About Us
Overview: Everton Energy, LLC was incorporated in May 2006 in the State of Kansas by its three owners: Mr. Leon Trammell, Mr. Steve Cloud, and Mr. Bert Farrish.
- Mr. Trammell is the founder, Chairman and CEO of Tramco, Inc.
- Mr. Cloud is President of Tramco, Inc.
- Mr. Farrish was formerly the Deputy Administrator of Commodity Operations, Farm Service Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Tramco is a leading supplier worldwide of bulk material handling equipment for the grain and grain processing industries, as well as other bulk material and agricultural operations. The company is located in Wichita, KS and has been in business for approximately 40 years.
Everton was formed with the goal of becoming a leading low cost producer of ethanol. To achieve this goal, the Company plans to develop or acquire a total of 400 MMGY of ethanol production capacity by the end of 2012. Everton will also produce by-products of ethanol, mainly DDGS, WDGS and vegetable oil. Everton plans to commence ethanol production by building its first plant adjacent to the City of Concordia, Kansas, with commercial operations expected to begin in the second quarter of 2009. The Concordia Facility, will include state of the art technology and will be located close to substantial surpluses of two ethanol feedstocks, corn and sorghum. The Concordia Facility will be equipped to accommodate unit rail or truck transportation of feedstock, DDGS and ethanol. The senior management of the Company brings skills and experience in the ethanol and grain markets, as well as in project development and plant operations.
Ethanol Plants
Initial Plants – Concordia Facility
Everton plans to commence ethanol production by building its first plant adjacent to Concordia, Kansas. This first plant will have a 110 MMGY nameplate production capacity of denatured ethanol. Construction of this plant is expected to begin in September 2007 and expects commercial operations to begin in the second quarter of 2009. See “Concordia Facility”.
Potential Additional Plants
Everton is evaluating potential sites for additional ethanol facilities. Some of these sites would be “origination plants”, meaning located in major grain producing areas in the U.S. Others would be “destination plants”, meaning close to major ethanol or DGS consumption areas. Each proposed site or plant will be evaluated not only to determine if sufficient capacity exists to support the first stage of operations, but also on its ability to support expansions.
As an alternative to developing sites, Everton may acquire other plants in the U.S. Everton is also in discussions with certain ethanol companies that may be integrated in joint ventures or other cooperative development efforts.
Experienced Management Team
The senior management of the Company has substantial experience in the marketing, storage, transportation and handling of a variety of agricultural commodities, the supervision of processing plants and construction projects, the financial management of ethanol facilities, as well as the technical expertise in the production of ethanol and biofuels.
Bert Farrish is the President and CEO of the Company and has more than 30 years of experience in agricultural industries. Mr. Farrish was President of Columbia Grain, Inc. (“Columbia Grain”), one of the largest grain exporters in the United States. Mr. Farrish has been involved in planning and directing several start-ups and a number of capital expansions during his career. In addition, he managed a large number of capital projects at Columbia Grain, including the large scale upgrade of the company’s export elevator, upgrade of process control and automation system, development of the first high capacity wheat cleaning system in the U.S. and upgrades at interior facilities to accommodate 110 car shuttle trains. Mr. Farrish joined the Company from the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”), where he served for four years as the Deputy Administrator of Commodity Operations for the Farm Service Agency.
Blake Hendrix is Vice President and Director of Processing Operations and has more than 32 years of experience in the design and operation of industrial processing plants. Mr. Hendrix joined the Company from Ag Processing Inc (AGP) where he served as Vice President of Operations, Processing and Refining. AGP is the world’s largest soybean processing co-operative. At AGP Mr. Hendrix was responsible for an ethanol refinery, three soybean oil refineries, one biodiesel plant and nine soybean extraction processing plants located at nine different locations throughout the Mid-Western Missouri Valley. Prior to joining AGP, Mr. Hendrix worked for 19 years for the Alfa Laval group of companies, manufacturers of process equipment and proprietary process technologies. Mr. Hendrix has extensive experience in all aspects of edible oil processing, biodiesel production and related areas. He has been directly involved in all aspects of process design including significant automation projects, efficiency increases, de-bottlenecking and original process design and development.
Jerry Byrnes is the Chief Financial Officer of the Company and has more than 30 years experience in financial management of agricultural trading and processing companies. Mr. Byrnes has been a controller for A. E. Staley, Foster Commodities as well as Corporate Controller of DeBruce Grain Inc. Mr. Byrnes was Chief Financial Officer of Pendleton Flour Mills and United BioEnergy, a startup ethanol services company. Mr. Byrnes has also performed consulting for the ethanol industry. Throughout his career Mr. Byrnes has been involved with organizations which undertook expansions through the construction of new facilities or the purchase of existing facilities. Some of these organizations were also engaged in the trading and marketing areas of agricultural commodities.
Current Status: The company is in discussions with lenders and investors. Everton anticipates financial close in September 2007.
Informa Economics ( http://www.informaeconomics.com/ ) is a highly regarded agricultural consulting firm, partnered with Hart Downstream Energy Services another consulting firm specializing in the energy markets, have completed the feasibility study. Both firms have considerable experience in bioenergy projects and working with the investment banking community. The Informa analysis includes the economics of fractionation of the corn feedstock into additional co-products such as corn oil, bran, and press cake.
- Everton Energy has engaged Scura Rise, LLC, investment bankers, to assist with establishing the financial structure of the company and Sidley Austin, LLP as its legal counsel.
- Everton Energy has obtained options on property near Concordia, Kansas that has BNSF mainline access and KYLE railroad access, two competing gas pipelines nearby.
- Everton has begun the process of obtaining operating permits and water rights.
- The Company intends to execute marketing and off-take agreements for the Concordia Facility with a major marketing trading company with national scope. Such a company will also have the assets and ability to service the Company’s business, which include transportation logistics, railcars and other necessary support services. Everton has identified, and is in advanced conversations with, several firms which meet its criteria. In the future Everton will consider performing certain of the marketing functions internally.
- Everton intends to market a portion of its DDGS and WDGS directly. The amounts directly marketed will vary by plant location. The Concordia Facility is well located to be able to locally market both DDGS and WDGS. In addition Everton plans to sign an off-take agreement with a national marketing company for the majority of the Concordia Facility’s DGS. The DDGS can be shipped by rail or truck from the Concordia Facility due to its excellent rail and highway connections.
- Everton Energy is working with ICM ( http://www.icminc.com/ ), a leading ethanol plant design and construction firm, to design and construct the project. Construction is slated to commence in the fourth quarter of 2007. ICM has designed approximately 50% of current operating ethanol plants in the U.S and is also involved in ethanol development internationally.