Advocates
Lenny Geist - CEO/Developer/Sponsor
Lenny is building Kansas Freedom Farms into a world-changer through innovation and adaptation of integrated technologies that disrupt the Agriculture, Energy, 5G, and Data Processing categories.
His focus is to create a world class ag-tech company that dramatically improves ag production, uses 100% clean energy, preserves natural resources, fosters education, secures data, and enriches communities.
Lenny is the visionary behind meshing AI, energy capture, hydroponics, water creation, custom ag Analytics, and digital communications that include Cloud storage services. This one-of-a-kind "ag tech campus" model has fully-controlled environments and runs independently. His innovative, original design and operating enhancements will create "sustainable sustainability" cost-effectively to benefit many using proprietary methods and unique expertise.
Each "ag tech campus" creates fully sustainable food, energy, water (FEW) and messaging enterprises that can be franchised worldwide. Each site (campus) can be tailored to local offtake markets to include retail grocery, QSR, C&C stores, livestock and poultry proprietors, etc.
Lenny supports many diverse causes and groups including Veterans. Lenny is an honorably-discharged US Army Veteran himself, KU graduate and former Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch. He held mid-level and senior-level leadership roles within the TV & Radio industry and is astute with advertising, marketing and public relations strategies and tactics to include creative promotions. He completed formal accounting, CFP and architectural drawing coursework. He has held Series 7, 63, 65, L&H, P&C, GC and real estate licenses for years.
Lenny blends multidisciplinary expertise in essential areas and couples this knowledge with creative, critical thinking skills to imagine or reimagine abstract concepts to solve widely-shared problems. He uses his rare balance of left-brain and right-brain traits to apply details that lead to specific plans to achieve goals. Lenny has the responsibility of developing and managing each project from start to finish. Lenny is building the organization as well as the "brand" each day with great passion and acuity. His long-term vision is transformative. His natural inclination to achieve is supported by his ENTJ personality profile.
Fmr. Kansas Governor John W. Carlin
John Carlin is currently a Visiting Professor/Executive in Residence at Kansas State University. For three years, Carlin chaired the Pew Trust Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production. Their final report was issued in 2008 and it continues to help inform policy makers in Washington on key issues facing agriculture and our food supply.
John served 10 years as Archivist of the United States in Washington, DC after being appointed by President Clinton in 1995 to this role. John was only the 8th Archivist in our nation's history at the time.
John served two 4-year terms as Governor of Kansas from 1979-1987. Prior to being Governor, he served four terms in the Kansas House of Representatives, the last term as Speaker of the House.
John grew up on a dairy farm in Smolan, Kansas and was a dairy farmer when he ran for and won a seat in the Kansas House of Representatives in 1970. John has a B.S. degree in Dairy Husbandry from K-State ('62) where he was a Farmhouse Fraternity member.
Agriculture & Food Science Advisors
Dr. Nathan "Nate" Eylands, PhD
Dr. Eylands is an Assistant Professor of CEA (Controlled Environment Agriculture) at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Eyland's research includes finding new ways to create compulsable substrates as well as the best practices for growing horticulture indoors. Dr. Eylands received his PhD in Horticulture with a concentration focused on CEA from the Cornell University College of Ag & Life Science (CALS) and his Master of Science in Horticulture from the University of Arkansas.
Nate's areas of interest for research and his valuable skills include studying topics such as · Plant Science · Photobiology · Physiology · Light Emitting Diodes · Controlled Environment Agriculture · Vertical Farming · Greenhouse and more. Nate has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Science from Montana State. In his free time, Nate enjoys outdoor recreation including boating and snow skiing.
Dr. Eylands is also an animal welfare advocate and Special Olympics runner (volunteer). Dr. Eylands is a dog owner and canine supporter.
Susana Jimenez, BS Food Science - Cornell Univ.
Susana is a Cornell CALS (College of Ag & Life Sciences) grad and currently a Food Scientist at Schwan's in Salina, KS.
Susana is an enthusiastic problem solver fascinated by the constantly changing world of food science and technology. Earnest about making connections between people and ideas in order to innovate, Susana is a forward thinker who likes to imagine possibilities and change.
Her noteworthy accomplishments include R&D studies and support in dairy products and the Cornell Institute for Food Systems.
Prior to Schwan's, she was a food technologist for Covance Food Solutions where she did R&D consulting and new product ideation.
Susana is an avid recipe book annotator and amateur ukulele player.
Brandt Geist, PhD Student - Vanderbilt University
Brandt is an ambitious, creative, and diligent researcher who is passionate about enriching people's lives through science, technology, and creative problem solving. Brandt keeps up with breakthroughs in science, current events, and the distinguished works of many of the most well-credentialed academicians and accomplished professionals within the scientific community domestically and internationally.
He is conducting research and working as a teaching assistant (TA) at Vanderbilt University in the Earth & Environmental Sciences Dept.
