Presenters

Abby Hade Terpstra, Director of Philanthropy, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation

Abby is a boomerang, returning to her home state of Iowa after journeying first east and then west for 12 years. She grew up in Ames ambling around Munn Woods, amassing elaborate collections of natural objects, and absorbed in field guides for birds, insects and plants. With a degree in Outdoor Education from Northland College and a penchant for nonprofits, Abby works closely with INHF members and donors to support the work of the Foundation.

Austin Dunn, Assistant Professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture at Iowa State University

Austin Dunn is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture at Iowa State University and a licensed landscape architect in the State of California. In practice, Austin’s work focuses on active transportation projects, such as trail corridors and complete streets. His current scholarship focuses on the multifunctionality of midwestern rail-trail landscapes and the relationship between the bicycle touring event known as RAGBRAI and the Iowa landscape.

Enzo Nagao, Trees Forever

Originally from Naperville, Illinois, Enzo Nagao (he/him) graduated from Coe College in the summer of 2020 with degrees in English and Music. After spending a year in the Naperville Department of Public Works, Enzo developed an interest in urban forestry, which brought him to Trees Forever in September 2021. Enzo led the Growing Futures program in Cedar Rapids for 2 years before transitioning to the role of ReLeaf Volunteer Coordinator, where he managed volunteers from the Cedar Rapids metro area on a multitude of projects. 

In December 2024, Enzo joined the Development Team and is working both on strengthening volunteer engagement throughout Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin and finding new funding opportunities to support the Trees Forever mission. He is in the process of getting a Grant Writing Certificate through Spark the Fire Grant Writing. In his free time, Enzo enjoys writing science fiction and fantasy stories.

Erin Reed, Executive Director of the Dickinson County Trails Board

Erin Reed is the Executive Director of the Dickinson County Trails Board. She began her involvement in 2006 as a volunteer, following the board’s transition from an association to a county government entity. With a professional background in civil engineering, Erin spent 12 years with the Jackson County Highway Department, where she wrote grants, designed projects, and oversaw the development of several new trails in southern Minnesota. In 2016, she was named Executive Director of the Trails Board. In this role, she continues to pursue her passion for expanding and maintaining recreational trails throughout the Iowa Great Lakes region.

Heather Cordon-Croskrey, Trees Forever

Heather is originally from O’Fallon Illinois, but has called Iowa home since 2000. She has earned Masters degrees from Southern Illinois University and the University of Iowa studying cultural and organizational communication and conversation analysis. Prior to joining Trees Forever, Heather spent over eight years in development for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. Her career, spanning over 20 years, has included work with enrollment management, air service development, and marketing. Heather loves new adventures to keep learning, growing, and meeting new people. She spends her down time being an active mom to two teenagers, two grown children, and two grandchildren.

Jason Cyboron, AICP

Jason Cyboron, AICP, is a multidisciplinary planner passionate about creating safe, inclusive, and sustainable environments through trail development, pedestrian planning, and transportation safety strategies. He brings expertise in trail studies, pedestrian plans, site selection, and GIS-based crash data analysis, using a data-informed approach to enhance safety, comfort, and connectivity. As an avid cyclist and former daily bike commuter, Jason brings both technical insight and lived experience to his work in active transportation.

Kat Shiffler, National Park Service – Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program

Kat Shiffler is a landscape architect with the National Park Service – Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program. Based in Southeast Nebraska, Kat works with communities to plan and design parks and trails; employing the resources, expertise and conservation and outdoor recreation mission of the NPS to uplift local initiatives in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and North Dakota. Learn more about NPS RTCA’s technical assistance to communities at nps.gov/rtca.

Kayleen Leetch, Volunteer Coordinator, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation

Kayleen’s love for the outdoors began in her small Iowa hometown, where she sought out every wild space she could find. Her wanderlust led her to pursue a degree in mass communications at Northwest Missouri State, initially envisioning a career in travel and wildlife photography. However, a photography internship in Oregon introduced her to conservation, igniting a passion that brought her back to Iowa to advocate for stronger environmental efforts. Today, she explores parks with her family and works alongside dedicated volunteers to support INHF’s mission— ensuring that kindred spirits searching for wild spaces won’t have to look so hard.

Lisa Hein, Senior Director for Conservation Programs, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation

Lisa was born in California, grew up in Colorado and is frequently asked, “Why are you here?” She moved to Iowa to study Landscape Architecture at Iowa State and through that program learned about the beauty of the Iowa landscape. Since starting at INHF in 1988, she has grown to love Iowa even more through working with landowners, communities and individuals to protect land, establish greenways and secure trails. In her spare time, she coaches figure skating with the Ames Figure Skating Club, is active with the Story County Master Gardeners, is a founding board member of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition and enjoys raising wild monarchs.

