Dennis R. Zeedyk

drzeedyk@yahoo.com 2010 Michigan Ave.

LaPorte, IN 46350

219-851-6089 mobile

Executive Summary:

M.S in Agricultural Economics with over thirty years experience in profitable agribusiness and agricultural development project management, marketing and financing. Strong team leader and project start-up skills with positive entrepreneurial spirit and ability to get the job done. Goal oriented and good communication skills.  Extensive knowledge in the renewable energy field and grain & feed industry.  Eleven years experience hiring, training and managing foreign nationals including those of different cultures/religions. Good local contacts and networking throughout Eastern Europe, Former Soviet Union, and Central and Southeast Asia.

Long-Term Experience:

GLYCERIN TRADERS LLC (10/11 – present)

Vice President:  LaPorte, IN

• Traded feed and renewable energy products throughout the Midwest, with products including biodiesel, glycerin, mixed alcohols, fats/oils & animal feed ingredients like candy, syrup, jam, pizza toppings, fruit pomace, etc.  
• Developed waste jam as feed ingredient for dairy farms with 31,000 tons sold since March of 2012. 
• Increased transloading from 60 railcars in 2012 of canola meal to >500 railcars of canola, LinPro, CGF, DDG’s, SBM & salt in in 2024 as feed ingredients to dairy sector. 
• Increased sales from $436,000 in 2011 to >$13.7 million in 2023 with corresponding increases in profit with three operational plants and one joint venture – selling processed glycerin, vegoils and reclaimed methanol, plus de-packaging services for hand sanitizer, ketchup and mayonnaise.  Exported over $1 million in products to Asia.
• Won ActionCoach’s Best Manufacturer and Entrepreneur of the Year in 2023. 

DELOITTE/CNFA/ECONOMIC PROSPERITY INITIATIVE (11/10 – 9/11)

Agricultural Component Team Leader:  Tbilisi, Georgia

• Ag Component Team Leader for four-year, $40.4 million multi-component USAID project.  Analyzed fifteen agricultural sectors to determine four sectors with best commercial viability within Georgia (wine, hazelnuts, fruits and vegetables).  Further prioritized into eight value chains that encompassed a Heated Greenhouse Development Strategy and a Cold Storage Facility strategy.  Completed agricultural portion of Work Plan.
• Hired ten staff, developed Grants Manual and assisted in locating temporary office space.  Coordinated work with Agroservice, a local association of Farm Service Centers and Machinery Service Centers that included the Marketing Information System, GlobalGAP certification and 30 training programs for 1,000+ farmers.  
• Within six months, several initiatives led to over $4 million in additional sales for Georgian companies and planned investments of nearly $20 million for 20 hectares of heated greenhouses throughout Georgia as a result of a strategic greenhouse investment program, several of which were heated by renewable energy sources.  There were an additional $20 million of planned investments in three large scale cold storage facilities for fruits and vegetables.
• As a result of my work, one bank allocated $1 million for agriculture loans, with greenhouse focus.  

INDIANA FLEX FUELS/KINGSBURY ENERGY GROUP (7/07 – 10/10)

President//Plant Manager:  LaPorte, Indiana

• Developed business plan for 5 million gallon per year (MMGY) biodiesel plant using low-cost, alternative feedstocks.  Put together investors and debt/equity package that exceeded $4 million.  Chose site that included rail access and oversaw all permitting, construction and technology assembly.  
• Hired seventeen staff, developed office & chose accounting/inventory management software, supplied lab with equipment & implemented policies & protocol for testing to begin BQ9000 certification.  Adhered to IDEM, EPA, IRS and OSHA regulations.  Consistently purchased feedstock at below-average prices. 
• Produced and sold over 1.2 million gallons of ASTM 6751 spec biodiesel and introduced design changes that increased production, improved efficiency and/or reduced emissions.  
• Began marketing 400,000 gallons of glycerin by-product on a monthly basis to biomass gasification plant and co-obtained permits to substitute it for coal in power generation facilities in northeast Indiana.  Began process to obtain carbon credits for biodiesel refinery.  

