AURI - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Associate Scientist - Coproducts
- Associate Scientist in Coproducts for the AURI Coproducts Lab
Tekeste is an Associate Scientist in Coproducts for the AURI Coproducts Lab in Waseca, Minnesota. He previously worked at the University of Minnesota's Southern Research and Outreach Center lab as a nutrition lab tech. Tekesta has experience in quality assurance and is also certified in Hazard Analysis and Critical Control points (HACCP), FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) as a Preventive Control Quality Individual, and has his certification in Sanitation for Food Safety.
Tekeste has education and extensive experience in livestock production, animal nutrition, animal health, agricultural development projects, and dairy and swine farming. He was previously the head and instructor in the department of animal science at the Hagaz Agro Technical Institute in Eritrea, Africa. He also has several abstracts and publications in swine and ruminant nutrition. Tekeste has extensive knowledge conducting various research projects and analytical procedures.
Tekeste has an M.Sc. degree in Sustainable Livestock Production from the University of Asmara in Eritrea. He also has done postgraduate studies in Agricultural Sciences at the University of Hohenheim in Germany.
Job Titles:
- Finance
- Accounting Manager at Alliance Residential
- Senior Director of Operations & Finance
Adam Stratton, senior director of operations & finance at the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI), is an experienced financial manager and analyst, adept in areas of cost reductions, technology integration, budgeting and regulatory compliance. A talented leader, he inspires those around him to create a team-orientated atmosphere that supports overall corporate goals and objectives.
Prior to joining AURI, Stratton served as an accounting manager of the Alliance Residential Company in Phoenix, Arizona, where he was responsible for directing financial management functions, including financial forecasts and budgets. His background includes overseeing accounting functions such as AR/AP, account reconciliation, cash management, corporate tax matters and audits.
Before becoming an accounting manager at Alliance Residential, Stratton was a financial analyst with the company, and prepared financial and cash-flow analysis in line with company objectives. His main responsibilities included analysis of financial data for short-and long-term forecasting and yearly budgets, also annual audit and tax oversight. Earlier in his career, he was a senior cost accountant for Bear's Plumbing of South Florida, Inc.
Stratton is a graduate of the University of North Dakota where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and a Master of Business Administration.
Job Titles:
- Senior Scientist
- Senior Scientist, Coproducts
Alan Doering began his tenure as a senior scientist for the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) over 15 years ago. In this position, he is in charge of managing client projects and the coproducts pilot plant, collecting and reporting on data related to applied research and product development, and presenting AURI's project initiatives at industry conferences and tours.
Doering's extensive experience consists of testing and cultivating products utilizing crop residues, food processing waste, biomass and more. His testing at AURI has led to the awarding of several client patents, as well as to collecting leading-edge information on energy values of Minnesota-grown agricultural projects.
Prior to joining AURI, Doering was affiliated with the Dekalb Genetics Corporation and Farmland Industries Inc., working as a research technician on activities that included genetic crossing and field plot research. In the latter, he served as a livestock production specialist working on dairy and beef ration balancing, and as a dairy and swine expansion facilitator.
He received a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural extension from South Dakota State University. He has also studied at the Livestock Production Specialist Academy, the University of Wisconsin - Madison, and the Northern Crops Institute at North Dakota State University.
Job Titles:
- Business Development Director of Novel Supply Chains
Job Titles:
- HR & Administrative Specialist
Job Titles:
- Scientist of Food & Nutrition
Job Titles:
- Business Development Director of Biomass Feedstocks
Job Titles:
- Bio Industrial Lab Associate
Job Titles:
- Member of the AIC Board of Directors
- District III Director
Carolyn Olson raises organic corn, soybeans, small grains and alfalfa with her husband on a 1,100 acre farm near Cottonwood, Minnesota. They also finish approximately 14,000 conventional hogs annually.
