Your Foundation Caretakers
The GEAPS Foundation Governing Board comprises grain and oilseed supply chain operations industry leaders. Governing board members recognize, understand and are inspired by the opportunity to significantly advance the development shared knowledge resources for grain handling and processing facility operations efficiency, safety, environmental responsibility and supply-chain sustainability.
The Foundation Board:
Directs and oversees the development and implementation of marketing and fundraising.
Establishes criteria for making professional development and continuing education program grants and define the scope of and parameters for such awards to include standards and levels of achievement, and accountability by grant applicants and award recipients.
Establishes mechanisms for communicating and reporting back to GEAPS, foundation donors and industry beneficiaries on a systematic basis.
Darren Zink
Board Chair
Fill-Rite Company
Mr. Zink is Global Product Manager for Fill-Rite Company, Fort Wayne, Indiana. He is a twenty-year veteran of the grain handling and storage industry with experience both nationally and internationally. Zink is a member of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers and holds a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Science from Purdue University, West Lafayette.
David Krejci
Board President
Mr. Krejci has nearly 50 years of experience in grain and oilseed supply-chain operations applied research, continuing education, and strategic thinking, including more than 37 years of not-for-profit organization executive management experience.
Robert Taylor
Board Secretary
Cargill Inc
Mr. Taylor is the training and technology leader for Cargill, Inc, Wayzata, Minnesota, where he has worked since 1990. He began his operations career as a production supervisor and has held additional leadership roles as a team leader, maintenance superintendent, facility superintendent, facility plant manager and group operations leader. He holds an B.S. degree in Industrial Technology from Prairie View A&M University.
Tim Sullivan
Board Treasurer
Landus Cooperative (retired)
Mr. Sullivan is recently retired, concluding a 41-year career in the grain industry, where he held positions in the areas of engineering, construction management, grain operations, quality management, and safety. Tim is a graduate of Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. In his retirement, he continues his interest and commitment to the grain industry through teaching and advisory activities.
Erica Venancio
Executive Director
Petersen Consulting Services, LLC
Ms. Venancio is Vice President at Petersen Consulting Services, LLC where her responsibilities include assisting in all facets of business operations with a particular focus on administrative and operational issues. She has over 15 years of experience in managing agricultural trade associations.
Mark Avery
Director
Grain Journal
Mr. Avery is the publisher of Grain Journal magazine in Decatur, IL. He joined the company in 1978 as editor and became publisher in 1988.
Barb Grove, CGOM
Director
Central Valley Ag Cooperative
Ms. Grove, CGOM is quality systems manager at Central Valley Ag Cooperative, Beloit, Kansas.
Jeff Jones
Director
MKC
Mr. Jones is director of southern operations for MKC, Moundridge, Kansas.
Carol Jones
Director
Oklahoma State University & CL Jones Consulting LLC
Dr. Jones owns CL Jones Consulting LLC which provides grain handling and storage engineering, training and forensic services. She is also a professor emeritus from Oklahoma State University in Biosystems and Ag Engineering. She continues to provide training and engineering information in grain handling, quality preservation and safety. She resides in Stillwater, OK.
Vince Marze
Director
WL Port-Land Systems Inc
Mr. Marze is Chief Administrative Officer at WL Port-Land Systems, Inc., a Design/Build General Contractor, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He has been involved in the procurement of equipment and materials, subcontracting, project estimating, and contract negotiations for the construction of turnkey glass manufacturing plants, bulk material handling and storage systems, new feed mills, and feed mill renovations for both the domestic and international markets since 1990. He currently serves within a five-person executive management team responsible for P&L tied to quality, schedule, functionality, and costs.
Brandi Miller
Director
Kansas Cooperative Council
Brandi Miller is the president & CEO for the Kansas Cooperative Council (KCC) where she develops educational programs, advocates for, and supports the cooperative industry. Prior to her work with the KCC, Brandi served as the Associate Director of the IGP Institute at Kansas State University.
Steve Myers
Director
Bunge Milling
Mr. Myers is the elevator superintendent at Bunge Milling, Atchison, Kansas.
Marcus Neal
Director
MN AgSolutions LLC
Mr. Neal is the owner of MN AgSolutions in Louisburg, Kansas. He has been a member of GEAPS for 25 years and has served in leadership positions over the last 10 years.
Jeff Roumph
Director
WD Patterson Co.
Mr. Roumph is the owner of W.D. Patterson Co. in Kansas City, Missouri. He started with W.D. Patterson in 1998, and subsequently purchased the company in 2010. His career in the grain Industry began in 1990 with ConAgra as a merchandiser, and later as project manager.