The U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC’s) Global Ethanol Summit (GES) will be taking place on Oct. 16-18 in Reston, VA. In the weeks ahead of the event, Council staff is hard at work preparing across many areas and departments. Follow along below as Global Update editors recap a week in the life of Council staff preparing for the high-level meeting.
For the past few months, the Council’s ethanol, communications, industry relations, global programs and global strategies teams have met weekly for GES planning meetings. Each week, the group discusses logistical matters with Council Meetings Manager Teresa Myers (left of the screen) leading the way.
Following GES, post-tours will be taking place across the U.S. GES attendees will visit a variety of states to see the ethanol production chain in action. Stella Qian, USGC senior manager of global ethanol market development, has made post-tour arrangements for teams from Japan, China and the Middle East and Africa region.
In addition to the Council’s ethanol team, the global programs and global strategies departments have assisted in planning post-tours for those who will attend GES this year. Pictured, Sierra Richey, manager of global programs (front left); Sam Clemence, global strategies coordinator (back left); Lucas Rudy, global programs coordinator (back right); and Alexander Grabois, manager of global strategies and trade (front right) discuss the remaining planning needs for post-tours and how they can best work together to meet those needs.
GES 2023 will feature senior-level officials from agriculture, environment and energy ministries from around the world to discuss environmental, human health and economic benefits of ethanol use with industry leaders, while fostering collaboration and trade. Emily Schneider, USGC industry relations coordinator, is pictured preparing a small token of appreciation for those speakers who will be in attendance.
Will Margerum, USGC communications coordinator, has worked closely with state checkoff staff over the past two months to assist with their communications efforts surrounding GES. Pictured, Margerum works on a press release highlighting a post-tour team that will be visiting Kentucky following the event.
USGC Director of Industry Relations Ellen Zimmerman has been busy this week taking many phone calls in preparation for GES. As of Thursday morning, Zimmerman had taken 56 phone calls this week.
About The U.S. Grains Council
The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union. The Council believes exports are vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s profitability. Detailed information about the Council and its programs is online at www.grains.org.