Jeff Broin

Broin's family ran a farm in Minnesota. In the early 1980s, Broin's father began producing ethanol on the farm. In 1987, he mortgaged the farm to purchase an ethanol plant in Scotland, South Dakota, and put Jeff in charge of managing it. Jeff became the CEO of Broin Companies, and in 2007 renamed it to POET. It is now the world's largest biofuel producer, with 34 plants.{{cite news |last1=Kavilanz |first1=Parija |title=His family farm was failing. Now he runs the world's largest biofuel producer |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/09/success/poet-ethanol-biofuel |work=CNN |date=9 July 2019 |language=en}}

Broin advocates for the biofuels industry and also serves on the board of Growth Energy,{{Cite news|url=https://growthenergy.org/leadership/jeff-broin/|title=Jeff Broin - Growth Energy - Meet the Team|work=Growth Energy|access-date=2018-05-03|language=en-US}} the leading biofuel trade association in the country.

• 2017 recipient of the George Washington Carver Award for Innovation in Industrial Biotechnology. This award honors and recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to building a biobased economy by applying industrial biotechnology to create environmentally sustainable products.{{Cite news|url=http://www.biotech-now.org/environmental-industrial/2017/05/bio-congratulates-poet-founder-jeff-broin-on-2017-george-washington-carver-award|title=BIO Congratulates POET Founder Jeff Broin on 2017 George Washington Carver Award|date=2017-05-25|work=BIOtechNow|access-date=2018-05-03|language=en-US}}
• 2017 inductee into the South Dakota Hall of Fame.{{Cite web|url=http://sdexcellence.org/Jeff_Broin|title=Jeff Broin - SDHoF|website=sdexcellence.org|language=en|access-date=2018-05-03}}
• 2017 recipient of Honorary Doctorate of Public Service from South Dakota State University.{{Cite news|url=http://vitalbypoet.com/stories/jeff-broin-receives-honorary-doctorate-from-sdsu|title=POET CEO Jeff Broin Receives Honorary Doctorate from South Dakota State University|work=Vital by POET|access-date=2018-05-03|language=en-US}}
• Keynote speaker at the 2018 Biotech Innovation Showcase.{{Cite web|url=http://www.isupark.org/news-events/events/partnering-for-growth-biotech-1|title=Partnering For Growth: Biotech Innovation Showcase & Forum {{!}} ISU Research Park|website=www.isupark.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-03}}
• Keynote speaker at the 2018 University of South Dakota Distinguished Speaker Series.{{Cite news|url=http://siouxfalls.business/strategic-partnership-helps-poet-usd-meet-needs/|title=Strategic partnership helps POET, USD meet needs|date=2018-04-11|work=SiouxFalls.Business|access-date=2018-05-03|language=en}}
• Global Bioeconomy Leadership Award {{Cite web|title=Global Bioeconomy Leadership Award presented to Jeff Broins, CEO of POET – BIOWIRE|url=https://iris.siue.edu/biowire/2019/05/04/global-bioeconomy-leadership-award-presented-to-jeff-broins-ceo-of-poet/|access-date=2020-09-17|language=en-US}}
• Fortune "Change the World" List {{Cite web|title=Change the World|url=https://fortune.com/change-the-world/2019/|access-date=2020-09-17|website=Fortune|language=en}}
• Fast Company's 2019 "World's Most Innovative Companies" {{Cite web|title=Poet: Most Innovative Company|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/company/poet|access-date=2020-09-17|website=Fast Company|language=en-US}}
• 2020 American Biofuels Visionary Award {{Cite web|last=photoCaption|first=Provided|title=POET's Jeff Broin named the American Biofuels Visionary by Growth Energy|url=http://www.agrinews-pubs.com/2020/02/26/poets-jeff-broin-named-the-american-biofuels-visionary-by-growth-energy/acb0q2u/|access-date=2020-09-17|website=www.agrinews-pubs.com|language=en}}

