Global Ethanol Summit 2025

Tad Hepner serves as the Vice President of Strategy and Innovation for the Renewable Fuels Association. Tad leads the development and implementation of a wide range of initiatives focused on building demand and new markets for ethanol and other bio-products made by the association’s member companies.

Prior to joining RFA, Hepner led North American biofuels and derivatives business development efforts for Clariant, a Swiss multinational specialty chemical organization with technology applications in catalyst, second generation cellulosic biofuels, and new conversion biotechnologies. Hepner also held various positions at POET, ranging from scientific research to technology and business development. He specialized in applications of new biotech, regulatory navigation, and adjacent space opportunities for the biofuels industry. He has led projects in cellulosic feedstock collection and conversion, animal feed products, coproduct utilization, carbon capture/storage as well as production of biofuels from corn kernel fiber. Tad holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of South Dakota and an MBA in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the University of Sioux Falls.

Chris is the VP of Market Development at Indigo Ag.  In his role he works to develop new sources of demand for low carbon ag commodities, touching on markets like biofuels, food ingredients, and fashion.  Prior to Indigo, he served as the VP of Strategy & Corporate Development at Groundtruth, a leading geospatial firm, and was a strategy consultant at The Boston Consulting Group.  He has an MBA from Dartmouth College and a BS from Miami University.  He is a member of the USGC’s Ethanol Advisory Team.

Lindsay Fitzgerald currently serves as the Chief Advocacy and Communications Officer at Gevo. She leads a global team whose mission is to develop and promote policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Prior to joining Gevo in 2021, Ms. Fitzgerald was Director of Government Affairs at Renewable Energy Group, a leading provider of biodiesel and renewable biodiesel, where she was responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive regulatory policy strategy at the state, local, federal, and international levels. She also served as Director of Regulatory Affairs at the National Biodiesel Board. She started her career as a consulting member, then government team member responsible for implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard at the U.S. EPA. She is a seasoned government affairs professional with a special aptitude for strategy, collaboration, and big-picture, actionable planning, and execution.

Dr. Mueller leads the Bioenergy and Clean Transportation Research Group at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Selected research activities focus on life cycle emissions analyses of different bioenergy and electric vehicle pathways as well as sustainability assessments of energy supply chains. Dr. Mueller has published over 40 peer reviewed papers on life cycle analysis. Steffen served on the Expert Working Group on Land Use during the establishment of the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard. In 2021and 2022, he served on the National Academies of Sciences Committee on Life Cycle Analyses of Low-Carbon Transportation Fuels and since 2013 Steffen has been a Board member of International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC). Steffen holds a PhD in Energy Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago, an MBA and a B.S. in Environmental Engineering.

Sophie is a seasoned expert in Government and Stakeholder Relations, Business Strategy, and Communications, with extensive experience in both the private and public sectors. Her multifaceted career has equipped her with a deep understanding of the intricate dynamics between governments, businesses, and communities. Currently, Sophie holds the prestigious position of Director, Public Affairs at KOKO Networks, a leading organization committed to revolutionizing clean cooking energy access in Africa.

In her role at KOKO Networks, Sophie is at the forefront of efforts to transition communities from traditional energy sources like charcoal and firewood to KOKO Fuel, a clean and renewable energy solution that distributes bioethanol as the clean cooking fuel. Her work involves engaging with governments to foster understanding and support for this transition, emphasizing the environmental and health benefits of adopting cleaner energy alternatives. Sophie's strategic approach and effective communication skills enable her to build strong partnerships with key stakeholders, driving the success of KOKO Networks' initiatives.

Beyond her professional achievements, Sophie is deeply passionate about making a difference in the lives of women, children, and the broader community. She believes in the power of sustainable energy to transform lives and is committed to advocating for policies and practices that promote environmental stewardship and social equity. Her dedication to community engagement is evident in her efforts to raise awareness about the role of carbon markets as a crucial enabler of sustainable development.

Sophie thrives on engaging with diverse audiences, from policymakers to grassroots organizations, to champion the benefits of clean energy and carbon markets. Her ability to articulate complex concepts in an accessible manner has made her a respected voice in the field. Through her work, Sophie is not only contributing to the advancement of sustainable energy solutions but also inspiring others to join the movement toward a greener, more equitable future. Passionate, knowledgeable, and driven, Sophie is dedicated to creating lasting positive impacts on the world around her.

Bob McCormick is a senior research fellow and platform leader for NREL's fuels and combustion research. His work focuses on end-use issues and fuel-engine interactions with alternative fuels, primarily biofuels—including ethanol, biodiesel, and other bio-derived diesel fuels. Recent research has also focused on the properties and combustion of current and emerging synthetic aviation fuels, as well as biodiesel storage stability and compatibility with modern diesel emission controls.  His vision is to bring the foundational principles of chemistry to the historically empirical world of fuel properties and how they relate to performance in engines.  He has a PhD in chemical engineering and is a Fellow of SAE International.

As the Vice President of Marquis R&D Energy LLC and Director of Innovation, Dr. Jennifer Aurandt-Pilgrim leads Marquis Carbon Management initiatives.  Marquis will sequester 1.2 million metric tons of biogenic CO2, along with a sustainable farmer program since 2011, will create carbon-neutral ethanol.  With an eye to the future, Marquis will produce CO2-derived ethanol in 2026 with the support of LanzaTech technology.  Decarbonizing ethanol will provide a feedstock for numerous industries, including chemical, SAF, and Marine fuel. A former tenured professor, Jennifer also serves on the Biological and Environmental Research Advisory Committee (BERAC) for the Department of Energy. She is Co-Vice Chair of the ABFA United Nations-ICAO group. Jennifer has a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Bowling Green State University and a Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Chemistry from the University of Michigan. She has been an innovator and leader in bioenergy since 2005, leading scientific research and commercialization to advance the ethanol industry.

John Duff is a seasoned leader in agribusiness, with a focus on creating transformative market opportunities for sorghum farmers. As founder of Serō Ag Strategies and strategy consultant to National Sorghum Producers, John has driven numerous initiatives that capitalize on the economic potential of sorghum, including developing strategies for bringing new market opportunities and securing private equity for startups. His tenure on staff at National Sorghum Producers saw the reopening of a $1.1 billion sorghum export market and a $70 million grant secured to create low carbon fuel market opportunities for sorghum farmers. A trusted industry voice, John continues to advocate for more sustainable products that empower farmers and expand their market reach. John graduated from Texas Tech University with an undergraduate degree in agribusiness in 2012 and an MBA in 2021.

Scott Richman joined the Renewable Fuels Association as Chief Economist in 2018. He oversees the development and execution of research and analysis initiatives to support the Association’s public policy, regulatory, and public relations objectives. In addition to conducting analyses of ethanol and related commodity markets and government policies, he leads the association’s research efforts regarding the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of ethanol.

Prior to joining RFA, Scott served as Senior Vice President and Co-head of North America Consulting for Informa Agribusiness Consulting, where he co-managed a 15-person consulting group. For more than two decades, he provided research and management consulting services to Informa’s clients, including RFA and other private and public bioenergy stakeholders.

Scott earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Vanderbilt University and his master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University, where he specialized in international business.

Andrea Kent is Vice President of Industry & Government Affairs at Greenfield Global Inc., Canada’s leading ethanol producer. A respected voice in renewable fuels, she writes for Ethanol Producer Magazine, co-founded the Farms and Fuels Alliance, and previously served as President of Renewable Industries Canada. With deep experience across policy, industry, and advocacy, Andrea brings a global perspective to advancing biofuels as a smart, scalable solution for clean economic growth, energy resilience, and climate ambition.