Policy developments over the decades have played a crucial role in shaping the ethanol industry, from the farm movement in the 1970s to the expansion in the 2000s. Key economic drivers, including gas tax credits and incentives, laid the foundation for today’s corn ethanol sector. Ongoing policy discussions continue to impact rural communities, highlighting the industry’s evolution and its importance to both agriculture and energy production.

• Susanne Retka Schill, Editor/Writer, WriteOH

This session provides essential foundational knowledge for newcomers to the ethanol industry or allied sectors. Topics covered include key terms in cooking and fermentation, the corn/sorghum-based ethanol process, yeast microbiology, fermentation nutrition, and bacterial contamination control, offering a practical overview without diving into overly technical details. It is ideal for those looking to understand the basics of fuel ethanol production.

• Scott Kohl, Chief Technology Officer, Visionary Fiber Technologies

Yeasts and enzymes play a vital role in ethanol production, with continued advancements improving efficiency and customization. This presentation explores their evolution, application, and how tailored fermentation solutions are developed to meet specific plant and production goals.

• Pauline Teunissen, Global Application Leader of Grain Processing, IFF

Distillation, dehydration, and evaporation (DD&E) are core to transforming fermented mash into fuel-grade ethanol. This presentation provides a high-level overview of these downstream processes, explains how ethanol is separated, purified, and prepped for blending, and highlights strategies to optimize DD&E efficiency.

• Jessica Lopez, Product Development Manager, Whitefox Technologies Limited

Separating ethanol from water and impurities is essential to producing high-quality, fuel-grade ethanol. This presentation examines the fundamentals of distillation and its integration with evaporation, while highlighting efficiency gains, energy savings, and technologies that support more sustainable production.

• Danielle Herman, Process Engineer II, Fluid Quip Technologies, LLC

Running a successful ethanol business requires more than just efficient production—it demands alignment across operations, finance, marketing, and procurement. This presentation covers how each function contributes to overall performance and how to foster collaboration across the organization.

• Donna Funk, Principal, Pinion

Yeast fermentation transforms cereal grains into nutrient-rich distillers grains, significantly enhancing their value in livestock diets. With high levels of energy, protein, and phosphorus, these coproducts underscore ethanol’s dual role in producing fuel and supporting global food systems. The presentation highlights ethanol’s contributions to sustainable animal feed production.

• Ryan Mass, Feed Consultant, ICM, Inc.

Drawing on two decades of industry data, this presentation unpacks a typical plant’s income statement and balance sheet, explores key revenue drivers and cost structures, and examines how market trends, policy shifts, and ownership models shape profitability in today’s ethanol landscape.

• Connie Lindstrom, Senior Biofuels Analyst, Christianson PLLP

Over three decades, the U.S. ethanol industry has evolved significantly—most recently through larger plant sizes, new ownership structures, and emerging technology add-ons. This presentation explores trends in ethanol supply and demand, the rise of SAF and CCUS opportunities, and how location-based CO2 access may shape the industry's future earnings potential.

• Kyle Althoff, President, Equinox

This presentation will provide a comprehensive overview of key ethanol coproducts—DCO, CFP, and DDGS—covering their production, storage, transportation, and market placement. Real-world insights will highlight domestic and export opportunities, along with current trends, challenges, and future outlooks across feed and fuel sectors.

• Matthew Fitzthum, Merchandiser, CHS, Inc.

The 1861 and 1862 Revenue Acts, which introduced federal income and excise taxes on alcohol, significantly impacted both the alcohol and petroleum industries. The presentation will review how these taxes led to alcohol's decline as a fuel source, its competition with petroleum, and how these events influenced early automotive fuel choices and the development of internal combustion engines.

• Marc Rauch, Executive Vice President/Co-Publisher, The Auto Channel

As the light-duty fuel market shrinks due to tighter fuel economy standards and the rise of electric vehicles, emerging ethanol markets are evolving. This presentation will highlight new opportunities and how the ethanol industry could transform, potentially creating billions of gallons in demand.

• Robert White, SVP of Industry Relations & Market Development, Renewable Fuels Association