Emily Bockian Landsburg 
Emily is the CEO of Philadelphia Fry-o-Diesel, which licenses its patent-pending technology to transform sewer trap grease into pure, ASTM-grade biodiesel. Prior to Fry-o-Diesel, Emily served as the Manager of Business Development at The Energy Cooperative, where she built the Philadelphia area’s leading biodiesel distribution program. She played a key role in leading the first school district in Pennsylvania to switch to B20 and secured accounts with the City of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Eagles, and Exelon-PECO, along with many others.
In February of 2008, Emily was appointed Chairman of the National Biodiesel Board’s first Sustainability Task Force. She has served as a volunteer organizer of the Sustainable Biodiesel Summit and served on the Advisory Committee and Plant Working Group of the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance. Prior toher work in biodiesel, Emily worked in Rhode Island in wind energy and renewable electricity market development and founded a business addressing the responsible disposal of waste from the recreational boating industry. She has a degree in applied mathematics from Columbia University, is a Senior Fellow of the Environmental Leadership Program, and serves on their Delaware Valley Regional Program Advisory Council.
Rachel Burton, Vice President, Piedmont Biofuels
Rachel Burton has been active in state and national environmental activism, sustainable agriculture, and the alternative fuels movement since the 1990s. She is a founder of Piedmont Biofuels, a small-sale North Carolina producer that grew out of a grassroots cooperative. In addition to using recycled cooking grease the company collects, Piedmont also uses waste poultry fat as a feedstock. Piedmont’s leadership in the renewable energy industry is often called upon in legislative policy needs, fuel quality concerns, and biodiesel education efforts. Piedmont Biofuels has strong local ties to the sustainable agriculture community.
In addition to managing Piedmont’s quality control program, Rachel is also a national and international consultant and speaker. As a member of the organizing committee for the Sustainable Biodiesel Summit (SBS), an annual conference examining the ecological, economic, technical, and social issues relating to sustainability in the biodiesel industry, Rachel has examined many issues around sustainability in the biodiesel industry.
Rachel has worked on small farms dedicated to the principles of sustainable agriculture, served as a board member of the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, an Advisor to the Pittsboro Farmer’s Market Association, and earned a certificate in Sustainable Agriculture. After earning a degree in Automotive Systems Technology, Rachel ran the Automotive Program at Central Carolina Community College. While working as technical automotive instructor, Rachel established a continuing education course in biofuels for the college. This course evolved into the first associate degree program in biofuels technology in the North Carolina Community College System. As a producer, distributor, and diesel mechanic, Rachel believes quality control is inherent to the long-term success of the biodiesel industry.
Victoria Carver, Senior Program & Resource Advisor, Iowa Soybean Association
Iowa Soybean Association began developing programs to help crop producers improve their environmental performance in 2000. These programs are designed to use science-based evaluation tools at the field, farm, and watershed level. Both baseline and performance data is then employed in a feedback loop to inform adaptive management plans at all three scales. These nationally recognized programs were cited by a National Academy of Science’s National Research Council Study as exemplary of public-private partnership conservation efforts that achieve results and should be replicated.
In addition to water quality, the program includes evaluation and planning that addresses resource issues such as soil conservation and carbon levels, pest management, nutrient management efficiency, wildlife habitat, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy conservation. The planning process is designed to help farmers assess and improve their performance on new resource concerns and evaluate the applicability of new tools and techniques.
Finally, economics of production are incorporated into all of these planning components, so that the producer can link environmental performance with economic sustainability. Over 70 percent of the participating producers surveyed for program evaluation responded that participation in these environmental programs had increased their profitability, while improving their environmental performance.
Before coming to ISA, Carver’s career spanned community organizing and community action in educational and housing equity, empowerment of communities of color, and innovation in the use of computers in education. She worked with noted Des Moines community leader Evelyn Davis to bring computer-based learning to chronically unemployed adults and children in Des Moines’ inner city in the early ‘80’s. In 1984-86, she directed the East Harlem Community Computer Learning Center in New York City. These projects strengthened Carver’s resolve that indigenous leadership nurtured by sound community organizing, applied science employed by affected communities for their own improvement, and the power of collaboration that bridges and overcomes polarities and stereotypes can move the meter on intransigent, complex problems. Prior to this work, Carver was a primary-care parent of her four children for 10 years and now enjoys her vocation as a grandmother to 10 grandchildren. During the five years she lived in Boston’s North End, she saw the longtime Harbor restoration efforts of conservationists bear fruit, as the dolphins returned to the Harbor in 2001 and people were able to resume swimming at the beaches of Dorchester. That gave her hope that people working together and applying creative solutions could really make a measurable difference.
