Jim Lenz, Director of Education:
It’s so exciting to use this whole grain podcast channel to introduce whole grain listeners to the new executive director of the grain elevator and processing society. His name is John Culpert. John, welcome to the show.
John Caupert, Executive Director:
Well, hello, jim, it’s great to be here with you today.
Jim Lenz, Director of Education:
Now, john, this is your very first appearance on the show, but we want to let listeners know that you, john, will be active with our Jeeps whole grain podcast into the future. John may not be in every episode, but you’ll hear his voice in many upcoming shows, including the next episode about our big Jeeps exchange episode, as we prepare you for the biggest and best show in the grain handling and processing industry. Our podcast offers a unique opportunity to connect with so many grain professionals from around the world and easy to share, easy to access, a means of delivering. In fact, we now have listeners from 62 different countries. At the time of this recording, you can listen to the show on your drive to and from work, while you’re exercising or however and wherever you choose to do so. So, john, I’m looking forward to working with you on projects, including the whole grain show. We’re excited for your interest and participation in future episodes.
John Caupert, Executive Director:
Jim, I’m looking forward to it as well. I mean, when I think not only about this podcast, but just the future opportunities that we have. There are so many subject areas that we’re going to be able to touch on, bringing awareness and information not only to our members but, frankly, to the entirety of the grain and grain processing industries.
Jim Lenz, Director of Education:
Wonderful John. I often start the show by asking guests if they have a mantra or a success quote that they live by professionally. John, do you have a mantra or two that you’d be willing to share with our listeners?
John Caupert, Executive Director:
It’s interesting that you asked that question, jim and, frankly, anybody that has ever worked with me before me or that I’ve worked with and are reported to. There’s really two or three and, if you don’t mind me sharing the three, there’s really two or three beliefs and philosophies that I have, beginning with respect. I’m big on respect and reverence for those that have come before you in whatever role you’re in, because those are the people that have paved the opportunity highway. Secondly, volunteerism Whenever a person gets involved in their local community, their local church, whatever a school, whatever it might be, I truly believe that it is incumbent upon all of us to share the time, treasure, skills that we have with others in a volunteer role. That being said, if there’s one success mantra that I truly do live my professional career by, it’s this saying, not one that I created, but one that I use, and it goes like this If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got. And to me, jim, what that saying means is that always be open-minded. Be open-minded to a diversity of opinions, ideas and thoughts, and that’s how we evolve and progress.
Jim Lenz, Director of Education:
I love it. Thank you for sharing. You’re welcome, john. You officially joined Jeeps on December 11th of last year, 2023, which was not long ago. It is now late January of 2024. At the time of this recording, you’ve been highly active. For sure Listeners may be curious of the activities, interactions and kind of what your schedule has been like during your first 40 days or so as a new leader of Jeeps.
John Caupert, Executive Director:
Yeah, sure. Well, aside from the information coming at me like drinking water from a fire hose, that’s what it has felt like at times. I have spent this first six weeks or so doing exactly what I discussed in the interview process and with our international board of directors. I have been active in engaging with the Jeeps community and when I talk about the Jeeps community I’m talking about members, I’m talking about chapter leadership, the two dozen plus chapters that we have throughout North America Very interactive with the Jeeps media group as well as the foundation. Now these efforts have been complimented by also reaching out to my friends, peers, colleagues throughout the agriculture, trade organization and trade association world, as well.
Jim Lenz, Director of Education:
Excellent. Thanks for sharing, john. There’s so much I like about your background. I find it all very interesting and one thing for sure is agriculture has been an ongoing theme since you arrived on this planet and in your previous role, prior to joining Jeeps, you served as the executive director for the nonprofit organization the National Corn to Ethanol Research Center, or NCERC. You have such breadth and depth in your experiences. Please share with whole grain listeners some of your background, education and experiences. Who is John Culpert?
John Caupert, Executive Director:
Yeah, sure, jim, I appreciate that question. Well, you know, I’m a farm kid, not only at heart, but in reality. I was born and raised on a grain and livestock farm in southern Illinois, a farm in which my parents, my very youthful parents in their 80s and age, still reside. From an education standpoint, I have both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in agribusiness economics. My master’s degree focused more on agriculture policy. Jim, I’ve been blessed not only throughout my life but my career. I’m three decades into, as you described, all things agriculture. Right out of college I was working as a grain merchandiser, then moved into a role as a grain accountant. In that role I worked with the front lines of production, agriculture, the farmer. After graduate school, I went to work as a corporate contractor for the world’s largest, bruer, where I had marketing responsibility of an excess of 2.5 million tons per year of spent bruer grains, a processed grain. Approximately 20 to 22 years ago is when I first became familiar with Jeeps. I went to work for a company in which we marketed grain quality testing systems, specifically in the area of microtoxins, to all levels of grain and grain processing. Again, this is where I became intimately familiar with Jeeps, as you mentioned there. Yes, I spent the last 17 years as the executive director of National Carnet Ethnology Research Center as a non-profit entity. I oversaw the commercialization of more than 80 products and technologies that have been widely adopted throughout the corn ethanol industry. A real point of pride is during those 17 years we saw the US corn ethanol industry grow from a 1.6 billion gallon industry to the 16 billion gallon industry that it is today.
