We’re Here to Help Your Farm Prosper and Produce Green Energy
We want to prove to you we’re a team you can trust. Our leadership has roots in farming, and we sincerely believe that our future depends on your farm’s success.
We’re Here to Help Your Farm Prosper and Produce Green Energy
We want to prove to you we’re a team you can trust. Our leadership has roots in farming, and we sincerely believe that our future depends on your farm’s success.
Our Story
LF Bioenergy was created to help farms evolve their operations to include renewable energy, which is good for their sustainability and for their bottom lines.
We build, own, and operate facilities that turn organic waste — specifically, cow manure on dairy farms — into renewable natural gas (RNG). With a management team that pairs dairy and agriculture professionals with leaders in the energy sector, we bring best-in-class technology, design, engineering and operations to on-farm RNG production.
LF takes a Farmers First approach, accounting for each farmer’s plan to address challenges and grow the business. LF’s projects represent a true win-win relationship through equitable profit sharing and complete transparency.
We are backed by Cresta Fund Management, a growth-oriented private equity firm that invests in sustainable and conventional energy and industrial infrastructure, and Marathon Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: MPC)
Our Leadership Team
Brent Lilienthal
Chief Executive Officer
Brent brings decades of energy development, operations and engineering experience and innovation to help dairy farms realize their climate and financial goals. Prior to joining LF, he served as SVP at Worley, managing $1billion refinery and gas plant process operations safety improvement projects across multiple customers and President of EMEA for Total Safety, the world’s leading process operational safety and equipment company, overseeing all growth and operations in the Eastern hemisphere.
Brent also has experience in the process optimization industry and is a minority owner in Sky 1, a 50MW power plant in Texas. Brent earned a BS in Chemical Engineering from University of Texas, Austin.
He lives in Houston with his wife and has two grown children and a grandson. Brent is an avid traveler, having done business in or visited over 90 countries. He has a passion for the environment and for scuba diving with his family on the rare occasions he can get everyone together.
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” — Albert Einstein
Brent Lilienthal
Chief Executive Officer
Brent Lilienthal
Chief Executive Officer
Brent brings decades of energy development, operations and engineering experience and innovation to help dairy farms realize their climate and financial goals. Prior to joining LF, he served as SVP at Worley, managing $1billion refinery and gas plant process operations safety improvement projects across multiple customers and President of EMEA for Total Safety, the world’s leading process operational safety and equipment company, overseeing all growth and operations in the Eastern hemisphere.
Brent also has experience in the process optimization industry and is a minority owner in Sky 1, a 50MW power plant in Texas. Brent earned a BS in Chemical Engineering from University of Texas, Austin.
He lives in Houston with his wife and has two grown children and a grandson. Brent is an avid traveler, having done business in or visited over 90 countries. He has a passion for the environment and for scuba diving with his family on the rare occasions he can get everyone together.
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” — Albert Einstein
Brian Flis
Chief Operating Officer
A company co-founder with a passion for driving operational improvements and transformational change, Brian draws from more than 20 years of multidisciplinary military and private sector experience. He currently oversees multiple company functions and spearheads the proprietary Operational Excellence Management System (OEMS). He is also responsible for ensuring regulatory and permitting compliance.
Brian’s 2016 book, Never and Never Again: Lessons from the Frontline, cemented his reputation as a noted leadership expert.
Before joining the private sector, Brian held multiple management and engineering positions within the U.S. Air Force. His academic career includes a BS in mechanical engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a MS in mechanical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and a MBA from The Ohio State University. He now lives in Colorado Springs, Colo., with his wife, four kids and two dogs. Occasionally he manages to carve out time for his favorite hobbies – snowboarding and golf.
There’s no shortage of remarkable ideas, what’s missing is the will to execute them.” – Seth Godin
Brian Flis
Chief Operating Officer
Brian Flis
Chief Operating Officer
A company co-founder with a passion for driving operational improvements and transformational change, Brian draws from more than 20 years of multidisciplinary military and private sector experience. He currently oversees multiple company functions and spearheads the proprietary Operational Excellence Management System (OEMS). He is also responsible for ensuring regulatory and permitting compliance.
Brian’s 2016 book, Never and Never Again: Lessons from the Frontline, cemented his reputation as a noted leadership expert.
Before joining the private sector, Brian held multiple management and engineering positions within the U.S. Air Force. His academic career includes a BS in mechanical engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a MS in mechanical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and a MBA from The Ohio State University. He now lives in Colorado Springs, Colo., with his wife, four kids and two dogs. Occasionally he manages to carve out time for his favorite hobbies – snowboarding and golf.
There’s no shortage of remarkable ideas, what’s missing is the will to execute them.” – Seth Godin
Eric Butler
Chief Financial Officer
With expertise spanning business strategy, corporate valuation, investment strategy, fund raising and capital efficiency, Eric leads LF’s financial and business strategies that bring innovation and new revenue streams to dairy farms. Prior to joining LF, he served as CFO and Chief Revenue Officer of Robotic Skies, the only commercial drone maintenance network in the world, overseeing all growth and finance initiatives.
Eric also has experience in the public accounting, hedge fund and upstream oil and gas industries.
Eric earned an MBA from Northwestern University and his undergraduate and graduate accounting degrees at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). He lives in Denver with his wife, two children and two dogs. When he isn’t chasing kids, walking the dogs, or trying to tackle the honey-do list, you can probably find Eric on the golf course.
“Work like there is someone working 24 hours a day to take it all away from you.” – Mark Cuban
Eric Butler
Chief Financial Officer
Eric Butler
Chief Financial Officer
With expertise spanning business strategy, corporate valuation, investment strategy, fund raising and capital efficiency, Eric leads LF’s financial and business strategies that bring innovation and new revenue streams to dairy farms. Prior to joining LF, he served as CFO and Chief Revenue Officer of Robotic Skies, the only commercial drone maintenance network in the world, overseeing all growth and finance initiatives.
Eric also has experience in the public accounting, hedge fund and upstream oil and gas industries.
Eric earned an MBA from Northwestern University and his undergraduate and graduate accounting degrees at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). He lives in Denver with his wife, two children and two dogs. When he isn’t chasing kids, walking the dogs, or trying to tackle the honey-do list, you can probably find Eric on the golf course.
“Work like there is someone working 24 hours a day to take it all away from you.” – Mark Cuban
Cyn French
Executive Vice President — Feedstock and Marketing
Cyn brings experience in C-suite leadership, ag politics and ranch ownership to LF Bioenergy. A company co-founder, she currently oversees LF’s Feedstock strategy development and execution in the U.S. and other marketspaces.
Keeping the priorities of LF’s dairy farm partners at the forefront, Cyn ensures each project aligns with U.S. dairy trends, sustainability goals and growth opportunities.
Cyn is active in the U.S. dairy community, in her local community in Northern Colo. and in working toward the alleviation of hunger in Africa. She has served as rural County Commissioner; Senate-appointed Water Quality Control Commissioner; Colo. Ag Commissioner’s Animal Welfare Board Member; Regional Political Trust Executive Director at Dairy Farmers of America; President/CEO at Western Dairy Association; and Sustainability representative to Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy.
Cyn raised two successful daughters and is the proud grandmother of four. In addition to mentoring women-in-need through church, she advises celebrities on branding on a volunteer basis. Somehow she also manages to achieve her own fitness goals!
“The mark of an extraordinary woman is not how she rises above the rest. It’s how she reaches back to rise up others.” —Raise Her Wild with Mehr Lee
Cyn French
Executive Vice President Feedstock
and Marketing
Cyn French
Executive Vice President — Feedstock and Marketing
Cyn brings experience in C-suite leadership, ag politics and ranch ownership to LF Bioenergy. A company co-founder, she currently oversees LF’s Feedstock strategy development and execution in the U.S. and other marketspaces.
Keeping the priorities of LF’s dairy farm partners at the forefront, Cyn ensures each project aligns with U.S. dairy trends, sustainability goals and growth opportunities.
Cyn is active in the U.S. dairy community, in her local community in Northern Colo. and in working toward the alleviation of hunger in Africa. She has served as rural County Commissioner; Senate-appointed Water Quality Control Commissioner; Colo. Ag Commissioner’s Animal Welfare Board Member; Regional Political Trust Executive Director at Dairy Farmers of America; President/CEO at Western Dairy Association; and Sustainability representative to Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy.
Cyn raised two successful daughters and is the proud grandmother of four. In addition to mentoring women-in-need through church, she advises celebrities on branding on a volunteer basis. Somehow she also manages to achieve her own fitness goals!
“The mark of an extraordinary woman is not how she rises above the rest. It’s how she reaches back to rise up others.” —Raise Her Wild with Mehr Lee
Lee Laviolette
Executive Vice President Engineering, Construction & Operations
One of LF Bioenergy’s co-founders, Lee has a long track record of driving growth and leading global teams on behalf of energy and process industry companies. Breakthrough approaches to deliver operational excellence have created enormous value for both the firm and investors.
Early in his career, Lee held engineering, commercial and operations management roles at Exxon and Total (Fina). As a consultant with Arthur D. Little, Navigant and Accenture, he helped National Oil Companies (NOCs) and Majors like Saudi Aramco, Pemex, Marathon, Rio Tinto and US Steel implement new operating models and achieve step changes in operating performance.
He has been a frequent speaker, panelist and 3-time conference Chair at operational excellence and compliance management events in multiple countries.
Lee earned a BS with highest distinction in Chemical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He lives in the Houston area with his wife of 41 years, their four adult children and 14 grandchildren. When not dashing across Houston to attend some grandchild’s event, he spends his free time camping in National Parks, saltwater fishing in Galveston Bay, or tinkering with one of many unfinished projects in his woodworking shop.
“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy are the noise before defeat.” – Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Lee Laviolette
Executive Vice President Engineering,
Construction & Operations
Lee Laviolette
Executive Vice President Engineering, Construction & Operations
One of LF Bioenergy’s co-founders, Lee has a long track record of driving growth and leading global teams on behalf of energy and process industry companies. Breakthrough approaches to deliver operational excellence have created enormous value for both the firm and investors.
Early in his career, Lee held engineering, commercial and operations management roles at Exxon and Total (Fina). As a consultant with Arthur D. Little, Navigant and Accenture, he helped National Oil Companies (NOCs) and Majors like Saudi Aramco, Pemex, Marathon, Rio Tinto and US Steel implement new operating models and achieve step changes in operating performance.
He has been a frequent speaker, panelist and 3-time conference Chair at operational excellence and compliance management events in multiple countries.
Lee earned a BS with highest distinction in Chemical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He lives in the Houston area with his wife of 41 years, their four adult children and 14 grandchildren. When not dashing across Houston to attend some grandchild’s event, he spends his free time camping in National Parks, saltwater fishing in Galveston Bay, or tinkering with one of many unfinished projects in his woodworking shop.
