Who Should Attend:
Fleet managers, business owners, public agencies, utilities, policymakers, and transportation partners.
Participants will leave with a better understanding of:
- Multiple clean transportation options. Learn how different fuels perform across light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles.
- Where Nebraska fits into each fuels' value chain, from agriculture and production to local availability, infrastructure, and supportive policy.
- How to evaluate adoption, costs, and incentives. Gain practical insights into vehicle compatibility, fueling infrastructure, return on investment, and available federal and state incentives.
- Who the leaders and innovators are. Build valuable relationships with experts, investors, and organizations already using clean transportation to shape the future.
The Schedule
Ethanol
Biodiesel & Renewable Diesel
Networking Lunch
CNG/RNG & Propane
Event Overview
Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center
2021 Transformation Dr, Lincoln, NE 68508
Cost: Free and open to all — registration required
Agenda
| 9:00 – 9:10 AM | Welcome & Opening Remarks Nathan Huynh, NEC4 |
| 9:10 – 10:10 AM | Panel Discussion – Ethanol: Nebraska’s Homegrown Fuel for Fleet Savings Moderated by Ben Rhodes, Nebraska Ethanol Board Todd Good, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) Rajib Saha, UNL Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering John Kropatsch, Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) Traci Menke, Renewable Fuels Nebraska (RFN) Payton Schaneman, Nebraska Corn Board |
| 10:10 – 10:20 AM | Break |
| 10:20 – 11:20 AM | Panel Discussion – Cleaner, Ready-to-Use Diesel Options Moderated by Rob Owen, Bio Nebraska Chad Spohn, Norfolk Crush Justin Starr, Whitehead Oil Co. Patrick Wenzl, City of Lincoln Eric Lawson, MEG Corp Jeff Carpenter, USDA |
| 11:20 – 11:45 AM | Keynote Speaker – Marcy Rood, Argonne National Laboratory |
| 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM | Networking Lunch |
| 12:30 – 1:30 PM | Panel Discussion – Fleet-Ready Gaseous Fuels: Natural Gas (CNG/RNG) & Propane Moderated by Cinch Munson, World Liquid Gas Association Paul Searle, Frontier Cooperative Cory Erspamer, Omaha Metropolitan Utilities District (MUD) Ed Dumire, Roush Carla Cosier, Lincoln Transportation and Utilities (LTU) Lynne McNally, National Propane Gas Association (NeGPA) |
| 1:30 – 2:00 PM | Closing – Choosing the Right Fuel for the Right Job John Gonzales, National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) |
| 2:00 PM | Final Remarks |
Agenda is subject to change.
Presenters
Jeff Carpenter
USDA Rural Development
Jeff Carpenter has led the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) since May 2021 and has been part of the program team since its creation in 2020. With a B.S. in Business Administration and Psychology and an MBA, Carpenter has worked for USDA Rural Development since 2008, focusing since 2015 on federal energy programs supporting biofuels and advanced energy infrastructure.
Carla Cosier
Lincoln Transportation and Utilities (LTU)
Carla Cosier has served the City of Lincoln since 2019 within Lincoln Transportation and Utilities’ transit division. She began as Bus Operations Superintendent, where she led operational improvements, strengthened service delivery, and supported initiatives to grow ridership and enhance performance.
Promoted to Assistant Director of Transit in 2023, Carla provides strategic leadership for StarTran’s operations and maintenance functions, with a strong focus on operational excellence, fleet reliability, and long-term system sustainability. She is deeply committed to strengthening the culture of StarTran by fostering accountability, collaboration, and employee engagement, while ensuring the delivery of safe, reliable, and customer-focused public transportation for the Lincoln community.
Ed Dumire
Roush Enterprises
Ed Dumire drives business development for ROUSH in the Western U.S., focusing on lower-emission transportation technologies with an emphasis on propane-powered school buses. He supports districts nationwide in evaluating performance, technology, cost effectiveness, and emissions reductions. Dumire has played a key role in largescale deployments across Texas, California, and other states.
