Fluid Quip Technologies was founded on extensive experience and know-how within the corn wet milling and ethanol production industries. FQT’s engineering and technical leadership team has been developing new technologies and process solutions applicable to the biofuels and biochemical industries for more than 25 years.
FQT has industrialized multiple patented technologies geared toward enhancing the base corn-to-ethanol dry grind process, creating new and novel alternative co-products, and supplying the growing need for carbohydrate building blocks in the biochemical market.
Meet Our Team
The FQT team includes highly talented chemical and mechanical engineers with plant management/operational experience, as well as project managers with field construction expertise. Our broad knowledge base and dedication to success will help add value to your plant.
Leadership Team
John Kwik, P.E.
President
B.S. Chemical Engineering
- 26 Years of experience in the corn wet milling and ethanol industries
- Founded multiple process engineering firms
- Held various process engineering roles inside corn wet milling companies and with consulting engineering firms
- Helped design, build, commission, Blair, NE wet mill campus
Neal Jakel
V.P. Strategy & Technology
MBA – University of Wisconsin, School of Business, Madison, WI.
B.S. Chemical Engineering
- 26 years of experience in the corn wet milling and ethanol industries
- Multiple international and domestic greenfield project engineering and project manager roles
- General Manager of industry leading ethanol facility – built operations and led to one of the industry’s top asset sales
Michael Franko
V.P. Business Development
B.S. Economics
- 15 years separation equipment experience
- Managed commercialization of multiple patented biofuels technologies
- Business systems consulting experience
Chris Fields
V.P. Construction Services
- 25 years construction management experience – commercial and industrial
- Founded maintenance services firm
- Founded commercial construction company
- Maintenance manager – soy processing facility
Operations
Michael Morman, AIA
Managing Director
Bachelor of Architecture
- 17 years of design and management experience in industrial, government, commercial, and education
- Licensed Architect
- Experienced Project Manager with projects up to $125 million in construction cost
- LEED AP BD+C
Rebecca Ring
Operations Manager
MBA – University of Iowa, Tippie College of Business, Iowa City, IA
B.E. Chemical Engineering
- 12+ years of experience in food manufacturing industry
- 3 years experience in industrial chemical processing
- Lean Six Sigma Greenbelt Certification
- Commercialization execution of 20+ new products to marketplace
Amy Heathman
Project Software Administrator
B.S. Business
- 5+ Years Project Coordination Experience
- 5+ Years Software Management Experience
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Trained
- LEED Project Experience
Ranae Hines
Operations Coordinator
- 2 years Procurement and Project Coordination
- 10+ years Specialized Loan Servicing
Molly Johnson
Executive Assistant
- 20 years Office Administration Experience
- 20 years Marketing / Sales Support and Event Coordination
Josey Swanson
Scheduler
- 12 Years Business Development
- 13 Years Data Management
- 9 Years Project Controller
- 9 Years Operation Management
R&D
Tim Bauer
General Manager – Growth Ventures
B.S. Chemical Engineering
- 17+ years of engineering, operations, and business management experience in value-added food ingredients
- Led specialty ingredient product lines with a topline exceeding $300MM
- Expertise in strategy development, corporate development, new product commercialization, and business case development for large capital investments
Peter Williams, Ph.D.
Lead Nutritionist BSc: MSc: PhD. FWIRS
PhD in Nutrition Physiology
- 30+ years animal nutrition and physiology experience
- Past president of the British Society of Animal Science
- Emeritus Professor at top 20 UK University
- R&D Director in top 3 International feed additive company
- Senior project manager in leading international crop bioscience company
Don Cannon, Ph.D.
QA/QC Lead
Ph.D. Chemistry
- 25+ years of Analytical Chemistry experience
- Director of Quality – managed food safety laboratory in natural products industry
- Application Scientist for enzyme company – fermentation residuals / yeast metabolism / accessory enzyme development
- Former Assistant Professor with interests in educating / inspiring science and engineering professionals
Jeff Robert
Director – Technology Deployment
B.S. Chemical Engineering
- 25+ years of experience in biochemical, ethanol, and ag processing industries
- 10+ years of experience in business advisory roles
- 20+ years with the Pillsbury Company (various roles)
- G.M. of a Fuel Ethanol Facility
Process Engineers
Michael Hora
Principal Engineer
B.S. Chemical Engineering
- 5 Years Corn Wet Milling/Syrup Refinery Experience
- 8 Years Oilseed Process and Industrial Vegetable Oil Modification/Commercialization Experience
- 4 Years Ethanol/Protein Design Experience
- Led multiple capital project expansions in soy protein modification and oil extraction
- Holds 3 Patents for Vegetable Oil Modification
Ken Williamson
Lead Senior Process Engineer
B.S. in Chemical Engineering
- 10+ years of corn wet mill process engineering experience
- Managed production of ethanol in corn wet mill for 2 years
Scott Crawford
Senior Process Engineer
B.S. Chemical Engineering
- 30+ years experience in corn wet milling, ethanol, dextrose, and chemical processing
- 30+ year experience in project engineer and production manager roles
- Team member of multiple $45MM+ projects
Brian Runge
Senior Process Engineer
B.S. Chemical engineering
- 14 Years Corn Wet Milling experience
- 11 years Project Engineering experience
- 5 years enzyme manufacturing experience
- 6 years pulp and paper experience
Aaron Rud
Senior Process Engineer
B.S. Chemical Engineering
- 14 Years Ag Processing operations and processing experience
- Team member of multiple $20MM+ projects
- Corn Wet Milling and Anhydrous Ammonia Experience
Ashley Powell
Senior Process Engineer
B.S. Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
- 12 years experience in corn wet milling and dry grind facilities
- Engineering experience with ethanol, sweeteners, and starch projects
- Team member of multiple $85MM+ projects
Doug Roush
QA/QC Process Engineer
B.S. Chemical Engineering
B.A. Engineering Science
- 14 years chemical, oil and gas experience
- Process Systems Design
Collin Peterson
Process Engineer
B.S. Chemical Engineering
- 6 Years Industry Experience in Corn Wet Milling
- Background in Process Engineering / Project Management / Operations
- Process Hazard Analysis Lead Experience and Lean Six Sigma Greenbelt Certification
Palash Mehta
Process Engineer
B.E. in Chemical Engineering
M.E. Material Science and Engineering
Stevens Institute of Technology – Hoboken, NJ
- 3 years of Engineering Experience in manufacturing plants
- Background in Process Automation and Controls / Process Engineering / Operations
- Process Hazard Analysis Experience
Mariano Basso
FQT South America
Process Engineer
B.S. in Chemical Engineering
- 6 years Ethanol Process Engineering Experience
- 2 years Biodiesel/Industrial Vegetable Oil Derivatives Experience
- Multiple startup and optimization projects
Ezequiel Magnani
FQT South America
Process Engineer
B.S. Chemical Engineering
- 6 years Ethanol Process Engineering Experience
- 2 years Biodiesel / Industrial Vegetable Oil Derivatives Experience
- Team Leader of new processes development department
Project Engineers
Jim Krokey
Field Engineering Manager
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
- 6 years in FQT technology site project engineering & management experience
- Project Engineer for UWGP MSC Project
- Project Manager for FHR Fairmont MSC Project
- Production Supervisor automotive assembly lines
Emily Fields
Lead Commissioning / Construction Estimator
B.S. Chemical Engineering
- 2 years of project management / commissioning experience
Tim Sippy
Senior Project Engineer
- 30+ Years experience in project engineering
- 30+ Years experience in food manufacturing industry
- 16+ Years experience in Corn Milling (Wet and Dry)
Clint Downey
Project Engineer
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
- 4 years wet corn milling experience in the mill/feedhouse
- Worked on multiple commissioning/startup projects upgrading existing instrumentation and control systems
- Site engineer for the MSC project
Nate Bunger
Project Engineer
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
- 5 years Power Systems / Project Planning Experience
Tyler Lind
Project Engineer
B.S. Chemical Engineering
- 3 Years dry grind corn ethanol experience
Project Managers
Jeremy Droeszler
Senior Project Manager
B.S. Industrial Technology Management
- 15 years of experience in development and construction project management
Jake Fichter
Senior Project Manager
- Certified project manager
- 20+ years of international subsea oil and gas industry experience
- 10 years project management for high profile technical subsea pipeline construction projects
Stephaney Parks
Senior Project Manager
B.S. Systems Engineering
- 8 years project management
Project Coordinators
Melissa Lathrop
Project Coordinator
- 25+ years Office Administration/Coordination
- 10 years procurement in the corn and ethanol industry
Gail Shrope
Project Coordinator
- 4 years of Project Coordination Experience
Designers
Eric Roberts
Principal Designer
- 22 years 3D Design experience
- 6 Years of experience in mechanical equipment fab
- Pharma, Chemical, & Petrochemical design experience
Kevin Layton
Designer
B.S. Industrial Technology
- 20 years CAD experience
- 13 years 3D Piping & Mechanical design
- Upstream/Downstream Oil & Gas, Pharma, Chemical, Architectural, & Electrical design experience
Dillan Clem
Designer
- 5 years CAD based programs experience
- Design and layout of new technologies
- Completing Mechanical Engineering coursework
Chris Frank
Designer
- 19 years of design experience
- Mechanical, Electrical, Piping/Plumbing, Civil and Waste Water Piping design experience
Violet Kelly
Designer
- AAS Mechanical Drafting & Design Technology
- 23 years 3D Mechanical Design experience
- 23 years Technical Writing experience
- 14 years Project Management and Prototype Design
- 2+ years in Piping Design
Ross Pinkney
Designer
- Associate of Drafting Technology
- 11 years of CAD experience
- 10 years 3D Piping & Mechanical design
- Upstream/Downstream Oil & Gas, and Marine Design experience
Deven Bottiaux
Designer
- 7+ years Piping and Mechanical experience
- 8 years 3D Design experience
- Oil & Gas, Chemical, Architectural, and Structural Design background
Jimmie Releford
Designer
- 5+ years of design experience
- Experience in Pipeline Design and GPS mapping
Jason Kauffmann
CAD Technician
- Associates degree in engineering technology
- 1 year CAD based program experience
Taylor Peterson
Drafter
B.S. Agriculture Systems Technology
- 2 years CAD based programs experience
- Equipment design / analysis