“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy are the noise before defeat.” – Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Jon Curry
Director of Operations
Jon Curry brings important plant operational excellence to LF Bioenergy. His background includes oversight of successful RNG projects in Washington, South Dakota, Wisconsin and New York and expertise across the semiconductor, space and defense sectors. As Director of Operations, Jon manages safety and environmental compliance as well as the operations and maintenance of LF’s facilities. He also assists with business development by providing insights on best practices, new technologies, and industry developments.
Jon was selected by his peers to speak at Oregon State University’s Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering graduation in 2015. He was an instrumental part of student work groups there and garnered the support, trust, and respect across the student body.
Jon holds a BS in chemical engineering from OSU and is a cohort in the MBA and Finance program at Auburn University. As one of 16 children growing up (12 of which were adopted), Jon is very adept at socializing with a broad variety of people and confronting resolving circumstances with success. Based in Houston but growing up in the northwest, he spends his free time on outdoor adventure and travel. He enjoys nature and exploits every chance he gets to discover more of it when working across the country at our rural based plants.
“In God we trust. All others bring data.” – W. Edward Deming
Jon Curry
Director
of Operations
Jon Curry
Director of Operations
Jon Curry brings important plant operational excellence to LF Bioenergy. His background includes oversight of successful RNG projects in Washington, South Dakota, Wisconsin and New York and expertise across the semiconductor, space and defense sectors. As Director of Operations, Jon manages safety and environmental compliance as well as the operations and maintenance of LF’s facilities. He also assists with business development by providing insights on best practices, new technologies, and industry developments.
Jon was selected by his peers to speak at Oregon State University’s Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering graduation in 2015. He was an instrumental part of student work groups there and garnered the support, trust, and respect across the student body.
Jon holds a BS in chemical engineering from OSU and is a cohort in the MBA and Finance program at Auburn University. As one of 16 children growing up (12 of which were adopted), Jon is very adept at socializing with a broad variety of people and confronting resolving circumstances with success. Based in Houston but growing up in the northwest, he spends his free time on outdoor adventure and travel. He enjoys nature and exploits every chance he gets to discover more of it when working across the country at our rural based plants.
“In God we trust. All others bring data.” – W. Edward Deming
Julie Veldhuis
Director of Business Development
A key to delivering on “Farmers First,” Julie identifies dairy farms suited to RNG development and nurtures relationships with LF’s dairy farmer partners at every stage of the process. Born into a dairy farm family in Chino, Calif., Julie’s agriculture roots run deep. Over the past 40 years she has dairied in Calif., N.M., Wis. and Idaho, where her sons currently manage the family farm.
Julie’s professional background includes stints as marketing & public relations manager for Wis.-based Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy, Ron’s Wisconsin Cheese and The Cannery Public Market. Her leadership roles include Board positions with United Dairymen of Idaho, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board.
In the community service realm, Julie is passionate about volunteering for Special Olympics and serving on Dairy Girl Network’s Board of Directors.
Julie currently resides in Twin Falls, Idaho. She is “gone fishing” as often as possible and is working toward a goal of playing a round of golf in all 50 states. Julie has four children, two daughters-in-law, one son-in-law and a beautiful year-old grandson who is destined to be a 5th generation dairy farmer!
“Be in charge of your future. Success doesn’t just happen.” – Unknown
Julie Veldhuis
Director of Business
Development
Julie Veldhuis
Director of Business Development
A key to delivering on “Farmers First,” Julie identifies dairy farms suited to RNG development and nurtures relationships with LF’s dairy farmer partners at every stage of the process. Born into a dairy farm family in Chino, Calif., Julie’s agriculture roots run deep. Over the past 40 years she has dairied in Calif., N.M., Wis. and Idaho, where her sons currently manage the family farm.
Julie’s professional background includes stints as marketing & public relations manager for Wis.-based Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy, Ron’s Wisconsin Cheese and The Cannery Public Market. Her leadership roles include Board positions with United Dairymen of Idaho, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board.
In the community service realm, Julie is passionate about volunteering for Special Olympics and serving on Dairy Girl Network’s Board of Directors.
Julie currently resides in Twin Falls, Idaho. She is “gone fishing” as often as possible and is working toward a goal of playing a round of golf in all 50 states. Julie has four children, two daughters-in-law, one son-in-law and a beautiful year-old grandson who is destined to be a 5th generation dairy farmer!
“Be in charge of your future. Success doesn’t just happen.” – Unknown
Russell Kessling
Director, Technical Solutions
An experienced control system engineer, Russell brings 16 years experience in the traditional oil & energy industry to LF Bioenergy and the renewables sector. He recently played a pivotal role in the programming, commissioning and startup of a flagship deep water offshore platform.
16 years of control systems and project engineering experience in power, upstream, downstream, and petrochemical industries. 13 years of designing, programming, commissioning and start-up of control systems and safety systems with one year commissioning a floating production unit in a shipyard and five years of commissioning, start-up, and field engineer offshore. Three years at Jacobs/Worley as a lead systems engineer and project engineer on multiple small capital projects of approximately $12MM TIC.
Russell earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from University of Houston. He lives in Pearland, Texas with his wife and three children and maintains an active half-marathon schedule. Russell recently discovered that the best way to promote family harmony is to give each child their way – case in point, the family cat goes by three names: Mr. Patrick Unicorn Waffles.
“Sustainability takes forever. And that’s the point.” – William McDonough
Russell Kessling
Director of Technical Solutions
Russell Kessling
Director, Technical Solutions
An experienced control system engineer, Russell brings 16 years experience in the traditional oil & energy industry to LF Bioenergy and the renewables sector. He recently played a pivotal role in the programming, commissioning and startup of a flagship deep water offshore platform.
16 years of control systems and project engineering experience in power, upstream, downstream, and petrochemical industries. 13 years of designing, programming, commissioning and start-up of control systems and safety systems with one year commissioning a floating production unit in a shipyard and five years of commissioning, start-up, and field engineer offshore. Three years at Jacobs/Worley as a lead systems engineer and project engineer on multiple small capital projects of approximately $12MM TIC.
Russell earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from University of Houston. He lives in Pearland, Texas with his wife and three children and maintains an active half-marathon schedule. Russell recently discovered that the best way to promote family harmony is to give each child their way – case in point, the family cat goes by three names: Mr. Patrick Unicorn Waffles.
“Sustainability takes forever. And that’s the point.” – William McDonough
Halli Chesser
Director of Engineering
Halli Chesser brings a deep engineering background to the LF team. Her experience includes working with natural gas companies in both Nevada and Oregon. In her most recent role prior to joining LF, Halli lead the technical efforts and NW Natural as they worked to connect RNG projects to their pipelines. As Director of Engineering, Halli leverages this experience by leading LF’s efforts in identifying and evaluating injection strategies for LF’s projects as well as leading the engineering design efforts for all of our projects.
Halli has a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Nevada Las Vegas (Go Rebels!) and has appeared at multiple RNG events including the EPA’s 2019 RNG Workshop where she presented “RNG Success Strategies: Three Case Studies”.
Halli lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband Chris, their border collie/Australian shepherd Mitchell, and Optimus, their overweight tabby cat. Outside of work hours, Halli enjoys reading sci-fi novels and foraging for mushrooms with Chris and Mitchell in the forests of Oregon and Washington.
“We cannot change what we are not aware of, and once we are aware, we cannot help but change.” — Sheryl Sandburg
Halli Chesser
Director of Engineering
Halli Chesser
Director of Engineering
Halli Chesser brings a deep engineering background to the LF team. Her experience includes working with natural gas companies in both Nevada and Oregon. In her most recent role prior to joining LF, Halli lead the technical efforts and NW Natural as they worked to connect RNG projects to their pipelines. As Director of Engineering, Halli leverages this experience by leading LF’s efforts in identifying and evaluating injection strategies for LF’s projects as well as leading the engineering design efforts for all of our projects.
Halli has a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Nevada Las Vegas (Go Rebels!) and has appeared at multiple RNG events including the EPA’s 2019 RNG Workshop where she presented “RNG Success Strategies: Three Case Studies”.
Halli lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband Chris, their border collie/Australian shepherd Mitchell, and Optimus, their overweight tabby cat. Outside of work hours, Halli enjoys reading sci-fi novels and foraging for mushrooms with Chris and Mitchell in the forests of Oregon and Washington.
“We cannot change what we are not aware of, and once we are aware, we cannot help but change.” — Sheryl Sandburg
Brian Lewis
Director of Finance
With seven years of experience investing in, and working with, businesses at every stage of growth, Brian manages financial planning and analysis for LF and advises the leadership team on capital optimization.
Prior to joining LF, Brian was a Principal at a private equity firm where he handled more than $200M of private equity placement and credit diligence, analysis and structuring.
Brian has served as a board member and financial advisor to Robotic Skies, UbiQD — an advanced materials company focused on clean energy – and the nonprofit Invest Southwest. He is the board chair of Growing Up New Mexico, a nonprofit focused on early childhood education.
Brian graduated cum laude from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash. with a BA in economics and physics, and now resides in his hometown of Santa Fe, N.M. with his partner Caroline and dog Sage. Outside of the home office, Brian is a diehard fly fisherman who loves to be outdoors camping and hiking.
“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” – Robert Swan, Polar Explorer
Brian Lewis
Director of Finance
Brian Lewis
Director of Finance
With seven years of experience investing in, and working with, businesses at every stage of growth, Brian manages financial planning and analysis for LF and advises the leadership team on capital optimization.
Prior to joining LF, Brian was a Principal at a private equity firm where he handled more than $200M of private equity placement and credit diligence, analysis and structuring.
Brian has served as a board member and financial advisor to Robotic Skies, UbiQD — an advanced materials company focused on clean energy – and the nonprofit Invest Southwest. He is the board chair of Growing Up New Mexico, a nonprofit focused on early childhood education.
Brian graduated cum laude from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash. with a BA in economics and physics, and now resides in his hometown of Santa Fe, N.M. with his partner Caroline and dog Sage. Outside of the home office, Brian is a diehard fly fisherman who loves to be outdoors camping and hiking.
“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” – Robert Swan, Polar Explorer
Our Leadership Team
Brent Lilienthal
Chief Executive Officer
Brent brings decades of energy development, operations and engineering experience and innovation to help dairy farms realize their climate and financial goals. Prior to joining LF, he served as SVP at Worley, managing $1billion refinery and gas plant process operations safety improvement projects across multiple customers and President of EMEA for Total Safety, the world’s leading process operational safety and equipment company, overseeing all growth and operations in the Eastern hemisphere.
