Young Professionals Network

Sponsored by Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits

The Renewable Fuels Association’s Young Professionals Network (YPN) was formed in July 2020 and is dedicated to bringing together innovative and dedicated young professionals from across the U.S. ethanol industry. The YPN is a community of young leaders with a common goal to advance their respective businesses forward, build new relationships, and work with one another to identify new opportunities that grow and strengthen the renewable fuels industry.

 

The YPN hosts events year-round that are exclusively for YPN members and focus on networking, leadership, improving operations, and finding new and innovative approaches to building the market for ethanol. 

 

Scholarships:  YPN members have a unique opportunity to benefit from industry scholarships designed to advance their knowledge and networks within the ethanol industry.  The Renewable Fuels Foundation provides scholarships to YPN members to attend the annual National Ethanol Conference. Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits, the main sponsor of YPN, has provided scholarships to attend its annual Biofuels Academy. Information on these opportunities is communicated to YPN members when available.

 

Want to learn more? Attend an upcoming event or email YPN Chairperson Justin Schultz for more information.

 

We’re currently in the process of gathering speakers for upcoming webinars that will feature industry leaders and subject matter experts. If your company is interested in contributing to the professional development of the YPN, please contact Justin to learn more.

 

Check out the YPN Year in Review

A Special Thanks To 

 

Membership

Membership is open to any young professional who is 39 years old or younger, employed by a company in the U.S. ethanol industry or stakeholder industries, and based in the U.S. Members should also be interested in RFA’s mission to drive demand for American-made renewable fuels and bioproducts worldwide.

 

Membership is free and applications are being accepted on a rolling basis. Members are required to participate in at least one engagement (event, webinar, etc.) per year to maintain their membership status.

 

To start the process, interested individuals should complete the following online application.

 

 

RFA Young Professionals Network Application


Calendar of Events
Upcoming Events

November 8, 2023, Webinar

February 20, 2024, Happy Hour/Social at NEC, San Diego

March 13, 2024, Webinar 

May 8, 2024, Webinar

June 11, 2024, Cocktail Hour at FEW, Minneapolis, MN

September 26, 2024, Breakfast at RFA Annual Meeting, Milwaukee, WI

Past Events

Breakfast at RFA Annual Meeting

Des Moines, IA | September 26, 2023 

 

Networking Event @ Fuel Ethanol Workshop

Omaha, NE | June 13, 2023 (subject to change)

 

Reception @ National Ethanol Conference

Orlando, FL | March 1, 2023

 

RFA Annual Meeting 

Milwaukee, WI | September 28-29, 2022

 

Scoring Social Hour at Fuel Ethanol Workshop 

Minneapolis, MN | June 14, 2022

 

Carbon Intensity and CI Accounting Best Practices Webinar

May 25, 2022

 

Supply Chains Disruptions and How to Respond Webinar

April 12, 2022

 

Social Hour @ National Ethanol Conference

New Orleans, LA | February 22, 2022

 

Year End Virtual Meeting

December 15, 2021

 

Breakfast with Ethanol Industry Veterans at RFA Annual Meeting

Des Moines, IA | September 29, 2021

 

Fuel Ethanol Workshop In-Person Gathering

Johnny’s Hall of Fame, Des Moines, IA | July 14, 2021

 

March 2021 Webinar

Ethanol Industry National Policy Update

Sponsored by: Commonwealth Agri-Energy, LLC

 

February 2021 Virtual Networking Event: Zoom “Meet & Greets”

RFA’s Young Professionals Network will host a series of Zoom-based “Meet & Greets” to provide an opportunity for all 95+ members to meet other YPN members and discuss dynamic industry topics.

 

November 2020 Webinar

Installing & Selling Higher Ethanol Blends

Sponsored by: KAAPA Ethanol Commodities, LLC

 

October 2020 Virtual Networking Event: Zoom “Meet & Greets”

RFA’s Young Professionals Network will host a series of Zoom-based “Meet & Greets” to provide an opportunity for all 70+ members to introduce themselves and meet other YPN members. The Meet & Greets will be broken up into five sessions that will take place over the month of October and will be limited to fifteen YPN members in order to allow for enough time for each YPN member to introduce themselves.