"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 is exceptionally pleased to announce our new Co-Chairman, General Wesley Clark. With his unsurpassed experience and insight added to the biofuels movement, four-star General and national Democratic leader Wesley Clark will help America take an important step closer to becoming energy independent. We are honored and excited to have him joining us.
Board Member Biographies
Jeff Broin, President and CEO, POET, LLC
Jeff Broin is CEO and President of POET, the world’s largest producer of renewable fuels. The 26 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. He is married and has three children.
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.
Rep. Jim Nussle, former U.S. Representative
Jim Nussle currently serves as President and CEO of The Nussle Group. He has served as Director of the Office of Management and as one of President Bush’s most senior White House advisors. Mr. Nussle served 16 years in the U.S. House of Representatives for the 1st District of Iowa. He received his Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree from Luther College and his law degree from Drake University in Des Moines.
Dave Vander Griend, President and CEO, ICM
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.
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.
Bruce Rastetter, CEO, Hawkeye Energy Holdings
Bruce Rastetter co-founded Hawkeye Renewables in 2003 and has served as the CEO ever since. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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, Vice President of Government 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.
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.
