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Governor Brad Henry welcomes you to grow: The Oklahoma Governor's Conference on Biofuels.

Oklahoma is well positioned to establish a biorefinery sector with

• abundant native grasses
  • that are excellent feedstocks for cellulosic ethanol and winter-hardy canola, a superior oil seed crop for biodiesel
• significant research commitments
  • to biofuel feedstocks, as well as biobased and thermochemical processing
• five operating petroleum refineries,
  • a well-developed product pipeline and our CENTRAL LOCATION at the crossroads of two interstate highways

 

Learn the latest news and developments in the biofuel industry:

• The Oklahoma Biofuels Initiative
• Report on the ongoing Oklahoma biomass resource study
• Noble Foundation’s development of a dedicated energy crop
• Biorefinery construction in Oklahoma
• Federal and state initiatives for biomass and biofuel production
• Petroleum and automotive industries’ commitment to alternative fuels
• Impacts and opportunities for fleet managers, end users and marketers
• Advances in feedstock conversion technology

October 3-4, 2006
University of Oklahoma

Speakers
Thomas Dorr
Under Secretary for Rural Development U.S. Dept of Agriculture
James Woolsey
former Director, U.S. Central Intelligence Agency
John Ferrell
U.S. Department of Energy
Brad Henry
Governor, State of Oklahoma
David Boren
President, University of Oklahoma
Glenn English
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
Cynthia Riley
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Michael Cawley
The Noble Foundation
Brent Kisling
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Dr. David Morris
Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Brian Jennings
American Coalition of Ethanol
Dr. David Bransby
Auburn University
Dr. Joe Bouton
The Noble Foundation
Dr. Ray Huhnke
Oklahoma State University
Dr. Phil Kenkel
Oklahoma State University
Dr. Tim Sharp
Oklahoma State University
Dr. Chad Godsey
Oklahoma State University
Robert Babik
General Motors Corporation
John Gordon
John Deere
Lou Burke
ConocoPhillips
Gary Schoonveld
ConocoPhillips
Ruth Scotti
BP Biofuels
Shelley N. Fidler
Van Ness Feldman Attorneys at Law
Maurice Hladik
IOGEN
Dr. Paul Zorner
Diversa
Anna Rath
Ceres
Dr. Lance Lobban
University of Oklahoma
Tammy Klein
International Fuel Quality Center
Zach Taylor
Association of Central Oklahoma Governments
Brion Ockenfels
Tinker Air Force Base
Bede Ley
Tinker Air Force Base
Tom Wadley
Oklahoma Department of Transportation
Clay Coldiron
City of Edmond
Yvonne Anderson
Association of Central Oklahoma Governments
Mark Glenn
Glenn Oil
Mike Brakefield
Love’s – Travel Stops and Country Stores
Vance McSpadden
Oklahoma Petroleum Marketers Association
Mason Mungle
Oklahoma Farmers Union
Terry Detrick
Oklahoma Farmers Union
Dr. Dolores Mornhinweg
U.S. Dept of Agriculture
Dr. Jeffery Dahlberg
research director, National Grain Sorghum Producers

DOWNLOADS

CONTACT

For more information, interviews, to attend the conference at no charge as "working media" or to receive additional media materials, please call Anglin Public Relations at (405) 840-4222. Materials available include: conference logo, photos of speakers, a map of research and biorefinery locations across Oklahoma, a graphic depicting the biofuel process and how researchers, farmers, biorefineries and gas stations are interrelated, and (after the conference) presentation summaries and links to podcasts/webcasts of the presentations. Call Anglin Public Relations to discuss how your news outlet can receive same dayreports and photos from the conference.

 

 

 

 

 

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3
All sessions are held in the Catlett Hall unless otherwise indicated.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4
All sessions are held in the Catlett Hall unless otherwise indicated.

PRESENTERS

Governor Brad Henry
State of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK

A third generation Oklahoman, Brad Henry was elected Governor of Oklahoma in 2002. Throughout his term, the governor has worked to build a better Oklahoma by strengthening the state public education system and making health care more accessible and affordable to the citizenry. In his inaugural address, he urged citizens to celebrate Oklahoma's many accomplishments, put aside their differences and rally together for the good of their beloved state. As he often likes to say, "We are all Oklahomans first."
Before his election as governor, Brad Henry served ten years in the Oklahoma State Senate, chairing the Senate Judiciary Committee and serving as vice-chair of the Senate Economic Development Committee. The governor attended the University of Oklahoma as a President's Leadership Scholar and earned a bachelor's degree in economics in 1985. In 1988, he was awarded his law degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, where he served as managing editor of the Law Review.