Lora Friest, Tourism Liaison, Iowa Tourism Office

Lora Friest is the Tourism Liaison for the Iowa Tourism Office. She was the Executive Director for Northeast Iowa RC&D for over 20 years where she helped develop, market and maximize dozens of community and regional land and water trails. In her current position with IEDA Tourism Office, Friest to help maximize tourism partnership, projects and marketing for Iowa.

Margo Underwood, Hometown Pride Community Coach in Pocahontas County

Margo Underwood is the Hometown Pride Community Coach in Pocahontas County.  As the Community Coach Margo works with nine communities in the county and provides technical and financial resources to assist the communities in enhancing their economic and cultural vitality.  Margo also serves as the Development Advisor for the Pocahontas County Foundation. Margo assisted Pocahontas County in developing a County Trails Committee and County Trails Master Plan to guide development of a county-wide trail system. She also helped establish a County Trails Fund to support trail development throughout Pocahontas County.

Margo grew up on a Century Farm in Scott County and received her B.S. and M.S. Degrees from Iowa State University.  She is a former High School Biology Teacher and enjoys volunteering with state and local environmental organizations. Her hobbies include fishing and nature photography.

Nick Fratzke, Director of Transportation for the Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments

Nick Fratzke is the Director of Transportation for the Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments. The duties in this role include oversight and operation of the Black Hawk County Metropolitan Planning Organization, Region 7 Transportation Association and Regional Transit Commission, and operations of OnBoard Public Transit. Fratzke joined the team at INRCOG in October of 2020 and assumed his current role in November of 2022. Prior to his time with INRCOG he was the Director of Community Development for Jasper County, Iowa. Over the past decade, Fratzke has led planning and funding initiatives ranging in community comprehensive plans, multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation, emergency operations, state water trail planning and designation, long and short-range transportation, local and regional transit and passenger transportation planning, and the development of successful nationally and locally competitive discretionary grant applications. Nick is an active member of the communities and purposes he serves and takes pride in finding creative solutions to challenging situations.

Phil Sporrer, Land Acquisition Agent, JCG Land Services

Phil Sporrer is a land acquisition agent for JCG Land Services. JCG land services (Nevada, Iowa) works in with public agencies, utilities and organizations to acquire land for construction projects, utility corridors, wind farms, school sites, trails and just about any project that needs land acquisition. Phil grew up on a farm near Templeton, Iowa and has a degree in Ag Business from Iowa State University. Phil loves Bass fishing and spending time with his family.

Roger L. White, Board member of Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective and Cedar Valley Trails Partnership

Roger has lived in Cedar Falls for 55 years since attending the University of Northern Iowa in the 70’s. A former elementary teacher and teacher association advocate, he is active with bicycling and trails since retirement.  Roger is a past Treasurer and board member of Cedar Valley Cyclists, current Treasurer/Board member of Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective and Volunteer Coordinator/Board member of Cedar Valley Trails Partnership. In addition, he currently serves on the Cedar Falls Bicycle/Pedestrian Commission and Cedar Falls Health Trust Board. Roger has been active in fundraising for trails, trail bridges and trail renovation projects.

His interests and hobbies include bicycling (27 RAGBRAI’s), vegetable gardening, fishing, conservation and the environment. Each summer is made complete by a weeklong fishing trip up north with friends.

Scott Wirth, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Vinton

Scott Wirth is a Vinton native who graduated from Vinton-Shellsburg High School in 2017. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 2022 with a degree in Recreation, Tourism, and Nonprofit Leadership and recently began serving as Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Vinton in August 2025, where he oversees community programming and recreational facilities to enhance quality of life for residents. His career progression within Vinton's department includes three years as Assistant Director, an internship, and three summers working in park maintenance.

In his free time, Scott enjoys farmers markets, baseball games, cribbage, and taking his two dogs, Titan and Lyla, for walks.

Todd Robertson, River Programs Outreach Coordinator, Iowa DNR

Todd Roberston is a certified canoe, kayak, and paddleboard instructor and lead Patient Advocate for the National Blood Clot Alliance. A seven-time blood clot survivor, Todd is passionate about paddling and cycling not just for the adventure, but because both are vital to his health and well-being. He blends outdoor education with advocacy to inspire and support others on their health journeys.

Vern Fish, retired Executive Director of the Black Hawk County Conservation Board

Vern Fish is the former Executive Director of the Black Hawk County Conservation Board in Waterloo, Iowa.  He serves on the Board of Directors of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation Board and he is currently the President of the Friends of Wabakimi, an Ontario non-profit dedicated to protecting the second largest wilderness park in Ontario. An advocate for clean water, he serves as an elected commissioner on the Black Hawk Soil and Water Conservation District.  A passionate paddler he has run wild rivers from South America to the Mexican border and north to the Arctic Circle with stops along Hudson Bay.