As Chief Operating Officer, Doug ensures that Clean Fuels Alliance America’s strategic plan, fund development, programs and procedures support the needs of our growing industry. Doug works continuously to improve operations for the organization and ensures the Clean Fuels team has the resources and tools they need to execute priorities for our valued members. Doug stays closely tuned in to Clean Fuels’ operations and staff, ensuring each team member is best utilized to enhance the clean fuels industry.

Doug has over 20 years of experience in the biodiesel space and 15 years in local elected office. He also spent time managing Clean Fuels Alliance America’s work in Washington D.C., supporting the reinstatement of the biodiesel tax credit, defending the Renewable Fuel Standard Program, and fighting against trade cases on illegally traded biodiesel imports.

In 2002, Doug became Clean Fuels Alliance America’s first in-house State Regulatory Director. He served as Director of Operations & Membership from 2008-2017 and assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer in 2017. Born and raised in Missouri, Doug graduated from Kansas State University and currently lives in Jefferson City, MO, where Clean Fuels Alliance America is headquartered.

Ron Cardwell has over 25 years’ experience in the vegetable oil industry, in both the food and fuel sectors. He spent the first 22 years of his career with ADM, trading food oil in the first years, and working for the biodiesel business for the last 10 years.  

He is currently the Director of Commodity Strategy for Restaurant Technologies, providing guidance on all Used Cooking Oil strategies, as well as fresh cooking oil.

Nathan Burk is a recognized leader in the renewable fuels and feedstock trading industry, currently serving as Senior Vice President of Fats, Oils, and Greases at StoneX Commodity Solutions. Since joining StoneX in 2003 as a Risk Management Consultant, Nate has played a pivotal role in expanding the company’s footprint across the renewable energy and agricultural sectors.  

Today, the StoneX Commodity Solutions Fats, Oils and Greases team executes over 4 billion pounds of feedstocks annually, helping clients manage supply chains, secure feedstock, optimize margins and access financing solutions.  His strategic vision fosters innovation in renewable fuels and vegetable oil crushing, notably in monetizing the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit in 2025. 

Early in his career, Nate worked closely with ethanol and biodiesel producers, providing strategic financial trading solutions and conducting over 30 feasibility studies to support plant development and margin optimization. In 2006, he spearheaded the creation of a physical trading desk focused on feedstock procurement for biodiesel production, a business that has since evolved to serve renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel, food and feed sectors, and long-term feedstock offtake agreements. 

Chad Edwards is a proven leader in agricultural innovation and strategic investment, driving renewable energy opportunities across global markets. As part of Corteva’s Seeds Business leadership team, he provides functional and operational oversight, with a focus on identifying and advancing early-stage, disruptive technologies that align with Corteva’s long-term strategy and product pipeline.

With more than 14 years of experience at Corteva and its heritage organizations, Chad has been instrumental in building strategic biofuel partnerships and shaping investment strategies that deliver impactful innovation across the agricultural and energy sectors.

Ryan Standard is the regional managing editor for Fastmarkets Americas biofuels and agriculture markets. 

With a background in logistics and sales, Ryan joined The Jacobsen in 2007 as a price reporter for the animal fats and proteins market. In addition to the rendered products markets for North America and the international markets, Ryan has covered hides, veg oils, grains, biofuels and the sausage casings markets.

Ryan joined Fastmarkets via the acquisition of The Jacobsen in 2021 and has helped to expand its coverage of animal fats and proteins. 

Ryan holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and history with a parallel track in economics from Monmouth College.

J. Alan Weber is a founding partner of MARC-IV (M4), a consulting company dedicated to fostering biobased innovations. He has played a pivotal role in guiding the commercialization of biodiesel since the industry’s inception in 1991. A nationally recognized economist, Alan brings extensive expertise in the soybean industry, soil health strategies, cover crop integration in row crop production and emerging carbon markets. 

Among his current efforts, Alan leads economic analyses on the impacts of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), quantifying the benefits of increased biodiesel and renewable diesel use while creating valuable markets for U.S. farmers. He serves as a director on the Board of CoverCress, Inc., an innovative startup developing a new winter oilseed crop and low-carbon feedstock for biofuels under the CoverCress™ brand. Alan also collaborates with the University of Missouri’s Center for Regenerative Agriculture, focusing on carbon market opportunities for farmers through the Missouri Climate Resilient Crop & Livestock Project.

His federal committee appointments include service on the EPA’s Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee and the USDA and DOE’s Biomass Research & Development Initiative Technical Advisory Committee. 

In addition to his consulting work, he is an active producer, farming nearly 900 acres with his family in central Missouri using climate-smart agricultural practices such as no-till and cover crops.

Alan holds an M.S. degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Missouri.