John Ferrell
U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, D.C.

John Ferrell is the Co-Director of the National Biomass Coordination Office within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The Coordination Office, Co-Directed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, integrates all bio-related research, development, and demonstration activities across government agencies. Ferrell is also a valued member of the Office of the Biomass Program, currently responsible within the Office for the administration of all congressionally directed projects.
In previous DOE assignments Ferrell was responsible for the planning, development, and management of R&D programs leading to the establishment of technologies that lowered the cost of producing competitive alternative transportation fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel. Biofuels program areas under his responsibility included feedstock development (biomass residues and energy crops), ethanol production, renewable diesel alternatives, and the Regional Biomass Energy Program. Ferrell, through the Bioenergy Initiative Working Group, has been actively involved with developing a closer partnership between USDA and DOE.
www.energy.gov

Michael Cawley
The Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OK

Michael Cawley is the president, chief executive officer and a board member of The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc., a private foundation headquartered in Ardmore, Oklahoma. The Noble Foundation serves to enhance agriculture by assisting regional agricultural producers and other stewards of natural resources achieve their financial, production and quality-of life goals through consultation, education services, research and demonstration and by conducting fundamental, translational and applied plant research.
Cawley received his BA in economics and juris doctorate from the University of Oklahoma. He serves on the boards of Noble Energy, Inc., Noble Corporation, the Oklahoma City Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and the National Center for Genome Resources in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
www.noble.org

Anna Rath
Ceres, Thousand Oaks, CA

Anna Rath joined Ceres as director of business development in 2004. In this role, she leads Ceres' business development activities including the evaluation of new business opportunities, development of collaborations and other business building activities. She was invited to speak on the topic of dedicated energy crops this year at BIO's World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing and the Renewable Fuels Association's National Ethanol Conference among others. Prior to joining Ceres, she was a consultant with McKinsey & Company. She holds a JD from Yale Law School and an MS in Human Genetics from the University of Michigan.
www.ceres.org

Robert Babik
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI

Robert Babik is a Director within the Public Policy Center of General Motors Corporation with his primary focus being emission issues and requirements relating to both light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles. Babik works on regulatory, legislative and policy issues impacting current and future vehicle emission requirements as well as future vehicle technologies including hybrids, fuel cells and advance clean diesel. Babik participates regularly with the California Fuel Cell Partnership and is a Board member of the Diesel Technology Forum.
Prior to joining General Motors Babik was representing the automotive industry as the Director of Environmental Programs for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. Babik's responsibilities at the Alliance were to provide technical guidance and be a liaison between member companies on environmental related activities dealing with vehicles with emphasis on mobile source emissions and air quality, including legislation and regulation at the federal state and international levels. Babik received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Youngstown State University.
www.gm.com

John Gordon
John Deere, Cedar Rapids, IA

John Gordon has been with John Deere's power systems division for 27 years and currently serves as product engineering manager. Prior to his current position, Gordon worked as the engine technology and test lab operations manager. Throughout his career at John Deere, Gordon has led the design and developments of six different engine platforms and managed many departments. Gordon has over 39 years experience in diesel and CNG engine engineering and has served on the Engine Manufacturers Association Executive Committee and Board of Directors and John Deere's Enterprise Technology Council.
www.deere.com

Lou Burke
ConocoPhillips, Houston, TX

Louis Burke is the manager of the alternative energy and programs group for ConocoPhillips. Burke previously served as manager of commercial lubricants. Prior to that, he held various management positions for Phillips, Tosco and Unocal in marketing and product development. Burke started with Unocal in 1987.
Burke grew up in Milwaukee and Wausau, WI. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1986 with BA in chemical engineering. He also received a MA degree in business administration from the University of California, Irvine in 1998.
www.conocophillips.com

Ruth Scotti
BP Biofuels, Warrenville, IL

Ruth Scotti serves as the U.S. fuels policy advisor for BP Biofuels. She constructs advocacy strategy and company advocacy positions for BP's new Biofuels business. Scotti received an MBA and Masters in Environmental Policy from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and School of Natural Resources respectively. Prior to graduate school, Scotti worked for environmental political organizations in Taiwan.
www.bp.com

David Boren
President, University of Oklahoma and former Oklahoma Governor and U.S. Senator, Norman, OK