Brent also has experience in the process optimization industry and is a minority owner in Sky 1, a 50MW power plant in Texas. Brent earned a BS in Chemical Engineering from University of Texas, Austin.
He lives in Houston with his wife and has two grown children and a grandson. Brent is an avid traveler, having done business in or visited over 90 countries. He has a passion for the environment and for scuba diving with his family on the rare occasions he can get everyone together.
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” — Albert Einstein
Brent Lilienthal
Chief Executive Officer
Brent Lilienthal
Chief Executive Officer
Brent brings decades of energy development, operations and engineering experience and innovation to help dairy farms realize their climate and financial goals. Prior to joining LF, he served as SVP at Worley, managing $1billion refinery and gas plant process operations safety improvement projects across multiple customers and President of EMEA for Total Safety, the world’s leading process operational safety and equipment company, overseeing all growth and operations in the Eastern hemisphere.
Brent also has experience in the process optimization industry and is a minority owner in Sky 1, a 50MW power plant in Texas. Brent earned a BS in Chemical Engineering from University of Texas, Austin.
He lives in Houston with his wife and has two grown children and a grandson. Brent is an avid traveler, having done business in or visited over 90 countries. He has a passion for the environment and for scuba diving with his family on the rare occasions he can get everyone together.
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” — Albert Einstein
Brian Flis
Chief Operating Officer
A company co-founder with a passion for driving operational improvements and transformational change, Brian draws from more than 20 years of multidisciplinary military and private sector experience. He currently oversees multiple company functions and spearheads the proprietary Operational Excellence Management System (OEMS). He is also responsible for ensuring regulatory and permitting compliance.
Brian’s 2016 book, Never and Never Again: Lessons from the Frontline, cemented his reputation as a noted leadership expert.
Before joining the private sector, Brian held multiple management and engineering positions within the U.S. Air Force. His academic career includes a BS in mechanical engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a MS in mechanical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and a MBA from The Ohio State University. He now lives in Colorado Springs, Colo., with his wife, four kids and two dogs. Occasionally he manages to carve out time for his favorite hobbies – snowboarding and golf.
There’s no shortage of remarkable ideas, what’s missing is the will to execute them.” – Seth Godin
Brian Flis
Chief Operating Officer
Brian Flis
Chief Operating Officer
A company co-founder with a passion for driving operational improvements and transformational change, Brian draws from more than 20 years of multidisciplinary military and private sector experience. He currently oversees multiple company functions and spearheads the proprietary Operational Excellence Management System (OEMS). He is also responsible for ensuring regulatory and permitting compliance.
Brian’s 2016 book, Never and Never Again: Lessons from the Frontline, cemented his reputation as a noted leadership expert.
Before joining the private sector, Brian held multiple management and engineering positions within the U.S. Air Force. His academic career includes a BS in mechanical engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a MS in mechanical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and a MBA from The Ohio State University. He now lives in Colorado Springs, Colo., with his wife, four kids and two dogs. Occasionally he manages to carve out time for his favorite hobbies – snowboarding and golf.
There’s no shortage of remarkable ideas, what’s missing is the will to execute them.” – Seth Godin
Eric Butler
Chief Financial Officer
With expertise spanning business strategy, corporate valuation, investment strategy, fund raising and capital efficiency, Eric leads LF’s financial and business strategies that bring innovation and new revenue streams to dairy farms. Prior to joining LF, he served as CFO and Chief Revenue Officer of Robotic Skies, the only commercial drone maintenance network in the world, overseeing all growth and finance initiatives.
Eric also has experience in the public accounting, hedge fund and upstream oil and gas industries.
Eric earned an MBA from Northwestern University and his undergraduate and graduate accounting degrees at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). He lives in Denver with his wife, two children and two dogs. When he isn’t chasing kids, walking the dogs, or trying to tackle the honey-do list, you can probably find Eric on the golf course.
“Work like there is someone working 24 hours a day to take it all away from you.” – Mark Cuban
Eric Butler
Chief Financial Officer
Eric Butler
Chief Financial Officer
With expertise spanning business strategy, corporate valuation, investment strategy, fund raising and capital efficiency, Eric leads LF’s financial and business strategies that bring innovation and new revenue streams to dairy farms. Prior to joining LF, he served as CFO and Chief Revenue Officer of Robotic Skies, the only commercial drone maintenance network in the world, overseeing all growth and finance initiatives.
Eric also has experience in the public accounting, hedge fund and upstream oil and gas industries.
Eric earned an MBA from Northwestern University and his undergraduate and graduate accounting degrees at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). He lives in Denver with his wife, two children and two dogs. When he isn’t chasing kids, walking the dogs, or trying to tackle the honey-do list, you can probably find Eric on the golf course.
“Work like there is someone working 24 hours a day to take it all away from you.” – Mark Cuban
Cyn French
Executive Vice President — Feedstock and Marketing
Cyn brings experience in C-suite leadership, ag politics and ranch ownership to LF Bioenergy. A company co-founder, she currently oversees LF’s Feedstock strategy development and execution in the U.S. and other marketspaces.
Keeping the priorities of LF’s dairy farm partners at the forefront, Cyn ensures each project aligns with U.S. dairy trends, sustainability goals and growth opportunities.
