NSF AgTech Engine in North Dakota

• NSF AgTech Engine in North Dakota website

Chief Executive Officer

Hollie Mackey, PhD is the Chief Executive Officer of the NSF AgTech Engine in North Dakota, one of the inaugural NSF Engines dedicated to addressing food security challenges through cutting-edge agricultural technology and cross-cultural collaboration. A citizen of the Northern Cheyenne Nation, Mackey brings a unique perspective to her work, combining deep expertise in community-driven innovation with a commitment to equity and sustainability. Mackey’s scholarship identifies solutions for Native Americans and rural communities through public policy which she uses to advocate nationally for Tribal sovereignty and self-determination. Through these efforts, she has contributed toward advancing rural innovation through intersecting policy solutions designed to provide structural support for sustainable rural economic development. With a distinguished career spanning academia, public policy, and industry leadership, Mackey has been at the forefront of integrating Indigenous knowledge with modern AgTech solutions. Her leadership focuses on empowering Tribal Nations, small farmers, and rural communities by fostering scalable, localized food systems that address both regional and global challenges.

Business and Operations Manager

Allison Weckman is a Fargo native and has an expansive career in marketing and event coordination. Having received her bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from NDSU, she’s excited to be working with NDSU as one of the core partners of the NSF AgTech Engine in North Dakota.

Allison has a passion for giving back to her community and the important work the NSF AgTech Engine in North Dakota is doing perfectly aligns with her values. She also volunteers her time and organizational talents with the Power of 100 Red River Valley and Home Builders Care Foundation.

Allison is enjoys bowling and is the President of the local bowling association. She also loves watching her two kids participate in their various activities.

Data Insights Manager

Olivier Cristol holds a Master’s degree in Geography from the University of Provence Aix-Marseille in France. With a career rooted in digital mapping and spatial analysis, Olivier has spent the last few years focusing on process engineering and business process automation in various tech companies.

Olivier’s interest in the AgTech world in Fargo led him to the NSF AgTech Engine in North Dakota. He is excited about the opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects in a collaborative environment, particularly those addressing fundamental challenges like food insecurity. In his free time, Olivier enjoys cooking, especially family recipes like lasagna, gardening, landscaping, and has a keen interest in history and politics.

Strategic Communications Manager

Gretchen Dobervich is the Strategic Communications Manager on the NSF AgTech Engine in North Dakota team. She has a Bachelor of Social Work from Minot State University and is a licensed social worker in North Dakota. She also holds a Master of Public Health from North Dakota State University. Prior to joining the NSF AgTech Engine in North Dakota she worked as the Policy Program Manager at the American Indian Public Health Resource Center at NDSU. She has decades of experience working in health and human services, leadership, and public policy. Gretchen grew up on her family farm in Southwest North Dakota and is a NDSU Extension Master Gardener who tends her own and community gardens in Fargo. When she isn’t working Gretchen enjoys traveling with her husband Eric, reading, and movies.

Financial Analyst

Ye Wana Hlaing brings a strong background in economic development, financial operations, and research coordination to his role with the ND AgTech Engine. He holds an MBA from the Asian Institute of Technology and an MS in Global Studies from Oklahoma State University. With extensive experience in international research organizations, public diplomacy, trade, and commercial development, Ye Wana offers a global perspective on advancing regional agricultural innovation and financial strategy. In his current role, he supports the Engine’s financial and operational management, ensuring seamless coordination across teams and partners. He is particularly passionate about applying analytical expertise to improve resource allocation and strengthen the agricultural innovation ecosystem throughout the region. Outside of work, Ye Wana enjoys movies, cooking, and time with his family. Having recently relocated to Fargo, he looks forward to becoming actively engaged in the local community.

Innovation Manager - Community Engagement and R&D Management

Cetan Wanbli Williams (Oglala, Santee, Cheyenne, Ojibwe) is a distinguished environmental strategist with over a decade of experience in advancing Indigenous sovereignty, cultural preservation, and ecological restoration. His expertise lies in integrating traditional ecological knowledge with contemporary conservation practices, particularly in buffalo rematriation initiatives.

In his current role as Innovation Manager he focuses on the intentional and meaningful inclusion of tribal, rural, and farming communities in co-creating a blueprint for the future.

Guided by Lakota principles of respect for the land and relationality, Cetan Wanbli continues to champion initiatives that uplift Native communities, restore cultural ties to the land, and foster a sustainable future for all.