David L. Boren, who has served Oklahoma as governor and U.S. senator, became the thirteenth president of the University of Oklahoma in November 1994. As Oklahoma's governor, Boren promoted key educational initiatives that have had an enduring impact on Oklahoma. During his time in the U.S. Senate, he was the author of the National Security Education Act in 1992, served on the Senate Finance and Agriculture Committees and was the longest-serving chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
Under Boren's leadership, the University of Oklahoma has developed and emerged as a "pacesetter university in American public higher education," with 20 major new programs initiated since his inauguration. Above all, the Boren years have been marked by an emphasis on putting students first. He teaches a freshman-level course in political science each semester and is one of the few presidents of major universities to teach.
A graduate of Yale University, Boren majored in American history, graduated in the top one percent of his class and was elected Phi Beta Kappa. He was selected as a Rhodes Scholar and earned a master's degree in politics, philosophy and economics from Oxford University, England. Boren received a law degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law.
www.ou.edu

James Woolsey
former Director U.S. Central Intelligence Agency

James Woolsey is a foreign policy specialist and former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Woolsey serves as a Vice President and officer in Booz Allen Hamilton’s Global Resilience practice. He is currently Co-Chairman of the Committee on the Present Danger. He is also Chairman of the Advisory Boards of the Clean Fuels Foundation and the New Uses Council, and a Trustee of the Center for Strategic & International Studies and the Center for Strategic & Budgetary Assessments. He also serves on the National Commission on Energy Policy.
Woolsey served in the U.S. Government on five different occasions, where he held Presidential appointments in two Republican and two Democratic administrations. He was also a partner at the law firm of Shea & Gardner in Washington, DC, where he practiced for 22 years in the fields of civil litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Woolsey received his BA degree from Stanford University an MA from Oxford University and an LL.B from Yale Law School.

Glenn English
CEO, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and former Oklahoma Congressman, Arlington, VA

Glenn English is the Chief Executive Officer for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). The NRECA is the national service organization dedicated to representing the national interests of cooperative electric utilities and the consumers they serve.
Prior to his work at the NRECA, English served in Congress for nearly 20 years and he was the executive director of the Oklahoma State Democratic Party from 1969 to 1973. English earned a BA from Southwestern State College.
www.nreca.org

Dr. David Bransby
Auburn University, Auburn, AL

Dr. David Bransby's research activities are split about equally between forage/livestock work (especially grazing research) and energy and fiber crops and their associated industries. His outreach activities involve working with producers and producer groups on applying research results from both the forage/livestock work and the energy crop research. In addition, considerable effort is now being made to work with industry to commercialize production of electricity from energy crops and paper from giant reed.
Bransby's honors and awards include: Appointed Fellow of the America Society of Agronomy, 1998, Appointed Alumni Professor, Auburn University, 1995-2000, Director's Research Award, AAES, 1993. He received a BS and PhD in Grassland Sciences from University of Natal, MS in Market Research from University of South Africa, and MS in Agronomy from University of Missouri.
www.auburn.edu

Brian Jennings
American Coalition of Ethanol, Sioux Falls, SD

Brian Jennings is the Executive Vice President for the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE). In addition to leadership of the ACE staff, Jennings is responsible for directing the organization’s public policy efforts, including the continued fight for a renewable fuels standard and fair ethanol tax policy at the state and federal levels.
Jennings began his career as a lobbyist for the South Dakota Farmers Union, and joined the staff of U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) in 1997. Originally raised on a farm/ranch near Fort Pierre, South Dakota, Jennings most recently served as chief agriculture policy advisor to Senator Johnson in Washington, D.C.
www.ethanol.org

Dr. David Morris
Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Minneapolis, MN

Dr. David Morris serves as vice president of the 32 year old Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a non-profit organization specializing in developing healthy local and regional economies. Since 2000, he has served on a Congressionally-created committee to advise the USDOE and USDA on biomass-related issues. Morris has been an energy consultant or advisor to the energy departments of Presidents Ford, Carter, Clinton and George W. Bush.
Morris is the author of four books and more than a dozen monographs on energy and biomass, including his pioneering 1992 report, The Carbohydrate Economy and in 2004, his report arguing for a transportation strategy based on plug-in, flexible-fueled hybrid vehicles, A Better Way: Driving Without Oil. His columns have appeared in over 150 newspapers including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post and Los Angeles Times. Morris appears frequently on television and radio, including National Public Radio, The O'Reilly Factor, CNN Financial News and Bloomberg News Network.
www.ilsr.org