Cyn is active in the U.S. dairy community, in her local community in Northern Colo. and in working toward the alleviation of hunger in Africa. She has served as rural County Commissioner; Senate-appointed Water Quality Control Commissioner; Colo. Ag Commissioner’s Animal Welfare Board Member; Regional Political Trust Executive Director at Dairy Farmers of America; President/CEO at Western Dairy Association; and Sustainability representative to Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy.
Cyn raised two successful daughters and is the proud grandmother of four. In addition to mentoring women-in-need through church, she advises celebrities on branding on a volunteer basis. Somehow she also manages to achieve her own fitness goals!
“The mark of an extraordinary woman is not how she rises above the rest. It’s how she reaches back to rise up others.” —Raise Her Wild with Mehr Lee
Cyn French
Executive Vice President Feedstock
and Marketing
Cyn French
Executive Vice President — Feedstock and Marketing
Cyn brings experience in C-suite leadership, ag politics and ranch ownership to LF Bioenergy. A company co-founder, she currently oversees LF’s Feedstock strategy development and execution in the U.S. and other marketspaces.
Keeping the priorities of LF’s dairy farm partners at the forefront, Cyn ensures each project aligns with U.S. dairy trends, sustainability goals and growth opportunities.
Cyn is active in the U.S. dairy community, in her local community in Northern Colo. and in working toward the alleviation of hunger in Africa. She has served as rural County Commissioner; Senate-appointed Water Quality Control Commissioner; Colo. Ag Commissioner’s Animal Welfare Board Member; Regional Political Trust Executive Director at Dairy Farmers of America; President/CEO at Western Dairy Association; and Sustainability representative to Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy.
Cyn raised two successful daughters and is the proud grandmother of four. In addition to mentoring women-in-need through church, she advises celebrities on branding on a volunteer basis. Somehow she also manages to achieve her own fitness goals!
“The mark of an extraordinary woman is not how she rises above the rest. It’s how she reaches back to rise up others.” —Raise Her Wild with Mehr Lee
Lee Laviolette
Executive Vice President Engineering, Construction & Operations
One of LF Bioenergy’s co-founders, Lee has a long track record of driving growth and leading global teams on behalf of energy and process industry companies. Breakthrough approaches to deliver operational excellence have created enormous value for both the firm and investors.
Early in his career, Lee held engineering, commercial and operations management roles at Exxon and Total (Fina). As a consultant with Arthur D. Little, Navigant and Accenture, he helped National Oil Companies (NOCs) and Majors like Saudi Aramco, Pemex, Marathon, Rio Tinto and US Steel implement new operating models and achieve step changes in operating performance.
He has been a frequent speaker, panelist and 3-time conference Chair at operational excellence and compliance management events in multiple countries.
Lee earned a BS with highest distinction in Chemical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He lives in the Houston area with his wife of 41 years, their four adult children and 14 grandchildren. When not dashing across Houston to attend some grandchild’s event, he spends his free time camping in National Parks, saltwater fishing in Galveston Bay, or tinkering with one of many unfinished projects in his woodworking shop.
“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy are the noise before defeat.” – Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Lee Laviolette
Executive Vice President Engineering,
Construction & Operations
Lee Laviolette
Executive Vice President Engineering, Construction & Operations
One of LF Bioenergy’s co-founders, Lee has a long track record of driving growth and leading global teams on behalf of energy and process industry companies. Breakthrough approaches to deliver operational excellence have created enormous value for both the firm and investors.
Early in his career, Lee held engineering, commercial and operations management roles at Exxon and Total (Fina). As a consultant with Arthur D. Little, Navigant and Accenture, he helped National Oil Companies (NOCs) and Majors like Saudi Aramco, Pemex, Marathon, Rio Tinto and US Steel implement new operating models and achieve step changes in operating performance.
He has been a frequent speaker, panelist and 3-time conference Chair at operational excellence and compliance management events in multiple countries.
Lee earned a BS with highest distinction in Chemical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He lives in the Houston area with his wife of 41 years, their four adult children and 14 grandchildren. When not dashing across Houston to attend some grandchild’s event, he spends his free time camping in National Parks, saltwater fishing in Galveston Bay, or tinkering with one of many unfinished projects in his woodworking shop.
“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy are the noise before defeat.” – Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Jon Curry
Director of Operations
Jon Curry brings important plant operational excellence to LF Bioenergy. His background includes oversight of successful RNG projects in Washington, South Dakota, Wisconsin and New York and expertise across the semiconductor, space and defense sectors. As Director of Operations, Jon manages safety and environmental compliance as well as the operations and maintenance of LF’s facilities. He also assists with business development by providing insights on best practices, new technologies, and industry developments.
Jon was selected by his peers to speak at Oregon State University’s Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering graduation in 2015. He was an instrumental part of student work groups there and garnered the support, trust, and respect across the student body.
Jon holds a BS in chemical engineering from OSU and is a cohort in the MBA and Finance program at Auburn University. As one of 16 children growing up (12 of which were adopted), Jon is very adept at socializing with a broad variety of people and confronting resolving circumstances with success. Based in Houston but growing up in the northwest, he spends his free time on outdoor adventure and travel. He enjoys nature and exploits every chance he gets to discover more of it when working across the country at our rural based plants.
“In God we trust. All others bring data.” – W. Edward Deming
Jon Curry
Director of Operations
Jon Curry
Director of Operations
Jon Curry brings important plant operational excellence to LF Bioenergy. His background includes oversight of successful RNG projects in Washington, South Dakota, Wisconsin and New York and expertise across the semiconductor, space and defense sectors. As Director of Operations, Jon manages safety and environmental compliance as well as the operations and maintenance of LF’s facilities. He also assists with business development by providing insights on best practices, new technologies, and industry developments.
Jon was selected by his peers to speak at Oregon State University’s Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering graduation in 2015. He was an instrumental part of student work groups there and garnered the support, trust, and respect across the student body.
Jon holds a BS in chemical engineering from OSU and is a cohort in the MBA and Finance program at Auburn University. As one of 16 children growing up (12 of which were adopted), Jon is very adept at socializing with a broad variety of people and confronting resolving circumstances with success. Based in Houston but growing up in the northwest, he spends his free time on outdoor adventure and travel. He enjoys nature and exploits every chance he gets to discover more of it when working across the country at our rural based plants.
“In God we trust. All others bring data.” – W. Edward Deming
Julie Veldhuis
Director of Business Development
A key to delivering on “Farmers First,” Julie identifies dairy farms suited to RNG development and nurtures relationships with LF’s dairy farmer partners at every stage of the process. Born into a dairy farm family in Chino, Calif., Julie’s agriculture roots run deep. Over the past 40 years she has dairied in Calif., N.M., Wis. and Idaho, where her sons currently manage the family farm.
Julie’s professional background includes stints as marketing & public relations manager for Wis.-based Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy, Ron’s Wisconsin Cheese and The Cannery Public Market. Her leadership roles include Board positions with United Dairymen of Idaho, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board.
In the community service realm, Julie is passionate about volunteering for Special Olympics and serving on Dairy Girl Network’s Board of Directors.
Julie currently resides in Twin Falls, Idaho. She is “gone fishing” as often as possible and is working toward a goal of playing a round of golf in all 50 states. Julie has four children, two daughters-in-law, one son-in-law and a beautiful year-old grandson who is destined to be a 5th generation dairy farmer!
“Be in charge of your future. Success doesn’t just happen.” – Unknown
Julie Veldhuis
Director of Business Development
Julie Veldhuis
Director of Business Development
A key to delivering on “Farmers First,” Julie identifies dairy farms suited to RNG development and nurtures relationships with LF’s dairy farmer partners at every stage of the process. Born into a dairy farm family in Chino, Calif., Julie’s agriculture roots run deep. Over the past 40 years she has dairied in Calif., N.M., Wis. and Idaho, where her sons currently manage the family farm.
Julie’s professional background includes stints as marketing & public relations manager for Wis.-based Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy, Ron’s Wisconsin Cheese and The Cannery Public Market. Her leadership roles include Board positions with United Dairymen of Idaho, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board.
In the community service realm, Julie is passionate about volunteering for Special Olympics and serving on Dairy Girl Network’s Board of Directors.
Julie currently resides in Twin Falls, Idaho. She is “gone fishing” as often as possible and is working toward a goal of playing a round of golf in all 50 states. Julie has four children, two daughters-in-law, one son-in-law and a beautiful year-old grandson who is destined to be a 5th generation dairy farmer!
“Be in charge of your future. Success doesn’t just happen.” – Unknown
William Lanius
Director of Projects
William manages the scope, schedule, budget and utility supply interface for each of LF’s RNG development projects.
William brings 25 years of experience in project management and construction management to LF. At WorleyParsons William earned a Special Contribution Award for the SAMREF/ExxonMobil CFP Project. In addition to traditional oil & gas and construction, he has worked across the biomass, biofuel and bioenergy sectors.
William holds a BS in Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene (Cum Laude) from Columbia Southern University in Orange Beach, Ala., and currently resides in Montgomery, Texas with his wife, three children and their Goldendoodle. They are active greyhound rescue volunteers and enjoy cooking and college football. Raised on a beef cattle ranch that his brother still owns, William has a deep appreciation for agriculture and the enduring commitment of ranchers to environmental stewardship: “This is the only planet we have; we better take care of it!”
“Aut Viam Inveniam Aut Faciam – I will find a way, or I will make one.”
– Hannibal (Carthaginian general and statesman)
William Lanius
Director of Projects
William Lanius
Director of Projects
William manages the scope, schedule, budget and utility supply interface for each of LF’s RNG development projects.
William brings 25 years of experience in project management and construction management to LF. At WorleyParsons William earned a Special Contribution Award for the SAMREF/ExxonMobil CFP Project. In addition to traditional oil & gas and construction, he has worked across the biomass, biofuel and bioenergy sectors.
William holds a BS in Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene (Cum Laude) from Columbia Southern University in Orange Beach, Ala., and currently resides in Montgomery, Texas with his wife, three children and their Goldendoodle. They are active greyhound rescue volunteers and enjoy cooking and college football. Raised on a beef cattle ranch that his brother still owns, William has a deep appreciation for agriculture and the enduring commitment of ranchers to environmental stewardship: “This is the only planet we have; we better take care of it!”
“Aut Viam Inveniam Aut Faciam – I will find a way, or I will make one.”
– Hannibal (Carthaginian general and statesman)
Russell Kessling
Director, Technical Solutions
An experienced control system engineer, Russell brings 16 years experience in the traditional oil & energy industry to LF Bioenergy and the renewables sector. He recently played a pivotal role in the programming, commissioning and startup of a flagship deep water offshore platform.
