For You, For the Planet

Jeff Haney, Chief Operations Officer, brings 38 years of experience in Industrial Fermentation, producing a wide variety of products including pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, food, animal health, agricultural, and biofuels.  He has a broad background, and experience, in Operations, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and Utilities, which allows him to be a leader who is fully engaged in all aspects of the development of both processes and people.

Jeff holds a Master’s degree in Microbiology, with concentrations in Microbial Physiology and Biochemistry from the University of Arkansas.

Bryan Colvin, VP of Operations, has held operational and leadership roles in the biotech industry for over 20 years.

Bryan excels in bringing operating disciplines from his nuclear navy days to achieve safe and consistent operations.  Laying a foundation for consistent success, empowering and equipping people to succeed, and challenging team members to contribute at a high level serve as key principles by which he guides and coaches the operations team.

Bryan holds a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma.

Bruce Vorderlandwehr, Corporate Controller, is known as a dynamic results oriented financial executive that develops high performance financial organizations.

Bruce has over 20 years of experience of progressive responsibilities for large manufacturing corporations in the automotive and aerospace industries.

Bruce holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting from Georgia State University.

Owen Chamberlain, VP Sales and Marketing, brings a wealth of experience having had multiple global leadership roles throughout his career in the Mining Industry.

Owen is recognized for his ability to develop great performing teams, lead professionals to achieve their true potential and his strategic thinking. Throughout his over 30 years of experience, he has demonstrated his ability to deliver over and above on expectations of customers, both internal and external.

Owen holds a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago and has undergone leadership and professional development training courses with the American Management Association.

Brian Burr, General Manager of Operations, has over 30 years of experience leading operations.

Brian has extensive experience in film manufacturing, printing plates, window and paint protection films, as well as, fermentation and recovery. He has led breakthrough improvement in multiple businesses, plants, and global manufacturing operations.

Brian holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Rochester.

Chris Shala, Dextran Department head, has been an industry leader with over 25 years of Biotechnological applications, fermentation, sales and management experience.

Chris is leading a team to develop and innovate various processes and products for the food, chemical and pharmaceutical industry.

Chris has a B.S. Degree from Pennsylvania State University.

Angela Uphoff, Associate Director of Quality, started her career as the first lab tech hired for ADM's newly constructed fermentation facility and has continued to grow her responsibilities the past 30 years.

Angela’s most recent role prior to FERMWORX found her as the Sr. Quality Assurance Manager over all of Tate & Lyle's US based corn wet milling and starch plants, as well as, corn procurement.

Angela holds bachelor degrees in both Chemistry and Mathematics from Eureka College.

Teresa Dow, HR Manager, has a passion for HR and uses her 26 years of diverse HR experience to ensure we utilize our greatest resource, every team member.

Teresa started a career in human resources while completing her BS in Criminal Justice.  She then received a Master’s in Public Administration from Columbus State University.  Teresa achieved her PHR Certification (Professional in Human Resources) and her SHRM-CP (Society of Human Resource Management – Certified Professional).

Tim Thomas, Maintenance and Utilities Department Head, leads these critical teams.

Tim is known for working collaboratively with other team members to ensure they are successful in accomplishing goals for the company’s immediate and future success.

Tim has over 30 years of experience in manufacturing including roles in Operations, Supply Chain and Maintenance with Kysor/Warren and Eastman Kodak prior to becoming a leader here.

David Pendleton leads our fermentation strategy. In this position David works alongside customers to bring their ideas from small scale setups to full scale fermentation operations.

David has over a decade of experience working at an agricultural inoculants plant, research ethanol plant, and dextran/pullulan production plant.

David originally hails from Northwest Missouri where he earned a B.S. in Biology and a Masters of Industrial Life Science at Missouri Western State University.