Cory Erspamer
Omaha Metropolitan Utilities District (MUD)
Cory Erspamer has served the Metropolitan Utilities District since 1999 in roles including systems controller, water plant engineer, and operator. Now a Business Development Specialist, he applies extensive operational knowledge to support utility development initiatives. Erspamer holds a degree in Criminal Justice and Corrections from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
John Gonzales
National Laboratory of the Rockies/NLR (formerly National Renewable Energy Laboratory/NREL)
John Gonzales is a senior engineer for technical assistance and deployment of alternative fuel vehicles for the Clean Cities and Communities Coalition Network; a position housed at the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). He works with the Natural Gas Vehicle Technology Forum and researches gaseous fuel storage equipment. In addition to his natural gas expertise, John spends considerable time providing technical assistance on a variety of propane and electric vehicle projects.
Before coming to NLRL, John worked for the Natural Fuels Corporation promoting natural gas as an alternative fuel for automobiles, trucks, and buses. As the fleet manager for Adams 12 Five Star School District in suburban Denver, Colorado—a district of 42,000 students—he was responsible for 140 school buses and 120 support vehicles, also overseeing vehicle maintenance and custodial equipment. John’s hands-on experience helps him relate to the concerns of fleet managers who are adopting and using a variety of alternative fuels and advanced technologies.
John graduated from the Colorado State University with a B.S. in automotive engineering. He has served as a board member for the American Lung Association of Colorado, as chairman of the Denver Metro Clean Cities Coalition, and as chairman for the Colorado Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Fleet Management Association.
Todd Good
Archer Daniels Midland (ADM)
With 24 years at ADM, Todd Good has led engineering and plant management roles across multiple corn and oilseeds processing operations. He currently manages the ADM Corn Processing Complex in Columbus, Nebraska—the state’s largest ethanol production facility and site of the world’s largest bioethanol CO₂ capture facility. Good’s background is in Chemical Engineering.
John Kropatsch
Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT)
Eric Lawson
MEG Corp/Nebraska Soybean Board
Eric Lawson has worked in the petroleum industry since 2002, previously serving as branch manager for Farstad Oil, one of North Dakota’s largest independent petroleum marketers. Active in biodiesel blending since the early 2000s, he joined MEG Corp in 2017, where he provides technical assistance to fleets and distributors and promotes the benefits and practical use of biodiesel blends.
Lynne McNally
Nebraska Propane Gas Association (NePGA)
Since 2010, Lynne McNally has led the Nebraska Propane Gas Association, overseeing statewide advocacy, industry education, and protection of the Nebraska PERC program. She also serves as Director of Government Relations for WarHorse Casino and has more than two decades of executive leadership experience, including serving as CEO of the Nebraska Horsemen. McNally holds a J.D. from Pepperdine Law and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Traci Menke
Renewable Fuels Nebraska (RFN)
Traci Menke brings extensive experience in policy, membership, and project management, known for her strong work ethic, positive demeanor, and ability to build meaningful relationships. A strategic connector and results‑driven professional, she is focused on member satisfaction, partnership development, and supporting organizational success.
Cinch Munson
World Liquid Gas Association
Cinch Munson is an experienced business development leader known for his ability to identify market opportunities and build cross‑industry partnerships. At the World Liquid Gas Association, he oversees industry outreach, standards and regulations, renewable liquid gas market development, technology advancement, and new applications. His background includes roles with Oberon Fuels, the Propane Education and Research Council, and other energy and agriculture organizations. Munson holds degrees from the University of Nebraska and Colorado State, an executive MBA, and multiple professional certifications.
Rob Owen
Bio Nebraska
Rob Owen became Executive Director of Bio Nebraska in 2019 after serving as general counsel for Streck, Inc., and working as an attorney with the Dobrusin Law Firm, a strategic intellectual property firm. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and a J.D. from the University of Nebraska, and has extensive experience supporting Nebraska’s biotech and medical device industries.