POET places an emphasis on fitness and nutrition programs for its employees, offering exercise rooms, on-site health screenings, yearly blood and biometric screenings, and one-on-one health consultations.{{Cite news|url=http://vitalbypoet.com/stories/the-importance-of-wellness|title=First Look: The Importance of Wellness|work=Vital by POET|access-date=2018-05-03|language=en-US}}

Broin formed the POET Foundation, a non-profit that focuses on children and agriculture.{{Cite web|url=https://poet.com/about|title=About POET - POET|website=poet.com|language=en|access-date=2018-05-03}} Supported U.S. projects include Make-A-Wish, LifeLight, Children's Home Society, Global Health Ministries, 4-H, and FFA.{{Cite web|url=http://sdexcellence.org/Jeff_Broin|title=Jeff Broin - SDHoF|website=sdexcellence.org|language=en|access-date=2018-05-03}}

In 2011, he and his family founded the non-profit Seeds of Change.{{Cite news|url=http://vitalbypoet.com/stories/seeds-of-change-spring-2016|title=Seeds of Change|work=Vital by POET|access-date=2018-05-03|language=en-US}} Current projects include Mission Greenfield, which spreads agriculture technology by working with 80,000 farmers in Kenya; Mission Greenhouse, a multi-year project to develop a school for disadvantaged girls in Kenya;{{Cite web|url=http://seedsofchange.org/mission/greenhouse/|title=Mission Hope {{!}} Seeds of Change|website=seedsofchange.org|access-date=2018-05-03}} Mission Breathe, a project focused in Kenya and Haiti to transition from solid cooking fuels (wood and charcoal) to liquid renewable biofuels;{{Cite web|url=http://seedsofchange.org/mission/breathe/|title=Mission Breathe {{!}} Seeds of Change|website=seedsofchange.org|access-date=2018-05-03}} and projects such as potable water development, health, and nutrition education in Africa.{{Cite web|url=http://seedsofchange.org|title=Seeds of Change|website=seedsofchange.org|access-date=2018-05-03}}

In 2019, Broin announced a $2 million gift for construction of the precision agriculture facility at South Dakota State University, citing SDSU's increasing commitment to precision agriculture as an important step toward combatting climate change.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=POET commits $2 million toward construction of the Raven Precision Agriculture Center|url=https://www.sdstate.edu/news/2019/12/poet-commits-2-million-toward-construction-raven-precision-agriculture-center#:~:text=in%20Sioux%20Falls.-,POET%20founder%20and%20CEO%20Jeff%20Broin%20announced%20a%20%242%20million,pressing%20issues%2C%20like%20climate%20change.|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}

Jeff Broin grew up near Kenyon, MN. He holds a degree in Agricultural Business from University of Wisconsin and is husband of over 27 years to his wife, Tammie, and father to three children - Alyssa, Miranda, and Austin.{{Cite web|url=https://ssl1.gmti.com/argus/argusleader/forms/sfbusconference/keynote.html|title=Keynote Speaker Biography|website=ssl1.gmti.com|access-date=2016-11-16}}

{{reflist}}

[1] McElroy, Anduin Kirkbride (May 22, 2007) A Poetic Journey Ethanol Producer Magazine

[2] Growth Energy Leadership and Board of Directors Retrieved Oct. 7, 2011

[3] Dolan, Kerry A. (Nov. 24, 2008) Mr. Ethanol Fights Back Forbes

[4] ACORE Phase II of Renewable Energy in America National Policy Forum Speakers Retrieved Oct. 10, 2011

[5] Winchester, Cody (Sept. 26,2011) Poet hails $105 million loan guarantee Argus Leader

[6] POET (Sept. 23, 2011) DOE grants final approval on POET cellulosic ethanol loan guarantee Retrieved Oct. 10, 2011

{{DEFAULTSORT:Broin, Jeff}}

Category:1965 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Category:University of Wisconsin–River Falls alumni

Category:American chief executives of energy companies

Category:People from Kenyon, Minnesota