16 years of control systems and project engineering experience in power, upstream, downstream, and petrochemical industries. 13 years of designing, programming, commissioning and start-up of control systems and safety systems with one year commissioning a floating production unit in a shipyard and five years of commissioning, start-up, and field engineer offshore. Three years at Jacobs/Worley as a lead systems engineer and project engineer on multiple small capital projects of approximately $12MM TIC.
Russell earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from University of Houston. He lives in Pearland, Texas with his wife and three children and maintains an active half-marathon schedule. Russell recently discovered that the best way to promote family harmony is to give each child their way – case in point, the family cat goes by three names: Mr. Patrick Unicorn Waffles.
“Sustainability takes forever. And that’s the point.” – William McDonough
Russell Kessling
Director of Technical Solutions
Russell Kessling
Director, Technical Solutions
An experienced control system engineer, Russell brings 16 years experience in the traditional oil & energy industry to LF Bioenergy and the renewables sector. He recently played a pivotal role in the programming, commissioning and startup of a flagship deep water offshore platform.
16 years of control systems and project engineering experience in power, upstream, downstream, and petrochemical industries. 13 years of designing, programming, commissioning and start-up of control systems and safety systems with one year commissioning a floating production unit in a shipyard and five years of commissioning, start-up, and field engineer offshore. Three years at Jacobs/Worley as a lead systems engineer and project engineer on multiple small capital projects of approximately $12MM TIC.
Russell earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from University of Houston. He lives in Pearland, Texas with his wife and three children and maintains an active half-marathon schedule. Russell recently discovered that the best way to promote family harmony is to give each child their way – case in point, the family cat goes by three names: Mr. Patrick Unicorn Waffles.
“Sustainability takes forever. And that’s the point.” – William McDonough
Halli Chesser
Director of Engineering
Halli Chesser brings a deep engineering background to the LF team. Her experience includes working with natural gas companies in both Nevada and Oregon. In her most recent role prior to joining LF, Halli lead the technical efforts and NW Natural as they worked to connect RNG projects to their pipelines. As Director of Engineering, Halli leverages this experience by leading LF’s efforts in identifying and evaluating injection strategies for LF’s projects as well as leading the engineering design efforts for all of our projects.
Halli has a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Nevada Las Vegas (Go Rebels!) and has appeared at multiple RNG events including the EPA’s 2019 RNG Workshop where she presented “RNG Success Strategies: Three Case Studies”.
Halli lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband Chris, their border collie/Australian shepherd Mitchell, and Optimus, their overweight tabby cat. Outside of work hours, Halli enjoys reading sci-fi novels and foraging for mushrooms with Chris and Mitchell in the forests of Oregon and Washington.
“We cannot change what we are not aware of, and once we are aware, we cannot help but change.” — Sheryl Sandburg
Halli Chesser
Director of Engineering
Halli Chesser
Director of Engineering
Halli Chesser brings a deep engineering background to the LF team. Her experience includes working with natural gas companies in both Nevada and Oregon. In her most recent role prior to joining LF, Halli lead the technical efforts and NW Natural as they worked to connect RNG projects to their pipelines. As Director of Engineering, Halli leverages this experience by leading LF’s efforts in identifying and evaluating injection strategies for LF’s projects as well as leading the engineering design efforts for all of our projects.
Halli has a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Nevada Las Vegas (Go Rebels!) and has appeared at multiple RNG events including the EPA’s 2019 RNG Workshop where she presented “RNG Success Strategies: Three Case Studies”.
Halli lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband Chris, their border collie/Australian shepherd Mitchell, and Optimus, their overweight tabby cat. Outside of work hours, Halli enjoys reading sci-fi novels and foraging for mushrooms with Chris and Mitchell in the forests of Oregon and Washington.
“We cannot change what we are not aware of, and once we are aware, we cannot help but change.” — Sheryl Sandburg
Brian Lewis
Director of Finance
With seven years of experience investing in, and working with, businesses at every stage of growth, Brian manages financial planning and analysis for LF and advises the leadership team on capital optimization.
Prior to joining LF, Brian was a Principal at a private equity firm where he handled more than $200M of private equity placement and credit diligence, analysis and structuring.
Brian has served as a board member and financial advisor to Robotic Skies, UbiQD — an advanced materials company focused on clean energy – and the nonprofit Invest Southwest. He is the board chair of Growing Up New Mexico, a nonprofit focused on early childhood education.
Brian graduated cum laude from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash. with a BA in economics and physics, and now resides in his hometown of Santa Fe, N.M. with his partner Caroline and dog Sage. Outside of the home office, Brian is a diehard fly fisherman who loves to be outdoors camping and hiking.
“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” – Robert Swan, Polar Explorer
Brian Lewis
Director Of Finance
Brian Lewis
Director of Finance
With seven years of experience investing in, and working with, businesses at every stage of growth, Brian manages financial planning and analysis for LF and advises the leadership team on capital optimization.
Prior to joining LF, Brian was a Principal at a private equity firm where he handled more than $200M of private equity placement and credit diligence, analysis and structuring.
Brian has served as a board member and financial advisor to Robotic Skies, UbiQD — an advanced materials company focused on clean energy – and the nonprofit Invest Southwest. He is the board chair of Growing Up New Mexico, a nonprofit focused on early childhood education.
Brian graduated cum laude from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash. with a BA in economics and physics, and now resides in his hometown of Santa Fe, N.M. with his partner Caroline and dog Sage. Outside of the home office, Brian is a diehard fly fisherman who loves to be outdoors camping and hiking.
“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” – Robert Swan, Polar Explorer