The Annual ACE Conference

power, passion, performance.

ACE’s annual conference is unique in the world of renewable fuels because it is specifically tailored to the interests and needs of the people of ethanol — the folks who are really in the trenches. It’s a gathering of ACE’s commitment to connect ethanol producers with the farmers, researches, retailers, and support businesses to continue what all of them started a long time ago. It’s also an excellent place to learn and share ideas. And it’s got all the fun of a family reunion.

Contact Shannon Gustafson at sgustafson@ethanol.org or 605-334-3381 ext.16 with questions.

presentations

General Session

“Power, Passion, Performance.” Updates from ACE Leadership
ACE leadership will discuss the successes of the last year and highlight upcoming projects and opportunities we are working on for ACE members.

Ron Alverson, ACE Board President (representing Dakota Ethanol)
Brian Jennings, ACE Executive Vice President
Ron Lamberty, ACE Senior Vice President

Market Outlook Keynote
Tom Kloza of OPIS offers insightful analysis for ethanol, oil, and other energy markets laced with good-natured humor. You won’t want to miss this presentation.

Tom Kloza, Global Head of Energy Analysis, Oil Price Information Services (OPIS)

Progress at the Pump: A Conversation with Leading Retailers on E15 and Flex Fuels
Fuel retailers around the country are making the switch to E15 and flex fuels; find out what went into the decision to add those ethanol blends and what hurdles have to be cleared before E15 and Flex Fuels are available nationwide.

Mike Lewis, Pearson Fuels
Mike Lorenz, Sheetz, Inc.

Developing Export Demand for Ethanol and DDGs
U.S. ethanol producers are helping meet growing fuel and food demands around the world. In this session, Lyndsey Erb of the U.S. Grains Council will discuss activities designed to help promote additional sales of U.S. ethanol and DDGs worldwide.

Lyndsey Erb, Director of Industry Relations, U.S. Grains Council

Panel Discussion: Octane’s Value Proposition and Regulatory Path Forward

This panel will first cover how refiners calculate for the octane value of ethanol and what adjustments they will make at the refinery to accommodate a higher octane fuel. Next the panel will cover the federal regulatory pathways that must be navigated to eventually get a higher-octane fuel approved.

Conversation About the Future of Ethanol

Industry executives and board directors will want to make sure to attend this discussion as three energetic and savvy industry leaders have a frank and forward-looking conversatino about how to position ethanol for long-term success. The discussion will cover the business and politics of ethanol, ways to maximize profit and potential and operational efficiency, technology innovation, and future public policies.

Chad Friese, General Manager, Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company
Jeff Oestmann, President & CEO, East Kansas Agri-Energy
Delayne Johnson, CEO, Quad County Corn Processors

What Does Sustainability Mean for Biofuel Producers Today? How Will it Affect Your Business Tomorrow?

Sustainability is no longer voluntary. You’re doing it already. You’re just not getting any credit.

Regardless of the policy decisions that happen in Washington, ethanol is at a crossroads. How is ethanol going to be viewed? As a “trusted sustainable, renewable fuel source” or as “something that doesn’t improve environmental or social outcomes”? Whether you run an ethanol plant, or grow corn for a plant, there are easy ways to capture information in your business to drive sustainability performance – and get the credit.

Emily Johannes, Director of ResourceMax, K•Coe Isom

Breakout Sessions

Carbon Intensity: Field-to-Wheel How Low Can You Go?
This presentation will walk the audience through the nuts and bolts of low carbon fuel standards and how ethanol producers can improve carbon intensity through a better understanding of data from the field, energy inputs and optimizing plant operations.

Moderator: Mike Hansman, Business Development Manager, EcoEngineers
Dr. Zhichao Wang, Environmental Engineer, EcoEngineers
Ron Alverson, Director, Dakota Ethanol

Food Safety Modernization Act Compliance
The FSMA requires manufacturers of distillers grains and other co-products to begin complying with new manufacturing practices and preventive controls; this session will provide guidance on meeting these new regulations.

Harold Tilstra, Land O'Lakes
Phil Cleary, Christianson & Associates

Technology Innovation: Kernel Fiber Leads the Way to Cellulosic Biofuel

Representatives from Quad County Corn Processors and Edeniq will share case studies and benefits of their new co-processing technologies. EcoEngineers will lead a discussion on regulatory requirements for co-processing and introduce a compliance management platform designed specifically to automate the complexity of kernel fiber compliance.

Moderator: Mike Hansman, Business Development Manager, EcoEngineers
Travis Brotherson, Plant Engineer, Quad County Corn Processors
Jim Ramm, Founding Partner/Senior Engineer, EcoEngineers
Jim Kacmar, Pathway Program Director, Edeniq

Up To Spec

Kristy Moore, one of the industry’s top technical experts, will lead a discussion about critical fuel quality and regulatory issues impacting market access for ethanol producers, including ASTM specification developments, how ethanol producers can help participate in the ASTM process, and the implications of EPA’s proposed fuel quality REGS rule for E15 and flex fuels.

Kristy Moore, KMoore Consulting LLC

The Economics of Production Expansion

Ethanol production is on the rise at many facilities, via expanded capacity as well as increased yield. Decisions about production expansion are always up for discussion at most plants, and this is particularly true in today’s lean margin environment. In this session, we’ll review a number of the key financial factors involved in production expansion, and step through the process of how to initiate and execute a feasibility assessment. We’ll also share some of the benchmarking data and forecasting formulas we use in these assessments when our financial experts help producers make decisions about whether, when and how to expand production. Finally, we’ll outline currently available funding options to help defray the cost of plant expansions, including grants and governmental programs.

International Perspective: Global Impacts on the Ethanol Market

This presentation will provide the audience with a peek at what is happening with biofuels around the world and developing markets. Included in the discussion will be an overview on COP 21 and legal insight on exports, policy and regulations.

Richard Weiner, Attorney, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
Grant Leach, Partner, Husch & Blackwell

Board Pitfalls: When to Say No, When to Seek Advice, and Why You Can't Do it All

A practical guide to knowing when you need professional help and when you can go it alone. We will cover various issues from regulatory, to operational, tax, and legal in an attempt to help boards distinguish those times a call for help is not optional, but a necessity. Hear real life stories about boards that did this well and those who didn’t – with devastating results.

Beth Feuchtenberger, Partner, Eide Bailly

Advocate’s Arsenal: Making web resources work for you

We all encounter opposition to ethanol; at your local gas station, a dinner party, or from your airplane seatmate. However, there’s a powerful arsenal of web resources available at your fingertips. This session will expose you to a wide range of tools that can help you communicate ethanol’s value, with specific attention to an ever-growing social media audience—where people need to hear from ethanol advocates like you. Whether you are a Twitter pro or wondering how to log in, we’ve got steps to establish a following and maximize ethanol’s exposure. And, trust us, it’s easy—let us show you how.