Management
Experienced Leadership to Move Forward
The Management Team of Green Plains Renewable Energy has over 120-years of diversified business experience. Each member is committed to building long-term shareholder value.
TODD BECKER - President, Chief Executive Officer & Director
Todd Becker serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. effective January 1, 2009, and was appointed as a Director on March 10, 2009. Mr. Becker served as the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer from the closing of the VBV merger on October 15, 2008 to December 31, 2008. Mr. Becker had served as Chief Executive Officer of VBV since May 2007. Mr. Becker was Executive Vice President of Sales and Trading at Global Ethanol from May 2006 to May 2007. He had responsibility for setting up the commercial operations of the company. Prior to that, Mr. Becker worked for ten years with ConAgra Foods in various management positions including Vice President of International Marketing for ConAgra Trade Group and President of ConAgra Grain Canada. He has over 20 years of related experience in various commodity processing businesses, risk management and supply chain management. In addition, he has extensive international trading experience in agricultural markets. Mr. Becker has a Masters degree in Finance from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a Finance emphasis from the University of Kansas.
JERRY PETERS - Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer
Jerry Peters joined Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. as Chief Financial Officer in June 2007. Prior to then, Mr. Peters served as Senior Vice President - Chief Accounting Officer for ONEOK Partners, L.P. from May 2006 to April 2007, as its Chief Financial Officer from July 1994 to May 2006, and in various senior management roles prior to that. ONEOK Partners is a publicly-traded partnership engaged in gathering, processing, storage, and transportation of natural gas and natural gas liquids. Prior to joining ONEOK Partners in 1985, Mr. Peters was employed by KPMG LLP as a certified public accountant. Mr. Peters has a Masters degree in Business Administration from Creighton University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.
JEFF BRIGGS - Chief Operating Officer
Jeff Briggs joined Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc as Chief Operating Officer effective November 23, 2009. Prior to joining Green Plains, Mr. Briggs was Founder and General Partner of Frigate Capital, LLC, a registered investment advisor in Nebraska. Before founding Frigate Capital, Jeff spent 7 years at Valmont Industries, Inc. as President of the Coatings Division where he managed a 10 facility division with over 1,000 employees. Prior to Valmont, Mr. Briggs acquired and managed a high tech electronic manufacturing company in Los Angeles, was Director of Mergers and Acquisitions for Peter Kiewit and Sons, and worked for Goldman Sachs in their Equities Division. Jeff has a Bachelor of Science degree, summa cum laude, in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal and Power Systems from UCLA and an MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business. He served 5 years as an Officer in the United States Navy on the nuclear submarine USS Whale. Jeff has been in a consulting capacity with Green Plains since July 2009.
STEVE BLEYL – Executive Vice President – Ethanol Marketing
Steve Bleyl joined Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc as Executive Vice President – Ethanol Marketing upon closing of the VBV merger on October 15, 2008. Mr. Bleyl joined VBV in October 2007 and served in the same position for them. From June 2003 until September 2007, Mr. Bleyl served as Chief Executive Officer of Renewable Products Marketing Group LLC, an ethanol marketing company, building it from a co-operative marketing group of five ethanol plants in one state to seventeen production facilities in seven states. Prior to that, Mr. Bleyl worked for over 20 years in various senior management and executive positions in the fuel industry. Mr. Bleyl has a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma and a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the United States Military Academy.
MIKE ORGAS – Executive Vice President – Commercial Operations
Mike Orgas joined Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. as Executive Vice President – Commercial Operations in November 2008. Mr. Orgas has extensive experience in supply chain management, logistics, risk management, and strategic planning. From May 2004 to October 2008, Mr. Orgas served as the Director of Raw Materials Strategic Sourcing and Risk Management for the Malt-O-Meal Company. From February 2003 to December 2003, Mr. Orgas was a Partner in the Agribusiness/Food Practice of McCarthy & Company, an advisory services firm. Prior to that, Mr. Orgas served as Regional Manager of the Northern States and Director of Integrated Supply Chain Management for ConAgra Foods, Inc. and as Senior Manager of Operations, Transportation and Trading of the northwest region for General Mills. Mr. Orgas has a Masters degree in Business Management from the University of Montana and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota.
EDGAR SEWARD – Executive Vice President – Plant Operations
Edgar Seward joined Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. as Executive Vice President – Plant Operations upon closing of the VBV merger on October 15, 2008. From May 2006 until the closing of the VBV merger, Mr. Seward served as the General Manager for Indiana Bio-Energy, LLC, where he managed development of the Bluffton ethanol facility from its inception through construction, staffing and operations. From January 2004 to April 2006, Mr. Seward served as a General Manager for United Bio-Energy, LLC, where he managed development of and provided technical support for multiple dry mill ethanol facilities. From October 2002 to December 2003, Mr. Seward served as a project manager for ICM, Inc., where he was actively involved in the design and specifications for dry milling technologies and facilities. Prior to that, Mr. Seward served in operations for a bio-technology business in the United Kingdom and in operations management at Aventine Renewable Energy. Mr. Seward has a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Illinois and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Culver-Stockton College.
MICHELLE MAPES – Executive Vice President – General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Michelle Mapes joined Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. as Executive Vice President – General Counsel and Corporate Secretary effective November 3, 2009. Ms. Mapes joined the Company in September 2009 as its General Counsel. Ms. Mapes is responsible for all legal and regulatory affairs for the Company. Prior to joining Green Plains, Ms. Mapes was a Partner at Husch Blackwell Sanders, LLP, where for her three years there, her practice was focused nearly exclusively in renewable energy. Prior to that, Ms. Mapes was Chief Administrative Officer & General Counsel for HDM Corporation, and Ms. Mapes served as Senior Vice President - Corporate Services & General Counsel to Farm Credit Services of America from April 2000 to June 2005. Ms. Mapes holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Ms. Mapes also holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
THOMAS PAULDINE - Executive Vice President - Human Resources
Thomas Pauldine was named Executive Vice President – Human Resources in January 2011 after joining the Company in September 2008 as its Vice President – Human Resources. Mr. Pauldine has diverse industry and human resources experience. Prior to joining Green Plains, Mr. Pauldine served as the Vice President of Human Resources for First Data Corporation from April 2003 to January 2008. From August 2002 to April 2003 Mr. Pauldine was a Senior Human Resources Consultant for Capital One. He also served as the Director of Global Compensation and Benefits for Starbucks Coffee Company from December 1999 to December 2001. He has held several human resources and leadership roles in the previous 20 years including 14 years with ConocoPhilips; serving in multiple domestic and international positions with the most recent as HR Director for Conoco’s downstream business, Western Division. Mr. Pauldine holds a BS degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University.
