Speakers
Arjun Chakravarti
Arjun Chakravarti is Managing Partner of Cogknition, a strategy and analytics firm based in Chicago. Prior to founding Cogknition, Arjun served in senior executive roles at GES and an award-winning business school professor at Illinois Tech, where he was a founding faculty of the of Marketing Analytics and Advanced MBA programs.
A frequently-invited speaker, he delivers keynotes on the strategy and the economy to c-suite executives and industry leaders across the globe. He has extensive experience with food service and CPG, having been consulting economist for Technomic since 2008. Arjun received his Ph.D and MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Lynn Stacy
Lynn Stacy's passion for flexitanks and tireless work ethic have helped him become one of the leading experts in the Liquid Logistics industry during the past decade. As managing director of OEC Group’s Liquid Logistics Solutions division, he currently oversees all the company’s liquid logistic initiatives, including operations, management, new business development, as well as launching and managing the company’s burgeoning flexitank business.
Prior to joining OEC, Lynn worked with other liquid logistics companies where he was responsible for evaluating operational issues, managing large budgets, identifying market trends, recruiting and building capable teams, and securing major accounts.
Lynn holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Maritime Law and Policy with minors in Ocean and Coastal Resources and Economics from Texas A&M University at Galveston.
Anthony Reed
Anthony Reed advises a diverse portfolio of clients in their public affairs efforts across the food, agriculture, energy and sustainability policy landscape. Anthony’s work spans the FGS Global Energy & Sustainability and Food & Agriculture teams.
Anthony joined FGS Global following 14 years on the government relations team at Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), where he most recently served as the Interim Head of Global Government Relations. In this capacity, he handled issues spanning food, agriculture, energy, environment, climate change, sustainability, biotechnology and biofuels. His work included leading coalition efforts to create and extend clean energy tax incentives, negotiating high-level biofuel regulatory changes, serving as an expert witness on biotechnology policy in related litigation, and representing ADM’s interests in key trade associations in the energy, biofuels, biotech, and agriculture spaces.
Reed also served as the Deputy Associate Administrator for Congressional Relations at the Environmental Protection Agency where he focused on EPA’s Offices of Air and Radiation, Enforcement and Compliance, and Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.
Prior to his time at the EPA, he worked on Capitol Hill for 11 years as Chief of Staff and Legislative Director, for then-House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) and legislative assistant for Representative Tom Latham (R-IA).
Anthony holds BA degrees in Economics and Political Science from the University of Iowa. He lives in Arlington, VA, with his wife and two boys.
Joanna Hitchner
Joanna Hitchner is the Chair of the Oilseed Committee at USDA’s World Agricultural Outlook Board where she oversees the oilseed forecasts for the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report. She also reviews oilseed-related forecasts, baseline projections, and analytical reports issued by USDA agencies. Before joining the World Board in 2016, Ms. Hitchner spent nearly 10 years working at USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service and the U.S. Peace Corps in Panama. She has an MBA from the University of Maryland and a BA in Economics from Connecticut College.
Liam Rogers
Liam Rogers is the President and Treasurer at Hudson Tank Terminals Corp. Liam has over 35 years in Terminaling and Logistics.
Erin Alves
CPKC, National Account Manager Sales, US/MX Grain, Erin holds a Bachelor’s in Biological Psychology from the College of William and Mary and a Master’s in Educational Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She has a combined 19 years of railroad experience across 3 Class I carriers. She is an out of the box thinker, curious, and passionate about logistics and renewable fuels/feedstocks. In her free time, you’ll find Erin at a spin class or on the tennis court.
Nate Smithson
Raised in southern Minnesota, Nate graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Education. Nate has enjoyed an 18 year career immersed in the farming and agriculture industry with experience ranging from working one on one with farmers, to working for local farmer owned Co-ops, to spending 16 years at CHS. At CHS Nate worked in energy and refined fuels, logistics, with the majority of his time in vegetable oil sales and canola processing and risk management. Nate joined Moving Parts LLC in October of 2017, where he currently serves as Vice President of the company.
Dave Reeble
Dave is the founder and president of Moving Parts, L.L.C. He grew up in Illinois, and graduated from Millikin University. During his 37 years of experience working in the commodity food business, he has worked in grain and grain products, trading, refined vegetable oils, risk management and procurement of commodity products for ADM, Pillsbury, AGP and ConAgra Foods.
Bill Lapp
Bill Lapp is president and founder of Advanced Economic Solutions. Lapp graduated from Southern Illinois University in 1979 with a B.A. in Mathematics, and from Purdue University in 1981 with a M.S. in Agricultural Economics. Lapp has over 30 years of experience in analyzing and forecasting economic conditions and commodity markets and has a wealth of experience in providing comprehensive economic analysis of commodity markets. He has been a featured speaker at numerous national forums, including the restaurant industry’s semi-annual Supply Chain Management conference, Sosland’s Annual Purchasing Seminar, the National Institute of Oilseed Products, the Canola Council of Canada, and the USDA Annual Outlook conference. Prior to forming Advanced Economic Solutions, Lapp was Chief Economist for ConAgra Foods. He has served on numerous boards, including the Kansas City Board of Trade, Kansas City Federal Reserve Board’s Center for the Study of Rural America, the Farm Foundation, and the Food and Agriculture Committee of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce. In addition, Lapp is a former member of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service Advisory Board and participates on the Harvard Business Industrial Economists’ Round-Table. Lapp has provided in-depth economic analysis of Federal biofuel policy for a wide range of groups, including the National Corn Growers, the Grocer Manufacturing Association, the American Baking Association and the US Department of Agriculture.
Keith Rodeck
Keith has responsibility for the foodservice business at Ken’s Foods, Inc. - a privately held manufacturer of dressings and sauces. In addition to managing the sales of the Ken’s branded dressings and Sweet Baby Ray’s branded sauces, he oversees the development of the many custom formula products that Ken’s makes for large National Chain Restaurants. As soybean oil is a key commodity in the manufacturing of dressings, Keith works directly with refiners to secure oil to cover the needs for the four manufacturing plants.
David Ireland
David Ireland grew up on a small family farm in South Central MN where he aspired to farm alongside his father growing Corn and Soybeans. He attended South Dakota State University to grow his knowledge in farming by acquiring a bachelor’s degree in Ag Business with Minors in Agronomy, Economics, Accounting and Marketing. David now owns and manages a large farm in the area where he grew up alongside his Dad and several other full and part-time employees. David and his wife, Courtney, have 2 children.
Doug Adams
Doug began his career in transportation as a driver in 1981 going to and from California during the summers while attending Simpson College. Doug joined Johnsrud Transport in 1984 as a driver. He then moved to managing their food grade tank wash in Des Moines. Doug spent several years working with drivers in a dispatch role and then moved into a sales role for Johnsrud. Johnsrud was purchased by Cliff Viessman Trucking in 2018, but still operates as Johnsrud Transport, Inc. Doug currently is the General Manager/COO and oversees all operations. Doug has been with Johnsrud for 40 years!
Marina Negroponte
Marina Negroponte serves Bunge as a Sr. Manager for ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) for Bunge’s strategic Global Customers and key North America accounts. In this role, she leads Bunge’s sustainable solutions program working with Bunge’s customers to help define ESG goals while delivering practical, sustainable solutions enabled by Bunge’s supply chain. Marina is an ESG professional with over 10 years of international experience at the United Nations World Food Programme executing economic development, environmental management, and social impact programs, in four countries during her tenure. Marina has also worked in the philanthropic and US political sectors. Most recently she completed her executive MBA in Sustainability from Yale University – School of Management. She is located St. Louis, Missouri.
