"Nothing is more important in this time of economic turmoil than creating American jobs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help secure our energy independence. I am pleased to be leading Growth Energy as co-chairman."
General Wesley Clark (Ret.)
Leadership & Board of Directors
Growth Energy Leadership
Tom Buis, CEO
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Tom Buis joined Growth Energy in March 2009 as the CEO of the organization. Prior to joining Growth Energy, Buis was elected National Farmers Union’s 13th president. Buis had been with the organization since March 1998, previously serving as vice president of government relations. Buis served for nearly five years as senior agriculture policy advisor to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D. In addition, Buis worked for U.S. Rep. Jim Jontz, D-Ind., for nearly five years as legislative assistant and legislative director. He was also special assistant for agriculture to U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh, D-Ind. Before moving to Washington, D.C. in 1987, Buis was a full-time grain and livestock farmer in Putnam and Morgan Counties in West Central Indiana, with brothers Mike and Jeff, who continue to operate the family farm.
Jim Nussle, President and COO
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Jim Nussle joined Growth Energy in November 2010 as President & Chief Operating Officer after serving for two years on the Board of Directors. Prior to joining Growth Energy, Nussle served as President and CEO of The Nussle Group, a strategic consulting firm in Washington, D.C. In June 2007, Nussle was nominated by President George W. Bush to be the 36th Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and upon confirmation, he joined the President’s Cabinet. Prior to his executive service, Nussle served 16 years in the U.S. House of Representatives representing the 1st District of Iowa and served six years as the Chairman of the House Budget Committee. Nussle received his Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree from Luther College and his law degree from Drake University.
Board Member Biographies
Jeff Broin, CEO, POET, LLC
Jeff Broin is CEO of POET, the world’s largest producer of renewable fuels. The 27 POET plants have a combined annual production capacity of 1.6 billion gallons of ethanol and 4 million tons of distillers grains. Mr. Broin has taken the initiative to actively promote renewable fuels by serving on several boards of directors including Growth Energy. Mr. Broin is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin with a degree in agricultural business.
Gen. Wesley K. Clark (Ret.), Wesley K. Clark & Associates
Gen. Wesley K. Clark joined Growth Energy as co-chairman in January 2009. He graduated first in his class at West Point and retired as a four-star general after 38 years in the U.S. Army. General Clark commanded at the battalion, brigade and division level, and served in a number of significant staff positions. He finished his career as NATO commander and Supreme Allied Commander Europe where he led NATO forces to victory in Operation Allied Force, saving 1.5 million Albanians from ethnic cleansing.
Todd Becker, President, CEO and Director, Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc.
Todd Becker is President, CEO and Director of Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. and was President and COO until December 31, 2008. Mr. Becker has served as CEO of VBV and Executive Vice President of Sales and Trading at Global Ethanol. Before that, Mr. Becker worked for ten years with ConAgra Foods in various management positions including Vice President of International Marketing and President of ConAgra Grain Canada. Mr. Becker has a Masters in Finance from Indiana University and a degree in Business Administration from the University of Kansas.
Ray Defenbaugh, President and CEO of Big River Resources, LLC
Ray Defenbaugh is the co-founder, President and CEO of Big River Resources, an organization with ethanol production facilities and grain elevators in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. Before founding Big River Resources, Mr. Defenbaugh worked as a farmer, banker and agriculture professor at universities across the world. Mr. Defenbaugh was recently named a Prairie Farmer Master Farmer and holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and education from Southern Illinois University and a master’s in economics from Cornell College.
Dave Vander Griend, President and CEO, ICM, Inc.
Dave Vander Griend is founder, President and CEO of ICM. Before founding ICM, Mr. Vander Griend was VP of operations for High Plains Corporation (now Abengoa Bioenergy), an ethanol production company. Mr. Vander Griend left High Plains in early 1995 to start ICM in Colwich, Kan., where it has grown from 20 employees to more than 400. In 2003, Mr. Vander Griend received the “Distinguished Service Award” at the BBI International Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW) for helping the ethanol industry grow during the past 20 years.
Mark Marquis, CEO, Marquis Energy, Inc.
Mark Marquis is the President and General Manager at Marquis Energy, LLC located in Hennepin, Ill. and at Marquis Energy – Wisconsin, LLC in Necedah, Wisc. Before developing the 110 MGY ethanol plant in Hennepin, Mark led the development of several family businesses including grain trading and transportation logistics. The companies have been involved in trucking, barging and the import and export of commodities. Growing up on a farm in central Illinois, Mark became familiar with the transportation and agriculture industries, which contributed to his interest in manufacturing fuel grade ethanol.
