Ryan Heiniger
Executive Director
Ryan Heiniger joined CTIC as the Executive Director in November 2022 and brings nearly 25 years of experience working in the non-profit conservation sector along with a ‘tractor seat’ perspective as a 4th generation Iowa farmer. As Executive Director, Ryan oversees and leads the team as they carry out project deliverables
He also builds and maintains partnerships to continue CTIC's legacy as a conservation leader. Ryan also serves on the board of directors for Field To Market, the alliance for sustainable agriculture
Prior to joining CTIC, Ryan served as director of America’s Conservation Ag Movement (ACAM) with Farm Journal’s sustainability division where he lead all aspects of its state and local projects with a focus on farmer-to-farmer peer networks to accelerate conservation practice knowledge transfer. Ryan also served as the director of agriculture and director of field operations – north region for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. In these roles, Ryan created and led the organization’s Precision Ag and Conservation Solutions Program which focused on private-sector ag tech partnerships to improve farmer profitability, sustainability and creation wildlife habitat and led a team of 85 staff delivering PF’s mission in a 5 state region. Prior to joining PF in 2013 and returning to his roots on the family farm, Ryan worked for Ducks Unlimited for 15 years in several field and leadership capacities.
Ryan has a bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology from Iowa State University. Ryan and his wife Nikki are raising their son and daughter as 5th generation family farmers along the banks of the Mississippi River in southeast Iowa.
Crystal Hatfield
Operations Director
Crystal is responsible for the overall administration. Crystal also handles memberships, sponsorships, and tour registrations. Crystal assists the executive director with all other day to day operations. Crystal joined CTIC in the fall of 2014.
Sue Tull
Project Director
Sue joined CTIC in 2013. She works with multiple projects and partners and also assists CTIC staff with events, communications and administration. Sue spent most of her career in plant breeding research as a soybean technician and plant pathology lab manager. She has also worked with two Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Indiana, as a district technician and urban conservationist.
David Frabotta
Director of Communications
David is responsible for public relations, marketing, events, outreach and impact reporting for CTIC. He has worked as a business journalist for most of his career, predominantly for agriculture media brands that focus on inputs, technology and sustainability. He most recently was director of content for Farm Journal's Trust In Food, and he is passionate about helping farmers create more resilient, efficient and profitable production systems. Connect with him at frabotta@ctic.org
Elise Koning
Project Director, Diverse Corn Belt and Conservation in Action Tour
Teagan Duffy
WI Soil Health Specialist
Teagan was raised in south-eastern Wisconsin where her love for the land began with a childhood filled with time spent outdoors hiking, camping, and kayaking. She went on to get a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Science from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
In August 2024, Teagan joined the CTIC as the Wisconsin Soil Health Specialist for the Farmers for Soil Health Program. Previously, she worked as a Resource Conservationist for a Soil and Water Conservation District in northern Illinois where she developed a passion for soil health and working with farmers.
She now resides in Milwaukee with her partner and two cats. In her free time she enjoys gardening, baking, knitting, and spending time with friends and family.
Dan Coffman
MN Soil Health Specialist
Dan was born and raised in West Concord, MN on a hobby farm. He attended North Dakota State University majoring in Agricultural Systems Management with a minor in Soil Science.
He worked for several co-op's in ND, a seed dealership and a local farmer in MN, gaining experience in precision agriculture and cover crops. He received the inspiration for conservation from his dad, Tom Coffman who was a District Conservationist for the NRCS in Rice County, MN. He started his farm operation in 2019 while driving a truck part time. He utilizes many soil health practices on his farm including no-till, strip-till, cover crops and livestock integration. Additionally, he has transitioned about 50% of his acres to organic production. He currently reside in Nicollet, MN, with his wife Alysha and 4 children. In his free time, he enjoys the outdoors hunting/fishing/farming, spending time with his family and antique machinery.
Dave Gustafson, Ph.D.
Project Director
Dr. Dave Gustafson is an independent scientist, serving as a project director when needed and in various other roles on multiple CTIC projects, drawing upon his experience in predictive modeling and data analysis. He is a past CTIC Board Chair and had agribusiness experience with Monsanto, Rhone-Poulenc and Shell, as well as his current work at the Agriculture & Food Systems Institute and WSU. Educated as a chemical engineer, Dave holds a BS from Stanford and a Ph.D. from the University of Washington.
Steve Werblow
Communications Consultant
Steve Werblow has worked with CTIC since the early ‘90s, helping promote conservation practices across the country. A graduate of Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Steve is a four-time American Agricultural Editors Association Writer of the Year, award-winning photographer, and self-described "soil hugger.” He is based in Ashland, Oregon, and has covered agricultural stories on six continents for a wide range of farm magazines.
