Management Team

Co-founder and President of N-Sense, and professor-emeritus of Agronomy at Iowa State University. Received his Ph.D. in Agronomy from Iowa State University in 1987. Started his career as research scientist with USDA-ARS, and joined the Department of Agronomy at Iowa State University as a professor in 2010.  He has been working on soil sensor technology to facilitate precision management of soils for over 20 years. His prior research led to the development of a commercial field mobile on-the-go NIRS soil sensor system. 

Stephen Ringlee, CPA, co-founder of N-Sense and managing director of Centesimus Capital. He lives and works in Ames, IA and Boston, MA. He has co-founded a number of firms in insurance, life sciences, manufacturing, and information sciences and consults on company formation and growth.  He is a board member of two companies and three non-profits. He graduated from UC Berkeley in engineering, from Dartmouth’s Tuck School with an MBA in finance, and from Bentley University with an MS in Taxation. 

Joseph Huehnerhoff is as physicist specializing in optical instrumentation.  Joe’s career has involved developing instrumentation ranging from facility grade astronomical imaging systems to compact, application-specific, spectral analyzers.  These include instruments such as handheld Raman spectral imagers for the defense industry, OCT imaging for the biomedical industry, to DMD-based spectral analyzers for the oil and gas industry.  Through his scientific background and engineering experience and expertise, Joe is able to contribute disruptive technological solutions for start-ups. 

Bob provides agronomic guidance to N-Sense.  He has been involved in Precision Agriculture for over 30 years.  Prior to coming to N-Sense Bob spent 16 years at Corteva Agriscience, most recently as a Research Scientist as well as Agronomy Science Manager.  He's been involved in hardware and software development, crop modeling, agronomy, and business development.  Bob has been a mentor to various AgTech startups, including N-Sense, and engages fractionally with various startups.  A 5th generation farmer, he farmed for 15 years on his family operation in south-central Iowa and continues to provide agronomic consulting services to neighboring farmers.

Bob holds two bachelor's degrees in Ag Systems Technology and Ag Education, and a masters degree in Business Administration, all from Iowa State University.  He and his family live on the family farm near Humeston in south-central Iowa.