Steve McNinch, CEO, Western Plains Energy
Steve McNinch is CEO of Western Plains Energy, LLC. Mr. McNinch has over 20 years of manufacturing and management experience in fields ranging from home products, automotive, defense supplier, and most recently ethanol. Mr. McNinch is Chairman of the Kansas Association of Ethanol Processors. As an officer on the Board of Directors of Growth Energy, he has been active in the continued promotion of ethanol. Mr. McNinch holds degrees in Chemistry and Physics and an M.B.A. from Southwestern College in Winfield, Kan.
Gary Pestorious, CEO, Pestorious, Inc.
Gary Pestorious is CEO of a family-run 12,500-acre operation in Minnesota. Mr. Pestorious is a long-time member of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association and served as Chairman of POET-Glenville for the last ten years. He has served on the MCGA Board of Directors, the National Corn Growers Association’s Ethanol Committee, and the American Coalition for Ethanol Board of Directors. Mr. Pestorious also served on the board of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council and the Renewable Fuels Association. He currently serves on the boards of POET-Hanlontown and POET-Lake Crystal and is Chair of SoyMor.
Bruce Rastetter, CEO, Hawkeye Energy Holdings
Bruce Rastetter co-founded Hawkeye Renewables in 2003 and served as the CEO. Prior, in 1994, Mr. Rastetter merged three separate businesses into one enterprise called Heartland Pork Enterprises. He served as CEO until 2004, growing the company to the 13th largest pork producer in the United States. Mr. Rastetter also owns Summit Farms, a diversified farming operation that includes row crop and livestock production. He attended the University of Iowa for both his undergraduate and law school degrees.
Greg Breukelman, Vice President of Communications, POET
Greg Breukelman serves as Vice President of Communications for POET. Prior to joining POET, Mr. Breukelman owned regional advertising agency BKG. He has received numerous advertising awards and was awarded the 2006 SBA South Dakota Small Businessperson of the Year. He actively promotes ethanol by serving as a board member of Growth Energy and previously as a board member of EPIC. Mr. Breukelman graduated from the University of South Dakota with a B.S. in business management.
Greg Krissek, Director of Government Affairs, ICM
Greg Krissek is ICM’s Director of Government Affairs. He has served as Chairman of the board for the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition; Secretary-Treasurer of the board for EPIC; and board member of the Kansas Association of Ethanol Processors. Prior to joining ICM, Mr. Krissek was Director of Operations for the Kansas Corn Commission, Kansas Corn Growers Association, Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association and worked with the Kansas Department of Agriculture. He holds a B.A. in economics and political science from Rockhurst University and J.D. and M.B.A. from the University of Denver.
Rob Skjonsberg, Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Corporate Affairs, POET
Rob Skjonsberg is Vice President of Government Affairs at POET. Prior to joining POET, Mr. Skjonsberg served five years as the Chief of Staff for the State of South Dakota. He also spent nine years in the financial services industry with Wells Fargo in a variety of management positions. Mr. Skjonsberg actively promotes ethanol by serving on the board of Growth Energy. He graduated from South Dakota State University with a B.S. in economics.
Former Members
Wayne Hoovestol, Chairman of the Board, Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc.
Wayne Hoovestol is Chairman of the Board of Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. Prior he served as CEO and Director. Mr. Hoovestol began operating Hoovestol Inc., a trucking company, in 1978, which he still operates today along with Lone Mountain Truck Leasing. He later formed an additional trucking company known as Major Transport which he sold in 2006. Mr. Hoovestol became involved in the ethanol industry in 1995 and has served on the boards of two other ethanol companies.
Duane Nelson, Director, Global Brand Management, CaseIH
Duane Nelson joined CaseIH in August of 2008 as director of global brand management reporting to the president and CEO. In his role, Mr. Nelson develops the global brand strategy and oversees its execution. Prior to joining CaseIH, Mr. Nelson held a similar role at Bombardier Recreational Products where he received numerous communications industry awards. He holds a B.S. in finance and a B.A. in economics from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse and an Executive M.B.A. from Marquette University.
Bernie Punt, CEO and General Manager, Siouxland Energy & Livestock Cooperative
Bernie Punt serves as CEO/General Manager of Siouxland Energy and Livestock Cooperative. He has been actively involved with the ethanol industry trade groups to help develop policy to increase infrastructure for E-85 and other high-level blends of ethanol. Mr. Punt has served as a Board Member for the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, the Renewable Fuels Association, and the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition. Siouxland Energy and Livestock Cooperative joined Growth Energy as members in June 2009. Mr. Punt serves as Chairman of Growth Energy’s Market Development Committee.