Ben Rhodes
Nebraska Ethanol Board (NEB)
Ben Rhodes serves as Executive Director of the Nebraska Ethanol Board, an independent state agency focused on promoting and developing Nebraska’s renewable fuels industry. He joined the agency in 2022 as Ethanol Program Manager and was appointed interim director in February 2025 before being confirmed permanently in April. A west Omaha native now living in Lincoln, Rhodes holds both a B.A. and an MBA from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Marcy Rood
Argonne National Laboratory
Rajib Saha
UNL-Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Rajib Saha is the Richard L. and Carol S. McNeel Associate Professor and graduate program chair in UNL’s Department of Chemical Engineering. He earned his BS in Bangladesh, his MS and PhD from Penn State, and completed postdoctoral training at Washington University in St. Louis. Saha leads the Systems and Synthetic Biology Laboratory, focusing on non‑model microbes, microbial communities, plants, and human diseases. His work is funded by NIH, NSF, USDA, AFOSR, the Nebraska Corn Board, and the Nebraska Ethanol Board, and he has received honors including the NIH MIRA Award, an NSF CAREER grant, and multiple university awards.
Payton Schaneman
Nebraska Corn Board
Payton Schaneman coordinates market development projects for the Nebraska Corn Board, working with partners at the state, national, and international levels. His work focuses on increasing demand for corn and value‑added products, while supporting the growth of ethanol markets in Nebraska, across the U.S., and internationally. He also manages educational and promotional programs for red meat, dairy, poultry, and livestock expansion.
Paul Searle
Frontier Cooperative
Paul Searle brings over two decades of leadership across two Fortune 100 companies and significant experience in the propane and energy industries. He has served on both the Nebraska and Colorado Propane Gas Association boards and has worked as a project manager, marketing specialist, and propane account manager. His work has included consulting with co‑ops across Nebraska and Colorado and helping facilitate construction of a propane terminal in Colorado. Searle holds a B.S. in Public Relations from Weber State University and lives in Papillion with his family.
Chad Spohn
Norfolk Crush
Chad Spohn has led Norfolk Crush as President and CEO since October 2024, overseeing business operations, team leadership, and community engagement. With 26 years of experience in the agriculture and food sector—including 24 years at ADM—he has held roles in management, trading, merchandising, and soybean crush operations. Spohn previously served as ADM’s Vice President – Western Soybean Crush & Grain, overseeing multiple soybean crush plants and grain assets. He holds a B.S. in Agribusiness from UNL and an MBA from Millikin University and lives in Columbus with his family.
Justin Starr
Whitehead Oil Co.
Justin Starr has spent 18 years with Whitehead Oil Company, beginning as a fuel transport driver and expanding into roles involving delivery, sales, product implementation, and c‑store project design. He played a key role in building the company’s renewable fuels loadout facility in Lincoln, which enables deliveries of B‑99 and E‑98 to retail sites and end‑users in agriculture, construction, and municipal sectors.
Patrick Wenzl
City of Lincoln
Patrick manages the City of Lincoln’s fleet operations, guiding vehicle procurement, maintenance, policy development, and sustainability efforts. He has led initiatives integrating telematics, optimizing lifecycle costs, and transitioning vehicles to alternative fuels to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
About the Nebraska Clean Cities and Communities Coalition
Designated on January 14, 2025, the Nebraska Clean Cities and Communities Coalition (NEC4) is an independent, U.S. Department of Energy (U.S. DOE)–designated coalition committed to advancing clean transportation across Nebraska. Housed at the Nebraska Transportation Center at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, the Nebraska Clean Cities and Communities Coalition (NEC4), works with fleets, fuel providers, community leaders, and other stakeholders to expand the use of cleaner, more efficient transportation solutions across the state. Learn more at https://nec4.unl.edu/.
