Breakout Session I
Business Solutions for Small "Bio" Companies
Moderator: Mike Ott, Executive Director of BIOWA
Mike Ott
Mike Ott has made it BIOWA's mission to create at least ten regional biorefineries across the state by the year 2020, build five biobusineses or expand those in existence each year, and provide investment opportunities for Iowans in these refineries and businesses. Ott is responsible for helping biobased companies partner with banks and venture capitalists. He also recruits new BIOWA members, and connects entrepreneurs with producers, lawyers, or accountants as needed.
Ron Fuhrman
Ron Fuhrman, CPA, is the vice president of employee benefits at consulting firm TrueNorth Companies. Before focusing on employee benefits, he was the vice president of finance at TrueNorth. Fuhrman served as vice president of a large third party administrator that had $14 million in revenue, $275 million in claims payments, and over 160 different PPO relationships before joining TrueNorth. Fuhrman also has experience in developing and implementing new proprietary Preferred Provider Organizations and has consulted on plan design changes for over 60,000 employees, representing 400 different employers throughout the nation.
Dave Verhille
Dave Verhille is the General Agent and President of Verhille & Associates, the Life Insurance division of TrueNorth Companies. His expertise includes estate planning, wealth transfer strategies, business transition planning, and deferred compensation markets. Verhille entered the insurance business while an undergraduate at the University of Denver. After earning his MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, he joined his father’s agency. He is a Life Qualifying Member of the Million Dollar Round Table, a member of the Advanced Life Underwriters, and a member of the Cedar Rapids Estate Planning Council. He is also a member of Kansas City Life’s General Agent’s Advisory Council and Chairman of the Product Committee.
Shelley McKeever
Shelley McKeever represents VWR International, a laboratory supply company that distributes scientific products to over 250,000 customers in the life science, industrial, governmental, health care and educational markets. VWR International also offers production supplies and services for electronic and pharmaceutical production. Mckeever will speak about products and discounts available for small biobased companies.
Joe Budke
Joe Budke is a representative of consulting firm TrueNorth Companies. TrueNorth provides customers with prospect universe analysis and expansion, response modeling, acquisition process evaluation, marketing program management, credit loss forecasting and score validations, score migration analysis, attrition/retention strategy analysis, database evaluation and development. He will discuss health care issues for small to medium-sized biobased businesses.