WASHINGTON — The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) are pleased to announce that Christopher W. Nolan Sr., managing director and co-head of food, beverage and agribusiness coverage at PricewaterhouseCoopers Corporate Finance LLC, will be the keynote speaker for Export Exchange 2016, scheduled for Oct. 24 to 26 in Detroit. Nolan's experience in providing advisory services to the world's leading ag commodities trading companies gives him a unique outlook on the international grains market, which he will discuss during his presentation entitled Global Megatrends Affecting Agribusiness. Held every other year by USGC and RFA, Export Exchange brings together international buyers and U.S. sellers of distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS), as well as other feed grain products. The 2016 event is expected to attract nearly 500 attendees, including 200 from 30 countries participating as part of USGC trade teams. "I am honored to be the keynote speaker at Export Exchange," Nolan said. "The international grains market is always expanding, and I look forward to sharing my views on the trends and future for this booming industry." Prior to joining PwC CF, Nolan was a mergers and acquisitions specialist for 23 years. His background includes numerous domestic and cross-border transactions in the food, beverage, agriculture, industrial, building products, chemicals and pharmaceuticals sectors. His current focus has enabled him to complete numerous advisory assignments in food, beverage and agribusiness, including transactions related to ag equipment, animal feed, dairy and dairy ingredients, and milling. "We are pleased that Mr. Nolan will address the Export Exchange as its keynote speaker," said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. "As a veteran investment banker with more than 20 years of mergers and acquisitions experience and a current focus in the ag sector, he can provide a bird's-eye view of the global grains market." "We are thrilled to have Christopher Nolan joining us to provide the broad perspective our customers at Export Exchange are looking for as they learn about the advantages of U.S. grain products," said Tom Sleight, USGC president and chief executive officer. "Agriculture is the most global of all sectors, and it's critical both our customers and those serving them in the U.S. grains industry have a high-level view of the factors affecting their businesses in the years to come." Other confirmed speakers include:
- Nancy DeVore, president of DHF Team, who will speak on the global grains outlook;
- Dr. Jerry Shurson, professor of swine nutrition at the University of Minnesota, who will speak on DDGS nutrition;
- Kyle Tapley, senior agricultural meteorologist at Minnesota Department of Agriculture's Information Systems, who will discuss weather trends and the global grain market; and
- Paul Hishmeh, director of data and technology at Field to Market, who will present on big data and sustainability.