Kumar Plocher, President & Founder, Yokayo Biofuels
Kumar Plocher guided Yokayo Biofuels from its inception in 2001 to its current existence as a biodiesel producer and distributor that makes fuel from recycled restaurant fryer oil collected by the company. Kumar represents sustainability-minded small-scale producers and distributors focused on local/regional resource management and a decentralized energy model. Kumar served on the California Energy Commission biodiesel working group and helped form the Biodiesel Council of California.
In addition, Kumar has taught numerous workshops on biodiesel, and given a number of lectures at events focused on sustainability, including Solfest, the Sustainable Biodiesel Summit, and the Green Festival. Kumar is on the Producer Working Group of the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance and writes a regular column for the publication biodieselSMARTER, focused on the inner workings of a sustainability-oriented biodiesel company. With a focus on quality as a key aspect of sustainability, Kumar understands how to make biodiesel from a range of feedstocks to meet ASTM specifications. An active member of Rotary, in 2007 he was named “Business Person of the Year” by the Ukiah Chamber of Commerce.
Dennis Fisher, Director, Office of Compliance and Ethics, Archer Daniels Midland Company
Dennis is responsible for development and coordination of Archer Daniels Midland’s (ADM) sustainability program. He has conducted a global supply chain integrity assessment for multiple feedstocks with a focus on environmental and social impacts. ADM originally became involved in the biodiesel industry as a feedstock supplier and then more recently as a producer and marketer. This interaction throughout the supply chain gives ADM a multifaceted view of the issues facing the industry that will define the task force as it works to identify common goals. Dennis has worked with various internal and external stakeholders to understand the opportunities and challenges facing the agricultural processing industry. As a result of his efforts, ADM leaders chartered the ADM Sustainability Steering Committee, responsible for establishing the corporate direction and policy on sustainability across our entire global enterprise.
Dennis is a member of ADM’s Sustainability Steering Committee and responsible for the creation of the company’s sustainability vision statement and objectives. Dennis has served as manager of Global Trade Compliance organizing ADM’s global import/export compliance department with over 40,000 annual transactions. He managed the export licensing program, interacting with various government agencies including the Office of Foreign Assets Control and Bureau of Industry and Security. Dennis created an internal audit program in conformance with Customs and Border Protection Agency guidelines. Dennis is also a member of Business for Social Responsibility’s Food and Agriculture Working Group.
Tim Maneely, Chief Technology Officer, US Biodiesel Group
Tim Maneely has been involved in the US biodiesel industry since the late 1990s. Tim’s initial involvement in biodiesel was as a designer of process plants and his client list includes some of the major players in the industry today. USBG is a large-scale biodiesel production company that just opened a 35 million gallon per year plant in Houston, has a West Coast site under development, and has plans for a production plant on the East Coast. USBG is committed to the use of sustainable feedstocks. Tim represents biodiesel producers who utilize a range of vegetable oil feedstocks from both domestic and international sources. Tim has a deep understanding of the oil supply chain and has traveled extensively to Latin America and the Far East working with soy, palm, and coconut oil producers. Before entering the biodiesel industry, Tim worked for 8 years on a farm in Oregon which produced a variety of crops. He has been a contributing member of the Nature Conservancy for over 20 years.
Darryl Brinkmann, American Soybean Association
Darryl Brinkmann, immediate past chairman of the National Biodiesel Board, is an Illinois farmer who grows soybeans and other commodities with his brother. Darryl has a bachelor of science in agriculture economics and has taken part in many service activities in the agricultural community since then. He has served as the Director of Illinois Farm Bureau and part of the American Soybean Board. Darryl has also played a major role in the Illinois Farm Bureau Young Farmers, Illinois Soybean Association and American Soybean Association committees.
Darryl, his wife Jean and daughter Danielle live in Carlyle, Illinois.
Brian Young, Imperium Renewables Inc.
Mr. Brian Young is a principal and founder of Element Strategic Partners LLC, a Washington state consulting and public affairs firm focused on renewable energy and sustainable development policy. Prior to founding Element Strategic Partners, he was the Director of International Business Development at Imperium Renewables and a member of its strategic development team. As one of IRI's original employees, Mr. Young spearheaded the development of the company's logistics capabilities, feedstock procurement framework, corporate sustainability criteria and communications, and long-term research and development project planning and execution. Mr. Young is Vice Chairman of the National Biodiesel Board's Sustainability Task Force. Prior to his work at Imperium, Mr. Young was a Surface Warfare Officer in the United States Navy working in naval operations and engineering. He holds a B.S. from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service.
Doug Smith, Baker Commodities
Doug has 21 years experience in the rendering and oleochemicals industry in production and operating a quality and R&D laboratory; and 15 years in safety management and hazardous materials. He has been involved in ester research for industrial applications and biodiesel since 1988.
