Derek Winkel

Central Iowa Energy LLC owns a commercial scale, state-of-the-art biodiesel production facility in Newton, Iowa. The multiple feedstock production facility can utilize soybean oil, other vegetable oils and animal fats to manufacture approximately 30 million gallons of high quality biodiesel each year. Central Iowa Energy LLC is owned by more than 500 individual investors. Those investors are represented by a Board of Directors. The plant was built by Renewable Energy Group, Inc. with their patented continuous-flow technology. Renewable Energy Group, Inc. also has an agreement with Central Iowa Energy LLC to manage the plant and market all biodiesel produced under their SoyPOWER® biodiesel brand. The plant runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week and employs 30 people. The plant utilizes patented continuous flow technology and was built by Renewable Energy Group® Inc. The turnkey project includes a pre-treatment area for oils and fats, the production area where those oils and fats are turned into biodiesel, a tank farm for raw material and finished product storage; a load out and receiving area where trucks and railcars are loaded and unloaded; and an administration building which includes a board room, scale room and offices. Central Iowa Energy, LLC.'s facility is located a site in Jasper County, Iowa on the north side of Newton. This site sits on the Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS) and is located approximately 4.75 miles from US Interstate 80. The site is approximately 32 acres with additional acreage available to allow for possible future expansion.

National Starch & Chemical Co. manufactures and sells adhesives, electronic materials, polymers, and starches. Its products are based on polyurethane, acrylic, rubber, ethylene vinyl acetate, epoxy, polyvinyl acetate & starch, and dextrin chemistries. The company was founded in 1895 and is headquartered in Bridgewater, NJ

Renewable Energy Group, Inc. is a holding company engaged in the production and trade of biofuel and renewable chemicals. It operates through the following segments: Biomass-based Diesel and Services. The Biomass-based Diesel segment processes waste vegetable oils, animal fats, virgin vegetable oils and other feedstocks and methanol into biomass-based diesel. The Services segment offers services for managing the construction of biomass-based diesel production facilities and managing ongoing operations of third-party plants and collects fees related to the services provided. The company was founded in August 2006 and is headquartered in Ames, IA.

Part of Chevron Corp., REG Newton LLC is a company based in Newton, IA.

The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) is a professional society with over 60,000 members in more than 110 countries. The private company is based in New York, NY, and has subsidiaries in the United States. AIChE offers various programs, including e-learning, webinars, and career advancement, to help chemical engineers at every career juncture bridge the skills gap created by the rush of technology, changing work styles, and unprecedented societal needs. Founded in 1908, AIChE is a focal point for information exchange on the frontiers of chemical engineering research in areas such as energy, sustainability, biological and environmental engineering, nanotechnology, and chemical plant safety and security.