Dr. Joe Bouton
The Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OK

Dr. Joe Bouton is Director of the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation Forage Improvement Division, and Professor Emeritus at the University of Georgia. Bouton develops forage and bioenergy cultivars for Southern USA. He is best known for the release and commercialization of ‘Alfagraze’ alfalfa, “MaxQ” tall fescue, and ‘Durana’ and ‘Patriot’ white clovers. His switchgrass cultivar, “NF/GA 993”, is currently under seed production for future release as a biofuels crop for the southern region.
For his achievements, Bouton was presented the Carl Sprengel Research Award by the American Society of Agronomy, named Man of the Year in Service to Southeastern Agriculture by Progressive Farmer Magazine, and awarded a Creative Research Medal by the University of Georgia.
www.noble.org

Dr. Chad Godsey
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK

Dr. Chad Godsey is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at Oklahoma State University. Godsey’s extension and research efforts are focused on Oklahoma cropping systems with an emphasis in oilseed production practices. He works closely with extension educators and industry personnel to improve crop production practices in Oklahoma that will lead to increased profitability of Oklahoma producers.
Godsey received a BS in Agricultural Business and Plant and Soil Science from Colorado State University, a MS and PhD in Agronomy from Kansas State University.
osu.okstate.edu

Dr. Phil Kenkel
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK

Dr. Phil Kenkel is a Professor in the Agricultural Economics Department at Oklahoma State University and holds the Bill Fitzwater Cooperative Chair. Kenkel’s recent research activities include feasibility assessment for value-added cooperative ventures, and the development of decision aids that enhance the performance of existing cooperative businesses. Kenkel also works closely with Oklahoma State University’s Food and Agricultural Products Research and Technology Center. Dr. Kenkel’s recent research projects have centered on the feasibility of oilseed processing and biofuel production.
Kenkel has authored more than 200 research and extension publications, presented over 40 papers at professional meetings and conducted training sessions on producer owned businesses in 5 countries. He received a BS in Agricultural Economics, a MBA and a PhD in Agricultural Economics from the University of Kentucky.
osu.okstate.edu

Dr. Tim Sharp
Oklahoma State University, Oklmulgee, OK
osu.okstate.edu

Tammy Klein
International Fuel Quality Center, Houston, TX

Tammy Klein, Director Americas & Global Biofuels, International Fuel Quality Center helped found IFQC in 1998 and served as its Deputy Director to 2003. IFQC's mission is to improve communications among the global refining, auto and biofuel industries as well as governments by providing quality information and analysis of fuel quality developments.
Tammy was instrumental with other IFQC staff in helping to launch the Partnership for Cleaner Fuels & Vehicles at the World Summit for Sustainable Development in 2002, and serves in an advisory capacity to many governments on fuel quality and biofuels issues. She currently directs the IFQC's Biofuels Center, launched in early 2005 at the request of the IFQC membership, and covers public policy developments with respect to conventional fuel quality for the Americas. Tammy practiced administrative law with the firm Venable LLP and received her BS from the University of Florida and her JD from the Georgetown University Law Center. She is a member of the District of Columbia and Virginia bars.
www.ifqc.org

Shelley N. Fidler
Van Ness Feldman Attorneys at Law, Washington, DC

At Van Ness Feldman, Shelley Fidler has supported coalitions concerned about legislative proposals on electricity, green buildings, energy efficiency, and clean diesel engines; worked with and trained clients in effective advocacy; brought former adversaries to new, constructive relationships; and assisted an organization to manage its explosive growth. Prior to joining Van Ness Feldman, Fidler held a variety of high profile positions within the federal government. She served as Principal Deputy at the White House Climate Change Task Force, as the Chief of Staff to the President’s Council on Environmental Quality(CEQ), as the Staff Director for the Subcommittee on Energy and Power of the Committee on Energy and Commerce in the U.S. House of Representatives and as Assistant to the Chairman for Policy for the House Subcommittees on Fossil and Synthetic Fuels and Energy and Power for Congressman and Subcommittee Chair Philip Sharp.
www.vnf.com/

