2022 ISPC Speakers

John Kennedy

Over the last 25 years, John Kennedy has presented to nearly 500,000 audience members worldwide delivering a dramatic and sustainable impact on scores of companies and associations within the green and agritourism industry.

His client list includes Sheridan Nurseries, Pick Seed Canada, Everde Growers, The Garden Center Group, Maryland Wine Association, Cape May Brewing Company, NAFDMA, Marriott Hotels, The Baltimore Ravens, Canada Bread, and over 100 state associations, landscapers, growers, farms, nurseries, and garden centers throughout North America.

John’s reputation as a sales strategist and customer experience consultant to the green industry continues to grow, as does his proven track record of success and repeat partnerships.

He specializes in strategic planning, delivering an exceptional customer experience, leadership development & teamwork, and accelerating sales cultures within the horticulture and agritourism industry.

John and his wife, Souny are founders of www.agritourism.life,  a curated collection of locally grown and family-owned garden centers, farms and wineries around the world.

Melissa Carlson & Rachel Abel

With over 30 years of combined experience in all things design, business, and craft beer, owners Rachel Abel and Melissa Carlson of 818 – a tiny design empire – are passionate about helping small businesses develop and manage their brands. They have extensive project experience with brand marketing and environmental graphic design, and provide creative direction, project management, and leadership to 818.

Matt Brennecke

Matt Brennecke was born and raised in Augusta, MO, the heart of Missouri’s wine industry. He grew up working in vineyards as a summer job, eventually helping with cellar duties during harvest. Matt returned to Augusta after college and a career in education to take on a role as cellarmaster at Mt. Pleasant Winery. While at Mt. Pleasant, Matt held a variety of positions from vineyard manager to winemaker and general manager. Matt has had award winning wines and is experienced in all aspects of running a mid-sized winery producing 15-20,000 cases annually. Matt recently joined Defranceschi USA as their wine equipment sales person.

Jasha Karasek

Jasha Karasek currently works in the technical department for Enartis USA as their Winemaking Specialist. A graduate of Enology and Viticulture from the University of California Davis, Jasha utilizes his production and lab experience to host educational webinars on topics such as wine stabilization, sensory improvement, and product application. His work in the wine industry focuses on analysis and winemaking techniques for quality improvement.

Linda Sturm-Flores

Linda grew up on an organic urban farm in Falls Church, VA. Over the years, Linda has promoted organic methods in the landscaping industry; worked with the North Carolina Department of Labor to ensure safe working and housing conditions for migrant farm workers; served as the Executive Director of Health for All, a free medical clinic in Bryan, Texas; and worked as a stay-at-home mom for 15 years. Linda is a former Peace Corps Volunteer and holds two Master of Science degrees in forestry and agronomy from NC State and Texas A&M, respectively.  

Kitt Tovar Jensen

Kitt is a Staff Attorney at ISU’s Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation and coordinates the Beginning Farmer Center. She focuses on areas of agricultural law including farm succession planning, environmental and natural resource law, regulatory law, and farm policy. Prior to joining CALT, Kitt worked as an undergraduate research assistant in the Animal Production department at the University of Lleida in Catalonia, Spain, and interned with the international trade department for the National Pork Producers Council in Washington, D.C. While in law school, Kitt served as the Associate Editor for the Drake Journal of Agricultural Law, clerked for Brick Gentry, P.C., and worked at the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation. Kitt earned her B.S. in Animal Science from Iowa State University and her J.D., with honors, from Drake University while completing certificates in Food and Agricultural Law and Legislative Practice.

Christa Hartsook

Christa Hartsook coordinates the small farms program at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. She provides technical assistance to small farmers and acreage owners, as well as outreach and education on value-added agriculture topics.

