As the former Director of Environmental Services for the Western United Dairymen, Paul Martin related to the concerns of members as they tried to deal with growing regulatory pressure. An expert in environmental issues and the California dairy industry, Martin is well regarded both domestically and internationally for his work on air and water quality issues. Over the course of his tenure, he built strong relationships with federal and state agencies, a vital part of the organization's progress on issues important to the dairy industry and membership.

Martin graduated from UC Davis with a degree in agriculture economics and went on to earn his M.A. in environmental studies from Sonoma State. He is also a graduate of the California Agricultural Leadership Program.