Thomas L. Manuel

Mr. Thomas L. Manuel, also known as Tom, founded Nu-Tek Food Science, LLC (formerly Nu-Tek Salt, LLC) in 2006 and has been its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since August 2011. Mr. Manuel has more than 30 years of successful food industry experience. He served as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer at Aventine Renewable Energy, Inc. He served as the Chief Executive Officer of Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings Inc. from March 15, 2010 to August 19, 2011. He served as Chief Operating Officer of Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings Inc. from March 15, 2010 to July 2011. From November 2008 to March 2010, he worked as a consultant for CRG Partners, LLC, a privately held business management firm and from August 2007 until November 2008, Mr. Manuel managed personal investments. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of ASAlliances Biofuels, Inc. from August 2006 to August 2007. He served as a Consultant to ConAgra Foods, Inc. He joined ConAgra Foods in 1977 and served as President and Chief Operating Officer of ConAgra Meat Companies from 1998 to 2000; President and Chief Operating Officer of ConAgra Trading and Processing from 1994 to 1998. From May 2002 to August 2011, Mr. Manuel served as Managing Director of International Strategy Advisors, LLC. He developed a broad-based understanding of grain markets and commodity trading during his stellar 25-year career at ConAgra. He served as assistant to the Chairman of ConAgra Foods, Inc., general manager of several ConAgra business units. He was Senior Executive with Omaha, Nebraska-based ConAgra Foods from 1977 to 1999. He serves as a Director of Renewable Fuels Association. Mr. Manuel served as a Director of Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings Inc. from March 15, 2010 to August 19, 2011. He served as Director of DTN, Inc. (Formerly Data Transmission Network Corporation) since March 2005 and ASAlliances Biofuels LLC from August 2006 to August 2007. He has been a Director of Green Plains Inc. since May 2015. Mr. Manuel served as a Director of Swift Operating since September 2002. Mr. Manuel served as Director of JBS Swift & Company (S&C Holdco 3 Inc.); Telvent DTN, LLC and Swift Foods Company. He served as a Director of JBS USA Holdings Inc. since September 2002. Mr. Manuel has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota.