Jeff Broin

Jeff Broin (born August 25, 1965) is the founder of POET, LLC, a leading producer of biofuels and coproducts. He currently serves as chairman and CEO.[1]

Jeff Broin
Born (1965-08-25) August 25, 1965
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin
EmployerPOET
TitleChairman and CEO, POET Board member, Growth Energy

Life and career

Broin's family ran a farm in Minnesota. In the early 1980s, Broin's father began producing ethanol on the farm. In 1987, he mortgaged the farm to purchase an ethanol plant in Scotland, South Dakota, and put Jeff in charge of managing it. Jeff became the CEO of Broin Companies, and in 2007 renamed it to POET. It is now the world's largest biofuel producer, with 34 plants.[2]

Broin advocates for the biofuels industry and also serves on the board of Growth Energy,[3] the leading biofuel trade association in the country.

Awards and recognition
  • 2017 recipient of the George Washington Carver Award for Innovation in Industrial Biotechnology. This award honors and recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to building a biobased economy by applying industrial biotechnology to create environmentally sustainable products.[4]
  • 2017 inductee into the South Dakota Hall of Fame.[5]
  • 2017 recipient of Honorary Doctorate of Public Service from South Dakota State University.[6]
  • Keynote speaker at the 2018 Biotech Innovation Showcase.[7]
  • Keynote speaker at the 2018 University of South Dakota Distinguished Speaker Series.[8]
  • Global Bioeconomy Leadership Award [9]
  • Fortune "Change the World" List [10]
  • Fast Company's 2019 "World's Most Innovative Companies" [11]
  • 2020 American Biofuels Visionary Award [12]

Health and Wellness Initiatives

POET places an emphasis on fitness and nutrition programs for its employees, offering exercise rooms, on-site health screenings, yearly blood and biometric screenings, and one-on-one health consultations.[13]

Philanthropy

Broin formed the POET Foundation, a non-profit that focuses on children and agriculture.[14] Supported U.S. projects include Make-A-Wish, LifeLight, Children's Home Society, Global Health Ministries, 4-H, and FFA.[15]

In 2011, he and his family founded the non-profit Seeds of Change.[16] Current projects include Mission Greenfield, which spreads agriculture technology by working with 80,000 farmers in Kenya; Mission Greenhouse, a multi-year project to develop a school for disadvantaged girls in Kenya;[17] Mission Breathe, a project focused in Kenya and Haiti to transition from solid cooking fuels (wood and charcoal) to liquid renewable biofuels;[18] and projects such as potable water development, health, and nutrition education in Africa.[19]

In 2019, Broin announced a $2 million gift for construction of the precision agriculture facility at South Dakota State University, citing SDSU's increasing commitment to precision agriculture as an important step toward combatting climate change.[20]

Personal life

Jeff Broin grew up near Kenyon, MN. He holds a degree in Agricultural Business from University of Wisconsin and is husband of over 27 years to his wife, Tammie, and father to three children - Alyssa, Miranda, and Austin.[21]

Broin was behind his companies donation of $1,080,950 to Smart Growth Sioux Falls, in attempt to keep a pork processing facility from building with in the city limits of Sioux Falls SD. Many of those hogs are fed with DDGs produced at POET facilities.

References
  1. "Jeff Broin resumes role as POET CEO - POET". poet.com. Retrieved 2016-11-16.
  2. Kavilanz, Parija (9 July 2019). "His family farm was failing. Now he runs the world's largest biofuel producer". CNN.
  3. "Jeff Broin - Growth Energy - Meet the Team". Growth Energy. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  4. "BIO Congratulates POET Founder Jeff Broin on 2017 George Washington Carver Award". BIOtechNow. 2017-05-25. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  5. "Jeff Broin - SDHoF". sdexcellence.org. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  6. "POET CEO Jeff Broin Receives Honorary Doctorate from South Dakota State University". Vital by POET. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  7. "Partnering For Growth: Biotech Innovation Showcase & Forum | ISU Research Park". www.isupark.org. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  8. "Strategic partnership helps POET, USD meet needs". SiouxFalls.Business. 2018-04-11. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  9. "Global Bioeconomy Leadership Award presented to Jeff Broins, CEO of POET – BIOWIRE". Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  10. "Change the World". Fortune. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  11. "Poet: Most Innovative Company". Fast Company. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  12. photoCaption, Provided. "POET's Jeff Broin named the American Biofuels Visionary by Growth Energy". www.agrinews-pubs.com. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  13. "First Look: The Importance of Wellness". Vital by POET. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  14. "About POET - POET". poet.com. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  15. "Jeff Broin - SDHoF". sdexcellence.org. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  16. "Seeds of Change". Vital by POET. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  17. "Mission Hope | Seeds of Change". seedsofchange.org. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  18. "Mission Breathe | Seeds of Change". seedsofchange.org. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  19. "Seeds of Change". seedsofchange.org. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  20. "POET commits $2 million toward construction of the Raven Precision Agriculture Center".
  21. "Keynote Speaker Biography". ssl1.gmti.com. Retrieved 2016-11-16.

[1] McElroy, Anduin Kirkbride (May 22, 2007) A Poetic Journey Ethanol Producer Magazine [2] Growth Energy Leadership and Board of Directors Retrieved Oct. 7, 2011 [3] Dolan, Kerry A. (Nov. 24, 2008) Mr. Ethanol Fights Back Forbes [4] ACORE Phase II of Renewable Energy in America National Policy Forum Speakers Retrieved Oct. 10, 2011 [5] Winchester, Cody (Sept. 26,2011) Poet hails $105 million loan guarantee Argus Leader [6] POET (Sept. 23, 2011) DOE grants final approval on POET cellulosic ethanol loan guarantee Retrieved Oct. 10, 2011

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