Gary Schoonveld
ConocoPhillips, Houston, TX

G.A. Schoonveld is manager of fuels and regulatory affairs in the downstream organization of ConocoPhillips. Schoonveld joined the company in 1977. He has held a variety of positions including refinery production, synthetic fuels development, fuels technology research and development and natural gas liquids, safety and quality assurance. He is responsible for a broad spectrum of fuel related functions such as developing and planning strategies to meet regulatory performance and environmental challenges, implementation of fuel regulations, compliance and reporting, policy development, technical support and research for future energy demands.
Schoonveld has been actively involved in regulatory negotiations on provisions of the Clean Air Act concerning reformulated and oxygenated gasoline and ultra low sulfur diesel. Schoonveld has co-authored several technical papers on gasoline that include the topics of lead phase-out, low RVP flammability, reformulation, additive performance and oxygenates addition.
Schoonveld was born in Lincoln, NE. He holds a BS degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Nebraska. He is a registered professional engineer and is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Society for Testing and Materials.
www.conocophillips.com

Dr. Paul Zorner
Diversa, San Diego, CA

Dr. Paul Zorner is the Senior Director for Business Development at Diversa Corporation. At Diversa his responsibilities include business and strategic oversight of programs for development of renewable transportation fuels from crop biomass; management of several 3rd party collaborations and directing the business and policy aspects of the grants program for industrial and bio-defense platforms.
Paul serves as Adjunct Professor of Horticulture and a member of the graduate faculty at North Carolina State University and also serves as Adjunct Professor of Genetics and Biochemistry as well as a Senior Science Fellow at Clemson University’s Institute for Nutraceutical Research. Paul received his undergraduate degree in Ecology and Secondary Education from Lewis and Clark College and his PhD in Botany and Plant Pathology from Colorado State University, where he worked on development of cropping systems for dry-land agriculture. Prior to joining Diversa in 2003, Paul held scientific, development, operations and senior administrative positions with start-up and fortune 500 companies.
www.diversa.com

Dr. Lance Lobban
University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
Dr. Lance Lobban has been director of the School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Science at the University of Oklahoma since 1998, and he is also a Francis W. Winn Chair. His areas of expertise include chemical reaction engineering and catalysis, and he has been involved in energy-related research in areas such as the conversion of natural gas to liquid fuels and chemicals, photocatalytic oxidation, and modeling of solid oxide fuel cells.
www.ou.edu

Maurice Hladik
IOGEN, Ontario, Canada

Maurice Hladik is the director of marketing at Iogen Corporation. Hladik has extensive international business experience particularly in the USA, Germany and the UK as well as several Asian countries including China (also Hong Kong), South Korea, and Thailand.
Before joining Iogen, Hladik worked for the Canadian Foreign Service as a Senior Canadian trade officer. He also worked for Agriculture Canada as Director General of the Grain Marketing Bureau where he was chief advisor to the Canadian government on international grain and oilseed policy and marketing issues. His experience also includes the Canadian International Development Agency where he worked as Director for Asia, Industrial Cooperation Division.
Hladik is an Executive in Residence for the MBA Program at the University of Maryland University College.
www.iogen.ca

Cynthia Riley
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO

Cynthia Riley serves as the biomass program lead systems integrator within the recently established Systems Integration Office at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and is charged with implementing the systems engineering discipline within the Department of Energy Office of the Biomass Program (OBP). She hasa broad range of experience in the energy and environmental industries with expertise in the analysis and evaluation of emerging alternative energy research with Exxon, process design engineering with Fluor and Raytheon, and research engineering and management at NREL.
During her 16 years at NREL, she has worked on the Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy programs including biofuels and Biomass, Clean Cities, and Energy Policy Act implementation programs. She was the manager of the NREL Alternative Fuels Data Center and the technology manager for the Biofuels and Biomass Programs at NREL.
Riley holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire and is a Registered Professional Engineer (Colorado).
www.nrel.gov

Brent Kisling
U.S. Dept of Agriculture, Enid, OK

Brent Kisling is the Oklahoma State Director for USDA Rural Development. USDA Rural Development serves as the lead federal entity for rural development needs, and administers program assistance through three agencies: Rural Housing Service, Rural Business - Cooperative Service and Rural Utilities Service. Prior to joining the USDA, Kisling served as Field Director for Senator James M. Inhofe, as a U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Liaison for former U.S. Senator David L. Boren at Oklahoma State University and as a public relations assistant for the Oklahoma Pork Producers. Kisling received his Bachelor of Science degree in Agribusiness in 1994 from Oklahoma State University, and completed a two-year training in leadership development, legislative issues, and international agriculture policy through the Oklahoma Agriculture Leadership Program. Kisling is a past state president of the Future Farmers of America, and currently serves as a Board of Trustee for the Southwest American Livestock Foundation.
www.rurdev.usda.gov

Thomas Dorr
Under Secretary for Rural Development, U.S. Dept of Agriculture

Thomas C. Dorr was appointed by President George W. Bush to be the Under Secretary for Rural Development. As Under Secretary, Dorr oversees USDA Rural Development policies and programs. Dorr also served as Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Rural Development Issues where he coordinated several major initiatives on behalf of the Secretary.
Dorr has broad agricultural, financial and business experience. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the 7th District Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the Iowa Board of Regents and as a member and officer of the Iowa and National Corn Growers Associations. Prior to his current service at the Department of Agriculture, Dorr was the President of a family agribusiness company consisting of a corn and soybean farm, a state licensed commercial grain elevator and warehouse, and two limited liability companies. Dorr graduated from Morningside College with a BS degree in business administration.
www.usda.gov

Tom Wadley
Oklahoma Department of Transportation
Tom Wadley has been with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation for 38 years and currently serves as the assistant division director of the maintenance division. Prior to his current position, Wadley served as the department's equipment and fleet manager.
www.okladot.state.ok.us

Brion Ockenfels
Environmental Public Affairs Specialist, Tinker Air Force Base, Midwest City, OK

Brion Ockenfels serves as the environmental public affairs specialist for Tinker Air Force Base where he acts as a liaison between the public and the base on environmental matters concerning base projects and missions. For the past seven years, Ockenfels has shared Tinker's success stories of environmental excellence and developing technologies leading to better environmental responsibilities that have earned the base national recognition. In 1994, he retired from the United States Air Force as a Technical Sergeant.

Bede Ley
Section Chief of the Environmental Depot Maintenance Support Branch, Tinker Air Force Base, Midwest City, OK

Bede Ley serves as the section chief of the environmental depot maintenance support branch at Tinker Air Force Base. For the past three years, he has served as the pollution prevention program manager responsible for initiating process improvements, reducing air emissions and reducing waste generation. From 2001 to 2003, Ley served as the base alternative fuel vehicle program manager. During this time, utilization of alternative fuels was increased and a base vehicle acquisition strategy was developed.
Ley is currently a member of the Society of American Military Engineers and has worked as an environmental engineer at Tinker AFB for the past 12 years. He graduated from Oklahoma State University with a BS and MS in chemical engineering.

Clay Coldiron
City of Edmond, OK

Clay Coldiron has served as the City of Edmond's Public Works Director since January 2000 where he has participated in the City's effort to integrate electric hybrid vehicles into their fleets. Coldiron worked in the private sector for five years before joining the Public Works Department in Midwest City in 1988. Coldiron was born in Oklahoma City and graduated from Oklahoma Christian University in 1983.
www.edmondok.com

Mike Brakefield
Love’s – Travel Stops and Country Stores, Oklahoma City, OK

Mike Brakefield serves as the director of fuel distribution for Love's Travel Stops and Country Stores where he works to develop their Fuel by Rail business which was launched in 2002. Brakefield began his career in the petroleum industry in 1988 when he joined Mobil Oil Corporation in Fairfax, VA. While with Mobil, he held a variety of assignments in the terminal operations, planning, supply and scheduling and retail marketing divisions. In 1996, he assisted in managing a joint venture between Mobil and Petro Stopping Centers. Brakefield then served Petro Stopping Centers as director of fuel supply and transportation. Brakefield received a BBA from the University of Oklahoma.
www.loves.com

Mark Glenn
Glenn Oil, Lawton, OK

Mark Glenn began working in the family business in 1975 and has served as the general manager for Glenn Oil since 1987. Glenn has contracted with Defense Energy Supply Center since 1987 serving more than 30 military installations in the continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii. Glenn also supplies the US Navy and Air Force with petroleum products at Guantanamo Bay, Pusan Air Base and Thule Air Base. Glenn markets Phillips 66 petroleum products in Oklahoma.
Glenn serves on the boards of several civic, charitable and professional organizations. He received his BS from Cameron University in 1984.
www.sirinet.net/~glennco

Vance McSpadden
Oklahoma Petroleum Marketers Association, Oklahoma City, OK

Vance McSpadden joined Oklahoma Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Stores Association as the executive director in 1992. He is responsible for the overall operation of the more than 300 member state trade association, lobbying efforts at the state level and liaison with state agencies relating to the petroleum marketing and convenient store industry.
McSpadden's prior industry experience includes sales account manager for a major oil company, petroleum equipment salesman for major regional companies and major petroleum consignee of his own business in Muskogee, Oklahoma. McSpadden's extensive background in the petroleum marketing industry allows him to provide excellent leadership as the state association director.
McSpadden is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma. His professional and civic activities include past president of PMAA State Association Executives, Graduate of the Oklahoma Leadership Class of 2000, President of Grace United Methodist Church Men's Group and Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
www.opma-oacs.com

Terry Detrick
Oklahoma Farmers Union, Lahoma, OK

Terry Detrick is the president and chairman of Oklahoma Sustainable Energy LLC. He is a manager of Oklahoma Ethanol and the president and chairman of Oklahoma Farmers Union Sustainable Energy. Since 1998, Detrick has served as the vice-president of Oklahoma Farmers Union, headquartered in Oklahoma City.
Detrick is the immediate past president of the National Association of Wheat Growers and has served on many state, national and international committees and boards. He serves as producer representative to the Federal Reserve's Central District "Study for Rural America" and has been selected twice to serve on a national policy drafting committee. In 1992, he was appointed to the first Governors Oklahoma AG Roundtable. Detrick was appointed to the National Cattleman's Beef Board by the USDA Secretary of Agriculture.
Detrick and his son, Brad, operate and manage a 2,800 acre farm and ranch in Ames, Oklahoma, which produces small grains, hay and beef cattle. He served as Director of his local Farmer's Cooperative Association for fifteen years.
Detrick received a Bachelors Degree in Business and Education from Phillips University. He received the "Mr. Wheat" award in 2001, the Oklahoma Wheat Grower Association's highest award.
www.okfarmersunion.com

Dr. Jeffery Dahlberg
research director, National Grain Sorghum Producers, Lubbock, TX

Dr. Jeffery Dahlberg currently serves as the research director for the National Grain Sorghum Producers where he provides leadership in areas of research and education, works on strengthening research funding for public sector sorghum researchers and strengthens collaborative ties among sorghum scientists. He also serves as the president of the Whole Grains Council. The primary responsibility of the Council is to provide leadership and education on getting Americans to eat a healthier diet by increasing their daily intake of whole grains.
Dahlberg received his BA in biology from Occidental College, MS in agronomy and plant genetics from the University of Arizona and PhD in plant breeding from Texas A&M. Prior to graduate school, Dahlberg served as a volunteer for the United States Peace Corp in West Africa where he set up Agriculture research stations.

Dr. Dolores Mornhinweg
U.S. Dept of Agriculture, Stillwater, OK

Dr. Dolores Mornhinweg is a research geneticist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the wheat, peanut and other field crops research division. Some of Mornhinweg's current projects include genetic improvement of insect pest resistance in wheat, barley and sorghum; hulless barley for ethanol production in Oklahoma; and insect-resistant malting barley germplasm enhancement and evaluation. Mornhinweg's work has been featured in over 20 publications.
www.usda.gov

MODERATORS

David Fleischaker

Secretary of Energy, State of Oklahoma

David Fleischaker is the Secretary of Energy, State of Oklahoma, appointed by and serving Governor Brad Henry. Mr. Fleischaker is also President and Chief Executive Officer of Jolen Operating Company, a domestic oil and gas exploration and production company. Trained as an attorney, Mr. Fleischaker spent 10 years in Washington D.C., where he practiced as a trial attorney with the United States Department of Justice and then in private practice representing local governments and environmental groups in environmental litigation.

Mr. Fleischaker has written about public affairs, energy and environmental matters. His articles have appeared in USA Today, The Los Angeles Times, The Oklahoman and The Oklahoma Gazette and his commentary on National Public Radio, All Things Considered. Mr. Fleischaker has an undergraduate degree from Brandeis University and a law degree from the University of Texas.

 

Miles Tolbert

Secretary of Environment, State of Oklahoma

Miles Tolbert is Oklahoma’s fourth Secretary of the Environment. In this position he coordinates the activities of the Department of Environmental Quality, the Department of Wildlife Conservation, and the Water Resources Board. He is currently representing Governor Henry in discussions with the state’s Indian tribes aimed at forging a unified environmental regulatory system.

A graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Law School, Tolbert came to state service from the firm of Crowe & Dunlevy in Oklahoma City. He had previously served for several years as Chief of the Environmental Protection Unit in the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office and had earlier practiced in Washington, D.C. as a trial attorney for the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the United States Department of Justice. Tolbert is past president of the Environmental Law Section of the Oklahoma Bar Association and a member of the Association’s Mineral Law Section.

www.ose.state.ok.us

 

Terry Peach

Secretary of Agriculture, State of Oklahoma

Terry Peach is Oklahoma’s Secretary and Commissioner of Agriculture. He also presides as the President of the State Board of Agriculture. He is a member of numerous agricultural and civic organizations, including the Oklahoma Farm Bureau and the Oklahoma Farmers Union. Peach operates the family farm and ranch that includes several thousand acres of wheat and grassland.

A third-generation farmer from Mooreland, Peach served as the Oklahoma executive director of the Farm Service Agency for seven years, delivering federal agriculture programs to Oklahoma farmers and ranchers through more than 60 county offices across the state and receiving the agency’s Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Leadership. Peach earned a degree in agricultural education from Oklahoma State University, and taught agriculture in the Oklahoma school system.

www.ok.gov/~okag

 

Rep James Covey

Vice Chair, Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Oklahoma House of Representatives

Rep James Covey's leadership experience includes serving as Assistant Democratic Floor Leader. Covey is the Vice chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, a member of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee and the Energy and Utility Regulation Committee.

Covey is a chair for the Oklahoma Advisory Committee on Intergovernmental Relations, a past president of CCFB, 1988-1996, a past chair of OFB Wheat Committee, 1990-1996, and a past board member LLA and CC Cooperative Association, 1978-1996. He graduated with a BBA from the University of Oklahoma in 1973.

www.okhouse.gov

 

Dr. Ray Huhnke

Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK

Dr. Ray Huhnke, P.E., is a Professor of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at Oklahoma State University and Associate Director of the Sun Grant Initiative - South Central Region. He is team leader on a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional project to convert low-cost biomass into liquid fuel and other value-added products. His primary research focus is the harvesting, handling, storage, and gasification of perennial grasses.

osu.okstate.edu

 

Zach Taylor

Association of Central Oklahoma Governments, Oklahoma City, OK

Zach Taylor is Executive Director of the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG), "Council of Governments" composed of 35 cities, towns and counties in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As the Director of ACOG, he also serves as the Director of its groundwater association, the Garber-Wellington Association, as well as the 911 ACOG.

Prior to becoming Director of ACOG, Taylor served in city management and council of government positions in Oklahoma and Oregon. His work led to special appointments to the Governor's Advisory Committee on Comprehensive Planning in Oregon and the two Governors' Task Forces on Comprehensive Planning as well as Economic Development in Oklahoma. He is a past Chairman of the Central Oklahoma Economic Development Task Force and a member of Oklahoma 's Council on Environmental Quality.

www.acogok.org

 

Yvonne Anderson

Association of Central Oklahoma Governments, Oklahoma City, OK

Yvonne Anderson serves as the Central Oklahoma Clean Cities Program Manager for the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG). Anderson has spearheaded significant public outreach efforts and media coverage, including workshops, special events, an education program for 4,500 students, and an alternative fuels exhibit that drew more than 25,000 attendees.

Anderson was instrumental in opening one private and two public E85 stations. She initiated and ushered through legislation that requires all state flexible-fuel vehicles to operate on E85 when the fuel is comparably priced with gasoline and the fueling station is within a five-mile radius. Yvonne addressed legislative committees, secured a bill sponsor and cosponsor, and worked with a legislative researcher to draft language for the bill.

www.acogok.org

 

Mason Mungle

Oklahoma Farmers Union, Oklahoma City, OK

Mason Mungle has served as director of legislative affairs for Oklahoma Farmers Union since 2000. He formerly served as Director of Farm and Rural Programs for the family farm organization. His roots began and remain in agriculture as president of Mungle Family Corporation and partner in MD Farms Partnership. Mungle's duties have included managing programs and lobbying at the state and national levels for agriculture, rural and insurance issues.

Mungle assisted in the creation of Oklahoma Farmers Union Sustainable Energy, a group of producers considering ethanol production, and Oklahoma Farmers and Ranchers Energy Enterprise, a group of producers considering oilseed processing in Western Oklahoma. A long-time advocate for cooperative development, Mungle serves as chairman of American Native Beef LLC and cooperative.

Mungle was a member of the first class of the Oklahoma Agriculture Leadership Program, a two-year program on state, national and international agriculture issues. He has a B.S. and M.S. from Oklahoma State University in dairy production and animal nutrition.

www.okfarmersunion.com