Senior Management Team Bios  Peter Brooks, Co-Owner A resident of Las Vegas, Nevada, Peter is a co-owner of ABI. Peter has been involved in the corn refining industry for 34 years. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Food Technology from the University of Georgia. Additionally, he attended Georgia Tech and Rutgers University to continue his education and interest in Food Engineering. In 1971, Peter joined the Hubinger Company of Keokuk, Iowa and was credited with several new modified food starch inventions for the baking and confectionary industry. Today, Peter provides technical guidance and expertise associated with setting corporate strategy. Chuck Carvette, Co-Owner Chuck is the other co-owner of ABI and a resident of Las Vegas, Nevada. Chuck has been involved in the corn refining industry for 27 years. He received a B.S. degree in Finance from The University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida. Chuck joined Hubinger Company in 1978 as its regional sales manager. He left Hubinger in 1981 to form Industrial Ingredients, Inc.(the distribution arm of ABI) with Peter Brooks. Today, Chuck provides sales guidance and expertise associated with setting corporate strategy. Randy Schmelzel, President Located in Keokuk, Iowa, Randy is the president of Allied Blending and Ingredients (ABI). Randy has more than 25 years of experience in food products involving ingredients and prepared foods. His career has spanned sweeteners, vegetable and fruit extracts, flavoring and spices, meat and vegetable dehydration and bakery-ingredients fruit preps. He has held senior management positions with Celanese, Tastemaker, Burns Philp Foods, River Ranch Produce and Oberto Sausage Company. Randy has been directly involved in successfully integrating multiple acquisitions totaling over $100 million in food ingredients sales annually. Randy has a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri – Rolla, and is a registered P.E. He joined ABI in 2003 and is a Professional Member of the Institute of Food Technologies (IFT).   Matt Stelzer, Vice President Operations Matt lives in Tucson, Arizona and is responsible for our companywide manufacturing operations. Matt has more than 25 years experience in Operations obtained in management positions with Chiquita, Ralston Purina, Continental Grain and Pacific Grain throughout South and Central America, Europe and Asia. Matt is bilingual in Spanish and holds a BS in Economics and Finance from the University of Arizona. John Fannon PhD, Vice President Technical Services A resident of Keokuk, Iowa, John has more that 20 years experience in the Food Science industry. His career began with national Starch as their R & D Projects Manager. John went on to Penford Foods as their Director of Commercialization and Research and then on to Solae (Dupont subsidiary) as their Research Director. After leaving Solae, John started J.P. Technologies where he acted as a consultant throughout the U.S. and abroad advising on carbohydrate projects. John received his Ph.D. in Food Science from Purdue University in 1991. His research dissertation was titled “Corn Starch Structure, Behavior and Reactivity”. Stephanie Slattery, Vice President Purchasing Stephanie was born and received her basic education in the Manheim Germany area moving to the United States in 1990.  She currently resides in the greater Davenport, Iowa area with her husband and children.  Her formal education comprises a B.S. in Business Administration and Management.  Her professional expertise includes Logistics, Purchasing, Customer Service, and Sales.  During her 13 years with Allied Blending she has progressively held key management positions with increased responsibilities.  These positions included Sales Manager for Textiles, Corporate Customer Service Manager, and Corporate Purchasing Manager, until promoted to VP of Purchasing.  Allied Blending is both a manufacturer and a distributor of starch-based products.  Her areas of responsibility cover both divisions.  This wide variety of business experience has given her broad insight to the successful operation of the total business function of an organization.  In addition, she is a licensed freight broker, which includes international experience negotiating freight services for the US government Transportation Department.  She is fluent in the German and English languages.