Oilseed & Grain Trade Summit 2014 - Advisory Board Members | Online Registration by Cvent

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Advisory Board Members

	George Chamberlain, President, Global Aquaculture Alliance George Chamberlain received his MS and Ph.D degrees in aquaculture from Texas A&M University. In 1990, he joined Ralston Purina Company, where he directed its aquaculture feeds program in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. In 1998, he moved to Monsanto where he directed a program on genetic selection, soy-based feeds, and sustainable pond systems for marine shrimp. In 1999, he and Ken Morrison developed Black Tiger Aquaculture, an integrated shrimp farm in Malaysia. In 2004, they established Integrated Aquaculture International, a technology company which currently owns or manages shrimp breeding, nutrition, and production facilities in Asia and the Americas. Chamberlain served as President of the World Aquaculture Society in 1996. In 1997, he assisted in founding the Global Aquaculture Alliance and continues to serve as President. GAA began by providing a science-based response to critics, but it soon progressed to development of Best Aquaculture Practices certification standards to guide the industry forward. Today, nearly 2 billion pounds of seafood are certified to BAP standards.
	Kurt Collins, Director Commodity Risk Management, UFPC - Unified Foodservice Purchasing Co-op Kurt Collins is the Senior Director of Commodity Risk Management at Unified Foodservice Purchasing Cooperative (UFPC), which is the purchasing cooperative for domestic KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Long John Silver’s and A&W restaurants. Mr. Collins oversees the analysis of commodity markets and government affairs and is responsible for managing the commodity risk management portfolio for the cooperative. Prior to joining UFPC, Mr. Collins was the Director of Research at Brock & Associates in Milwaukee, WI and was the grain analyst for Informa Economics (Sparks Companies) in Memphis, TN. Mr. Collins holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business management from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in agricultural economics from Purdue University.
	Parry Dixon, Director of Economic Research, ADM Parry Dixon is ADM Economist at ADM Corporate headquarters in Decatur, Illinois. Parry joined ADM in 1984. As ADM Economist, he is responsible for economic analysis in addition to price forecasting for commodities. Prior to joining ADM, Parry worked for a large brokerage firm in Chicago, Illinois. In total, he has 26 years of experience in agricultural economics. Parry grew up on a small crop farm in Idaho with dairy and beef operations. He received a bachelor of science degree in agronomy from Brigham Young University. Parry went on to graduate with both a masters of science degree and a doctorate degree in agricultural economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
	Curt Goulding, Senior VP of Global Sales, FCStone, LLC Curt Goulding is Sr. Vice President of Global Sales for FCStone, LLC. Curt is a 1977 graduate of Oklahoma State University with a degree in Agricultural Economics. He began his career with Cargill Nutrena Feeds. In 1982 he began working for Farmers Commodities Corporation (now FCStone, LLC) in Denver, Colorado. In 1992 he started developing risk management programs for consumptive demand in Mexico. In 1996 the Latin American Division was formed with Curt as the director. In February of 2005 Curt moved to Campinas, São Paulo in Brazil to start FCStone do Brasil. Curt served as president until his return to the US in June of 2009. Since returning to the US, Curt has focused on international business development with the INTL FCStone offices outside the US. Additionally, Curt is responsible for expanding and developing risk management business with the INTL FCStone offices east of the Mississippi River.
	Ahmet Hepdogan, Vice President of Procurement , Ferrara Candy Company Ferrara’s portfolio of iconic brands includes Brach’s, Lemonheads, Black Forest, and Trolli. Ferrara Candy with annual sales of $1 Billion is in a leadership position in non-chocolate confectionary segment, and is headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace, IL. Prior to joining Ferrara Candy, Ahmet has held supply chain related positions at C. H. Robinson, Global Risk Management, U.S. Foods, and ARYZTA. Ahmet has a Masters of Business Administration from the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota. Ahmet, a native of Izmir Turkey, and currently resides in Chicago.
