Mark Noetzel
– President and CEO
Mark Noetzel joins Cilion from BP plc in London. In 2003, Mr Noetzel was appointed BP's Group Vice President with responsibility for retail operations, fuels transport and wholesaling in the US, Europe and Australasia. These businesses have revenues of $65 billion from 28,000 sites in 20 countries. In taking on this role, Mr. Noetzel was asked to transform BP's market presence into that of a true retailer. Three years on, there has been a dramatic change in BP's offer to consumers and significant top line growth. He also introduced Ultimate® premium fuels in more than a dozen countries and led the company’s biofuels development efforts. Mr. Noetzel has led major parts of BP's portfolio for a decade, having been named a Group Vice President in 1996. Previously, he was Group Vice President with responsibility for BP's Fuels Operations in China, Africa and Australasia, and the aviation businesses, and prior to that in BP and Amoco's chemical businesses across a broad range of chemical manufacturing and marketing activities. Mr. Noetzel was instrumental in the growth of BP's chemical business in East Asia where he lived for almost six years. Mr.  Noetzel was born in University Heights, Ohio. He holds a BA in international relations/political science from Yale University and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Jeremy Wilhelm
– Executive Vice President and Chief
   Administrative Officer
Jeremy Wilhelm grew up on a diversified farming operation in southeast Nebraska. Upon graduating from Doane College with a degree in Finance and Management, Mr. Wilhelm began his banking career as a credit analyst at U.S. Bank N.A. in Omaha, Nebraska. Shortly, he was promoted to Relationship Manager of the Ag Lending division. As the relationship manager, he was responsible for managing large agricultural and commercial accounts and in just two years he grew the portfolio by 35%. In 2002 Mr. Wilhelm joined Farm Credit Services of America in Omaha, Nebraska as the Vice President of the Commercial Lending department. He led a start-up Middle Market team which he successfully developed from six accounts totaling $25 million in commitments to 48 customers with over $425 million commitments and positioned Farm Credit Services of America as one of the leading ethanol finance companies in the country. Mr. Wilhelm has extensive experience in debt and equity capital market transactions, as well as cash management and risk management activities.

Lawrence B. Peck
– Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Lawrence “Larry” Peck, PhD also joins Cilion from BP plc where he was previously Vice President, Global Fuels Technology for BP plc. In 29 years with BP and Amoco, Dr. Peck’s experience spanned product and process development, manufacturing, and supply and distribution in the US, Europe and Australia/New Zealand. He led the development of biofuel technology and Ultimate© premium fuels, as well as overseeing fuel product quality worldwide. Previously, he managed BP’s U.S. fuel pipeline operations as part of the largest US liquid pipeline company which resulted from the mergers of BP, Amoco, and Arco. He led operations and refinery supply of crude oil for the Amoco refining system as Manager of Operations in their crude oil trading room, and also served in an operations management role in Amoco’s refining system. Early in his career, he worked on process development for various synthetic fuels programs, as well as advanced refinery processes, and he holds 12 U.S. patents. Dr. Peck holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering with Distinction from Purdue University and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University. He and his wife Sarah have three adult children.

Dr. Vidal “Eli” Sotillo
– Senior Vice President – Operations
Dr. Vidal "Eli" Sotillo holds a PhD in Cereal Science and Food Technology from North Dakota State University, a MS in Physical Science from Oregon State University and a BS in Chemistry from Experimental Liberator University, Maracay, Venezuela. Dr. Sotillo brings 25 years of experience to Cilion as a cereal chemist in various processing facilities around the world. Eli has worked with wheat, corn milling, extrusion operations, malting and brewing, fermentation, enzymatic reactions and product development and improvement. He formerly served as the Chief Technology Officer for Global Ethanol Services. Prior to Global Ethanol’s buyout of Midwest Grain Processors Cooperative, Dr. Sotillo served as the Production Manager and Chief Operating Officer of Midwest Grain Processors Cooperative. As Production Manager, Eli was responsible for safely and efficiently operating the MGP facility in Lakota, Iowa. Prior to joining Midwest Grain Processors Cooperative, he was employed by various milling operations around the world in positions ranging from plant management to overall operations management. Dr. Sotillo holds a patent in the specialty processing of grains and has been published several times on topics relating to grain processing and food technology. 

