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TEGMA Panel Discussion, Prospects for DDG Exports
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Dan Keefe
Manager of International Operations (DDGs), U.S. Grains Council
Dan Keefe assists with the overall coordination and management of U.S. Grains Council programs with an emphasis on distiller’s dried grains with solubles. U.S. Grains Council, a non-profit organization that promotes the use of U.S. barley, corn and sorghum and related products worldwide.
Before joining the Council in January 2007, Dan worked as an independent consultant providing a wide range of commodity export trade services. Prior to this, he worked for Cooperative Business International, Inc., CBI Global, in Columbus, Ohio, as their senior private voluntary organization and merchandising manager. Dan worked for the Council from 1997 to 1999 as the manager of international operations for Asia. Dan’s background includes 12 years as a merchandiser for Tomen America, Inc., now Toyota Tsusho Inc., in their grain and feedstuffs division. He managed the protein meals, corn gluten meal and vegetable oils trade.
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Ryan LeGrand
Export Marketing Manager, Hawkeye Gold, LLC
Ryan LeGrand recently joined the Hawkeye Gold team as the Domestic and Export Marketing Manager. Prior to joining Hawkeye, Ryan worked for one year at UBE Ingredients, LLC as their Director of Export Ingredient Sales and one year at the U.S. Grains Council in Washington D.C., where he served as a Manager of International Operations in charge of their world wide DDGS promotion program. Prior to the U.S. Grains Council he worked for 7 years at Garvey Processing, Inc. trading various feeds and feed ingredients to Latin America and Asia. Ryan received his B.S. in International Business from Oklahoma State University
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Ross Edwards
Corn Feed Products Market Manager, BNSF Railway
Prior to joining BNSF, Ross worked for ADM as a commodity trader for over 5 years. During that time he held various merchandising positions including trading on the Wheat Export desk and on the BNSF Corn Shuttle trading desk.
Ross graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Ag Economics.
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Jim LaTurner
Deputy Junior Vice President, Evergreen Shipping Agency (America) Corp.
Jim LaTurner is responsible for Export Sales and Marketing for Evergreen Line in the Midwest Region. He joined Evergreen in 1991 and has held Sales and Marketing positions in their Los Angeles and Chicago offices. Evergreen Line, a member of the Evergreen Group of Taiwan, is a leading global container transport company. Jim has been actively involved in the strategic planning, marketing, and growth of containerized transport of agriculture for Evergreen Lines. Jim is a graduate of California State University of Long Beach.
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Operational and Business Issues Facing the Grain/Transportation Sector, a panel discussion
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Jay Larson
General Manager/President, NIK Marketing Cooperative
Jay Larson began his career in the agricultural cooperative system in 1983 in Hampton, Nebraska. He joined NIK in 2003 in his current capacity. NIK is owned by 26 cooperative organizations across the states of Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. NIK provides services to members in the areas of grain merchandising, rail logistics and fertilizer procurement. Jay, a native of central Nebraska, is a graduate of the University of Nebraska. He also serves on the TEGMA Board of Directors.
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Charles L. Regini
Senior Account Executive, Agri-bulk Commodities, Georgia Ports Authority
Charlie joined the Georgia Ports Authority in 1996. Prior to becoming the Senior Account Executive of Agri-bulk Commodities, Charlie was Agribusiness Sales and Marketing Manager, then General Manager for the Georgia Ports Authority at the Port of Brunswick, Georgia. His previous experience in the agribusiness transportation industry includes Manager of Inventory Controls & Plant Logistics at the Port of Galveston, Assistant Traffic Manager of Continental Grain Operations at the Port of Galveston, Director and Assistant Vice President of Logistics & Facility Operations, Farmland Industries/Union Equity; and Agribusiness Transportation, Sales, Marketing Manager at the Port of Galveston.
Charlie has received numerous professional honors and has been active in a number of professional associations, including the Propeller Club of Brunswick, GEAPS Weights & Grades Committee, Georgia Foreign Trade Conference, Seaman’s International, and the Georgia Feed & Grain Association. In addition, he serves on the TEGMA Board of Directors.
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William Eilbracht
General Director, Agricultural Products, Union Pacific Railroad
Bill Eilbracht is responsible for managing the unit grain shuttle train program and the grain car allocation system along with the asset and service management responsibilities for Union Pacific. He also helps manage the business development opportunities for agricultural products including the ethanol and dried distiller grains product lines. Prior to agricultural products, Bill was senior director, food products where he managed the sales and marketing functions for canned and packaged goods for Union Pacific Railroad. Prior to Union Pacific, Bill held various positions for Southern Pacific Railroad including managing director, quality management systems, assistant vice president, eastern sales region and director sales, national accounts.
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Bruce Benschoter
Manager, Special Projects, DeBruce Grain, Inc.
Bruce Benschoter, a native of central Iowa, began his career in 1960 with The Pillsbury Company as a grain merchant. He then moved to Vanice Grain in Omaha as president of the firm. When Bunge Corporation acquired Lauhoff Foods and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Vanice Grain, Bruce became vice president and Southwest Regional manager for Bunge, a position he held for 15 years. After retiring from Bunge, he joined Farmland Industries and held a number of senior positions in the Grain Division. When Archer Daniels Midland acquired Farmland’s Grain Division, Bruce served as general manager of the joint venture, ADM-Farmland. He retired from ADM in 2004. Soon after retiring, Bruce joined DeBruce Grain Company where he assists with special projects, with focus on the ethanol industry.
Throughout his career, Bruce has been active in industry associations, providing key volunteer leadership. He served as chairman of the Terminal Operations Committee of the National Grain and Feed Association, as well as a board and executive committee member. He served as an officer and board member of the Terminal Elevator Grain Merchants Association (TEGMA) in the 1980s and early 1990s. He has served on the board of the National Grain Trade Council.
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