Jim Lenz, Director of Education:
What motivated you to join our organization in this leadership role?
John Caupert, Executive Director:
It’s interesting, different folks are motivated by different things. You know, first off, over the last probably three to five years, I repeatedly told myself that there’s one more big thing out there to accomplish. I just didn’t know what it was, jim. I didn’t know what it was, didn’t know where it was, and some would argue, this opportunity at Jeeps. This is it, and it likely is. That being said, though, jim, throughout my career, what I’ve always been motivated by is people and, more importantly, seeing the success of those people, and, as a member driven organization, that’s what Jeeps is all about People highlighted by our 3000 plus members.
Jim Lenz, Director of Education:
Now we got a little bit about your background and some personal insights there. Could you share a fun fact or a hobby or two that our audience may not know about you, and when they meet you they may have something common or certainly something fun to talk about.
John Caupert, Executive Director:
Yeah, a couple of, maybe a few, maybe two or three fun facts here, maybe two or three fun facts is one is I am a Hallmark Christmas movie nerd. This past Christmas season, beginning Friday October 20th all the way through January 2nd, it was it was nonstop Hallmark Christmas movies, and that’s something that some folks find interesting. But here’s a fun fact for you is that even though I’ve been a licensed pilot for over 30 years, I’m deathly afraid of heights.
Jim Lenz, Director of Education:
Oh, wow.
John Caupert, Executive Director:
When I share that with folks, the next thing is can you please explain? I can’t really explain it, other than I can fly an airplane, but I don’t like going up on a ladder.
Jim Lenz, Director of Education:
Is there a particular aspect of the green industry that you find personally fascinating?
John Caupert, Executive Director:
Jim, there there is, and this is where I really think that, where I spent the last 17 to 20 years is going to prove some real opportunity, not only for Jeeps and Jeeps existing members, but potential members. What I’m talking about is the corn ethanol industry, and here’s why, jim, when you think of the nearly 200 corn ethanol plants that exist just here in the United States alone, every single one of those corn ethanol plants, they start off as a grain elevator. It’s corn coming in by way of truck, rail and in some cases a barge. The handling systems are that of a grain elevator. But then, when you think about the very first step in the corn ethanol process, corn goes through a hammer mill. That’s processing. So to me, the corn ethanol industry, and in particular those corn ethanol plants, encapsulates everything that grain elevator and processing society stands for. I find that fascinating, and I can also say that equally, on the soybean side of things, you know the soy crush and conversion into bio biodiesel. Jim.
Jim Lenz, Director of Education:
And that’s why your background is so interesting. How do you perceive, John, the current state of the grain handling and processing industry?
John Caupert, Executive Director:
Jim, when it comes to all things agriculture and agriculture related which is what we are and who we serve I’m a realist. I take great pride in being a realist. That being said, I take great pride in identifying opportunity, seizing opportunity, and when I look at the entirety of the grain elevator, grain processing industry, that’s exactly what I see. I see opportunity after opportunity after opportunity. And here’s why, jim, the folks that work in the grain and grain processing industry. They truly are the heart and soul of who we work with and who we represent. And here’s the reason why these are the folks that are taking agricultural products corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, rice, whatever it might be and they are converting those agricultural products from farm to fork, from farm to fuel and from farm to the thousands of different products that are made from grains. So, again, what I see is just a sea of opportunity waiting for us to capture it.
Jim Lenz, Director of Education:
It’s exciting and we’re excited to have you here, and it was great to learn that you were also excited to play a big role in future podcast episodes of the whole grain show In addition to the podcast channel. In what ways do you anticipate engaging with our international membership base and broader grain handling and processing industry?
John Caupert, Executive Director:
Engagement. That’s who I am For Jim, for the listeners out there, I refer to myself as being old school. Now, my daughter would refer to me as just being old, but I think I’m old school. What I mean by that is I’m an in-person, face-to-face. I’m all about relationships, building relationships, growing relationships, strengthening relationships. And, frankly, jim, and again for the listeners out there, I can’t wait to get out of the office. I can’t wait to get out there and engage with our members, engage with our chapters. I welcome each and opportunity to be a guest, to be a guest speaker at a chapter meeting or whatever it might be.