Brandt completed 140 credit hours with a Bachelor of Science in Environment & Sustainability as well as a double minor in Climate Change and Horticulture studies. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Cornell University's College of Ag & Life Sciences (CALS) with a 3.85 GPA. In addition to his academic pursuits, he executed his own research project, assisted on others' research projects, served as a teaching asst. for two courses spanning four semesters, and worked for the Cornell athletic department all four years as an undergraduate.
His work experience dates back to 2013 as a 12-year-old sports referee.
Dr. Crystal Anne Kyle, PhD in Agriculture - VA Tech
Dr. Kyle is an enthusiastic Army Veteran working with the North Carolina Agromedicine Institute and North Carolina A&T State University in the field of research, education, community and program development, evaluation, and food security. As the NC AgrAbility Director, Dr. Kyle works to assist farmers with physical and mental challenges that want to continue farming and keep their identities.
Dr. Kyle also works for the USDA as the Vice Chair for the Women in Agriculture group that fosters opportunities for women in farming.
As a combat Veteran, Dr. Kyle strives to find ways to support fellow Veterans both in and out of agriculture. Her research uncovered how the use of these can lead to better participation, fewer PTSD and moral injury symptoms, and improved acclimation to a civilian community. It earned the 2019 "Outstanding Dissertation Award" at Virginia Tech.
Banking & Finance Advisors
Terry Nickelson
Terry is a retired senior-level banker with primary responsibilities in commercial lending for agriculture, construction, energy, manufacturing and real estate development. Terry is originally from Oakley, KS and grew up on a farm in Logan County.
Terry has great familiarity with farm commodities and ag lending. Terry worked for three years at Farm Credit Services of America (FCSA) and enjoyed many successes within his 40+ years lending to individuals, corporations, NFPs and partnerships in several industries. Terry directed commercial lending services to several energy clients.
Terry has extensive knowledge and expertise within banking and financial services having earned Series 7 and 65 licenses.
Orville J. "Skip" Carlson, CPA (Ret.)
Skip possesses a wealth of education, experience and expertise in fields such as accounting, banking, financial planning, investments, insurance, marketing, real estate, sales, and taxation. Skip has held several financial securities licenses and designations to include a Series 7 and Series 66 along with real estate credentials.
A Minnesota native and US Army Veteran with a TOP SECRET security clearance for his service in the Army Security Agency, Skip served as a State Legislator representing District 52A covering some of the Twin Cities suburbs from 1995-96. He served on the Tax Committee, Insurance Committee, and Transportation Committee.
Skip served as the Deputy Director of the Minnesota Dept. of Revenue from 1996-2000 as appointed by then Gov. Arne Carlson (R) and for succeeding Governor Jesse Ventura (Ind.) when he led the state's formidable task to transition from paper to electronic filings.
Skip became the National Director for Intuit (Turbo Tax) to lead the transition to e-filing for the Quicken Tax Freedom Project.
Skip is intimately familiar with tax-related issues and filing preparation for individuals, corporations, Trusts, estates and NFP entities. Skip was a Licensed Public Accountant (aka CPA) for over 47 years having graduated from St. Cloud State ('72) with a B.S. in Accounting. Skip is a very proud father and grandfather to many successful family members.
Administration & Services Advisor
James H. Townsend, MHA, MSSW
James is an accomplished senior-level healthcare executive and well-educated counselor and social services provider. James is intimately familiar with healthcare from major global insurers and wellness providers to rural facilities with limited resources. James will assist with our efforts to recruit, hire and train wounded Veterans and those with PTSD to become vertical farmers and ag-tech entrepreneurs in order to start their own hydroponic food production facilities. Their farms will be integrated with state-of-the-art tech to enable them to be competitive in agriculture and digital telecom.
James's own experiences as an entrepreneur and investor provide great mentoring opportunities for Veterans with lofty aspirations.
James completed Series 7 studies and worked at an investment "wire house" early in his career as he gained expertise with investments, real estate holdings, succession planning, and healthcare directives as they related to estate transfers and asset preservation across generations.
H. Jonathan "Jon" Griffin, Juris Doctor - Ohio State
Jon holds a law degree from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and worked for 5 years as the law clerk for the Franklin County (Ohio) public defender’s office. Jon’s career includes several years on Capitol Hill as a Legal Intern for the House Majority Caucus. Jon staffed Senate and House Judiciary Committees on Criminal Justice and wrote meeting summaries. He wrote memos on legislative issues and authored legislative proposals for compliance with the Federal Adam Walsh Act. In addition to his legal expertise and legislative prowess, Jon is intimately familiar with investments, securities sales and the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).
Jon was a licensed Financial Advisor for Charles Schwab where he held Series 7 and Series 63 licenses. Following his tenure with the Charles Schwab group, Jon worked as a resolution administrator in the role of Reconciliation Specialist for Edward Jones Financial. Jon has blended experience, expertise and relationships with Congressional-level policymaking as well as the intricacies of financial services..