Speakers
Wednesday Guest Speakers
University Welcome
Dr. Wendy Wintersteen became the 16th president of Iowa State University on Nov. 20, 2017, after a nationwide search, followed by a unanimous vote of the Iowa Board of Regents. The first woman to hold the university’s highest office, Dr. Wintersteen has served Iowa State for 46 years in several capacities.
The university’s brand platform, “Innovate at Iowa State,” captures Dr. Wintersteen’s vision of students and faculty using creativity and innovation to develop entrepreneurial approaches to solving problems and creating new business opportunities. Iowa State’s Student Innovation Center is a 146,000-square-foot technology-rich campus hub for students, classes and clubs to express their ideas. The Start Something Network ensures every college offers a vibrant portfolio of academic courses in innovation and entrepreneurship.
Under Dr. Wintersteen’s leadership, Iowa State has established global prominence in innovation and entrepreneurship in higher education – named the 2023 Entrepreneurial University of the Year for the Americas and ranked among the top 15 undergraduate entrepreneurship programs out of 300 public and private universities by the prestigious Princeton Review four years in a row. Iowa State also received the 2024 Model University Accelerator/Incubator award and the 2021 Model Program Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurial Education, both from the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and the 2022 Nasdaq Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence award, the highest honor presented by the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers.
Iowa State boasts a placement rate of 94% for its graduates. In 2024, Money.com rated ISU in the top 10% in the nation for affordability, making it the highest-ranked university in the state. A national research powerhouse, Iowa State is ranked in the top 3% for research out of nearly 500 universities without a human medical school. The university continues to set new records for external research funding, attracting $346.2 million in grants and contracts.
Iowa State consistently ranks in the Top 100 universities worldwide for number of U.S. patents as ISU faculty and staff excel at transferring their research, technology, and innovation to the marketplace to address complex challenges and accelerate the state’s economic progress. ISU Extension and Outreach programs operate in all 99 counties to directly benefit more than 1 million Iowans each year.
Dr. Wintersteen is advancing Iowa State University for the 21st century with priorities and aspirations expressed in ISU’s strategic plan: to be the most student-centric leading research university where students, faculty and staff flourish in a welcoming and respectful environment; to be the university that fosters lifelong learning, creates opportunities and forges new frontiers; and to be a trusted partner for proactive and innovative solutions.
Prior to becoming president, Dr. Wintersteen served eleven years as the inaugural endowed dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and director of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station. During her tenure, Iowa State’s agricultural programs ranked in the top 10 worldwide, CALS enrollment rapidly increased to become the third-largest college of agriculture in the nation, research grants increased markedly, awards for teaching excellence grew, and the college achieved a 98% placement rate for its graduates.
Dr. Wintersteen began her career working in eastern and central Iowa as one of the first female ISU Extension associates in integrated pest management. She then completed her doctorate in entomology at Iowa State and rose through the ranks to become a professor of entomology (with a brief stint at the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture in Washington, D.C.), followed by successively senior administrative roles in extension and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS).
Opening Speaker: Women in Agriculture: Stories of Leadership and Perseverance
Speaker: Women Managing Farmland
Gabrielle McNally is the Social Science Director and Women for the Land Advisor at American Farmland Trust (AFT). Gabrielle earned her PhD in Sociology and Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University. She received her MS from the University of Washington School of Environmental and Forestry Science, with a focus on environmental economics. She also worked five years with Washington State University Extension on agriculture and forestry activities.
Speaker: Cyber Incident Management Exercise for Emergency Preparedness
Doug Jacobson is the Director of the Iowa State University Center for Cybersecurity Innovation and Outreach and a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Jacobson has delivered 300+ security presentations; founded the Iowa Cyber Hub to grow the cybersecurity workforce; launched a multi-audience Cybersecurity Ambassador Program; and co-authored a security-literacy book for nontechnical readers. He also leads Cyber House Rock, a creative multimedia campaign that makes digital safety accessible to all ages. Jacobson frequently partners with state and local governments on cybersecurity strategy and incident-response tabletop exercises, bringing practical, whole-state solutions to complex security challenges.
Speaker: Let’s Get Started with Career Mentoring Today!