Doug is a Registered Environmental Manager (REM) and a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) representing Baker Commodities in:
- National Renderers Association (NRA) in the Fats and Protein Research
- Foundation (FPRF) and the Animal Co-Products Research and Education Center (ACREC) at Clemson University
- ASTM in D0.2 Cold flow properties committee
- California Biodiesel Alliance (CBA) Secretary
- BQ-9000 National Biodiesel Accreditation Commissioner
- General Manager of Superior Process Technologies, a biodiesel process design engineering firm, a division of Baker Commodities
- Communications liaison for rendering and biodiesel to meet with Congress and the Senate during Nat'l. Rendering Association and NBB Washington D.C. fly-ins
- Clean Water and Environment Association (CWEA) in California, working with water treatment divisions in state
He previously worked for Carolina By-Products in its QC lab running R&D batches of different esters, and worked with some of the first commercial biodiesel. He was involved in all rendering divisions and the chemical division, where he also coordinated safety and hazardous wastes. There he learned rendering QC and animal feedstuffs quality testing, but also oleo chemicals in production, research, and analytical methods.
Doug has experience in working creatively and diplomatically to mesh the differing industries of rendering, chemical and agriculture together so that they are complementary and prosperous.
Jeff Trucksess, Executive Vice President, Green Earth Fuels
Jeff Trucksess is a senior officer and founder of Green Earth Fuels, LLC. Green Earth Fuels is one of the largest biodiesel producers in the United States, with a 90 million gallon per year biodiesel production facility in Houston, Texas. Green Earth Fuels also owns and operates a joint-venture, Sustainable Oils, LLC, a seed company commercializing low input, dedicated energy crops such as camelina and jatropha. Mr. Trucksess brings a 15-year track record of success in government relations, business development, and advocacy achievement to the Green Earth Fuels team. During his career, Mr. Trucksess has helped direct campaigns that led to the passage of Renewable Portfolio Standards in Colorado, Texas, and Washington, the funding of a Production Incentive for biofuels in Texas, and the creation of a rebate program for Energy Storage. Mr. Trucksess has successfully developed several biodiesel production facilities in Texas, California, and Louisiana, and led numerous industry coalitions.
Experienced in business development and operations, environmental permitting, fuels tax licensing, and grant/incentive program development, Mr. Trucksess has a successful history working with federal institutions such as the EPA, IRS, USAID, and USDA, as well as with regional organizations such as the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Southwest Research Institute, and the Texas Comptroller’s Office. He has also had significant success working with legislatures and regulatory agencies in numerous states including California, New York, New Jersey, Washington, Oregon, and Washington, D.C.
Prior to joining Green Earth Fuels, Mr. Trucksess served as the Clean Energy Program Director for an Austin, Texas-based business development and lobbying firm, Good Company Associates, where he directed legislative, regulatory, and business development efforts for clients in a wide range of alternative energy and clean technology industries. He has worked with communities throughout North America to help establish positive legislative and regulatory environments, including renewable portfolio standards and other incentives, either as part of deregulation legislation, or independently, to foster industry growth. In addition, Mr. Trucksess has worked with major utilities seeking to hedge fossil fuel power production costs and/or comply with environmental regulations.
Mr. Trucksess’ professional career also includes tenure as Program Director for Chemonics International, a leading United States Agency for International Development (USAID) contractor. During this tenure, Mr. Trucksess helped establish USAID projects in Botswana, Uganda, South Africa, the Philippines and directed technical activities in several other countries across the globe. His dual role as Business Operations Manager entailed extensive financial modeling and forecasting in addition to overall responsibility for day-to-day operations and annual planning for his department.
Mr. Trucksess serves on the Board of the National Biodiesel Board and as the Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for the Biodiesel Coalition of Texas. He holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan and an M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin.
Don Scott 
While not a task force member, Don Scott will be assisting the sustainability task force administratively with things like helping to coordinate materials, meeting arrangements, and the sustainability web page, and making sure resolutions and action plans are carried out in full. Don was an Environmental Engineer with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources from 1995 to 2007. In his work to protect natural sources of clean drinking water, he inventoried over 53,000 potential contaminant sites and delineated nearly 5,000 wellhead protection areas. He also implemented a program to voluntarily remove 50,000 acres from agricultural production where it threatened streams and drinking water reservoirs. Don joined the National Biodiesel Board staff in February of 2007, because he feels the energy crisis is more critical than the current perils of water resources. Don wanted to bring his skills in protecting clean water, clean air, and fertile soil to the biodiesel industry help biodiesel retain its status as the best alternative fuel available today.
