Speakers

Nate Bingaman

Nathan “Nate” Bingaman is the Director of Operations and Co-Owner for D1 Resources, Inc. Nate is a 2003 graduate of Kansas State University with a degree in Feed Science & Management.  Nate has been involved in the industry since high school with plant and project management across the United States as well as multiple projects internationally. He has worked on projects for animal feed, pet food and premix, and human food processes.

Pete Calderón

Pete Calderón graduated from Kansas State University and worked for Cargill’s Animal Nutrition Division for eight (8) years in sales and management positions in the U.S. and abroad.  Pete has been with Scott Equipment Company since 1998, in sales and management positions, and today serves as the General Manager and Vice President of Sales. 

Constance Cullman

Constance Cullman is the American Feed Industry Association’s president and CEO. She also serves as the president of AFIA’s public charity the Institute for Feed Education and Research and represents AFIA on international issues, including serving on the International Feed Industry Federation’s board of directors and executive committee, as well as the Global Feed LCA Institute’s board of directors. Cullman previously served as the president and CEO of Farm Foundation. Prior to that role, she served as the U.S. government affairs leader for Dow AgroSciences; senior director of regulatory, technical and international affairs at the Corn Refiners Association; associate administrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service; vice president of agricultural ecology at the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation; and extension associate at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. 

Cullman has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics and a master’s degree in agricultural economics with an emphasis on international trade and agricultural policy from The Ohio State University. She hails from Marysville, Ohio, where her family owned and operated a cow/calf farm.

Gary Huddleston 

Gary Huddleston is the American Feed Industry Association’s director of feed manufacturing and regulatory affairs. He joined the association in May 2015 and has more than 30 years of experience in feed manufacturing. Huddleston manages AFIA’s efforts surrounding regulatory issues involving the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation. He assists in the development and coordination of AFIA’s education and training programs related to feed manufacturing. Huddleston is the staff contact for AFIA’s Equipment Manufacturers and Production Compliance Committees. Prior to joining AFIA, Huddleston was employed by Southern States Cooperative, Inc., since 1984, where he performed numerous feed manufacturing roles. Huddleston holds a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness and economics from Tennessee Technological University.

Dirk Maier

Dr. Maier is a Professor and Director in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, the Department of Animal Science, and the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Iowa State University where he is responsible for leading an internationally recognized research and outreach program in post-harvest engineering and feed technology applied to grain and feed operations and processing. He established the ISU Feed Technology Program and serves as the director of the ISU Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex, a $32 million state-of-the-art grain handling, drying, storage and feed processing facility. Its mission furthers ISU’s teaching, research, service, extension, and industry and international outreach in support of the global grain and feed industry.  

Paul Phillips 

Matt Podany 

As the Director of Marketing and Business Development for EBM Manufacturing Inc., Matt is responsible for all marketing and sales activities including strategic sales planning and developing new markets.? Matt also develops and executes a comprehensive marketing strategy and plan which includes product and service marketing as well as marketing geared towards employee recruiting.? Matt has been in the feed & grain equipment manufacturing industry for 15 years and has held roles of General Manager of EBM Manufacturing inc, International Sales Manager Asia/Pacific and North America Sales manager for Chief Industries before returning to EBM.  

Artur Rdzanek

Mike Schuster

Mike has been with Laidig Systems since 1979. Initially hired out of high school as summer help, he continued to work at Laidig as he earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University at South Bend in Business Administration and Management. After working for 8 years in manufacturing, engineering and accounting, he became the Midwest Sales Manager in 1988 and then Vice President of Sales in 2008. His Laidig background coupled with years of industry experience helps provide our customers with practical solutions to their material handling applications. He is proud to be a part of the family atmosphere at Laidig where the concepts of quality, integrity, and work ethic are valued. Mike and his wife Kathy have three boys, Dan, Randy and Joe.  Randy and Joe are also proud members of the Laidig sales team.  He has two grandchildren, Hannah and Henry.

Ryan Walker

Dr. Ryan Walker is a prominent figure at Mississippi State University's College of Professional and Continuing Studies, where his work stands at the intersection of technology and education. Specializing in the innovative use of Virtual Reality (VR) technology within educational settings, Dr. Walker's expertise spans the development and implementation of VR curricula, significantly enhancing the learning experience across various disciplines.

 Dr. Walker's research endeavors have focused on critical areas such as micro-credentials, internships, and assistantships, playing a vital role in bridging the gap between education and workforce development.

In response to the challenges posed by COVID-19, Dr. Walker leveraged VR technology to pioneer immersive and synchronous instructional methods, effectively simulating the dynamics of traditional classroom environments in a digital format. This initiative not only showcased the potential of VR in revolutionizing distance learning but also underscored Dr. Walker's ability to translate theoretical knowledge into practical, impactful educational tools.

Johnny Wheat

England native, Johnny Wheat is the President of 4B Components USA, part of the worldwide 4B group. 4B is a leading manufacturer and supplier of bulk granular material handling components. Johnny is a 30+ year veteran in the Electronic and Electrical Engineering field, serving at 4B and previously, Don Controls, a leading control systems manufacturer in England. Prior to his career, Johnny earned an Engineering degree from Sheffield “Hallam” University. You may know him from various presentations to the industry, notably his published report on Bucket Elevator Monitoring Systems. Plant safety and hazard monitoring has always been a passion of Johnny’s. He holds several Registered Patents for industrial products in the US and Worldwide. Johnny has served our industry well, serving in leadership positions and on Boards since 2006. These positions include AFIA, CEMA and EMC. Johnny is a member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, the Grain Elevator and Processing Society, the American Feed Industry Association, the Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association and the National Fire Protection Association.