Laura Rowe is the Global Product Manager in the Corn Business at Corteva Agriscience. In this role, Laura leads the development of Corteva’s strategic portfolio of corn traits and products, collaborating with experts worldwide to deliver innovative solutions to farmers. Laura previously held the position of Global Regulatory Lead where she developed strategies for global corn authorizations. Her efforts helped support a farmer-centric, progressive approach for the seed business, enabling sustainable growth for Corteva. Laura holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from Iowa State University. She and her husband operate their family farm in Central Iowa where they raise their children.
Speaker: Cyber Incident Management Exercise for Emergency Preparedness
Jennifer Horn-Fraiser of Bluebird Sky strategy consultancy helps people, organizations, and coalitions tackle challenging problems, form collaborative networks, and develop clear plans and processes for putting strategy into action. She is also a Fellow of the Strategic Doing Institute, teaching the Strategic Doing methodology for solving complex challenges to people around the world. Horn-Frasier is currently working with the Iowa State University Center for Cybersecurity Innovation and Outreach to develop ways to help people respond to cybersecurity challenges and disasters.
Speaker: Take the Bull by the Horns! Strategies for Growing Your Career and Leading with Excellence
Closing Speaker: This is Not My First Rodeo! Strategies for Calmly Facing Whatever Comes Your Way
Brenda Clark Hamilton is a dynamic keynote speaker who provides fresh perspectives in leadership, communication, resilience, and personal excellence. Brenda launched her speaking business in 2005, by offering training to businesses in her northern Iowa community. She spoke at her first statewide conference in 2008. Since that time, she has become a nationally recognized conference speaker and audience favorite, speaking at approximately 100 events each year, in every industry imaginable. Audiences are quick to note Brenda’s sense of humor, in-depth knowledge, high energy, and skill at keeping them engaged. Brenda holds a Master’s Degree in Education.
Speaker: Let’s Get Started with Mentoring Today!
Alexandra Osborn is a Corn Breeding Associate for Beck’s Hybrids in Goehner, Nebraska. In her role, Osborn works with three corn breeding programs to develop and maintain inbred lines for eventual hybrid production. Osborn, an Iowa State alum, earned her B.S. in Agricultural and Rural Policy Studies with a minor in Agronomy, and is currently enrolled at Iowa State in the Masters of Agronomy program. Originating from a century farm in rural Missouri, Osborn is a passionate advocate for agriculture, and is thrilled to be the seventh generation of her family to work within the agriculture sector.
Thursday Guest Speakers
Keynote Speaker
Kylie Flemming serves as the executive director of Iowa Mediation Service and founder of outSIGHTin. In these roles, she oversees statewide mediation and conflict management efforts, along with providing consultation services through private individual and group coaching.
With a Doctorate in Interdisciplinary Leadership that is paired with degrees in Human Resource Development and Psychology, Kiley has the expertise to design impactful interpersonal dynamics and communication training. She is also well equipped to conduct conflict management and mediation sessions, as she has done throughout her Human Resources and consulting career. Drawing from various industry experiences, along with leaning into her Certified Life Coach credentialing, Kiley has vast competencies dealing with personal and professional dynamics that impact goal achievement.
She is a master facilitator for the International Farm Transition Network, which helps nationwide efforts of certifying individuals in best practices surrounding agricultural succession planning. As the author of two books, Conflict Imagery: Developing a Reflective Framework and Discovering Self Imagery, she helps readers authentically name their internal scripts in tangible ways. Through the practice of identifying personal metaphors and images to convey core belief systems, the creation of shared understanding among parties can be formed.
Above all else, her greatest privilege is raising her three teenage children.
Speaker: Team Building
Denise Forney is Vice President of Talent and Organizational Development for Iowa Corn, bringing over 30 years of leadership and training expertise. She has designed and facilitated courses for domestic and international audiences, drawing on her farm roots growing up on a farm in eastern Iowa. Denise earned her B.A. from the University of Northern Iowa and an M.S. in Adult Education, Training, and Development from Drake University. A certified Talent Development Coach, she has presented at SHRM, ATD, and the Iowa Employment Conference. Outside of work, she enjoys playing guitar and spending time with family.