	Rex Holstein, Sr. Dir. Commodity Purchasing Group, Tyson Rex Holstein is the Sr. Director of Commodity Purchasing for Tyson Foods, Inc. Rex is responsible for the price risk management for soybean meal, soybean oil, natural gas, and electricity for Tyson Foods. He is responsible for leading a team that procures corn and soybean meal, alternative ingredients, DDG’s, and cooking oil for Tyson’s plants and feed mills. Rex also is responsible for the procurement of natural gas and electricity for the company’s energy needs. In his 17 years with Tyson, Rex has held various roles in Commodity Purchasing, Accounting, Warehousing, and Human Resources. He also has served as Chairman of the Board for the Arkansas Industrial Traffic Association. Rex attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville where he earned a B.S. in Finance Management in 2000 and a B.S. in Accounting in 2002.
	Eric Jackson, President Ag Services, Conservis Corp. Eric Jackson, President, Conservis Ag Services: Mr. Jackson is responsible for identifying and developing the market for the suite of Conservis agricultural solutions. With 25+ years of commercial agriculture experience, Mr. Jackson brings a depth of knowledge and industry contacts, and a unique perspective to the opportunities and challenges facing participants in the agricultural supply chain. Mr. Jackson has previous corporate experience as Manager, Market Development for The Pillsbury Company (1983-88); CEO & President of International Proteins Corporation (1988-1998); and SVP and on the Board of Directors of The Scoular Company (1998-2007). In 2007 Jackson co-founded CP Holdings LLC to help agricultural landowners capture opportunities in the evolving carbon offset markets. He was also on contract as CEO-in-Residence for Renewable Energy with the University of Minnesota Office for Technology Commercialization. Mr. Jackson has a B.S. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Illinois and currently serves on the boards of the American Fats & Oils Association and the Minnesota International Center.
	Tom Kowalski, Vice President Procurement, Kellogg Company Tom currently is a Vice President of Procurement for the Kellogg Company. Tom and his team manage over $1.7B in North America of Ingredients and Energy encompassing sourcing, and sustainable agriculture for major materials such as grains, edible oils, sweeteners, cocoa, dairy products, natural gas and diesel. In addition, his team liaise with commodity risk management and global category teams. Kellogg, is a global cereal and snack food company with 30,000+ employees and revenues of approximately $15B worldwide. He has a demonstrated track record of successfully leading Procurement activity for billion dollar brand portfolios, including Tyson Foods/Hillshire Brands, and Sara Lee externally manufactured meat and frozen bakery products. He has led cross-functional teams that delivered profit, revenue, share and volume growth in mature categories facing significant commodity pressures. A multi-faceted executive leader well versed in supply management across the value chain encompassing Risk Management, Agricultural and Energy Derivative Markets. Prior to joining Kellogg, Tom was with Tyson Foods (formerly Hillshire Brands), based in Chicago, with responsibilities for Commodity Risk Management, Ingredients, Packaging and Energy. He also served in the Frito-Lay/PepsiCo system, holding a number of key management positions of increasing responsibility in Supply Chain, Procurement, Operations & Engineering. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from the University of Denver – Daniels School of Business with a focus on Entrepreneurial & International Studies.
	Dave Lehman, Chief Economist Agricultural Products, CME David Lehman was appointed Managing Director, Commodity Research and Product Development of CME Group in February 2010. He is responsible for leading efforts to identify and develop new CME Group product and services opportunities related to both exchange-traded and over-the-counter (OTC) markets, maintaining viability of current product offerings and providing strategic insight into new markets, business development and research within the commodity space. Before assuming his current role, he most recently served as Director, Commodity Research and Product Development, since July 2007. Previously, Lehman also served as Managing Director and Chief Economist of the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT). Prior to his appointment as Chief Economist, Lehman started at the CBOT in 1989 as a staff economist and held various research and marketing positions during his tenure there as well as working closely with regulatory staff at the exchange and at CFTC.Before joining CBOT, Lehman held the position of Industry Economist, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, from 1986-1989. In this role, he was responsible for commodity market surveillance and statistical analysis.He earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in agricultural and resource economics from the University of Maryland.