David Marks

David Marks attended the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and received a BS in wildlife biology in 2000 and a MS in Environmental Science and Policy in 2003.  He got his start working in the field of wildlife damage management for USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services in 2001 as a wildlife technician in Wisconsin.  In 2003, he became a wildlife disease biologist for the USDA Wildlife Services Program in Michigan, where he coordinated wildlife disease surveillance and emergency response projects.  In 2016, David moved to Saint Charles, Iowa to become the District Supervisor for the Iowa USDA Wildlife Services Program.  David and his staff focus on reducing damage caused by wildlife species throughout the state of Iowa.

Andy Kellner

Andy graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Madison with degrees in Conservation Biology and Anthropology in 2008. During college and after graduating he worked for a number of entities doing ecological restoration work, wildlife research, fisheries research, and habitat management. His work experiences varied in geography from oak savannas in Wisconsin, to mountains in Glacier National Park, rivers in western Colorado, and the diverse landscapes of Iowa. He has worked for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for 10 years and is currently a Wildlife Biologist with the Depredation Program. In this role, Andy works with private landowners, farmers, businesses, parks, and cities experiencing wildlife damages. Common wildlife species involved in these situations include white-tailed deer, raccoons, Canada geese, turkeys, and turkey vultures.

Patrick O’Malley, Ph.D.

Patrick has interests in all aspects of horticulture and has over 35 years of experience in the field.  He has always had a special affinity towards fruits and vegetables.  His formal training has been in the Midwest and Hawaii (B.S. in Horticulture from Iowa State University, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Horticulture from the University of Hawaii).  He has been able to work with both temperate and tropical plants. For over 25 years Patrick has been the Commercial Horticulture Field Specialist with Iowa State University Extension & Outreach for the eastern third of Iowa.

Dennis Epperly

Dennis Epperly owns and operates Pa's Posey Patch in Cassville, Missouri. Dennis has a Master's in Education from the University of Missouri and has taught agriculture/horticulture as an Agricultural Education Instructor and FFA Advisor for thirty years. He also operated a part-time farm 40 years until retirement when he operated a small farm producing fruits, vegetables and various flower crops, most recently an agritourism photo venue. During the last four years, Pa's Posey Patch has provided various flower crops for families, amateur photographers, and professional photographers to do photo sessions and just enjoy the beauty of the flowers and peacefulness of rural life.

Mark Allen

Mark Allen has been working in and with small businesses his entire career.  After graduating from the University of Kansas, Mark went to work as a commodities trader on the Chicago Board of Trade, where he served as a commodities trader for the lumber industry.  He started his own brokerage company at age 24 and grew it to include a chain of building materials distribution centers, employing over 400 people with operations in 17 states.  After selling that company in 2002, he has dedicated his working career to helping small business owners to grow and expand their businesses.  His firm, WRS Solutions, works with the Mid-America Trade Adjustment Assistance Center, the Small Business Development Center networks in Missouri, Iowa, and Kansas, and the U.S. Economic Development Administration to educate and connect business owners to finances, resources and opportunities for them to grow and prosper.  

Aude Watrelot

Dr. Aude Watrelot is an assistant professor of enology at Iowa State University. Her research area is the chemistry of polyphenols in grape and wine and her extension work focuses on education of grape chemistry and winemaking concerns to grape growers and winemakers from Iowa and the Midwest region. Aude has her B.S. degree in plant physiology and M.S degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition. She obtained her PhD at the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA) and the University of Avignon, France, where her research was focused on the mechanisms of interactions between polyphenols and polysaccharides in apple.

Brianna Hall

Brianna Hall is currently the Marketing Manager for America’s Small Business Development Center Iowa (SBDC). She oversees marketing for the State Office in Ames, Iowa and supports their 15 Regional Centers. Prior to joining SBDC, she served as Marketing Manager for Stephens Auditorium at Iowa State University. She graduated Iowa State University in 2013 with a degree in Advertising.

