John Jansen serves as Vice President, Strategic Partnerships at United Soybean Board. He provides strategic leadership and responsibility for implementing and providing vision and direction to deploy USB’s soybean oil strategy. Jansen spearheads new business opportunities and business consolidation efforts across the edible oil portfolio. He also coordinates with R&D and Marketing to align product strategy with market trends; develops operational efficiencies, manages pricing and replaces existing products as indicated to improve competitive positions, creates optimal value for customers and maximizes product line profitability; and develops compelling messaging and appropriate tools to drive solutions for targeted food customers within distribution areas.

Nate Burk has worked at StoneX for over 20 years where he has primarily focused on risk management and feedstock supply into the renewable sectors under their StoneX Commodity Solutions division. He also helps manage risk for feedstock suppliers and veg oil crush plants. Today Burk and his team help over 800 million gallons of bio and renewable diesel capacity lock in forward margins via financial instruments while physically trading over 4 billion pounds of fats, oils and greases into this space.

Lawrence Sukalski grew up on his family’s farm and currently farms near the Minnesota-Iowa border. He raises corn and soybeans with his wife Diane, their five children, and his brother Harlan. Lawrence just harvested his 45th crop on part of the farm that has been in the family since 1885. Sukalski’s family has always been very active in the community. He has held several state offices in commodity groups and national groups including nine years on the American Soybean Association and five years on the United Soybean Board where he is currently serving as Work Group Lead for the priority areas of Infrastructure and Connectivity on the Demand side. The Sukalskis have been recognized for their conservation efforts. In 2006 they were named the American Soybean Associations national winner for the Conservation Legacy Award. They also were the 2005 Conservationists of the Year in the Martin Soil and Water Conservation District.

Tom Verry serves as the Director of Outreach and Development for Clean Fuels Alliance America and the Executive Director of the Foundation. Verry works to establish synergistic relationships for the benefit of the biodiesel industry with key stakeholders including feed stock suppliers, state soybean associations, fuel suppliers, end-users, policy makers, government agencies, and environmental/ health groups. He also works to identify and access resources that will address the needs of the organization and the industry. Previously, Verry spent 12 years as the Director of Field Services for the Missouri Soybean Association. Verry is a 1987 graduate of the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics