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Resignations reshuffle area ethanol plant
Published Thursday, October 30, 2008
Coinciding with many challenges to the ethanol industry are changes to top management at Otter Tail Ag Enterprises which operates the ethanol plant northwest of Fergus Falls. Chief Executive Officer Kelly Longtin is being replaced by Anthony Hicks as interim CEO and Plant Manager Gunner Greene is being replaced by Keith Wetzel who will serve as interim plant manager.
Hicks currently serves Otter Tail Ag Enterprises as chief financial officer and Wetzel is the ethanol plant’s operations manager.
The changes take effect on Friday, Oct. 31. Both Longtin and Greene have agreed to assist Otter Tail Ag Enterprises during the transition to a new management team.
A press release issued by Otter Tail Ag said that Longtin and Greene plan to pursue other career opportunities.
“These changes come at a time when our industry is facing one of its most challenging periods,” Hicks said. “The board and senior management have confidence in renewable fuels. We’ll continue to work diligently to maintain the excellent record that the company has achieved to date.”
Longtin and board chairman Jerry Larson were unavailable for comment this morning to provide more details about reasons for the departures of Longtin and Greene.
Larson, through the press release, expressed his appreciation to Longtin and Greene for their service to the company and its members.
“Kelly and Gunner were instrumental is putting together a competent team of employees at the ethanol plant,” Larson said. “With their leadership, the company came through the construction process on time and on budget.”
Longtin said he’s proud to have participated in the plant’s development. He and board chairman Larson said the plant has become the focal point for corn deliveries from area farmers and a centerpiece of the agri-business community pride, adding to the nation’s energy security.
“As the company continues to transition from its development phase to full operational production, the Otter Tail Ag Board will continue to closely evaluate the operational needs of the ethanol plant,” Larson said. “Since Anthony and Keith have been with the company since prior to start-up, Otter Tail Ag is well positioned to continue day-to-day operations without missing a beat.”
The board will evaluate options for its permanent leadership needs as part of the ethanol industry.
“Keith has been Gunner's right hand man since the fall of 2007 and will step up to the role of managing day to day activity in the plant,” said Hicks in the press release.
Hicks has been involved in the company’s activity from inception. Wetzel has many years of experience in the ethanol industry, working at both the Morris and Benson facilities.
“Keith has accumulated over nine years of knowledge,” Hicks said. “This, combined with our present board being founding members, gives Otter Tail Ag Enterprises exceptional strength.”
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by waxwing069 (anonymous) on October 30, 2008 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wonder how much of a "Golden Parachute" The leaving CEO is going to take home? Bet it isn't nearly as much as the CEO's of Wall Street..
Posted by watermelon (anonymous) on October 30, 2008 at 2:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's only a matter of time after the elections that the huge government funded subsidies for the ethanol industry are going to filter down to a slow trickle. And the place is going to be closed down and jobs lost. You can't keep pouring money into an industry that can't sustain itself, just to help keep local farmers afloat. The u.s ethanol industry is a WHITE ELEPHANT.
Posted by Clara (anonymous) on October 30, 2008 at 4:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
watermelon, BINGO!
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on October 30, 2008 at 5:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I really wish I could get gasoline (pure) for the car at a regular price. Alcohol cuts the power and the mileage. So it saves NOTHING. It is to bad that it can't work out.
Posted by ffbison (anonymous) on October 30, 2008 at 7:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ethanol is not the answer to the energy crisis.
Posted by cascade (anonymous) on October 30, 2008 at 10:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Trouble at the good-ol boys club?
Posted by Sioux27 (anonymous) on October 31, 2008 at 7:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hicks???? Really.........How did Bell Farms work out when he was CFO?????
Posted by isda (anonymous) on October 31, 2008 at 3:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is really too bad that OTAE is losing two of their best managers!!! As for Anthony, well I just hope he can change his ways, his attitude, and get rid of his "better then all" ways. He is rude to his employees,he is never happy with anything they do, he is very rude answering the phone and is never willing to take messages. How is a company supposed to be run that way??? I am so sorry to hear of Gunner and Kelly leaving, they really got the company off to a great start, and were both very good with people on the phone and in the office, as Anthony is all about himself!!! Sorry Gunner and Kelly and best of luck in your new jobs!!! And I really hope that OTAE will find another great CEO, Kelly will be very hard to replace!!!
Posted by Twizzlers (anonymous) on October 31, 2008 at 3:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Watermelon: You do realize the ethanol producer does not receive the "huge government subsidies" you talk about. Those go the BIG OIL that blend the ethanol with the gasoline! McKain will be taking the money away from his "good 'Ol boys" when they are dissolved.
Posted by apple (anonymous) on October 31, 2008 at 5:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ISDA & Soux27, Why the negative posts on Anthony?
Sounds to me like you two both have personal issues.
I am a local business person who did business with the late Bell Farms, and the ethanol plant.
Anthony has never been anything less than a perfect gentleman to work with at both locations.
Sioux27, the Bell family sold the farm, the decision was not Anthony's.
ISDA, it sounds to me like you have Anthony confused with the secretary at the ethanol plant. She is the one that always seem to be in an aggravated mood with the attitude.
Kelly & Gunner – I wish you the best of luck, it was my pleasure getting to know both of you.
Posted by localag (anonymous) on October 31, 2008 at 9:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think it comes to knowing who you do business with. I find it hard do business with plants such as these in which the government has been shoveling subsidies into. Now these plants are finding out the added risks, not only political, but also cash flow, and changing economic conditions. Government needs to say enough is enough. Just my thoughts.
Posted by isda (anonymous) on November 1, 2008 at 10:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I do have to appologize for comments made earlier!! I am from Souix Falls, and am not a farmer, and have never dealt with anyone at the plant, I only have heard stories from others. I truely should not have said anything not knowing it for myself. I am sorry again, and please accept my apologies!!! I wish everyone involved best of luck, and also am glad to hear the plant is doing well, knowing that there have been few that have been closed down.
Posted by E_85 (anonymous) on November 1, 2008 at 12:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Knowing Kelly and Gunner myself, I can truly say they will be missed, on a personal level. As far as the business level is concerned I think we are in great shape to continue on. There is a lot of behind the scenes things that none of you can speak about. And for those against ethanol, your pump prices would be at least 15% percent higher. Why are you so against something that is made right here in MN and the USA?
Watermelon- How can you show no concern for local farmers? You don't feel we should keep local farmers afloat? What do you suppose the impact would have on Fergus if a majority of the farmers had to close up shop?
Posted by watermelon (anonymous) on November 5, 2008 at 5:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Without government subsidies, E85 would cost twice as much as regular gasoline at the pumps. I have concern for our local farmers, but subsidizing them to give them something to grow is not the way to do it-they should be able to manage on their own, or get into another line of work like everyone else in this country has to do (i've already been laid off once and had to switch careers like MANY people before me have done). We need to work at keeping foods grown locally and not shipped from Canada or overseas. Everything the local farmers grow isn't even edible in the first place. It's either used by ADM, for ethanol or for livestock feed.
As sad as it is to say this, I hope the new president puts an end to this farce and stops wasting our money on this sorry excuse for patriotic pride. And in case none of you heard me the first time-THE AMERICAN ETHANOL INDUSTRY CANNOT EXIST BY ITS OWN MEANS-OUR GOVERMENT KEEPS IT AFLOAT WITH BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SUBSIDIES.
Do any of you folks ever READ anything, or do you just fantasize that things are hunky dory and take everything at face value? It's not like I'm making this stuff up. If that's the case, then I want the government to subsidize my job, because I don't feel I'm making enough money nor do I have enough work.
Posted by E_85 (anonymous) on November 7, 2008 at 11:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hate to burst your bubble WATERMELON, but Ethanol is in all grades of gasoline at the stations. NOT just E85! So while you are entitled to your anti-american views, Ethanol has displaced 228 million barrels of foriegn oil in 2007 alone.
Posted by E_85 (anonymous) on November 8, 2008 at 5:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am wondering how much you read-Watermelon. If you did you would know that the corn used for ethanol production, has a bi-product, which is animal feed. So just sit and ponder on the pros to this. And since when did this become the case of not making enough money?
Posted by FergusFamily (anonymous) on November 8, 2008 at 8:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm just glad I didn't invest in this. Just poor timing. Investing in new technology is always a risk. This was just a bad one.
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