail County, Jeff graduated with distinction from the University of North Dakota School of Law where he also earned his undergraduate degree. Harrison resides in Washington, DC and is active in the Latin Mass community at his parish. |
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Jill WhitleyJill Whitley serves as the Member & Events Manager at Combest, Sell & Associates. In her role, Jill oversees CS&A association management services and is responsible for meeting planning and execution.Prior to joining CS&A in 2015, Jill was the Central United States Training Coordinator for Fireman’s Fund Insurance where she trained both crop insurance agents and adjusters. She also worked for USAG Insurance Services and the Roosevelt Independent School District.Jill was raised on her family’s third-generation farm in Acuff, Texas where she lives today. She attended Texas Tech University. Jill and her husband, Chad, have two children and one grandchild. |
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BRAD WEDDELMANBrad Weddelman serves as Chief Economist at Combest, Sell & Associates. Brad provides keen insight and economic analysis on matters of policy for clients and lawmakers. Additionally, he assists with client casework where he interacts regularly with officials at USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Risk Management Agency (RMA). Prior to joining CS&A in 2017, Brad worked as a teaching and research assistant for the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University. He also interned with the GIC Group, a DC-based agribusiness consulting and investment firm. A native of Napoleon, Ohio, Brad was raised on his family’s corn, wheat, and soybean farm. Brad received his Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M University and an undergrad from the University of Toledo. Brad resides in Washington, DC. |
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| Piper MerrittPrior to joining CS&A, Piper worked in strategic communications at FGS Global, where she crafted proactive and strategic media outreach efforts for her clients. Before moving to Washington, she worked as a program aide for the Agricultural and Food Policy Center (AFPC) at Texas A&M University, and participated in the University’s Agricultural and Natural Resource Program as a policy intern for the House Committee on Agriculture. A native of Owasso, Oklahoma, Piper’s connection to agriculture grew through her active involvement in her local FFA chapter, where she discovered a passion for agricultural policy at a young age. As a national FFA officer, Piper advocated for youth in agriculture across 40 states and in Japan. She holds a BS in Agricultural Leadership and Development, a Minor in Agricultural Economics, and a Certificate in International Trade and Agriculture from Texas A&M University. |
| Holt BivensHolt serves as an associate in the Lubbock office of Combest, Sell & Associates. Before joining CS&A, Holt worked as a Legislative Director in the Texas House of Representatives. Holt was responsible for Agriculture and Livestock policy in the office of Representative "Doc" Anderson. He was also the organizer and contact for Texas Legislative Rural Caucus. Holt also has experience in small business, having started and managed a brush management business with his brother, and serving as manager at a local family owned greenhouse in Lubbock. Holt grew up in Munday, Texas, on his family’s farm. He received his Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business from Texas Tech University and currently lives in Lubbock, Texas with his wife, Laney. |