Ray Hansen

Ray Hansen is currently serving as a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) consultant, and co-developer of a new business incubator “Rural Business Innovators” (RBI). Hansen has been a member of the ISU Extension and Outreach team since 2000 and has served as a liaison to community colleges, the Director of the Iowa State University Value Added Ag & Rural Development Program from 2006 - 2017.  Prior to joining Iowa State University he worked for state and national grain associations and has experience in agronomic sales/service and as a secondary high school instructor. 

Dr. Suzanne Slack

Dr. Suzanne Slack joined the Horticulture faculty at Iowa State University in late 2021 specializing in fruit production. She received her PhD from Michigan State in 2020; her dissertation topic was on the tree fruit disease fire blight. Dr. Slack’s new fruit program at Iowa State aims to improve fruit production in Iowa.

Terry Bockenstedt

Terry Bockenstedt works for Nutrien Ag Solutions in Dyersville, Iowa and has been working with grape growers directly since 2015. He grew up on a farm near Dyersville, Iowa and began as a fertilizer retail plant manager at age 21. Since that time he has managed multiple offices and grown through the company ranks in various capacities in ag sales and management. Terry is an active member of the IWGA and was the recipient of the 2019 and 2020 Industry Partner of the Year award. Terry works with many growers throughout Iowa, providing their product needs.

Matt Clark

Matthew Clark, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Horticultural Science and is the project leader for Grape Breeding and Enology at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Clark earned his Masters and Doctoral degrees at the University of Minnesota in Plant Breeding and Genetics. His research focuses on developing cold-hardy, disease resistant, and superior quality grapes for wine and fresh eating. Having grown-up in the Midwest he is familiar with the desire to diversify the garden with fresh fruit, including apples, stone fruit, and grapes.

Erin Norton

Erin joined the Midwest Grape and Wine Industry Institute as Education and Outreach Coordinator in December 2015, where she serves the Iowa wine industry through organizing and presenting workshops and seminars, teaching on-campus classes and the managing the educational arm of IWGA's Registered Apprenticeship Program. After growing up in Canada’s Niagara wine region, Erin received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from University of Waterloo in 2005 and her master’s degree in chemistry from University of Windsor in 2008. This led her back home to Brock University to complete the Certificate in Grape and Wine Technology in 2008/2009. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in food science from Iowa State University.

Chuck Crabtree

Chuck Crabtree is currently the team lead for the Native Manufacturing Unit at ABD, working closely with the Education and Outreach and Licensing Units. He comes to ABD with 5 years of experience in the industry as a native beer manufacturer at NoCoast Beer Co in Oskaloosa, 10 years of experience as a scientist and educator at Indian Hills Community College, and over 7 years as a senior researcher for Texas Tech University. Chuck has a MS in Environmental Toxicology from Clemson University and a BS in biology from Whitworth University. He has been with ABD for 1.5 years.

Stacy Beach

Stacy Beach is a Compliance Officer 2 with the Audit Team at ABD. Prior to joining ABD, Stacy worked for the Iowa Department of Revenue as a Revenue Field Auditor and covered the eastern part of the state for 7 years. Ms. Beach is a graduate from Mount Mercy University located in Cedar Rapids where she currently resides. Since joining ABD Stacy has taken a strong interest in Iowa native wineries and is striving to learn all accepts of the industry. She has been with ABD for one year.

Annie Klodd

Annie Klodd is a statewide Extension Educator for fruit crops at University of Minnesota. She works with grape growers and other fruit growers to enhance production of cold hardy fruit, with an emphasis on grapes. Annie received her Masters degree studying viticulture at Penn State University in 2015. She is originally from Iowa, and grew up on a vineyard west of Indianola.

Maureen Moroney

Maureen is a Research Scientist at the Midwest Grape and Wine Industry Institute at Iowa State University, where she runs the service lab, including supervising student lab techs, to provide analysis of samples sent by industry members, and also contributes to the Institute's research and extension work. She studied Biology at Iowa State University. After graduation, she worked at Chateau St Jean Winery in Kenwood, California; Delegat's Wine Estate in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand; Hartford Family Winery in Forestville, California; and was the Enologist at Dehlinger Winery in Sebastopol, California. She is currently enrolled in the Interdepartmental Microbiology graduate program at ISU.