Jim Lenz, Director of Education:
Wonderful. Thank you, john, even though it’s in the early stages. As the executive director of the Green Elevator and Processing Society, you must have had a lot of conversations with people leading up to the interview and selection process for executive director and, of course, so many more conversations within your first few weeks on the job. What is the underlying theme or themes you’ve gathered as a reason why grain handling and processing professionals lean towards Jeeps and are excited to be a member of the organization?
John Caupert, Executive Director:
I think there truly is a central theme, and it’s one that I not only researched on my own. I certainly heard commented on during the interview process and, yes, in these first 40 days I’ve gathered just this resounding overall theme Jeeps as a global organization. We are here to connect and serve the global grain industry, and when I’m married that mission and vision of Jeeps as an organization with a strategic plan that was recently adopted by our international board of directors, igm, come up with a central theme. And that central theme to me is this Jeeps is a thriving community of thought leaders. We are here to enhance the careers of those that work in the grain and grain processing industry. And how do we do that? We do that by bringing awareness, by bringing information, by bringing educational and networking opportunities. That’s the central theme, jim, that I’ve heard and that I’ve come up with.
Jim Lenz, Director of Education:
Love it, john. You’ll be joining the show in many future whole grain podcast episodes, including our next episode, as we and other team members prepare you for the biggest and best show in the grain handling and processing industry. It’s a special event taking place February 4th through the 7th at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, missouri. We’ll get you excited about the enormous trade show floor, the vast array of educational opportunities and the networking opportunities and so much more. We are talking about Jeeps Exchange. It will be a fun episode. We’re looking forward to sharing that with you, so be on the lookout for it Now, john. Listeners can find out more information and register for the event by visiting jeepscom forward slash exchange. John, tell us what makes this event so special and what are you looking forward to.
John Caupert, Executive Director:
I’m really excited about Exchange. We’re gonna be more than 3,000 strong in attendance, with nearly 400 exhibitors in our sold out expo. Exchange is not only an opportunity to receive some educational sessions but also some entertainment, and it’s gonna be fun. We’re gonna kick things off on Sunday with a world renowned drummer and motivational speaker, sandy Gennaro. You know Sandy Gennaro. I didn’t realize it until I researched his background a bit, but nearly 30 years ago I actually heard Sandy Gennaro on drums when he was with Joan Jett in the black hearts. Sandy Gennaro has performed in front of more than a billion people worldwide when performing with music icons like Michael Bolton, cindy Lauper and, as I mentioned, joan Jett in the black hearts. Educational opportunities that I mentioned just a bit ago we’re gonna have more than two dozen educational sessions across four different educational tracks almost unlimited opportunity there. The expo the expo I think it’s our biggest in organizational history. And that nearly 400 exhibitors. We are sold out and on that, for the listeners out there, I’m gonna extend a special thank you to those exhibitors, to those sponsors. Exchange would not be possible without them. And then, finally, we’re gonna close out exchange by having some fun in the expo hall in the form of a music bingo. So, again, to all the listeners out there, I’d encourage them to brush up on your music knowledge, because there’s gonna be a number of prize opportunities involved in that, so we’re just really looking forward to it, jim.
Jim Lenz, Director of Education:
All right, John, it’s been fun. We welcome you to Jeeps. We’re excited about the future of Jeeps. I’m glad we were able to use this podcast channel to have a chance to have a conversation and for listeners to learn more about you. This might be the first time members and green professionals have heard your voice and I think it may bring a sense of excitement and comfort to them of who is leading Jeeps. And hopefully your participation in the show will encourage others to reach out to you and meet you, whether it’s in person at Jeeps Exchange or through our other channels of communication. Any final closing words before we conclude the show.
John Caupert, Executive Director:
Sure well, first off, jim, thank you for this opportunity. This has been fun. I truly am looking forward to many more opportunities to visit with you. But just a couple of quick messages. The first one to our members. To our Jeeps members we thank you. We are a member-driven organization, which means we are your organization. To the non-members out there to the folks that work in the grain processing industries and anywhere in that value chain. I’d encourage you to check us out at jeepsgeapscom. We have a wide variety of membership offerings and we’d love to welcome you to our family of more than 3,000 members.
Jim Lenz, Director of Education:
John, thank you for spending quality time with whole green listeners. Jim, thank you so much, it’s been a pleasure.
