LAIB 2026 (TBD) Agenda

From baling hay to sorting pigs as a youth growing up on a northwest Iowa farm, Aaron learned first-hand and early in life the importance of hard work, showing up, keeping your word, delivering more than promised and treating others with respect. Those lessons continue to serve him well as team leader, ag communications professional, dad and volunteer. Aaron has always been motivated by people who lead with positivity, empathy and humility and give maximum effort in service to others. These qualities define successful people, organizations, companies, farms, and associations. When lived, they make life better for all. Aaron currently serves as Chief Officer: Brand Management & Engagement for the Ankeny-Iowa based Iowa Soybean Association. A popular speaker and work-life coach, he’s the author of two books: Destined for Greatness – The Story of Chuck Long & Resurgence of Iowa Hawkeyes’ Football and YOU Are Destined for Greatness: Stories of Inspiration & Empowerment. The latter emphasizes 16 themes that propel successful thinking and action as shared by 27 thoughtful and humble leaders. Aaron is a Rotarian, volunteer and accredited public relations professional and supervisory leader. He enjoys traveling, gardening, and spending time with family. Aaron and his wife Crystal and children Garrett, Grant, and Jaelyn (JAY-lin) live in Waukee, Iowa.

Johnna Miller has been with the American Farm Bureau Federation for 24 years and currently serves as Senior Director in our Leadership, Education and Engagement Department. As a member of AFBF’s training team, Johnna fills a unique training role that stems from her previous life as a general assignment reporter for television stations in Charleston, WV and Greenville, NC. She now uses her media background to design and offer media, advocacy and social media workshops to states and outside organizations. She is also the coordinator of AFBF’s Partners in Advocacy Leadership program and co-coordinator of the Grassroots Outreach Team.

She spent 12 years in AFBF’s Communications Department, where she produced podcasts, radio and video stories on top of her media training duties.

Kyle Kunkler serves as Director of Government Affairs at the American Soybean Association. He is focused on Biotechnology and Crop Protection. He serves as the Innovation Task Force Lead as well as the Biotech Working Group Policy Lead. 

Before joining ASA, Kunkler spent three years with the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) managing federal government affairs on food, agriculture, energy, and environmental policy. He has also served on the legislative teams for Congressman Dan Newhouse and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, as well as with the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. 

Jeffrey D. McCausland, Ph.D.

Since 2000, both domestic and internationally, Dr. McCausland has conducted numerous executive leadership development workshops and consulted for leaders in public education, US government institutions, non-profit organizations, and corporations.

Dr. McCausland is a retired Colonel from the U.S. Army and former Dean of Academics at the U.S. Army War College. He is a Visiting Professor of National Security at Dickinson College and a National Security Consultant for CBS radio & television.

During his military career Dr. McCausland served in a variety of command and staff positions both in the United States and Europe during the Kosovo crisis and Operations Desert Shield and Storm.

He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Army Airborne and Ranger schools, and the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. He holds both a master’s and Ph.D. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University.

Dr. McCausland is the co-author of Battle Tested! Gettysburg Leadership Lessons for 21st Century Leaders.

Hope Hart leads Syngenta’s Molecular Characterization Team in Product Safety, the group that assesses the safety of genetically modified crops before they go to market. She obtained a B.S. in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and an M.S. in Microbiology from North Carolina State University. Hope’s 20+ year career at Syngenta began in research where she discovered a gene that resulted in Syngenta’s corn rootworm trait Agrisure Duracade™. 

In her current role, she leads the team that characterizes the DNA in transgenic plants, providing data needed for global registrations of genetically modified crops. Hope’s professional accolades include granted patents, publications in peer-reviewed journals, global registration of several biotech traits, and Syngenta awards for early-stage research activities and product development efforts. Hart has been invited to give hundreds of presentations to global audiences, ranging from information on GMOs for the general public to technical presentations at international scientific conferences. 

Julie brings her unique perspective as a PhD biochemist along with more than a decade of work in agricultural policy to provide guidance and support to clients across the food and agriculture supply chain – from the lab to the field to the fork. From her years of working with scientists on how to engage with policymakers, Julie is a proven “translator” with the ability to break down complex issues for non-technical audiences. During her time with the Agronomy, Crop, and Soil Science Societies, Julie secured legislative wins that include increased funding for USDA research programs and the creation of two new research programs in the 2018 farm bill. She has extensive experience in developing and managing research coalitions that build consensus across diverse stakeholders in pursuit of a common goal.

Julie’s background in academia gives her a keen ability to dive into new issues, build out a detailed plan of work, and pivot in the face of new information or challenges. Her down-to-earth style helped her build an extensive network with both sides of the aisle, federal agencies, and agricultural stakeholders. Julie is not afraid to be a squeaky wheel when it comes to advocacy efforts and has seen many bipartisan wins because of this persistence.

