Founded in 1967, the Arkansas Environmental Federation is a 501c(3) non-profit education association with more than 350 members, the vast majority of them businesses and industries that deal with environmental, safety, and health regulations on a day-to-day basis. The AEF focuses on practical, common-sense laws and regulations based on sound science; a teamwork approach to compliance; and waste minimization and pollution prevention. The AEF enables information to be exchanged on a daily basis between its members, government regulators, and policy makers.

Randy Thurman was named Executive Director of the Arkansas Environmental Federation in 1993. Mr. Thurman is a past member of the Arkansas Legislature and has an extensive background in business development and small business management. Mr. Thurman has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Central Arkansas at Conway, a master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Arkansas, and a master's degree in Human Resource Development from Webster University. He is a past president of the Arkansas Society of Association Executives and of the Arkansas Society of Professional Lobbyists.

Jamie Oliver is the Communication Director for the Arkansas Environmental Federation. Before coming on board with the Federation, Ms. Oliver worked for Lions World Services for the Blind in Little Rock and in the US Army Corps of Engineers' Public Affairs Office. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication with a journalism emphasis from the University of Central Arkansas and is pursuing her master’s degree in Journalism from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.