Our Team
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Rick Waitley
President, Waitley Associates Rick Waitley is a private consultant and lobbyist and serves as president of Association Management Group. The firm represents different agricultural commissions and associations. Waitley has been a lobbyist since 1977 and represents many of the clients on legislative issues. Waitley graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in agriculture education. He taught high school agriculture for a few years before joining the staff of the National FFA in Virginia. Waitley returned to Idaho and started lobbying for Idaho Dairymen's Association. Rick spent 14 years as Administrator of Valley Shepherd Nazarene Church until 1993 when he established Association Management Group. In 2016, Rick was among 100 visionaries nationally recognized by Farm Credit for helping define the future of rural communities and agriculture. Selected as a Farm Credit 100 Fresh Perspectives honoree, Waitley was named a top ag leader in Rural Policy Influence. Rick is married to a retired Meridian School District Kindergarten teacher. Rick and his wife, Dorita, have two grown daughters. |
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Roger Batt
President, Batt Associates Roger Batt is a private consultant and lobbyist, and serves as President of his own firm - Batt Associates. Roger joined the AMG team in 2001. Batt has worked as a lobbyist on state and federal policy issues since 2002 and is involved in serving agricultural commissions, associations, councils, coalitions, and committees. Batt conducts work in the Natural Resources Sector specifically on surface water policy issues, water rights and water quality standards. He coordinates the Public Relations work of the Idaho Weed Awareness Campaign, a statewide education and outreach effort on the awareness and control of Idaho’s noxious weeds. Batt is a graduate of George Fox University with a degree in Management and Organizational Leadership. He is a veteran of the United States Navy and serves on several Committees and Boards. Roger’s wife, Gayle, served as an Idaho State Legislator as a State Representative in District 11 for six years (2010-2016). |
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Patxi Larrocea-Phillips
Owner, LP Associates & Agriculture, LLC Patxi joined the Association Management Group (AMG) team in 2018 after completing an externship with Food Producers of Idaho during the Legislative Session. Patxi attended the University of Idaho and earned his bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics. Thereafter, he continued his education by attending the University of Idaho College of Law and graduating with his Juris Doctor degree. Patxi is part of the fourth generation to play an active role with his family’s commercial beef cattle ranch and diversified row crop farm. Patxi is married to a teacher and they reside in Meridian. |
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Kendra Dustin
Owner, K1 Event Planning & Fundraising Kendra Dustin is the Owner of K1 Event Planning & Fundraising. Since 2010 Kendra has specialized in working with clients to develop and implement strategic fundraising campaigns. She has worked with and on behalf of clients to cultivate strategic partnerships, develop and steward donor relationships, coordinate and implement fundraising events, and write major grants. Born and raised just outside of Boise, Idaho, Kendra received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Applied Business from Northwest Nazarene University. Kendra spent the first years of her career working for the United States Senate and on political campaigns before making the transition to non-profit fundraising. Growing up, Kendra lived just a mile from her grandpa’s dairy farm and spent her summers at her grandparent's 10,000 acre cattle ranch in Northern California. Ultimately her passion for farmers and ranchers led her back to where she is now and allowed her to develop a niche specialty working on the behalf of agricultural clients to further the efforts of agriculture education and agricultural literacy. Kendra’s current client portfolio includes The Leadership Idaho Agriculture Foundation, Certified Agriculture Dealerships, Ag Rally on RFDTV, Trinity Pines Camp and Conference Center, and LoveINC Treasure Valley. Kendra serves on the associate board for Caldwell Night Rodeo and on the board for the Western Heritage Foundation. Kendra lives in Meridian, Idaho, with her husband, Glenn, and is a proud stepmom to two grown children, Garrett and Chloe. |
Support Staff
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Patty Nottingham, Bookkeeping
Patty graduated from Ontario High School followed by 4 years at Northwest Nazarene University, where she was a volleyball standout and earned her BS in Accounting. Since joining AMG in 1999, her major responsibilities include bookkeeping, invoicing, monthly accounting, taxes, bank correspondence, personnel records, audits, deposits, merchandise inventory, and IRS records (history). Patty is also AMG’s primary contact for all event registration. |
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Sydney Knight, Admin. Associate
Sydney was born in Nampa and spent her childhood in Kuna. She and her family then moved to Cody, Wyoming, and she spent her high school years there before coming back to Idaho for college. Sydney graduated from NNU in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in both Business Management and Accounting. She continued her education and graduated with a Master of Business Administration from NNU in 2022. Before coming to AMG, Sydney worked as a Marketing Operations Manager at NNU and an accountant at Quintex Molding, Atlas Pallets, and Tasker Electrical. She also volunteered in Kiwanis and interned in the HR department at Lowe Family Farmstead. Sydney joined the AMG staff in January 2024. |
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Cassidey Plum, Executive Assistant
Cassidey is a recent graduate (2023) of the University of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics with an Agri-Business emphasis. She has spent the last few years in a variety of intern roles from serving as the Programs and Events Intern for the Idaho FFA Foundation to interning for the United States Senate in Washington D.C. Cassidey has accepted a position with Batt Associates, assisting each of the company’s clients. She is eager to serve various agricultural groups with a fresh perspective all while learning more about event management and state policy issues. Cassidey was born and raised in Meridian, Idaho and is happy to return to her hometown for her newest adventure - working for Batt Associates. |
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Nic Gibson, Graphic Design
Nic joined the AMG team in 2011. After being born and raised in Boise, he graduated from Northwest Nazarene University in 2012, where he studied Graphic Design and Business. Nic is responsible for designing materials such as brochures, posters, flyers, booklets, and other print-related items. He also is the web designer for a number of AMG clients. Nic also helps the AMG team outside of graphic design with client events and projects. |
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Dorita Waitley, Project Consultant
Dorita was raised on a wheat and cattle ranch in Northern California. She came to Northwest Nazarene University and obtained her teaching degree. Dorita retired after 35 years in public education with Meridian School District. Dorita has been involved with the Ag in the Classroom program for several years and continues to assist in that area as well as develop some curriculum. Dorita works at AMG as needed on projects and events. During the months of January-March she serves as the Lobby Room Hostess at the Idaho State Capitol Building. |
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Vicky Connelly, Special Projects
Vicky grew up on a farm outside Notus, Idaho. She obtained a secondary consumer science teaching degree from Northwest Nazarene University and taught for 33 years in Meridian and Nampa school districts. Vicky joined AMG in 2015 and works part time assisting with special projects and events. |
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Sandy Kelso, Booking Agent
Sandy joined AMG in November of 2018. Sandy assists Liberty Quartet with scheduling, merchandise, and other office assignments. She has had a career of working as an Elementary School Secretary and also worked in the transcription department of a hospital for 16 years. Sandy was born in Lakewood, CA and raised in Stockton, CA. She has an A.S. Degree in Court Reporting. Sandy has 2 daughters, 1 son, 1 son-in-law, and 2 grandsons. She lived in Seaside, OR, and recently moved to Garden City, ID, to be closer to her family living in Idaho. |
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Tom Connelly, Special Projects
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