T. Randall Fortenbery’s research program currently focuses on agricultural price performance in local and national markets. It looks at impacts of new information on relative prices, as well as overall price levels. He also is engaged in studying the impact of futures price action on the stability of cash prices.

Another part of his research is identifying specific causal effects of recent price action in agricultural markets. It essentially asks what part of recent negative price action can be explained by market structure. This research includes the impact of US futures trading on the price structure in the developing countries of Central America.

Fortenbery’s extension program continues a focus on identifying and measuring price risk, and applying risk management strategies to agricultural enterprises. This component involves direct consultation, group teaching, regular outlook presentations, and curriculum development. His activities in Extension expanded in the last year to include work with agribusinesses beyond the farm level. This focus is on business structure, strategy, and risk management.

Fortenbery received his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics at University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign, His M.S.in Applied Economics at Montana State University
And his B.S. in Natural Resource Economics at Montana State University.

Konstantina “Nadia” Gkritza, assistant professor of civil engineering, came to Iowa State University in August 2007.  She teaches transportation engineering and transportation data analysis.  Her interests and research experience include transportation planning, transportation economics and financing, econometrics, infrastructure management, and highway safety.  Gkritza came to ISU from Purdue University, where she was a postdoctoral fellow in transportation and infrastructure systems.  Her recent work at Purdue University involved the study of the impacts of biofuels on transportation and logistics in Indiana.  Dr. Gkritza has authored and co-authored journal and conference papers and is active in a variety of professional organizations including the American Society of Civil Engineers, Institute of Transportation Engineers and Transportation Research Board (TRB).  She is a member of the TRB Committee on Transportation and Economic Development and Committee on Transportation Economics.  She has also received some prestigious honors and awards including the C.V. Wootan Memorial Award for outstanding Ph.D. dissertation in Policy and Planning, the ENO Transportation Foundation fellowship and IRF Executive Leader fellowship, among others.  Gkritza received the diploma in Civil Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, Greece; the M.S.C.E. degree from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Falls Church; and the Ph.D. degree from Purdue University, West Lafayette.                              

Kleinschmit directs IATP’s Rural Communities Program, which focuses on strengthening the link between sustainable rural economic policy and local, democratic decision-making.  Within the Bioeconomy, the Rural Communities Program works to “green” the entire value chain and to assure that farmers and local communities benefit from this sector.  Kleinschmit grew up on and is still active in the operation of his family’s sustainable, perennial grass farm in Nebraska. He worked on rural development in the Baltic States and Russia before joining IATP in 1995. He has a M.A. from the Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington - Seattle, and a B.A. from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota.