George Thornton has served at Chief Executive Officer of the National Wild Turkey Federation since June 2008. Previously, he served as President and CEO of Agriliance from July 2001 through August 2007. He has also held various sales, product management, financial and general management positions with American Cyanamid, Cyanamid de Central America, Cyanamid de Mexico, ICI Americas, ICI Australia PLC, Griffin / Dupont LLC and AgWeb.Com. Recently, Thornton was selected to serve on the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council (WHHCC). The objective of the WHHCC is to give guidance to the Secretaries of the Departments of the Interior and The USDA to assist in setting priorities, identifying and eliminating duplications and suggesting policy on conservation activities, land access and hunting heritage. He was raised in Georgia, and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia and an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He has participated in numerous continuing executive education programs at leading universities. He currently resides with his wife, Beth, in Edgefield, S.C.