North Prairie Productions, LLC (NPP) was incorporated in 2005 to explore and develop alternative fuel production as a way to meet a growing market demand for safe, reliable, renewable, and secure energy sources.

Our focus is upon biodiesel fuel for its ability to supplant present petroleum products with little or no change in distribution or user technologies. We also recognize biodiesel as a superior source of fuel energy for its contribution to our domestic agricultural economy, as well as for its environmentally friendly properties.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

We have assembled a team of Directors and Corporate Officers with a variety of backgrounds and proven qualifications relevant to the development of a biodiesel venture.

J. Mike Robinson, President
Madison, Wisconsin

Mike Robinson is a co-founder of North Prairie Productions, LLC. Mr. Robinson earned his bachelors degree in geology from the University of Montana in order to become the 3rd generation in his family to pursue a career in the petroleum industry. He worked a short period in South American mineral exploration, and then earned a masters Degree in geology from Utah State University. He was then employed as a hydrogeologist for Charter Oak Environmental Services in Salt Lake City, Utah where he worked on the investigation and remediation of contaminated ground water and soils and provided technical support for defense litigation. Mr. Robinson has participated in numerous scientific research projects in the high Artic, including Alaska, Baffin Island, Canada, Scandinavia, and Russia, as well as a remediation project in Antarctica. Prior to founding North Prairie Productions, LLC,, he owned and operated a farrier service near La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Jeff Pieterick, Director
Waterloo, Wisconsin

Jeff Pieterick is a co-founder of North Prairie Productions, LLC,. Mr. Pieterick has had an extensive career in the transportation industry, the last ten years as a senior manager for a regional trucking firm servicing contracts with the US Postal Service and other freight customers. His background includes oversight of Human Resources and Safety Departments, and he has served as a primary operations supervisor.In addition, Pieterick has previously served as a contributing editor (TRUCKS Magazine, New York) where he created and managed numerous marketing campaigns for various transportation-related firms, including Stanadyne (fuel additives; injection systems) and Dart Transit of St. Paul, MN. Mr. Pieterick has also served local county government as a County Supervisor, where his chief accomplishments were the creation of the County’s Economic Development Agency; sponsorship and oversight of a comprehensive overhaul of the Farmland Preservation Land Use Plan; and the direct oversight of a comprehensive master site plan for the County fair park, including management of the planning stages for the initial $5 million construction project that grew from the plan.

Michael Furbish, Director
Baltimore, Maryland

Michael Furbish is a co-founder of North Prairie Productions, LLC. Mr. Furbish is also founder and president of Furbish Company, LLC, a real estate development firm and specialty “green building” systems subcontractor located in Baltimore, Maryland. Mr. Furbish was previously a management consultant with clients in the apparel, automotive, telecommunications, and moving industries. He was also a partner with Trammell Crow Company developing office and industrial properties in the metropolitan Baltimore area. He has pursued entrepreneurial ventures for the past 14 years and taught entrepreneurship to inner city troubled youth in Baltimore. Furbish Company is focused entirely on sustainable development with particular interest in energy efficient buildings and transportation methods. Mr. Furbish earned his bachelors degree from Georgia Tech in Industrial Engineering and his MBA from Harvard. He lives in a strawbale house in Pasadena, MD.

Larry Swalheim, Director

On May 18, 2007, the Board elected Larry Swalheim to fill the vacant Board position following Mr. Robinson’s resignation. Mr. Swalheim currently serves as CEO for Landmark Services Cooperative where his responsibilities include managing the overall operations and new business development. Previously, Swalheim served as the grain marketing manager of the Cottage Grove Cooperative prior to becoming the general manager in 1991. Mr. Swalheim is a native of Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa in 1972. He completed the general manager prep school through Cenex, a division of CHS, Inc., in 1977. Mr. Swalheim is President of the National Coop 401K Plan and also is chair of The University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives Advisory Committee. He is on the board of Stoughton Country Club in Stoughton, Wisconsin. He serves as a director for the Wisconsin Community Bank and serves on the Architectural Review Committee for the Village of Cottage Grove, Wisconsin. Larry is a member of the Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce. He also serves on the Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program Fund Raising Committee, and as a trustee on the endowment fund for his church.


