Biobased Stakeholders’ Workshop
September 15-16, 2009

More than 100 representatives of large and small biobased manufacturing companies, agricultural groups and federal & state government agencies joined the United Soybean Board (USB) for a Biobased Stakeholders’ Workshop on September 15-16 in Washington, D.C.

The meeting provided an important educational opportunity to learn about and discuss federal biobased procurement programs and proposals, how they align with other federal procurement programs, and emerging state programs. USB Board Member Marty Ross opened the Workshop and USB’s Biobased Products Development Director Mike Erker moderated the program and presented on USB’s Sustainability Initiative. Key speakers included Confidential Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Bobbi Jeanquart, and Lawrence Elworth, Agricultural Counselor to the Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Other speakers included Maura O’Neill, Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor for Energy and Climate, USDA Office of Research, Education, and Econoimcs; Josh Silverman, Office of Enviornmental POlicy and Assistance, U.S. Department of Energy; Shannon Cunniff, Office of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations and Environment; USDA BioPreferredSM staff Jeff Goodman, Ron Buckhalt, Kate Lewis, Marie Wheat and Steve Devlin; Cynthia Vallina and Kristi Kubista-Hovis, Office of Management & Budget; Jim Pollack, OmniTech International; Jeff Holden, South Dakota Office of Procurement Management; Tony Des Chenes, Michigan Purchasing Operations; Rocky Black, Ohio Soybean Council; Richard Bender, Office of Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA); Tim Urban, Washington Council Ernst & Young; and, Tom Hance, Biobased Products Coalition.

Presentations from the Workshop are linked below. Please note all presentations are in PDF.

* USDA BioPreferredSM Team “USDA BioPreferredSM Update” (7 MB)

USDA’s BioPreferredSM team discusses the program status at the 2009 Stakeholders’ Workshop. L to R: Jeff Goodman, Kate Lewis, Marie Wheat, Steve Devlin, Ron Buckhalt.
* Kristi Kubista-Hovis and Cynthia Vallina, OMB, “Office of Management & Budget and Biobased Products”

Kristi Kubista-Hovis and Cynthia Vallina, Office of Management & Budget, address the 2009 Stakeholders’ Workshop.

* Josh Silverman, EPA, “Integrating Biobased Purchasing into Federal Sustainability Programs”

U.S. Department of Energy Deputy Director, Office of Environmental POlicy & Assistance Josh Silverman addresses the 2009 Biobased Stakeholders’ Workshop attendees.

* Shannon Cunniff, DOD, “DoD Chemical Strategies, Green Procurement Program and Biobased Products” (3.5 MB)

DOD’ Shannon Cunniff addresses the 2009 Biobased Stakeholders’ Workshop attendees.

* Rocky Black, Ohio Soybean Council, “Bioproduct Utilization and Outreach Initiative” (9 MB)

Rocky Black, Ohio Soybean Council, addresses the 2009 Stakeholders’ Workshop.

* Jeff Holden, South Dakota Office of Procurement Management, “State Government Biobased Procurement Activity”

Jeff Holden, South Dakota Office of Procurement Management, addresses the 2009 Stakeholders’ Workshop.

* Tony Des Chenes, Michigan Department of Management & Budget, “Green” Initiative

Tony Des Chenes, Director of Michigan Purchasing Operations, Commodities Division, addresses the 2009 Stakeholders’ Workshop.

* Mike Erker, United Soybean Board, “USB Sustainability Initiative Update”

Mike Erker, USB, addresses the 2009 Stakeholders’ Workshop.

* Jim Pollack, OmniTech, Intl., “New Soy Life Cycle Inventory Information”

Additional speakers included, top row: Bobbi Jeanquart, Confidential Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Administration, USDA; Larry Elworth, Agricultural Counselor to the Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Second row: Richard Bender, Office of U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA).