Trainer Biographies
Sustainable Bioenergy Training Program for Extension Educators
Dave Baker
Dave is an assistant professor of agricultural engineering and the state safety and occupational health
specialist. He also serves as assistant dean and program director for Agricultural and Natural Resources
Extension at the University of Missouri. He is responsible for the day-to-day leadership including development,
implementation, coordination and evaluation of the campus and statewide agriculture and natural resources
extension programs for Missouri. Dave currently serves on the North Central Agricultural and Natural
Resources Program Leader Council, the Administrative Council of NC SARE and the Homeland Security
Committee of Extension Disaster Education Network.
Greg Coffin
Greg is Superintendent for the University of Missouri-Columbia power plant, one of the oldest CHP plants in
the country. The plant has recently converted from coal to 100% biomass. The plant provides thermal energy
and electricity to more than 40,000 people in 13 million square feet of campus facilities including three
hospitals, a research reactor, and numerous research facilities. The plant is the first sizeable wood based
bioenergy facility in the state. The plant will seek t be a closed loop biomass plant fueled by a blend of
biomass resources including forest and agricultural residues. The plant was recently recognized by the US
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the designation of 2010 Energy Star. The EPA Energy Star CHP
Award was bestowed upon the three universities in acknowledgement of their success in generating power
and thermal energy while saving energy, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and decreasing air pollution.
Rick Cruse
Rick is professor of Agronomy at lowa State University and director of the lowa Water Center, focusing
research activities on managing soil and water resources. He received his B.S. from lowa State University and
his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. He currently serves on the National Advisory Council for
Environmental Policy and Technology in the Energy Work Group. He is a fellow of the Soil Science Society of
America and the American Society of Agronomy.
Don Day
Don has worked for University of Missouri extension as a Farm Management Agent and as a Natural Resource
Engineer for the Boone County Extension Center. He now coordinates the energy education programs for
University Extension. His work in energy includes workshops and newsletters on various aspects of energy
conservation and alternative energy sources. He has been involved in some research projects using solar
energy for hog facilities and grain drying.
Dan Downing
Dan works on water and environmental issues for the University of Missouri Extension. His program areas
include: Filling the role of a catalyst, encouraging the establishment of locally driven, and lead watershed
management groups throughout Missouri utilizing community development techniques. He works in some
capacity with seventeen communities, and does classroom instruction in the Food & Biological System
Engineering Unit. He has authored and/or coauthored over 3 million dollars in grant projects and has helped
fund publications such as Helpful Hints for Working with volunteers, Agency roles in watershed management,
Watershed Committee Organizational Structures & Styles. He has a B.S. in Agricultural and M.S. in Education
Specialization.
Jill Euken
Jill is the Deputy Director of the Bioeconomy Institute and a Industrial Specialist for Biobased Products at Iowa
State Extension. The Bioeconomy Institute is a campus wide institute at Iowa State University that seeks to
advance the use of biorenewable resources for the production of chemicals, fuels, materials and energy. Jill
coordinates university-industry research partnerships and commercialization projects. She currently
coordinates industry advisory committees for several large grant projects, including Integrated Feedstock
Supply Systems for Corn Stover Biomass, funded by the USDA/DOE, and Biocomplexity in the Bioeconomy:
the Natural and Industrial Ecology of Biobased Products, funded by the National Science Foundation. She also
chairs the annual Biobased Industry Outlook Conference at Iowa State.
Steve Flick
Steve is President of Show Me Energy Cooperative, Centerview, MO, is the first farmer owned bioenergy plant
in the nation. The plant began by producing grass based fuel pellets that could be used as a solid fuel. The
Coop is now planning to build a $80 million 3 miliion gallon facility to make jet fuel for the U.S. Department of
Defense from switchgrass. The plant plans to open in 2014. Show Me Energy Coop was the first BCAP project
area approved in the U.S.
Tom Franti
Tom is a Professor in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Univeristy of Nebraska, Lincoln. He is
a surface management engineer for the University of Nebraska Lincoln and studies and teaches about water
management for agricultural and urban area.
Cole Gustafson
Cole is currently chair, Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics at North Dakota State University.
