Management

Robert Tripp

Robert Tripp is President and CEO of Benefuel Inc., and has been involved in the biodiesel industry for the last five years, building and installing facilities in the United States. Robert co-founded Benefuel in 2007 to capitalize on the acquisition of global patents on advanced biodiesel and glycerin refining technology. He began his career in Management Consulting with Deloitte & Touche and a year later he joined the newly formed Internet start-up, iSTAR where he helped take it public (iSTAR was the first Internet company to go public in Canada) and grow it from 15 people to over 350 within three years. Rob started Clarity, a software development company that was based in Calgary, Alberta, and grew it into a leading provider of back office applications and custom developed software. Rob has used his background in business process improvements and systems to provide a much-needed update to the biodiesel industry’s business methods with automated quality assurance and condensed distribution supply chains.

William Summers

Bill Summers is the Chief Science Officer for Benefuel Inc. Bill is an experienced executive whose thirty year career covers every aspect of business management: general management, corporate finance, operations, regulatory affairs, licensing, product development and introductions, international development, sales, distribution and marketing. Starting his career in Technical Service and Development with IMC’s Chemical Group, Bill led a new process development team to implement improvements to IMC’s nitroparaffin operations in Louisiana. Bill transitioned to IMC’s Animal Products Group after completing an MBA from Indiana State University, where he led business development efforts for 11 years, leading the acquisition of Sterwin Labs and Pitman-Moore as well as the product development teams for both recDNA porcine and bovine growth hormone products. Bill joined Uniroyal’s Gustafson division, where he developed a line of biological seed protectants for this industry leader. Following this new business development effort, Bill was asked to head-up a small livestock vaccine company’s turnaround, which resulted in the sale of the business to Akzo-Intervet. Using his experience in managing small, high technology businesses, Bill spent three years developing another biological pest control company and raising $2.5 million in institutional equity for Entomos, Inc. (Florida). He later worked with Cybus Capital as Chief Science Officer for its tecTERRA Food Capital Fund. When this public-private equity fund was retired in 2003, Bill kept busy and focused his efforts on developing new businesses based on innovative chemical processes. In 2006, he organized New Century Lubricants and licensed the worldwide exclusive rights to the National Chemical Laboratory’s novel solid catalyst system for biodiesel, and formed Benefuel with Rob Tripp of Gripp Industries. Bill has his PhD in Organic Chemistry from Northwestern University and an MBA from Indiana State University. He is a member the Society of the Sigma Xi, American Chemical Society, American Oil Chemists Society and a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemists.