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.
Management 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
Project Engineering and Project Management Team
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
- 2 Years Ethanol/Protein Design Experience
- Led multiple capital project expansions in soy protein modification and oil extraction
- Holds 3 Patents for Vegetable Oil Modification
Jim Krokey
Project Management Lead
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
- 3 years in FQPT technology site project engineering & management experience
- Project Engineer for UWGP MSC Project
- Project Manager for FHR Fairmont MSC Project
- Production Supervisor automotive assembly lines
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
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
Ken Williamson
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
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
Ezequiel Magnani
FQPT 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
Mariano Basso
FQPT 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
Doug Roush
Process Engineer
B.S. Chemical Engineering
B.A. Engineering Science
- 14 years chemical, oil and gas experience
- Process Systems Design
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
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
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
Jeremy Droeszler
Senior Project Manager
B.S. Industrial Technology Management
- 15 years of experience in development and construction project management
Michael Morman, AIA
Senior Project Manager
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
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
Emily Fields
Project Manager
B.S. Chemical Engineering
- 2 years of project management / commissioning experience
Amy Heathman
Project Coordinator
B.S. Business
- 5 Years Project Coordination Experience
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Trained
- LEED Project Experience
Design Team
Eric Roberts
Technical Mentor
- 22 years 3D Design experience
- 6 Years of experience in mechanical equipment fab
- Pharma, Chemical, & Petrochemical design experience
John Warriner
Senior Designer
- 29 years CAD experience
- 15 years of experience in the Ethanol Industry
Kevin Layton
Senior Process 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
- 3 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
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
R&D / Technical Support
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