Innovation Manager - Rural Community Engagement and Development

Langston Johnson is a dynamic leader in agricultural innovation, workforce development, and community-driven problem-solving. Originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, and raised in Zimmerman, MN, he has called Fargo home since 2008. With a background spanning software development, quality assurance, and project coordination, Langston specializes in integrating cutting-edge technology into agriculture to drive sustainable and scalable solutions.

As an Innovation Manager for the NSF AgTech Engine in North Dakota, Langston is focused on bridging the gap between technology and agriculture, ensuring that locally derived solutions address food security, workforce pathways, and economic development. His work prioritizes tribal communities and underrepresented rural regions, emphasizing sovereignty, accessibility, and innovation.

A problem-solver at heart, Langston’s passion for breaking down complex challenges is reflected in his love for Rubik’s Cubes—a tool he uses to inspire new ways of thinking.

Innovation Manager - Portfolio Management

Anna Andersson joins the NSF AgTech Engine in North Dakota team as an Innovation Manager, contributing to rural food security innovation and leading its thought leadership initiatives. In this role, she facilitates community-driven projects, integrates technology with regional economic and workforce development, and promotes AgTech through educational programs, events, and partnerships. Raised in Arthur, ND, Anna has a deep connection to rural life and has worked globally at the intersection of research, communities, and food systems. Her experience includes designing participatory research programs and developing regional supply chains for novel crops, creating new market opportunities and diversifying food systems. She believes meaningful change happens through relationships, shared knowledge, and empowering communities to lead in resilience and growth by blending tradition and technology. Based in Bozeman, MT, Anna enjoys creative pursuits in her free time, such as garden design, fiber arts, and photography—activities that keeps her connected to place, plants, and people.

Innovation Manager - Scalability & Replicability

Jennifer Rachels is originally from Georgia, but has traveled the world on a career path that represents a lifelong commitment to community development work. Her early career includes service in Peace Corps Romania, where she facilitated a successful application to fund the first modern sewer system of Roman, Romania. She’s worked at different levels on a variety of infrastructure projects, including for Habitat for Humanity, Department of Transportation, Department of Homeland Security, Georgia Tech Research Institute, and multiple Department of Defense entities. She spent nine years in Hawai’i, starting as a Soldier in the US Army Corps of Engineers. More recently, Jennifer was in Alaska, at the state USDA Rural Development office and US DOE’s Idaho National Lab. For the Engine, Jennifer will be building out the structure we need to scale the Engine’s reach and to help communities replicate the success of their projects. She brings deep experience in critical infrastructure protection, program start up and design, community engagement for large infrastructure projects, and research design for understanding the social context of technological change. She has an MBA/MS in Sustainable Systems from Hawai’i Pacific University, and is working on her PhD from Michigan Tech, where she studies energy policy from the perspective of the history industrial policy. Her research has received support from the KUPU RISE program (Hawai’i) and a US Department of Energy Office of International Affairs ORISE fellowship. She is a member of the Rural Sociological Society, the Truman National Security Project, and IEEE’s Social Implications of Technology Society.

Innovation Strategist

Will Lytle is an executive consultant with 15+ years of experience focused on the scientific, secure, and just governance of our shared natural and cultural resources. Dr. Lytle’s academic background is rooted in ecology, natural resource management, diverse stakeholder engagement with a PhD in Environmental and Energy Policy from Michigan Tech. His professional background includes municipal governance, NSF funded research, a roadmap for the world’s first Net-Zero agricultural commodity, research directing with the payments for ecosystem services, watershed administration, and ongoing consulting for organizations that need help with innovative ideas, pioneering processes, product differentiation, strategy, and thought leadership.

Innovation Manager - Research and Development Translation

Nicholas Bittner is a fourth-generation North Dakota farmer and a research engineer with a strong background in education, advanced manufacturing, biomedical engineering, and agriculture. He has managed large-scale farming operations while pioneering the use of precision agriculture practices, including launching a UAV business that supported crop health monitoring with the NDSU Extension Service, and water drainage elevation tracking for the Devils Lake basin. Nicholas has worked with many groups, including National Laboratories, and currently serves as Director of R&D on the NASA M-STAR research grant at Cankdeska Cikana Community College. His goals have always been aligned with building up North Dakota, driving advanced research into practical applications. His unique perspective, combining lived experience in production agriculture with expertise in research and technology commercialization, positions him well to help advance the ND AgTech’s mission of enabling resilient and secure food systems, while enabling ND AgTech partners to bridge the gap between growers, scientists, and industry.