John Sheehy, Chairman of Board of Directors
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

John Sheehy is a co-founder of North Prairie Productions, LLC. Mr. Sheehy is Chief Operations Officer of Sheehy Mail Contractors, Inc., of Waterloo, WI. In this position, Mr. Sheehy has overseen the growth of this enterprise from approximately seven trucks and 10 drivers in 1981 to its present level of success with 115 drivers. Mr. Sheehy has responsibility for all aspects of operations, including the negotiation of contracts; specifying and purchase of equipment; budget & finance; and the hiring and training of dispatch and other key personnel. Mr. Sheehy leads his team by example, retaining the ability to step in as needed to assist his staff with their various duties while often outperforming them in the process. In 1992, Mr. Sheehy became among the first in the industry to introduce the use of onboard computers (TripMaster) to his fleet. He subsequently designed customized computer programs to utilize the data thus gathered which was then incorporated into nearly all business management systems employed by the firm. He has since founded North American Dispatch Systems (NADS) as a software development firm that has designed a comprehensive systems management program called LoadTrek that is revolutionary in the scope of services it provides to the transportation industry.

Richard “Rick” Austin , Director
Brodhead, Wisconsin

Owner operator of Austin Farms, a 3500 acre corn and soybean grain operation in Southern Wisconsin. Rick’s operation has grown from 350 acres in 1969 when he began farming with his father who retired in 1972. In 1998, Austin Farms sold 80 acres to what is now Spring Grove Dairy. Austin Farms raises all grain and silage for this 2000 cow dairy along with managing manure applications on neighboring farmland. Rick is a member of the Wisconsin Corn and Soybean Associations and a Farm Bureau member. Rick serves as chairman of the Spring Grove Township Planning Commission. He was active in the merger of Union Co-Op and Cottage Grove Co-Op serving on the board of directors for Union Co-Op and was elected to the Landmark Board of Directors after the merger. Recently Rick was named Landmark’s Representative to the North Prairie Productions Board of Directors. Rick is also very involved in the sport of truck and tractor pulling, having served on the full board of directors of the National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA) and is presently serving as state president of the Wisconsin Tractor Pullers Association (WTPA). Rick has been married to his wife Connie for 36 years. They have three children and one granddaughter.

Edward “Ed” Larson , Director
Evansville, Wisconsin

Ed Larson is an Owner and General Manager of Larson Acres Inc., a third generation 1400 cow dairy family farm in Evansville that produces over 12,000 gallons of milk per day. He is a recognized leader in the dairy industry, as a founding member of the Dairy Business Association and member of the Livestock Siting Rohde Committee that was instrumental in the new state siting law which will ensure the growth of the livestock industry in the State of Wisconsin. Larson previously served on the Union Mutual Insurance Company board. Mr. Larson continually implements new technologies while managing the 3500 acres owned and operated by Larson and 11 other
family members.

Mark Malenke , Director
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

Mark Malenke is a co-founder of North Prairie Productions, LLC. Employed with a major food processing company since 1996, Mr. Malenke’s current role as a Staff Process Engineer focuses on innovating and refining food processing systems to enhance bottom line business results. Mr. Malenke has over 20 years combined experience in the industrial manufacturing and food processing businesses. He is a recognized leader in scrutinizing business expenses, leading and participating in the development and design of new business systems, manufacturing equipment, and process control systems, with a proven track record in reducing business operating expenses and providing comprehensive economic analyses of multimillion-dollar capital expenditures. Mr. Malenke’s educational background is a bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering.

Keith Ripp , Director
Dane, Wisconsin

Keith Ripp owns and operates Ripp Farms, LLC near Lodi, WI. Mr. Ripp cash crops 1,000 acres and custom feeds upwards of 350 dairy heifers for a local dairy operation. Mr. Ripp also owns and operates R Enterprises LLC, an agricultural commodity trucking business. Keith Ripp is the President of the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board where, among other things, he has led the effort to establish the commercial processing of soybeans as a viable business opportunity within the state. He also serves as President of Badger AgVest, an Angel Investment organization focused primarily on companies that add value to Wisconsin’s agriculture sector. Mr. Ripp is a past president of the WI Corn Grower’s Association. He also served on a national corn action team during his term. Keith is a graduate of UW-Madison Agriculture and Life Sciences Shortcourse.

Lynn Wingers , Director
Randolph, Wisconsin

Lynn Wingers is part owner of Wingers Farms of Randolph Wi. After graduating from UW-Madison Ag Short Course in 1984, Mr. Wingers began dairy farming with his parents. In the next few years he purchased additional land to expand the cashcrop enterprise of the farming business. In addition, he also operates a small fleet of trucks that are employed in gravel hauling and construction work. Lynn has served on the comprehensive plan steering commitee of Courtland Township and is also a director on the board for the Courtland-Springvale Town Ins. Co.