Panel Speaker: Agriculture Safety
Chris Cornelius a native Iowan, Cornelius grew up on a diversified farm in Guttenberg, Iowa. She earned a bachelor’s degree in ag journalism from Iowa State University in 1983. Chris lives near Bellevue, IA and alongside her husband, Chuck, and their two sons, Will and James, and daughter-in-law Janie, she co-owns and manages her family’s independent, fifth generation seed business. The business is celebrating 90 years of success in 2025. She has served as president of the Independent Professional Seed Association. Chris is also an active partner in their farming entity, Cornelius Land & Cattle. She loves spending time with the grandchildren, known as the “Fab Five.”
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Panel Speaker: Agriculture Safety
Roxanne Fevold completed her Bachelor of Arts in Family Life Education with psychology and music minors through Concordia University St. Paul. She then moved to Iowa and started working on a master’s degree in clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University. She is licensed as a mental health counselor and holds certifications in substance abuse treatment and cultural competency in working with rural farmers. She is active with Annie’s Project through ISU and promoting mental well-being within the farming family. She was drawn to the field following a farming accident with her husband in 2010 which prompted her passion for farm safety physically and psychologically. When she is not working or collaborating in the field, she loves spending time with her family.
Panel Speaker: Agriculture Safety
Kim McMichael a native to a small town in Eastern Iowa, developed a deep appreciation for agriculture through frequent visits to family farms in Muscatine County. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Iowa, where she cultivated a strong foundation in human behavior and community engagement. In January 2024, Kim entered the agricultural safety and health field, bringing her passion for rural well-being to the forefront. She currently serves as the Outreach Coordinator for Iowa’s Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (I-CASH), a role she assumed in July 2025.
Speaker: Regenerative Agriculture
Keri Carstens, is the CEO for Jord BioScience, a leading global provider of novel microbial technology solutions to agriculture companies. Raised on a farm – and still actively farming today – Keri has dedicated her career to advancing safe, sustainable solutions that benefit farmers globally. Under her leadership, Jord was awarded the Feike Sijbesma Sustainable Innovation Award, as she worked to expand product development capacity and secure investment to scale operations. Prior to joining Jord, Keri led global regulatory strategy at Corteva Agriscience. In 2019 she was recognized as a Laureate in Corteva’s R&D organization, one of the company’s highest honors for scientific achievement. Keri is a recognized industry leader, currently serving on the Board of Directors for the American Seed Trade Association. She has held steering roles for the Honey Bee Health Coalition and Entomological Society of America. Keri holds adjunct graduate faculty status at Iowa State University. Keri earned her B.A. in Biology and Education from Wartburg College, and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Toxicology and Entomology from Iowa State University.
Speaker: Regenerative Agriculture
Lisa Schulte Moore, Dr. Schulte Moore is a Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agricultural and Life Sciences in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management and Director of the Bioeconomy Institute at Iowa State University. She works in large transdisciplinary teams of scientists, engineers, farmers, farmland owners, and representatives of government, industry, and NGOs to foster continuous living cover on agricultural landscapes. Her research supports the development of new agricultural markets to meet societal goals for sustainable food, energy, and materials, rural prosperity, healthy soil, clean water, abundant wildlife, and inspiring recreational opportunities. She is a fellow of the Leopold Leadership Program, Ecological Society of America, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and MacArthur Foundation, and have been named a Top Agri-Food Pioneer by the World Food Prize Foundation.
Speaker: Current Events, Policy and Trade in Agriculture
Capstone Speaker
Julie Kenney was named CEO of the Agribusiness Association of Iowa in September 2024. AAI represents more than 1,100 business locations across the state that supply feed, seed, crop protection products, grain, fertilizer, equipment and other products and services that benefit agriculture.
Julie was appointed Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture in 2018 and served Iowans in that capacity for 5 years. Prior to serving as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, Julie spent 15 years leading public affairs and marketing programs for agricultural businesses and associations.
Julie and her husband Mark have two children and own and operate a corn and soybean farm in central Iowa.
Speaker: Current Events, Policy and Trade in Agriculture
Katie Hall is Senior Director of Advocacy/Executive Director at the Iowa Soybean Association/Soy Aquaculture Alliance. Katie leads ISA’s Advocacy efforts working with key stakeholders to influence policy impacting farmers. In October she joined the Soy Aquaculture Alliance (SAA) as Executive Director. SAA works with a dozen state soybean associations to promote soy protein inclusion in aquaculture feed. Katie has 8 years of government relations experience working on issues including trade, logistics, and economic development opportunities. She spent the first decade of her career trading commodities and coordinating logistics. Katie graduated from Iowa State University with degrees in Economics and Logistics Supply Chain Management. She and her husband have two sons.
