Meet the Commission

Marsha petrie sue, commission chair – scottsdale

Marsha Petrie Sue, of Scottsdale, was appointed to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission on Sept. 6 by Gov. Doug Ducey. A longtime hunter and angler, she has dedicated nearly 25 years to wildlife conservation. She is an Arizona Antelope Foundation life member, Arizona Deer Association volunteer, Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society conservationist, Desert Fence Busters worker, and past Women’s Outdoor Media Association chair. Marsha is also on the Board for Wildlife for Tomorrow, the 501(c)(3) for the Arizona Game and Fish Department whose donations are strictly for conservation, and a member of Charter 100, an association of exceptional women in the community. In Business Magazine recognized her as a 2022 Woman of Achievement, and she has received the Margie Herndon Conservation Award and the Daughters of the American Revolution Community Service Award.

Ms. Sue has called Arizona home for more than 35 years. She is a retired corporate executive who founded Communicating Results, Inc. and has authored five leadership development books. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University at Long Beach and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. Contact me

jeff buchanan, member – patagonia

Lieutenant General (retired) Jeffrey (“Jeff”) Buchanan earned a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Ecology and is passionate about wildlife and natural resources conservation. He and his wife Laura (who also has a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Ecology) are members of various conservation organizations ranging from the Arizona Elk Society to the National Wildlife Federation. Buchanan retired from a distinguished 37-year U.S. Army career in 2019, having commanded at every level from Platoon to Theater Army. His assignments included tours in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, 25th Infantry Division, 101st Airborne Division, the 10th Mountain Division, and I Corps. He served four combat tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan.

From 2016-2019, he served as USNORTHCOM’s Joint Forces Land Component Commander and led the operational-level military response in support of FEMA for five major hurricanes (Matthew, Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Florence) and in support of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency for Southwest border security.

Upon retirement, he and his wife moved home to Patagonia, Ariz., where he consults from his home office. In addition to serving as a Senior Fellow for National Defense University, Buchanan serves as a Senior Mentor for the Department of the Army. He currently serves on three not-for-profit boards. In addition to his Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Ecology, he also earned a Master of Arts in Leadership Development from the U.S. Military Academy. Contact me

James e. goughnour, member – payson

James E. Goughnour of Payson was confirmed as a member of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission by the Arizona Senate on Jan. 29, 2019 following his appointment by Gov. Doug Ducey. He has lived in Arizona for more than 40 years and is a driving force for wildlife conservation and outdoor recreation in the Payson area. He is the owner of Rim Country Custom Rods, a small business that designs and builds custom fishing rods. Prior to starting his business, he worked 26 years for General Dynamics Aerospace Systems Group (previously Motorola Space Systems Group), culminating in his position as project manager responsible for all aspects of the Aerospace Operations Program. Contact me

KURT KERR, MEMBER – PINETOP

Kurt Kerr, of Pinetop, is a lifelong Arizona resident, hunter, angler, and wildlife conservationist. He was confirmed as a member of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission by the Arizona Senate on April 10, 2025, following his appointment by Gov. Katie Hobbs. Kerr has 27 years of experience as a science teacher and coach at Blue Ridge High School in Pinetop-Lakeside and has been a certified volunteer hunter education instructor for the Arizona Game and Fish Department for 25 years, mentoring numerous hunters individually and at youth camps.

Throughout his life, Kerr has been deeply involved with various conservation groups. In his youth, he joined Desert Fly Casters and did stream reclamation work at Canyon Creek. Since then he has been a member of and volunteered for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, and the National Wild Turkey Federation. He was a founding member of the White Mountain Bird Dog Club and is also a volunteer with the White Mountain Clay Busters in the Scholastic Clay Target Program.

Kerr earned his degree in education (earth science emphasis) from Northern Arizona University. Contact me

Jessica Manuell, member – Parks

Jessica Manuell was confirmed as a member of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission by the Arizona Senate on March 11, 2026, following her appointment by Gov. Katie Hobbs.

Manuell is a lifelong hunter, angler and wildlife conservationist. She has taught hunter education since 2018 earning recognition from the Arizona Game and Fish Department, including “New Hunter Education Instructor of the Year” and “Buck Appleby Hunter Education Instructor of the Year.” She is also a member of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Safari Club International, Arizona Mule Deer Organization and Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation.

She holds a master’s degree in crop and soil science from Oregon State University. She, her husband and daughter call Parks, Arizona, home. Contact me