Carolyn is the current District III Director on the Minnesota Farm Bureau Board of Directors, past president of the Lyon County Farm Bureau, chair of the American Farm Bureau Organic and Direct Marketing Issue Advisory Committee, current member and past chair of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Organic Advisory Task Force and secretary of the local FFA Alumni Chapter.
She is active in the Minnesota Farm Bureau, having served on the Promotion & Education committee, Growth committee and Resolutions committee. She is the co-chair of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Pork Chop booth at Farm Fest. She has volunteered for FFA Chapters in Lyon County, helping with contest judging, as well as farm safety and petting zoo days. She also brought the FFA officers to the Farm Bureau Day on the Hill.
Carolyn Olson raises organic corn, soybeans, small grains and alfalfa with her husband on a 1,100 acre farm near Cottonwood, Minnesota. They also finish approximately 14,000 conventional hogs annually. Carolyn is the current District III Director on the Minnesota Farm Bureau Board of Directors, past president of the Lyon County Farm Bureau, chair of the… Continue Reading Carolyn Olson
Job Titles:
- Meat Innovation Specialist
Job Titles:
- Director of Government and Industry Relations
Job Titles:
- Chairman of AURI 's Board of Directors
Federico Tripodi serves as the chair of AURI's Board of Directors and has served as a public company executive with extensive experience in agricultural, food and health R&D and product development. During his two-decade career in the ag tech and seed industry, he has led organizations in both Fortune 500 and entrepreneurial settings. Most recently, he was the CEO of Calyxt Inc., a food ingredient company based on a gene editing technology invented at the University of Minnesota.
During his tenure at Calyxt, he transformed the company from a research-based entity to a commercially focused growth corporation that delivers food ingredients such as High Oleic Soybean Oil, directly to food companies, taking the company public via an initial public offering and successfully raising over $120 Million.
Job Titles:
- Business and Industry Development Director
Job Titles:
- Business Development Director - Food
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- Sales Representative at Hormel Foods
Jeff Grev began his career as a sales representative at Hormel Foods in 1984 and has progressed through a variety of sales, marketing, new product development, and business development roles.
Jeff has 30 years of experience generating success in consumer packaged goods sales, marketing, new product development, licensing, joint ventures and acquisitions. Business development successes have included the acquisitions of Fresherized Foods/WHOLLY GUACAMOLE and the SKIPPY Peanut Butter brand. Since 2014, Jeff has led the team that represents the interests of Hormel Foods in the government, legislative and regulatory arenas.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Business Development and Commercialization
Job Titles:
- Member of the AIC Board of Directors
- Member of the Minnesota Farmers Union
Jerry Hasnedl represents a statewide farm organization on the AURI Board of Directors. Hasnedl, a member of the Minnesota Farmers Union, resides on his 3,200 acre family farm in St. Hilaire, Minnesota. Hasnedl received his degree in agricultural economics from Northland Community College before serving in the U.S. Air Force.
He was on the CHS (formerly Harvest States) Board of Directors from 1995-2014, serving as secretary treasurer and chairman of the board for part of that time. Hasnedl has also been involved on his church board, with the St. Hilaire Lions Club, township supervisor, Minnesota Barley Growers Board, St. Hilaire Co-op Elevator Board and the Minnesota Association Cooperatives Board.
Job Titles:
- Senior Scientist, Biobased & Renewable Energy
Job Titles:
- Member of the AIC Board of Directors
Joe Serbus has been farming for more than 40 years in Renville County, where he grows corn, soybeans and sweetcorn on his third-generation operation.
As a lifetime farmer, Joe has served his community with distinction by volunteering on several boards for numerous organizations. In 2016, Joe was elected to serve as the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council's District 5 & 6 director. He currently leads as chair of Council, which directs the state's soybean checkoff program and invests checkoff resources into developing value-added products, among many other projects. He also represents the Council on the Soy Transportation Coalition.
He served on the Franklin School Board for five years - three of which served as the chair - and 23 years on the Cedar Mountain School Board, with three years as chair. For six years, Joe served on the Norfolk Township board. He remains active as representative of the local Tri-Parish Pastor Committee and the FFA Board of Trustees.