Dr. Gustafson teaches two classes, Elements of Economics and Macroeconomics which are entirely online. He
has won department, college and national teaching awards for his teaching efforts. His research
responsibilities include development of financial risk management strategies for farms, biofuel/bioproduct
firms, and the wind industry. As a researcher, he has authored more than 45 peer reviewed journal articles.
Dr. Gustafson received his Ph.D. degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Illinois. His M.S.
degree in Agricultural Economics is from the University of Minnesota. He grew up on a crop livestock farm
near Minneapolis, MN.
John Hay
John is an Associate Extension Educator in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of
Nebraska, Lincoln. He works in the following areas: the unintended consequences of the biofuels industry,
ethanol co-product utilization, changes in farming practices due to the biofuels industry, Water quality and
quantity as it relates to the biofuels industry. He also serves on the Ethanol and Biodiesel Extension Work
group. He has a M.S. Agronomy, Texas A&M University and a B.S. Agronomy, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Tom Johnson
Tom has a joint appointment as the Frank Miller Professor of Agricultural Economics, and professor in the
Harry S Truman School of Public Affairs at the University of Missouri- Columbia. He is Director of the
Community Policy Analysis Center. His areas of expertise include rural economic development, fiscal and
economic impact analysis, local government finance, and transportation economics. Dr. Johnson's research
includes interdisciplinary projects on issues such bio-energy, land use and transportation. He recently advised
the Government of Ukraine on changes to its Agricultural and Rural Development policy, and is studying
proposed changes to the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy. He is a founding member of the
International Comparative Rural Policy Studies Consortium which includes 8 Universities in Europe and North
America. Dr. Johnson is a Fellow of the Southern Regional Science Association and 2006 recipient of the
Outstanding Contribution through Economics Award of the Northeast Agricultural and Resource Economics
Association. He has a B.S. and M.S., University of Saskatchewan and Ph.D., in Agricultural Economics, Oregon
State University.
Sharon Lezberg
Sharon is an Associate Scientist in Agriculture and Sustainability at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s
Environmental Resources Center. She manages the USDA CREES National Water Quality Program grant,
“Energy Independence, Bioenergy Generation and Environmental Sustainability: The Role of a 21st Century
Engaged University.” In this role, she has coordinated the development of the bioenergy curriculum series and
the bioenergy training program. Dr. Lezberg conducts research and outreach on a variety of projects related to
agricultural sustainability. She received her Ph.D. in Environmental Studies with a major in Environment and
Resources from The Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Sharon
has an M.A. from Clark University in International Development and Social Change.
Steve Murphy
Steve is the new General Manager of the POET Ethanol refining plant in Laddonia, Missouri. He is a St. Louis
native and earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Missouri – Rolla.
efore joining Poet, he spent 21 years gaining manufacturing and management experience with the
Woodbridge Corporation, a global leader in the development and production of polyurethane products. Murphy
worked in Australia, Detroit and Chicago while he was with Woodbridge.
Dennis Pennington
Dennis is the Bioenergy Educator for MSU Extension. Dennis focuses on production of renewable
transportation fuels from agricultural feedstocks. Sustainable production of biomass, economics and on farm
demonstration of new potential energy crops is a major focus of Dennis' work.
Johanna Reed-Adams
Johanna is a State Extension Specialist in Community Leadership Development for the University of Missouri
Columbia. She serves field and campus faculty as an Extension Associate Professor in the Rural Sociology
Department within the College of Agriculture Food and Natural Resources Division of Applied Social Sciences.
She is responsible for the development and implementation of community-based leadership programming. Dr.
Adams primarily works with colleagues in the Community Development Extension program, other departments
and units within the University of Missouri System, Regional Specialists, and collaborating partners to create
educational programs requested by community and organizational leaders throughout Missouri. Johanna’s
main focus has been the EXCEL (EXperience in Community Enterprise and Leadership Development) program
held throughout Missouri. Through a collaborative effort between University of Missouri Extension and the
Missouri Association for Community Action an award-winning 12 session leadership curriculum STEP-Up to
Leadership has been developed, piloted, evaluated, and is now ready for delivery across the state. In
November 2004, the University of Missouri Extension Association awarded Dr. Adams the 1st Place Innovator
Award for this work. She has a Bachelor of Science in Political Science, Masters in Public Administration and a
Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Her primary
research is in the field of leadership development.