Green Plains Renewable Energy - Leadership

Todd Becker - President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

Todd Becker serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. and has held a variety of Executive Director positions in ethanol since 2006, including Sales, Trading & Operations.

Todd had responsibility for setting up the commercial operations of the company. Prior to that, Todd worked for ten years with ConAgra Foods in various management positions including Vice President of International Marketing for ConAgra Trade Group and President of ConAgra Grain Canada. He has over 20 years of related experience in various commodity processing businesses, risk management and supply chain management.

Ron Gillis - Executive Vice President, Finance & Treasurer

Ron Gillis joined Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. as Executive Vice President, Finance and Treasurer upon closing of the merger with its predecessor in 2008. Ron was previously Chief Financial Officer of VBV, NTR’s prior holdings in ethanol production. From May 2005 until July 2007, Ron served as Chief Financial Officer of Renewable Products Marketing Group LLC, an ethanol marketing company. Prior to that, Ron served for over 20 years in senior financial management, control and audit positions with ConAgra Foods Inc. in the commodity trading area, both domestic and international.

Michelle Mapes – Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Michelle Mapes joined Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. as Executive Vice President – General Counsel and Corporate Secretary effective November 3, 2009.  MS. Mapes is responsible for all legal and regulatory affairs for the Company.  Prior to joining Green Plains, Ms. Mapes was a Partner at Husch Blackwell Sanders, LLP, where for three years, her practice was focused nearly exclusively in renewable energy.  Prior to that, Ms. Mapes was Chief Administrative Officer & General Counsel for HDM Corporation and Ms. Mapes served as Senior Vice President - Corporate Services & General Counsel to Farm Credit Services of America from April 2000 to June 2005.  Ms. Mapes holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  Ms. Mapes also holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Jerry Peters - Chief Financial Officer & Secretary

Jerry Peters joined Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. as Chief Financial Officer in June 2007. Jerry previously held a number of senior management roles in ONEOK Partners, a publicly-traded partnership engaged in gathering, processing, storage, and transportation of natural gas and natural gas liquids. Prior to joining ONEOK Partners in 1985, Jerry was employed by KPMG LLP as a certified public accountant.

Steve Bleyl - Executive Vice President, Ethanol Marketing

Steve Bleyl has been responsible for ethanol marketing for Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. and its predecessor since 2007. From June 2003 until September 2007, Steve served as Chief Executive Officer of Renewable Products Marketing Group LLC, an ethanol marketing company, building it from a co-operative marketing group of five ethanol plants in one state to seventeen production facilities in seven states. Prior to that, Steve worked for over 20 years in various senior management and executive positions in the fuel industry.

Mike Orgas - Executive Vice President, Commercial Operations

Mike Orgas joined Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. as Executive Vice President, Commercial Operations in November 2008. Mike has extensive experience in supply chain management, logistics, risk management, and strategic planning. From May 2004 to October 2008, Mike served as the Director of Raw Materials Strategic Sourcing and Risk Management for the Malt-O-Meal Company. From February 2003 to December 2003, Mike was a Partner in the Agribusiness/Food Practice of McCarthy & Company, an advisory services firm. Prior to that, Mike served as Regional Manager of the Northern States and Director of Integrated Supply Chain Management for ConAgra Foods, Inc. and as Senior Manager of Operations, Transportation and Trading of the northwest region for General Mills.

Edgar Seward - Executive Vice President, Plant Operations

Edgar Seward joined Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. as Executive Vice President, Plant Operations and previously served as the General Manager for Indiana Bio-Energy, LLC, where he managed development of the Bluffton ethanol facility from its inception through construction, staffing and operations. From 2004 to April 2006, Edgar served as a General Manager for United Bio-Energy, LLC, where he managed development of and provided technical support for multiple dry mill ethanol facilities. Edgar has extensive experience in design, build and operations of a variety of dry-milling technologies and facilities.

Jeff Briggs - Chief Operating Officer

Jeff Briggs joined Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc as Chief Operating Officer effective November 23, 2009.  Prior to joining Green Plains, Mr. Briggs was Founder and General Partner of Frigate Capital, LLC, a registered investment advisor in Nebraska.  Before founding Frigate Capital, Jeff spent 7 years at Valmont Industries, Inc. as President of the Coatings Division where he managed a 10 facility division with over 1,000 employees.  Prior to Valmont, Mr. Briggs acquired and managed a high tech electronic manufacturing company in Los Angeles, was Director of Mergers and Acquisitions for Peter Kiewit and Sons, and worked for Goldman Sachs in their Equities Division. 

Jeff has a Bachelor of Science degree, summa cum laude, in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal and Power Systems from UCLA and an MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business.  He served 5 years as an Officer in the United States Navy on the nuclear submarine USS Whale.  Jeff has been in a consulting capacity with Green Plains since July 2009.