Joe previously worked as an FSA Field Reporter for Renville County. He is the owner-operator of Mid-Minnesota Agriculture. At Mid-Minnesota Agriculture, Joe helps supply all seed and retail chemicals for agriculture production as well as establish CRP, CREP and Pollinator plantings. He's also been a Minnesota Certified Crop Adjuster for the past 15 years.
Joe and his wife, Doreen, live in rural Bird Island and have been married for more than 35 years. Their three children, Trevor, Kelsey and Joseph, are all giving back to rural Minnesota through their full-time jobs as well as helping out on the family farm.
Joe Serbus has been farming for more than 40 years in Renville County, where he grows corn, soybeans and sweetcorn on his third-generation operation. As a lifetime farmer, Joe has served his community with distinction by volunteering on several boards for numerous organizations. In 2016, Joe was elected to serve as the Minnesota Soybean Research… Continue Reading Joe Serbus
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Research Committee of the Minnesota Beef Council
John Schafer represents the Minnesota Beef Council on the AURI Board of Directors. Schafer currently serves as the chair of the research committee of the Minnesota Beef Council, and serves on the budget committee. Schafer raises Hereford cattle, corn, soybean, alfalfa and grass in Buffalo Lake, Minnesota. Schafer graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor's degree in Animal Science.
Along with farming, Schafer has been active in a number of organizations, including the Buffalo Lake Development Corporation and Minnesota Hereford Breeders. In 2006, the USDA Secretary of Agriculture appointed Schafer to represent Minnesota on the Cattlemen's Beef Research & Promotion Board. Schafer represented the Cattlemen's Beef Research & Promotion Board on the Beef Promotion Operating committee for five years and was Vice-Chairman of the National Beef Checkoff's Product Enhancement committee for two years.
John Schafer represents the Minnesota Beef Council on the AURI Board of Directors. Schafer currently serves as the chair of the research committee of the Minnesota Beef Council, and serves on the budget committee. Schafer raises Hereford cattle, corn, soybean, alfalfa and grass in Buffalo Lake, Minnesota. Schafer graduated from the University of Minnesota with… Continue Reading John Schafer
Jon Veldhouse is the CEO of Qore LLC, a joint venture of Cargill and HELM-AG. Qore supports material producers and brand owners in making more sustainable products using QIRA® a renewable, drop-in chemical intermediate. Jon has a unique mix of technical and commercial expertise that have been developed across several roles in start-up environments, Cargill,… Continue Reading Jon Veldhouse
Job Titles:
- Representative of the Minnesota Wheat Industry
Kenneth Asp farms 2,400 acres in Pennington County, growing primarily wheat and soybeans. Ken joined the AURI Board as a representative of the Minnesota Wheat Industry. He is a U.S. Navy Veteran and a graduate of the University of Minnesota Crookston with degrees in Agronomy and Aviation.
Ken served nine years on the Pennington County Farm Service Agency Board, three years as Chair and two years as Chair during his 12-year term on the Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council and on the U.S. Wheat Associates Board in Washington D.C. Ken is a current member of the CHS Northland Grain Board of Directors in Northwest Minnesota, a longtime member of the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers and the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association.
Job Titles:
- Project & Resource Manager
Job Titles:
- Business Development Director of Meat
Job Titles:
- Vice President and Assistant General Manager of the Plant Based Food and Beverage Business at SunOpta
Lauren McNamara is the Vice President and Assistant General Manager of the Plant Based Food and Beverage Business at SunOpta. She leads a business that includes manufacturing finished goods for brands & retailers, bringing to market innovative plant-based ingredients, and managing 3 consumer brands. In 2022, Lauren was named one of Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal's 40 under 40 which recognizes young business and community leaders on the rise.