Jenny Lovetinsky, Ben Weber and Kristy Walker

Walker Homestead Farm & Winery is an 85-acre farm on the outskirts of Iowa City, Iowa. They produce a variety of foods and wines, raising animals and honey, and growing herbs and flowers using techniques that protect the environment and help foster the development of healthy living.

Speaking in the session will be Owner Kristy Walker, Wine Maker Jenny Lovetinsky and Farm Manager Ben Weber.

Cheri Sorensen

Cheri and her husband Ross first began their flower farm just 2 1/2 years ago. Starting with a few rows of perennials the first year and adding over 12000 annuals a year and over 400 rose plants since then. This Is a brand new venture for both of them. They moved to their seven acre property, which is settled in the Chichaqua valley surrounded by large farming agriculture, just three years ago. It was just so peaceful and relaxing they knew they needed to find a way to share that with others. Thus the Iowa Flower Farm idea came to be. They now attend local farmers markets, wholesale to several floral shops and have so much fun with their “u-pick” days! Seeing the looks on peoples faces when they walk the gardens is so heartwarming. This year they are expanding into rose oil facial lotions and serums, partnering with another company to bring a high quality product with their rose oils. 

Dr. Ajay Nair

Dr. Ajay Nair is an Associate Professor working in the area of Sustainable Vegetable Production in the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University. The focus of his research, extension, and education program is on cover cropping, conservation tillage, nutrient management, soil amendments and health, and season extension strategies in vegetable production. He works closely with commercial vegetable growers, extension staff, industry representatives and stakeholders to meet the rising demand of locally grown produce and enhance the profitability and sustainability of vegetable production systems.

Amanda Weigel

Amanda serves as an Agriculture Program Specialist for the Price Support Department of the Farm Service Agency in the state of Iowa. The Price Support Department services producer across the state with Facility Loans (FSFL’s), Marketing Assistant Loans (MAL’s), as well as Livestock and crop disaster assistance programs such as the Loan Deficiency Program (LDPs), Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), the No insurable Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), and other disaster programs. Amanda grew up in a small farming town in Central Iowa and she later attended Iowa State University’s College of Ag.

Olivia Meyer

Olivia graduated in May 2019 with a master's degree in kinesiology from Iowa State University. She then worked for a year as a research technician with the entomology department at Iowa State University studying honeybee and wild bee population health in agricultural systems. She is currently working towards another master's degree in horticulture and is the lead graduate student working on the apple IPM project at Iowa State. Olivia is also the head coach for the Iowa State Boxing Club.

Anne Carey

Anne is currently a graduate student of Horticulture and Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University. Her research focuses on organic vegetable production systems. Before beginning graduate school, she worked on several diversified organic farms across the world, mostly recently as the assistant manager of 15 acres of organic vegetable production in New York state. 

Tammy Stotts

Tammy Stotts is employed by the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship, where she has worked for over 27 years.  As a marketing specialist for the Agricultural Diversification & Market Development Bureau, she has witnessed many changes in Iowa agriculture.  Her experience includes roles within the Soil and Water Conservation District, Farmers Market Nutrition Program, and IDALS Organic Certification Program.  Tammy created the Local Produce and Protein Program and currently serves as the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Administrator and the Farm to School Coordinator for the state of Iowa. 

Teresa Wiemerslage

Teresa Wiemerslage is a field specialist for the Farm, Food and Enterprise Development program at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. She specializes in food system development, food hubs, Farm to School, on-farm food safety and helping farms achieve GAP certification. She is based in northeast Iowa and lives on a fourth-generation family farm where they raise cattle, corn and hay.

