About Us
Idealyst Innovation is a catalyst for farmer-focused innovation, dedicated to solving the business challenges of modern agriculture. Driven by the core beliefs that food security is foundational to national security and that farmer success is critical to an evolving food system, our team of experienced military, ag, tech and finance leaders are driving a new approach to farmer-centric innovation.
Our Team
Experienced Team of Military, Ag, Tech & Finance Leaders
Brett Sciotto
CEO & Founder
Greg Somerhalder
Partner &
Executive Advisor
Elizabeth Fastiggi
Chief Product Officer
Scott Caine
EVP
Trusted advisor with 20+ years advancing American agriculture and American Food Power.
Founder of Aimpoint Research (Inc. 5000 honoree). West Point graduate, former Army Intelligence Officer. Thought leader and industry speaker. Decades of experience in consulting, intelligence, geopolitics and advising agribusinesses.
Four decades of leadership in agricultural finance serving farmers.
Deep Farm Credit expertise. Former President & COO, American AgCredit. Previous Chief Risk Officer roles at CoBank and U.S. AgBank.
Oklahoma State University, B.S. Agricultural Economics.
Extensive experience driving digital transformation and innovation in agriculture.
Former Global Head of Agriculture, Amazon Web Services. Previous leadership at Indigo Agriculture, Farmers Business Network, and private equity investment roles. Early career at Environmental Defense Fund.
Degrees from UC Berkeley and the University of Michigan.
Accomplished leader in strategic intelligence, market research, and business transformation.
Previous executive at Aimpoint Research. Former Military Intelligence Officer and executive leader in technology, telecommunications, and consulting.
Focuses on the intersection of agriculture and national security.
Sarah Tveidt
EVP
Chimdi Chekwa
VP
Brice Civiello
Chief of Staff
South Dakota farm girl with a life-long passion for advancing agriculture.
15+ years of experience advancing the agri‑food value chain through strategic consulting, producer marketing, and business development. Former VP Client Services, The Directions Group and Aimpoint Research. Previous leadership at the SD Soybean Council and early career in the SD Governor's Office; EMBA in Ag & Food Systems Candidate at Iowa State University.
Expert in Intelligence strategy, global agrifood systems, and foresight‑driven innovation.
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Approach to business is rooted in the discipline, strategic thinking, and adaptability. Previously Senior Analyst at The Directions Group and Aimpoint Research. Former NFL athlete turned entrepreneur and business leader. Experienced restaurateur, early-stage startup investor, and real estate investor. MBA, University of Miami; B.S., The Ohio State University.
Two decades of experience in strategic administration, organizational development, and operational leadership.
Former Chief Administrative Officer, Aimpoint Research. Background in supporting corporate, government, and public affairs clients nationwide. Expert in building scalable systems and enabling organizational efficiency.
Our Farmer Innovation Council
Our Farmer Innovation Council brings together leading producers who provide an unparalleled perspective on the realities of farm business. Farmer Innovation Council members ensure our solutions are practical and grounded in real-world needs, keeping our work focused on what matters most to farmers.
CJ Blew
Hutchinson, KS
Farms and ranches with wife and three children in family partnership — commercial cow-calf operation, native range, grazed cover crops, irrigated perennial pastures. Active leader in the coop system and currently chairs the CHS board; Serves on the Red Angus Association of America strategic planning and alliance committees, and on the Hutchinson Community College Ag Advisory Board; Actively involved with a number of beef industry groups.
Cyril Chappelet
St. Helena, CA
CEO and Chair of family-owned Chappellet Vineyard and Winery (est. 1967) and oversees every aspect of the operation from farming and winemaking to finance, personnel, and sales. Serves on the boards of the Napa Valley Vintners Association and American AgCredit; Named 2025 Wine Industry Leader by Wine Business Monthly.
Matt Danner
Templeton, IA
Co-Owner and managing partner of Templeton Family Farms, a diversified enterprise consisting of corn, popcorn, non-gmo soybeans, seed soybeans, custom farming, contract swine finishing, demolition, concrete crushing, land improvement contracting, and localized trucking. Previously 10+ years at John Deere Company Worldwide; Active advisor for ag, sustainability, food, tech, finance, and business strategy.
Jared Knock
Willow Lake, SD
Diversified crop and livestock family farm raising cattle, corn, soybeans, oats, hay, hogs, and sheep. Committed to inclusion of regenerative soil health practices; owner Dakota Vision Ag; Co-Founder AgSpire, a regenerative ag company creating sustainability solutions that align corporate priorities with on-the-farm realities. Background in livestock genetics, seed sales, and business development.
Jeff Lakner
Wessington, SD
Diversified farm/ranch in East Central SD producing corn, wheat, soybeans, forages, and managing a cow-calf operation with feeder cattle development. ​Serves on the Foundation for Food and Ag Research (FFAR), World Agriculture Forum and the SD State University Board of Governors; A strong history of board leadership in the cooperative system; 2025 Eminent Leader in Ag, Community and Family Award from SD State University.
Matt Moreland
Medford, OK
Fourth-generation farmer leading Moreland Farms—a 20,000-acre no-till regenerative operation growing corn, wheat, soybeans; manages cattle and excavation business with wife Lisa and three sons; Soukup grain bin dealers; Pioneer in continuous crop rotation and soil health innovation since 1996. Serves on the Farm Foundation board of directors.
Jason Ochs
Syracuse, KS
Operates Plum Creek Farms GP and LLC in Syracuse, Kansas, agricultural entities that produce dryland wheat, sorghum, and corn, and provide custom farming, including harvesting, tillage, planting, and conservation reserve program (CRP) management. Serves as Vice Chair of American AgCredit and the Kansas Wheat Commission; Chairs the Hamilton County Firemen’s Relief Board; Dedicated to his local community and co-owns local pizza parlor.
Dwane Roth
Holcomb, KS
Fourth-generation farmer operating 6,000 acres of dryland and irrigated row crops; pioneer in water conservation via Water Technology Farms since 2016, saving 35,000+ acre-feet annually through irrigation tech, soil moisture probes, and community summits. 2021 Kansas Leopold Conservation Award recipient; advisor to universities, agencies, Syngenta; U.S. Army veteran.
What Sets Our Work Apart
Business Optimization Focus
Intense
Focus on Voice of the Farmer
Catalyst for Problem Solving