Julie received her PhD in cell biology from the University of Virginia and her bachelor’s degree in biology from Florida State University. When she’s not supporting clients, she can be found chasing her son and daughter around Capitol Hill.

Dennis Volpe is a Partner with the Leadership Research Institute (LRI) specializing in Personal Leadership, Organizational Development and Team Effectiveness, Emotional Intelligence, and Resilience for Corporate and Small Business Leaders and Teams. Dennis supports leaders and teams by getting them refocused on what really matters so they can transform their reality, get to their definition of success faster, and thrive in new and challenging environments.

During the past few years, Dennis has worked extensively with Emerging Leaders, High Potential Leaders, and Developing Talent programs with Fortune 500 companies as well as small business Founder/CEOs. His clients are in consulting, aerospace and aviation, manufacturing, high tech, financial services, real estate, logistics, governmental and non profit organizations. Dennis’ understanding of leadership comes from over twenty years of operational experience as a career Naval Officer to include Command at Sea; multiple overseas deployments; an operational planner tour in Afghanistan; a tour as the Director of Future Operations for U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command; and several years as a Leadership instructor, Leadership Course Coordinator, and Ethics Facilitator at the United States Naval Academy; as well as a number of academic and intellectual pursuits.

Dennis is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Professional Certified Coach (PCC), a Columbia University Certified Executive Coach, a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, a certified Working Genius Coach, and a certified Emotional Intelligence Coach. Dennis earned his Master of Science in Leadership Development from the Naval Postgraduate School and his Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. Dennis is a certified and proven operational planner, a graduate of the University of Notre Dame Mendoza School of Business Executive Leadership Course, and a graduate of the PROSCI ™ change management course. Dennis enjoys the outdoors, is a passionate college Rugby and Lacrosse fan, a recreational triathlete, a mindfulness practitioner, a small business and entrepreneurial investor, and a veteran mentor. Dennis and his wife, Amanda, live outside Manchester, New Hampshire.

Colonel Fred Weiners, U.S. Air Force (Retired), served for 28 years as a command pilot, Pentagon staff officer, and university professor. Fred holds degrees in International Relations, Personnel Management and National Security Studies.

During three different tours in the Pentagon, Fred served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, on the Joint Staff, and on the Air Staff. He personally briefed President Regan on nuclear policy issues, advised the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on military readiness issues, and led the lessons learned efforts briefing the Air Force’s senior leaders on the air operations in Afghanistan.

As a graduate and undergraduate professor, Fred chaired the Department of Military Strategy and Operations at the National War College in Washington DC teaching military theory and strategy, leadership, and critical decision-making to senior military leaders.

He also served as the Professor of Aerospace Studies commanding the ROTC officer commissioning program at Syracuse University.

After retiring from the Air Force, Fred remained in uniform starting a Junior ROTC leadership and character education program in a New York high school.

Fred is currently the director of leadership development for the Air Force Research Labs in Rome, NY and serves as a faculty member teaching the two-week long Executive Leadership capstone course at the National Fire.

As a Federally Licensed Battlefield Guide, he conducts numerous leadership staff rides for military, government and industry groups as well as ‘character development’ tours for educational groups.

He currently resides near Gettysburg with his wife Rita. 

Beth joined Syngenta in July 2025, bringing with her two decades of experience in public affairs and agricultural policy. Prior to Syngenta, she served as Vice President of Agriculture and Environment at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), where she led policy and market access strategies for the Agriculture and Environment Section.

She was also the Head of U.S. Public Affairs at global animal health company, Zoetis, and held senior roles at the National Corn Growers Association and the National Grain and Feed Association. Earlier in her career, Beth served on Capitol Hill in policy roles for several members of Congress.

A proud native of central Virginia, Beth grew up on her family’s century owned dairy farm. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Government and International Politics from George Mason University and a master’s degree in Political Management from the George Washington University.

Macie O’Shaughnessy is the Industry Relations Manager at Syngenta.  She works with Grower and Trade Associations across all crops. She also manages the Syngenta Leadership At It’s Best (LAIB) program to help prepare current and future leaders in the Agriculture industry to tell their story, advocate, and lobby to policy makers. She sits on the Cotton Foundation Board as well as the USA Rice Foundation Board.

Macie assumed the role as US Industry Relations Manager December 2020, however she started with Syngenta in 2007. During her tenure at Syngenta she has gained experience working in several different roles such as a Seeds Sales Manager, Sustainable Solutions Specialist, Customer Service Manager,  and Finance. Macie is passionate about telling the sustainability story that growers live every day, advocating for access to technology and freedom to farm.