CNFA/AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (ADP) (2/06 – 6/07)

Deputy Country Director:  Moldova

• DCD (Acting Country Director for 2.5 months) for 36-employee, 5-year, $14 million USAID project focused on increasing the agricultural competitiveness of the High Value Fruit & Vegetable Exports sector.  Boosted number of clients from 26 to 94 within three months and responsible for increased emphasis on Business Services & Consulting aspect of the organization.  In conjunction with the National Extension Service, replicated training materials and for Value Chain Drivers & producer organizations on marketing, finance, post-harvest handling & 17 crop production handbooks/budgets to enhance sustainability. Trained 600+ individuals.  
• Hosted multiple Cluster Competitiveness meetings, B2B’s and Marketing Forums totaling over 350 attendees focused on developing new markets.  Team responsible for 14 trade linkages worth over $1.3 million (75% exports) and 45 trainings with 250+ trainees on post-harvest handling, HACCP, EurepGAP, marketing & food safety/quality.  Project assisted local partners to create/develop 46+ new products & brands with targeted consumer research & focus groups.  

ARD/LINKING AGRICULTURAL MARKETS TO PRODUCERS (LAMP) (9/03 – 2/06)

Deputy Country Director/Agricultural Marketing Specialist:  Bosnia & Herzegovina

• Team Leader for northeast Bosnia office; hired ten top-quality agricultural/business specialists; located and coordinated office space saving $13,000/year. Performed competitive analysis and developed clusters in the dairy, fruits/vegetables, poultry and oilseeds subsectors.
• Conceptualized competitiveness cluster meetings for dairy and fruits & vegetable sectors, which led to the creation of the Dairy Competitiveness Council and Dairy Processors Association, as well as the inclusion of producers in the newly named F&V Producers and Processors Association.
• Created business plans that raised in excess of $3.53 million in loans for fifteen local partner agribusinesses. Project developed 44 business plans for loans valued at $9.51 million.
• Assisted in development and review of small grant applications after development of SG manual. Awarded/distributed 25 small grants worth $567,000 in grants to local agribusinesses for marketing development.  Project distributed $1.965 million in grants to 90 beneficiaries.
• Organized and developed concept of training to approximately 14,000 individuals in 521 trainings in collaboration with Ag Institutes, Vet Institutes & Extension Services with leave-behind, simple-to-use, understandable materials, including 20+ enterprise budgets.
• Responsible for creating $1.6 million in market linkages. Project resulted in 145 transactions valued at $5.36 million.  Hosted/chaired six buyer-seller networking meetings to encourage signing of production and forward contracts.
• Through four Micro Credit Organizations, project lent out over $12 million in micro-credit loans to 4,100 applicants in dairy, F&V, and medicinal herbs sub-sectors to those with contracts with approved processors.
• Developed an approved Global Development Alliance proposal for USAID valued at over $1 million and submitted one policy change to the Bosnian parliament from USAID/LAMP. 
• Coordinated efforts with international donors to avoid project duplication in NE BiH and with emphasis on the wine sector in Herzegovina region. Maintain knowledge of USAID, European and UN donor programs, and intentions of local and international private sector businesses.  

CHEMONICS/KOSOVO BUSINESS SUPPORT (8/02 – 2/03)

Agribusiness Development Specialist: Pristina, Kosovo

• Managed/trained local consultant team in recruiting clients to provide assistance in business principles. Led team to achieving many of its six-month targets in only three months.
• Conducted operational assessments for over 70 business clients. Installed strategic action plans leading to increased profits. Developed markets for new products, improved operational efficiencies. Monitored and recorded progress with Access database.  
• Negotiated and set all legal delivery parameters for €120,000, 600-ton sunflower production contracts between local growers and Yugoslav processors. Leveraged European Agency for Reconstruction loan program to finance growers.
• In cooperation with sub-contractor, Winrock, implemented vegetable processing, dairy production and poultry health management programs. Accomplished 20-250% increases in production and/or decreases in costs.
• Met with USAID on weekly basis to provide updates on progress in agricultural sector, including budget, personnel performance and project implementation reviews.