After completing her MBA at the University of Virginia's Darden School of business, Lauren joined General Mills as a brand marketer. At General Mills she worked across various businesses- from yogurt to tacos to cereal- launching innovation, collaborating with retailers, and managing a P&L. Lauren gained experience in the private label segment of the industry at Flagstone Foods managing a large snack nuts & trail mix business.
For the last 5+ years, Lauren built sustainable food and beverage pioneer SunOpta's plant-based business into a stalwart stream of growth and revenue. With her efforts, SunOpta was 2020's fastest growing North American food and beverage stock. Lauren leads go-to-market efforts for the plant-based category, including SunOpta's star: oats, and a $50 million entry into the shelf-stable broth category. She's added seven $10 million-plus customers, grown the aseptic business by nearly 60% and doubled the ingredients business over since 2017, setting up SunOpta to double plant-based revenue over the next five years.
In addition to her day job, Lauren shares her passion for growing businesses as a mentor for food & beverage entrepreneurs through the MN Cup competition and Techstars Farm to Fork program.
Lauren earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tufts University and an MBA from the Darden School of Business. In her spare time, Lauren enjoys spending time with her husband & 2 kids, solving the daily New York Times crossword puzzle, and competing fiercely on her pub trivia team. A native New Yorker, she is incredibly discerning about authentic New York bagels & pizza, and will tirelessly defend the Yankees against all the haters.
Lauren McNamara is the Vice President and Assistant General Manager of the Plant Based Food and Beverage Business at SunOpta. She leads a business that includes manufacturing finished goods for brands & retailers, bringing to market innovative plant-based ingredients, and managing 3 consumer brands. In 2022, Lauren was named one of Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal's… Continue Reading Lauren McNamara
Job Titles:
- Project and Contracts Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Director of Organizational Advancement
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Strategy Management
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- Communications Coordinator
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- Project & Technical Administrative Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Director of Science and Technology
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- Administrative & Executive Assistant
Job Titles:
- Commercialization Director
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- Information Systems Manager
Job Titles:
- Representative
- Chairman of the House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee
Representative Samantha Vang is the Chair of the House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee. She represents House District 38B which includes suburbs to the North and West of Minneapolis including the cities of Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center. Representative Vang is a Housing advocate. She also serves on the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee, the Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee, and the Legacy Finance Committee.
Job Titles:
- Marketing and Research Analyst
Job Titles:
- Member of the AIC Board of Directors
- Chairman of the Senate Agriculture
Senator Aric Putnam is the Chair of the Senate Agriculture, Broadband & Rural Development Committee. He represents Senate District 14 which includes Benton, Sherburne and Stearns counties in the St. Cloud Area of Central Minnesota. Senator Putnam is a professor at St. Cloud State University. He also serves on the Aging and Long Term Care Policy Committee, the higher Education Finance and Policy Committee and the Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy Committee.
Shannon M. Schlecht, Executive Director of the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) is responsible for the overall strategic and operational oversight of the organization's staff, programs and execution of its mission. AURI provides technical services to businesses, conducts applied research initiatives and convenes networking events to create value-added economic opportunities for the food and agriculture sector. AURI operates two laboratories, and its dedicated staff assist industry participants on over 150 food and agricultural innovation projects each year to further the Institute's mission of fostering long-term economic benefit for Minnesota through value-added agricultural products.
Schlecht most recently served as Vice President of Policy for U.S. Wheat Associates in Arlington, Virginia and held numerous roles within the trade association during his 14 years with the organization. Internationally, he conducted initiatives to develop U.S. wheat exports in over 40 countries. Shannon has extensive background in agriculture, policy, market development, international trade, strategic planning and management.
He is currently a director for the Ag Innovation Campus, an advisor to the University of Minnesota Food Science and Nutrition Department, represents AURI on the MBOLD Executive Council where he co-leads the Innovation and Entrepreneurship collaborative projects, is a mentor for the Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator and is a trustee for the North Dakota State University Foundation.
He holds Bachelor's and Master of Science degrees in Agricultural Economics from North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota.
Job Titles:
- Associate Scientist, Chemistry