Andrew Zurn, P.E. - Engineering Manager, Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company

Andy has over 20 years of design engineering and project management experience in a variety of industries including electric power generation, geotechnical, iron ore processing, agriculture equipment and ethanol production. Mr. Zurn earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota. Andy is currently the Engineering Manager at Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company in Benson, Minnesota. Andy’s recent focus is on installing and commissioning a gasifier to displace fossil fuels, biomass processing, storage and handling, environmental permitting and char-ash beneficial use.

Charles R. Hurburgh, Jr. Ph.D.

Dr. Charles R. Hurburgh, Charlie to most everyone, is a native Iowan from Rockwell City (Iowa, USA). He continues to operate the family farm, and is a Professor of Agricultural Engineering at Iowa State University. He has BS, MS, and doctorate degrees from Iowa State, and specializes in quality management systems with related traceability, measurement and sensor technologies. He is the author of more than 200 technical and general articles on grain quality, measurement science and grain marketing. Dr. Hurburgh manages the ISU Grain Quality Research Laboratory and the Extension-based Iowa Grain Quality Initiative Dr. Hurburgh participates in European Union projects on GMO marketing and traceability. He also serves on the US Technical Advisory committees for three ISO working groups – biotechnology testing, traceability, and ISO 22006 guidance standards for agriculture; and on the GEAPS Grades and Weights Advisory Committee.

Doug Berven - Director of Corporate Affairs for POET

Doug Berven joined POET in March 2003 as Director of Business Development. He held that position for over four years before accepting a new role as Director of Corporate Affairs. In this position, Berven is actively engaged in the development of new business ventures, licensing opportunities, and corporate relations for POET domestically and internationally.

Playing an integral role for the largest producer of ethanol in the world, Berven has taken the initiative to actively promote renewable fuels. He works on several committees to strengthen the future of ethanol and serves as a board member on several POET Biorefining plants.

Prior to joining POET, Berven held various roles in banking, real estate development and medical consulting. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Berven is a native of South Dakota where he currently resides with his wife and two children.

Roger Ruan, Ph.D.

Professor Roger Ruan is the Director of Center for Biorefining and Professor of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering and Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota. Professor Ruan’s research focuses on renewable energy and the environment as well as food safety and quality. His current interests are in refining of renewable biomass into fuels, chemicals, materials, and food and feed, energy crop such as algae production and conversion, biopolymer and food process improvement, quality enhancement and safety assurance. Professor Ruan has published over 200 papers in refereed journals, book, and book chapters, and over 300 meeting papers and other reports, and holds 12 US patents. He has supervised more than 40 graduate students, 60 post-doctors, research fellows, and other engineers and scientists, and 7 of his students hold university faculty positions. He has received over 100 projects totaling over $17 millions in various funding for research.