Mike Rosa
– Senior Vice President – California Projects
After leaving the Navy and atomic energy commission as a certified nuclear component and radiation worker, Mike Rosa was hired by Dairyman's Cooperative Creamery Association as a maintenance engineer. After two years, Mr. Rosa was promoted to maintenance manager where he managed four maintenance and engineering departments for five years. After Dairyman's merged with Land O'Lakes, Mr. Rosa was promoted to Director of Engineering for the Western Region where he was in charge of all capital projects for more than twenty years. His last large project designing and building a $150 million cheese plant. The plant was completed on time and within the budget. Over the last 20 years, Mr. Rosa has completed large multi-million dollar capital projects every year.

Jeff Scheib
– Senior Vice President -
   Strategy and Portfolio Development
Jeff Scheib joins Cilion from BP North America where he was most recently General Manager of Strategic Cooperation. With 17 years of combined tenure with BP and ARCO, Mr. Scheib has both a demonstrated operational track-record growing customer-facing businesses and proven capabilities in strategy development, project evaluation, capital allocation and commercial implementation. Mr. Scheib’s global experience involves leadership roles across the US, Europe, Asia, South America, Russia and Mexico, with diverse responsibilities including conventional fuel sales and marketing; oversight of convenience store operations and franchising; financial and performance management; and new business development. His extensive background and insight within the energy sector, combined with his significant experience in strategy formulation and execution, as well as, his proven financial acumen is a strong complement to the Cilion team. Mr. Scheib holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering with Highest Distinction from Northwestern University and a M.B.A. with Honors from the Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA. He and his wife Joan have one daughter.

Greg Heuer
– Vice President – Operations
After graduating with a MS in chemistry and biochemistry from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville in 1980, Greg Heuer began his career in ethanol as Technical Services Manager for a startup ethanol production and plant manufacturing facility in Springfield, IL. In 1985, Mr. Heuer began work for High Plains Corporation, operating and managing three modern fuel ethanol production facilities in KS, NE and NM. While at High Plains, he was responsible for major capital projects that focused on expansion, improving plant efficiency and developing new product lines. In 2001, Mr. Heuer began to perform ethanol process consulting for companies producing ethanol from grain and cellulosic material as well as biodiesel from renewable sources. At Cilion, Mr. Heuer is responsible for overseeing the design, construction, and implementation of Cilion ethanol plants.

Carlos F. Suastegui
– Program General Manager for East Coast Development
Carlos Suastegui comes to Cilion from BP where he led and managed multiple large capital projects, led pipeline operations on the west coast including a joint venture company, developed and implemented global procurement programs and most recently was Sales Manager for the Americas region within the Aromatics Division. Since joining Cilion, Mr. Suastegui has been working with Lancaster Biofuels to champion the Lancaster, Pennsylvania development. His deep knowledge in program management, facility construction and operations management is well aligned with his responsibilities. He is a seasoned veteran with a deep track record of exceptional delivery in multiple areas including outstanding safety and environmental performance. His demonstrated capabilities have allowed him to go into new situations and create the teams and environments leading to successful delivery and exceptional ongoing operations. Mr. Suastegui holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois. He and his wife Michelle have 2 children.

Karri Hammerstrom
– Manager of Environmental Permitting, Legislative
   Development & Governmental Affairs
Karri Hammerstrom brings over 16 years of experience with city, county and regional governmental agencies, as well as an extensive agriculture background focusing on land/air/water quality issues. Since joining Cilion, she has been focusing on issue management of ethanol and renewable fuels, public outreach, environmental permitting, and government and media affairs. She formerly was the Interim Executive Director, Issues Coordinator and Special Projects Coordinator for the Fresno County Farm Bureau and the director of member services for a start-up company, eWorldAg. She also served in leadership positions at the City of Fresno’s Redevelopment Agency and the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District. Ms. Hammerstrom is actively engaged in agricultural and community advocacy as a member of the local county planning commission and the Fresno State Alumni Association Board of Directors. She also is the Second Vice President for California Women for Agriculture. Ms. Hammerstrom has a M.P.A. from California State University, Fresno with honors, and a B.S. in City and Regional Planning with a Minor in Agribusiness from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She and her husband Bill have two children and farm stone fruit and alfalfa.