INTERNATIONAL FERTILIZER DEVELOPMENT CENTER (2/01 – 8/02)

Trade Association and Agribusiness Advisor: Pristina, Kosovo

• Launched and managed four trade associations in Kosovo; Agricultural Input Dealers, Poultry Producers & Feed Millers, Flour Millers and Alliance of Kosovo Agribusinesses. Ensured association sustainability through revenue collection, membership services, business plan development, and policy changes through lobbying efforts. Oversaw total revenue generation increase from zero to €20,000 per year.  Introduced Parliamentary Procedure and use of committees to efficiently complete projects.
• Organized €2.23 million in credit for eleven fertilizer dealers to import and distribute 9,165 metric tons of NPK fertilizer for autumn application. Developed marketing and business plans for nineteen association members who received over €465,000 in loans from American Bank of Kosovo. All borrowers made all payments.

U.S. GRAINS COUNCIL (6/97 – 2/01)

Assistant Director of Southeast Asia Office: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

• Assisted in administration of country programs in Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore for export promotion of U.S. corn, sorghum, and barley.  Visited swine and poultry farms to train local managers on record-keeping, nutrition, disease reduction, breeding, housing, and waste management. 
• Consulted feed mills regarding modern storage methods, optimum mixing/grinding equipment, improved transportation and distribution networks, and higher profitability.  Assessed logistics of seaport facilities and made recommendations to optimize flow patterns, improve handling efficiencies, and reduce demurrage charges. 
• Informed grain purchasers of USDA government programs and financing alternatives. Implemented programs to improve probability of U.S. grain imports.  My work led to them becoming a 50,000 MT sorghum importer.
• Authored quarterly newsletter for U.S. Grains Council Southeast Asia office covering technical, financial and economic aspects of the grain and feed industries, as well as biotechnology. 

CENTRAL STATES ENTERPRISES, INC. (7/95 – 5/97)

Commodity Trader: New Haven, Indiana

• Developed grain origination program for northeast Indiana, Michigan, and western Ohio. Traded corn, soybeans, and wheat using futures, basis, delayed price, and forward contracts. Coordinated logistics for all unit-trains on Norfolk Southern and Illinois Central railroads, covering a minimum of 1,000 rail cars and approximately 185,000 tons per month. Analyzed fundamental and technical factors for decision-making purposes.

Short-Term Consulting:

U.S. RICE PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION (four separate occasions)

Rice Marketing Consultant: Uzbekistan & Kazakhstan

• Conducted total transportation analysis including appropriate shipper, mode of transportation, port of delivery, potential logistical barriers and all associated costs.
• Carried out policy analysis on tariffs, quotas and other potential barriers to imports and trade.
• Based on supply/demand situation, recommended appropriate strategy to move each country towards commercial purchases of U.S. rice.
• Identified businesses capable of receiving 200 metric ton samples of U.S. rough rice. Determined milling ability, type of rice demanded, delivered price and payment method.

Education: University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois

Master of Science in Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Marketing Specialization, August 1997

Thesis: An Analysis & Comparison of Prices & Value of Argentine, Brazilian & U.S. Soybeans.

Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, June 1993

Major: Agricultural Economics Minor: Agronomy

Instituto Superior de Agricultura, Santiago, Dominican Republic

Coursework in Agriculture, Rural Sociology, and Latin American Culture, Summer 1991

Honors: Winner of Futech’s Commodity Trading Challenge, 1998

Third place in Futech’s Commodity Trading Challenge, 1997

Associations: Indiana Dairy Producers

Agribusiness Council of Indiana

Indiana Chamber of Commerce

Indiana Farm Bureau

National Federation of Independent Businesses

Lee Enterprises Consulting, Inc.