Board of Directors

Alex Westlind

President

Employer: The Weitz Company

Chapter Location: Minneapolis

Alex Westlind is the business development director at The Weitz Company, LLC in Plymouth, MN. He has been a GEAPS member since 2009 and has served in Minneapolis chapter leadership as well as a director on the GEAPS Associates Board. Alex was elected in 2024 as second vice president, from which he succeeded annually to first vice president then to…

Bob Horvat, PE

Board Chair

Employer: Cargill, Inc

Chapter Location: Minneapolis

Bob Horvat, PE, is the manufacturing tech lead for Cargill, Inc. in Wayzata, MN. He has been a GEAPS member since 2010 and was elected in 2019 as a board director. Bob has served GEAPS in many capacities including as a Minneapolis chapter leader and as GEAPS treasurer from 2020-2024. In 2024, Bob was elected first vice president, from which…

Jon Brown

First Vice President

Employer: Producers Co-op

Chapter Location: Great Plains

Jon Brown serves as the Capital Projects and Facility Advisor for Producers Co-op, where he provides strategic guidance on capital improvements, facility planning, maintenance, and operational efficiency. He is also the owner and operator of Capital Project Consulting Plus (CPC+), a full-service construction and consulting firm with its own general contracting and millwright crews. With more than 27 years of…

Jeff Trudell

Second Vice President

Employer: Bulk Conveyors, Inc. (BCI)

Chapter Location: Mich./So. Ont.

Jeff Trudell is a processing sales rep with Bulk Conveyors, Inc. (BCI). He has been a GEAPS member since 2011 and is currently the president and treasurer of the MSO Chapter. He also serves GEAPS on the Exchange Education Programming Committee (EPC), Events Futures Committee (EFC), and is the co-chair of the GEAPS Great Lakes Regional Conference. Jeff was elected…

Sarah Fakhari

Treasurer

Employer: CHS, Inc.

Chapter Location: Minneapolis

Sarah Fakhari is the director of global capital strategy (ag business) at CHS, Inc. – a Fortune 100 company and the largest farmer-owned cooperative in the USA. She worked 10 years in the Oil & Gas industry, then moved to a career in agriculture and became a GEAPS member when she started with CHS in 2017 as the director of…

Matthew Schmitt, PE, SE, CGOM, CGPM, GHEM

Secretary

Employer: Keen Project Solutions, LLC

Chapter Location: North Iowa

Matthew Schmitt, PE, SE, P.ENG. is the Structural Team Lead at Keen Project Solutions, LLC in Ankeny, IA. Keen offers design, build, and EPC solutions to the industry across North America. A GEAPS member since 2014, he is the current president of the North Iowa Chapter, past president of the Greater Iowa Chapter, past chair of the Membership Committee, and…

John Caupert

Chief Executive Officer

Employer: Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS)

Chapter Location: Cornbelt

John Caupert was named CEO of the Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS) in December 2023 to provide leadership and direction while guiding the international activities and events of the member-driven organization. John has more than three decades of experience in the grain and biofuels industries. His expertise has made him a sought-after voice, conducting speaking engagements to a diverse…

Scott Biel

Director

Employer: MKC - Mid Kansas Cooperative

Chapter Location: Great Plains

Scott Biel is the director of operational risk management at MKC in Moundridge, KS, where he leads initiatives to enhance workplace safety, regulatory compliance, preventative maintenance, and risk management. A GEAPS member since 2021 with over eight years of experience, he fosters a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. Scott actively contributes to GEAPS, serving as a member of the…

Sean Farrell

Director

Employer: The DeLong Co., Inc.

Chapter Location: Cornbelt

Sean Farrell is a senior project manager for The DeLong Co, Inc. where he has worked since 2014 after spending the first part of his career at another commercial grain elevator. He is responsible for the development of capital projects, including greenfield projects and facility expansions, for the export and grain divisions of the company. He also serves on The…

Adam Geers

Director

Employer: Michigan Agricultural Commodities (MAC)

Chapter Location: Mich./So. Ont.

Adam Geers is the vice president of operations for Michigan Agricultural Commodities (MAC) which is the largest grain handler in Michigan. Adam has spent his entire professional career working for MAC, which was founded by his grandfather in 1976. He began working for MAC as an intern in 2003 and has served in several roles during his career, including Grain…

Charlie Hurburgh

Director

Employer: Iowa State University

Chapter Location: Greater Iowa

Dr. Charlie Hurburgh is a professor emeritus of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University in Ames, IA. He has been a GEAPS member since 1983 and has also served GEAPS on the Chapter Resources Committee. He was elected to the GEAPS International Board of Directors in 2022 and re-elected for a second term in 2025.

Jacob Long

Director

Employer: Bartlett

Chapter Location: Kansas City

Jake Long is AVP of projects and Mexico operations at Bartlett in Kansas City, MO. He has been a GEAPS member since 2014. In his current role, he leads capital projects, engineering strategy, and operational improvements that enhance safety, efficiency, and long-term facility performance. With a background spanning safety leadership, operations, large-scale project execution, and infrastructure systems, Jake is committed…

Bob Reis

Director

Employer: Electro-Sensors, Inc

Chapter Location: Minneapolis

Bob Reis is the vice president of sales at Electro-Sensors, Inc. and has been an active member of GEAPS since 1990, dedicating over 25 years to the grain industry. Throughout his career, he has served as an applications engineer, sales manager, and president of manufacturing companies specializing in hazard monitoring technologies and safety educational services for the grain, feed, and…

Tom Rodman

Director

Employer: TEMCO, LLC

Chapter Location: Columbia River

Tom Rodman serves as the plant manager for TEMCO, LLC in Kalama, WA, and has been an active GEAPS member since 1998. Throughout his long-standing involvement, he has driven membership growth, coordinated chapter meetings, strengthened industry engagement, and led numerous chapter initiatives. Within the Columbia River Chapter, Tom has held nearly every leadership role—serving three terms as President as well…

Ruchi Ryley

Director

Employer: AXON Americas Corp

Chapter Location: Canadian Prairies

Ruchi Ryley is the president/CEO at AXON Americas Corp. in Calgary, AB, and has been a GEAPS member since 2011. She has over 25 years of experience in the North American grain industry. She serves as President of the Canadian Prairies Chapter, a member of the GEAPS Finance committee, board liaison for the GEAPS Chapter Resource committee, and member of…

Scott Steinke

Director

Employer: The Andersons, Inc.

Chapter Location: Mich./So. Ont.

Scott Steinke is the director of operations for The Andersons, Inc. in the corporate office in Maumee, OH. In his role, he is responsible for developing and implementing operations strategy for The Andersons grain elevators, including safety policies, labor plans, capital spending and employee development. He has been with The Andersons for 15 years, where he has spent various roles…

Dale Vinsand

Director

Employer: West Side Salvage Company, LLC

Chapter Location: Greater Iowa

Dale Vinsand is the COO at West Side Salvage in Atkins, IA. He has worked in the agricultural industry since 2000 and has served in various roles in feed milling along with grain facility management and design. He has been a GEAPS member since 2006. Dale currently serves on the GEAPS Membership Committee and has been a member of the…

Chad Wolf

Director

Employer: Mass Flow Sourcing

Chapter Location: Minneapolis

Chad Wolf is the managing partner at Mass Flow Sourcing, LLC in Lake Crystal, MN. He has been active in the grain industry since 2013 and a GEAPS member since 2017. His GEAPS leadership includes past Minneapolis Chapter president and current vice chair for the Chapter Resource Committee. Chad was elected to the GEAPS International Board of Directors in 2025.