Jordan Lyon

Jordan Lyon was raised in Conesville, Iowa, where he grew up working in the nearby melon fields for Buser’s Produce, a 140+ year old, family-owned fruit and vegetable farm. After college Jordan followed a career in retail agribusiness as a salesman and agronomist. In addition to his career in agribusiness he also works as the crop production manager and wholesale sells and delivery coordinator at Buser’s Produce. Buser’s Produce raises primarily watermelon, cantaloupe, and sweetcorn which they sell at local farmers markets, produces stands, local and regional grocery stores.

Drew Erickson

Drew Erickson is a life long steward of the land, having a diverse background in land management. Following graduation from Colorado State University's natural resource program he spent several seasons working for the United States Forest Service. He then worked for a parks department in Oregon. Most recently he spent 8 years working on a diverse farm in California's Napa Valley raising chickens and turkeys, caring for horses, and producing fruits and vegetables. He joined the team at the Rodale Institute Midwest Organic Center in February 2021.

Tyler & Pam Nelson

Tyler and Pam are owners of Nelson's Produce Farm in St. Valley, Nebraska. They raise over 300 acres of produce by the Elkhorn river valley and sell wholesale to u-pick. Their farm specializes in homegrown tomatoes, sweet corn, and watermelons. They sell a large selection of fruits and vegetables, from peaches to cucumbers, and everything in between. Their passion is to bridge the gap between urban and rural and provide their community with the freshest, most economical produce possible.

Jennie Savits

Jennie Savits is the Enology Program Specialist at the Midwest Grape and Wine Industry Institute at Iowa State University. She earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in Food Science from ISU and gained winemaking experience through harvest internships and employment in the Institute’s wine lab. Jennie provides extension and outreach programming and technical assistance to wine industry members on best winemaking practices.

Allison Miller

Allison Miller is a Professor in the Biology Dept. at Saint Louis University, a Member/Principal Investigator at the Danforth Plant Science Center and Research Associate at the Missouri Botanical Garden. She also serves as the Director for the NSF funded New Roots for Restoration Biology Integration Institute, where her work focuses on understanding evolution and plasticity in perennial crops to ultimately improve existing perennial crops and develop new ones to support sustainable agricultural systems. Allison has BS and MS degrees in Botany from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and Colorado State University respectively, and holds a PhD in Ecology, Evolution, and Population Biology from Washington University in St. Louis. She completed postdoctoral training at the University of Colorado Museum. Allison lives in St. Louis, MO with her husband and two children.

Luke Funk

Luke Funk owns and operates Hilltop Farms Produce, LLC near Dallas Center, Iowa. Luke has an Associate Degree in Computer Aided Design Technology and worked in the HVAC control industry prior to taking ownership of the family produce farm. Having grown up on the family farm, Luke knows what is like to get hot and sweaty planting and picking veggies. The Hilltop Farm team now grows 50 acres of fresh produce. Luke and his wife Emily are passionate about providing quality produce and a pleasant experience for the farm guest.

Jordan Scheibel

Jordan Scheibel grew up in rural Connecticut and is a first generation Iowa farmer, leasing land just north of Grinnell, Iowa. He started Middle Way Farm in 2013 at age 24 as an organically managed market garden to supply produce directly to his community. Over the last ten years the farm has grown to 2 acres of production, including a heated propagation greenhouse and an unheated 96' x 30' high tunnel, over $100,000 in gross annual revenue in the last two seasons, and employing up to 5 part time seasonal workers. Jordan uses Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares, an online farmstand (since 2020), consumer buying clubs and coops, a local grocery store, and the local college dining services to sell his produce from May - December and beyond.

Matthew Wiese

At 6’4″, Matthew has to reach a long way to touch the soil. But after 12 years of making computers work, he was ready to do something different. In 2014, he and his wife bought 9 acres just west of the Des Moines metro area and started a CSA farm.  Although the farm is not certified organic, they use organic practices. Their CSA uses a completely free-choice market style pickup. They also offer free-range eggs and whole pastured chickens, which they process on-farm. When he’s not growing food, carving wood, or fixing up the farm house, Matthew enjoys reading a good book or playing Fallout or Skyrim.