Mike K. Email & Phone Number

California, United States

Innovative and resourceful aggregator of biomass for biofuel production, (gaseous hydrogen), power generation, processing and storage. I can establish secure, cost-effective and sustainable supply chains.

PROJECT SUMMARIES- Farming Services, Bakersfield, CA :: 2021- PresentAggregating woody biomass for hydrogen conversion technology. Contracting with CDAF and US Forestry Service using an innovative business model to create negative cost basis feedstock for green hydrogen production.- RNG Aggregation and Downstream Distribution Central Valley, CA :: 2020 - 2021Assisted in developing upstream biogas sources from dairies. Created business plan and financial model to secure financing for downstream automated fueling stations. Developed target market for servicing medium to heavy-duty trucks (day haulers).- Industrial Hemp Feasibility Study, Central Valley, CA :: 2018 - 2021In-depth market analysis and feasibility study to determine market opportunities for growing and processing industrial hemp in US. Sectors included bioplastics, textiles, and building materials (zero-carbon products for replacing engineered forestry products, dimensional lumber, and cement).- Market Development for Mainstream Horticulture for Plant Based Medicine Producers :: 2016 - 2017Facilitated introductions to licensed plant medicine producers to mainstream horticulture operations, including staffing and facility procurement.- Domestic Castor Production Feasibility Study, East Texas :: 2015 - 2016Researched and sourced non-invasive castor varieties for domestic castor production to replace rice production. Created supply strategy for 25 tons per day oilseed press. Identified permitted site for mill location. Identified and secured grower group to grow castor under contract. Solicited and received detailed quotes from equipment vendors for mill and refining equipment. Identified group of qualified and interested buyers within 100-mile radius of mill site. Developed detailed financial model for investors.NOTE: Full list of project development summaries and feasibility studies for oilseed feedstock, biofuel feedstock, and other projects available upon request.

Respected professional writer with 25+ years of experience with deep industry expertise who has generated hundreds of business documents including reports, proposals, slide deck presentations, executive summaries, feasibility studies, pro forma projections, and website content. Published financial and stock market course author.Background and skills include: - Developing proposals and presentations- Writing essays for various publications- Financial analysis- Feasibility studies - International business experience- Ability to breakdown complex subjects- Business and financial writer- Executive communications - ESG BUSINESS WRITER, Executive Communications :: Keller and Associates - Agricultural sustainability projects, climate change, ESG, proposals, bioenergy, biofuels, renewable chemicals, regenerative agriculture, controlled environment agriculture, and feedstock aggregation - Prepared investor packages for early-stage companies seeking seed and ‘A’ round investors. Documents include executive summaries, business plans, pro forma projections, feasibility studies, website content, and slide deck content specializing in renewable energy technology, biofuels, and agriculture-based supply chains. STAFF WRITER :: Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets (2012 - present) - Created vendor and farmer profiles, in-depth interviews, community-centric agricultural commentary, website content, and photography.SENIOR FINANCIAL WRITER :: Optionetics (1999 – 2003)- Produced up to twelve, 500+ word weekly articles regarding stock market technical analysis for stocks and indices. - Ghostwriter for leading Wall Street personality and produced two published stock market-based books on technical analysis and an accompanying course book (The Optionetics Course Book 1, Trading Fundamentals). Wrote popular syndicated daily humor column regarding the stock market and general economy.

In charge of development and implementation of strategy to treat organic waste from the distillation of tequila in Jalisco, Mexico. These projects were among the first outside investment of its kind in the tequila industry and began the shift of the industry from harmful environmental practices to becoming 100% sustainability.- Negotiated contracts with tequila distillers to treat the liquid organic waste using proprietary anaerobic digestion processing technology.- Secured agreements to build three (3) 250,000 ton per year facilities, including tip fee charges for substrate (“vinazas”), as well as gas off-take agreements, digestate and effluent water off-take agreements- Identified and resolved logistical issues- Directly responsible for receiving endorsements from governing bodies that oversee the distillation of tequila, including the Consejo Regulador de Tequila, Camara de Tequila and the federal agency responsible for environmental governance, SEMADET (Mexico’s Environmental Protection Agency), as well as their enforcement division PROEPA.

Primary objective to Introduce and establish Europe’s leading biogas technology company to the Americas, applying a ‘build-own-operate’ business model in the food, beverage, brewery and distillery industries. Identified several sectors within the food and distillation industries suitable for model, and reached general agreements to build three projects to treat various organic waste streams.Project I involved one of the largest food processing companies in the world, treating citrus waste. A Letter of Intent (LOI) was executed with senior management for a project that yielded 18% IRR to our investors and reduced operating costs to host facility.Projects II and III involved tequila manufacturers in Jalisco, Mexico, treating liquid waste from tequila production. Term sheet delivered by major private equity group to build a portfolio of projects over a five-year period, with each project generating a return of over 30%. - Developed fully operational model for delivery, billing, and accounting.Identified end users for power production, digestate (residuals from the digestion process) and end users for digester effluent.- Established terms, conditions and licensing for long-term tequila waste supply (vinazas) agreements with leading tequila distilleries. - Determined existing regulations for disposal of effluent and led team that made presentations to environmental regulatory agencies at the state level (Jalisco). - Project rollout strategy and technological expertise was endorsed by the tequila industry’s governing body, Consejo Regulador de Tequila in Guadalajara as well as the Tequila Counsel, Camara de Tequila, a small group of highly influential tequila producers.- Executed license agreement for intellectual property with parent company in Stockholm, Sweden giving exclusive rights to the Americas and restricted rights in Europe.

Consultant for biomass business development for newly formed biomass division of Gavilon, specializing in agriculture and energy commodities and agribusiness.- Successfully negotiated long-term supply contract for crop residue with grower groups in Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, and the Carolinas. - Successfully negotiated joint venture agreement with leading venture capital funded purpose grown crop developer.- Worked with several Fortune 100 companies to establish renewable power sources as well as renewable ingredients for well-known consumer product manufacturers.

Consultant for developing financial scenarios for European utilities seeking US-based biomass supply chains; developed new feedstock supply division.- Advised senior management in the establishment of new commercial feedstock supply division, supplying biomass for co-fired utility companies.- Initiated new relationships with numerous power developers and pellet exporters.- Recruited first corporate client, a Fortune 100 food manufacturer with over 50 manufacturing facilities nationwide with contract value for initial facility at $1.8 million.- Acquired expert understanding of crop aggregation process, including cost per acre to cut, bale, ship and store material to withstand winter conditions; developed a network of supply sources at strategic locations throughout Midwest, utilizing proximity to major waterways to expedite shipping to reduce costs.- Introduced four separate utility-scale projects opportunities, including a statewide project backed by former US Congressman (Oklahoma) and and Oklahoma State University.

Houston, Texas, Us

- Directed development of emerging carbon trading platform to launch new carbon risk management division, including Kyoto-accord certified offset project development and legislation-related risk mitigation strategies for domestic and foreign corporations and utilities.- Quantified carbon risk exposure, using existing and proposed legislation and mandates.- Evaluated risk exposure for proposed biofuel refineries.