Speaker: Getting Through Farming’s Financial Challenges
Leslie S. Miller is a Farm Financial Planning Associate with Iowa State University Extension. Prior to that, she was an agricultural lender for 45 years. During the agricultural credit crisis, Miller chaired the Agricultural Committee of the Iowa Bankers Association and went on to head the Agricultural Bankers Division of the American Bankers Association in Washington, DC, where she started The Farm Financial Standards Council. In 2018, the Iowa Bankers presented her with the James A. Leach Leadership in Banking Award for her work in ag lending, and she was recognized by Iowa State University as a Woman Impacting Agriculture.
Speaker: Personal Financial Planning
Ann Slechta has decades of experience as an independent financial planner and joined Silverleaf Wealth Management in 2024. She assists pre-retirees and retirees in planning their best life in retirement. With her own life experiences in business, coaching, playing collegiate golf, and assisting her husband in managing the family farm, Ann is equipped to support her clients with their daily challenges. She is an advocate for education and coaching women on the role of family finance, assisting business owners in an effort toward building a profitable business, and helping farmers preserve their most valuable assets. Ann, her husband David, and their three children reside near Carroll.
Speaker: Women Managing Farmland and Sharing Experiences
Joanne Tupperraises cattle, hogs, and crops with her family. She works to assure a strong transition to succeeding generations. Joanne’s family calls her the PR Manager for Poppe Farms because telling her story has always been important and she is involved in the community. Past roles include Sunday school teacher, 4-H concession stand coordinator, President of the Northeast Iowa Research Farm, and President of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation. Joanne received her B.S in Horticulture at Iowa State University.
Speaker: Women Managing Farmland and Sharing Experiences
Val Plagge farms with her husband Ian at VIP Farms in Franklin County, where they raise corn, soybeans, pigs and four kids. Nearly 15 years ago, Val joined the operation full time. She focuses on landlord relations by managing rental agreements and building strong connections. She’s active in her community and state-wide groups such as CommonGround Iowa and Iowa Farm Bureau’s FARM Team. She was a 2018 Woman Impacting Agriculture honoree and earned a B.S. at Iowa State University in Communications.
Speaker: Getting Through Farming’s Financial Challenges
Kelvin Leibold has 36 years of experience with Iowa State University Extension. His areas of expertise include farm management, farmland and building leasing, global agriculture, land values, farm machinery management, estate planning, intergenerational transfer and beginning farmers. He is a past member of the ANNIES PROJECT national leadership team. Kelvin has observed agriculture on six continents. This included setting up a pork genetics project in Nigeria and ongoing work with Agri-Benchmark from Germany. Kelvin has presented at the AGRITECHNICA machinery show in Germany as well as many of the countries he has traveled to including Ukraine and Russia. Kelvin earned a B.S. and M.S. in Agricultural Education from Iowa State University.
Speaker: Empowering Women in Agriculture: Navigating Workplace Challenges with Confidence
Kamie VanOtterloo is an experienced HR professional with nearly a decade in human resources and talent development. Currently serving as HR Business Partner at Kemin Industries, Kamie specializes in employee relations, onboarding, and strategic HR initiatives. Her background includes roles in recruiting, training, and coaching, with expertise in fostering engagement and inclusion. Holding a Graduate Certificate in Adult Education from Indiana University and a BS in Elementary Education from Iowa State, Kamie is passionate about empowering people and building strong workplace cultures.
Speaker: Empowering Women in Agriculture: Navigating Workplace Challenges with Confidence
Kathryn Greenfield is the Deputy General Counsel at Kemin Industries, where Kathryn provides strategic legal guidance on corporate and regulatory matters while managing a group of attorneys that provide legal services worldwide. With a decade of experience in public and private sectors, Kathryn previously served as Assistant General Counsel and Attorney for the State of Iowa. A graduate of the University of Iowa College of Law and University of Notre Dame, Kathryn is also active in community leadership serving on the Board of Trustees for the Des Moines Symphony and the Board of Directors for the West Des Moines Library Friends Foundation.
