Hello All,
I hope this message finds each and every one of you doing well.
Here is a weekly glimpse of what March 2010 had in store:
March 1 – 5: The week was highlighted by John Caupert (Director) and Stephanie Regagnon (Assistant Director, Commercialization) attending, participating and presenting at the annual conference of the National Corn Growers Association, titled “Commodity Classic”. Commodity Classic draws more than 4000 corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum growers from across the United States. John and Steph presented status updates of the NCERC Corn Co-Products Project (CCPP). CCPP in its third year is sponsored by Illinois Corn Growers Association and Indiana Corn / Soybean Council.
March 8 – 12: Stephanie Regagnon (Assistant Director, Commercialization) spent the week in her home state of Missouri promoting the successes of the NCERC. Steph attended the Agriculture Outlook forum conducted by FAPRI. Utilizing the opportunity of being in Columbia, MO, Steph met with leaders of the University of Missouri Center for Sustainability. Steph concluded her trip with a visit to the office of Growth Energy located in Jefferson City, MO. John Caupert (Director) and Thommy Schmidt (Capital Projects) conducted conference calls with a potential foundation gift donor to discuss corn fractionation.
March 15 – 19: Monday March 15 John Caupert (Director) met with SIUE Administration and SIUE Foundation to discuss the possibility of a corn fractionation system being gifted to the NCERC via the SIUE Foundation. Tuesday March 16 the NCERC hosted former students of the “Greenjobs Training Initiative”; it was nice to see nearly 30% of the former students now employed in the “Green Industry”. Wednesday March 17 John Caupert (Director) represented SIUE / NCERC in Springfield, IL at the “Illinois Research and Development Day at the Statehouse”.
March 22 – 26: Stephanie Regagnon (Assistant Director, Commercialization) was guest speaker of the Renewable Resources and Energy GRITS team hosted by Illinois Farm Bureau in Bloomington, IL. The remainder of the NCERC Team focused on upcoming pilot plant industry client trials.
March 29 – 31: Monday March 29 the NCERC Team organized thoughts and ideas regarding the Fuel Ethanol Workshop coming back to St. Louis, MO in June 2010. Just like 2007, the NCERC has been asked to be a tour day host location for Fuel Ethanol Workshop. Tuesday March 30 Sabrina Trupia (Assistant Director, Biological Research) participated in an Innovation Summit conducted by Southern Illinois University System. Wednesday March 31 John Caupert (Director) and Frank Romano (Director of Operations) participated in the annual Researchers Reception conducted by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Until next time, have a good, productive and safe month.
Regards,
John Caupert
Director, National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center
Phone: 618-659-6737 Ext 226
Email: jcaupert@ethanolresearch.com