	Paul Smolen, Principal, AgriNetworks Paul Smolen is an Agribusiness leader with expertise in commodity risk management, marketing strategy, new business development, and industry logistics. An accomplished and sought after speaker at Agribusiness industry groups worldwide addressing value capture and joint venture management, Paul has held executive and senior advisory positions at Bunge, United Soybean Board, and Continental Grain. Paul has led market development for enhanced output trait soybean meal and oil for the Bunge Dupont Biotech Alliance, coordinated Bunge’s global food and feed safety and quality programs, and developed animal nutrition expertise to improve protein and byproduct valuation. For USB, Paul utilized USB’s neutral platform to improve recognition and utilization of soymeal attributes and value capture from grower to feeder and continuously challenged directors and administrators to improve effectiveness and efficiency in both domestic and international marketing programs by developing closer alignment with commercial stakeholders. At Continental Grain as VP and General Manager, Paul led one of the most profitable trading businesses in terms of capital committed and consistency of performance and set the pace for industry in the export of processed feed ingredients. Paul was also active in creating, implementing, expanding, and managing a succession of joint venture export trading companies involving Continental Grain Company and its soybean processing partners, Quincy Soybean Company and Bunge Corporation. Paul holds an MBA from New York University and a B.A. In Economics from Cornell University
	Jan van Eys, Industry Expert/Consultant, GANS Dr. van Eys has been active in various capacities in international animal nutrition for more than 35 years; much of this time in the international feed business. Following his undergraduate studies in Agronomy in the Netherlands he completed a M.Sc. in Rangeland Nutrition at the New Mexico State University and a Ph.D. in Ruminant Nutrition from West Virginia University (USA). Between his BSc and graduate work he worked five years in Bolivia and Somalia on Government and FAO development projects. After completion of his graduate studies he worked as an Assistant Professor in Ruminant Nutrition for North Carolina State University. In this capacity he collaborated with USAID on international ruminant research projects in Indonesia, Morocco and Brazil. He joined Ralston Purina International in 1986 holding research and technical positions in Portugal and France. Within this company he held the position of European Research Director and upon the creation of Agribrands International he became Vice President for Research and Development based in St. Louis, MO. He left the company in 2001 to establish GANS Inc. an independent consulting company in Animal Nutrition concentrating on research and technical support to the international feed industry. He currently works with a wide range of companies covering all aspects of the feed and livestock industry. During his career, Dr. van Eys has served on an important number of scientific commissions and study groups in the EU as well as the USA. His publications include 30 senior-authored and more than 40 co-authored manuscripts alongside material in the form of industry proceedings and industry press articles. Dr. van Eys has been invited to numerous international and national presentations.
	Tom Williamson, Consultant, Transportation Consultants Co. Thomas Williamson on has started seven small companies and manages three currently, including Transportation Consultants Co. and Iron Horse Railcar Management. Williamson owns Transportation Consultants Co. (TCC), which was started in 1984. TCC is used by many major agriculture firms for the outsourcing of some or all of their corporate transportation functions. TCC specializes in negotiation of rail service and track agreements and rail costing and rate negotiation. TCC charters both barge freight and ocean freight. Tom has extensive experience in transportation of bulk and consumer commodities on every Class I railroad and on every navigable river in the U.S. Iron Horse Railcar Management manages private rail car fleets and provides management reports to control rail fleet costs. He graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree with a major in Transportation and Utility Regulation in 1967. Completed MBA course work at Northern Illinois University, Fairleigh Dickinson University and Columbia University. Williamson graduated from the New York Academy of Advanced Traffic in 1973. Tom grew up on the family farm in West Texas and has one son that is married and lives in Boston, MA.

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