People

	*Mr. Steven L. Hofing* is the Managing Director of Centrec Consulting Group and has more than seventeen years of experience as a management consultant. He has managed both domestic and international consulting projects in all four of Centrec’s service areas. Although he has worked extensively in projects involving strategy development, operational analysis, and business systems design and development, he is perhaps best known for his work in the ag finance segment of the agribusiness industry. He is a nationally recognized authority in the area of agricultural credit analysis and has trained thousands of agricultural lenders throughout the United States. He has also worked extensively in the grain segment of the agribusiness industry, most recently in the developing area of IP and Value-Enhanced grains.
	Mr. R. Christopher Schroeder is a Director at Centrec Consulting Group and has been with the firm since 1985. In addition to his formal education including a BS in Agricultural Sciences from Western Illinois University, and a MS in Agricultural Economics from the University of Illinois, Chris’ problem solving and analytical skills draw on his early background in production agriculture, computer modeling, and mechanical systems. Much of his work over the last 10 years has been focused on simulation modeling and visualization tools to better understand complex and dynamic systems. He has used this experience combined with his strong facilitation skills to effectively lead strategy-related engagements for a broad range of public, private, and not-for-profit entities at the local, state and national level. Chris is also actively involved in managing the family farm in Southern Illinois.
	Mr. Todd A. Doehring is a Director at Centrec Consulting Group and has been with the firm since 1991. Todd’s primary area of expertise is in the area of strategic and analytic modeling. Activities in this consulting area include meeting with management teams to identify problems and design, development, and implementation of models to help management address and visualize problems. Specific modeling activities include work in the areas of credit analysis software used by agricultural lenders and analysts and simulation models for strategic decision making used by management teams. Todd is also involved in Centrec's technology practice, economic analysis and market research, and educational programs—primarily in the areas of financial and agricultural credit analysis. Training activities include program design, material development, and program delivery.
	Mr. Don Gillings is a Director with Centrec Consulting Group. Don's consulting experience includes financial and management services, accounting and management information systems design and implementation, business organization development and transition, litigation support and client advocacy. He has served as the principal financial instructor for the NPPC Production and Financial Standards initiative. Don is a CPA, and a Certified Agricultural Consultant - Independent. He is past President of the American Society of Agricultural Consultants and a past President of the Farm Financial Standards Council. Prior to assuming his responsibilities with Centrec, Don served as a national consulting manager in agribusiness and operated a management consulting firm serving agricultural producers and other small businesses. He has previously served as CFO of organizations in various industries. Don has received a BA and MBA from Michigan State University.
	*Dr. Michael D. Boehlje* is a Senior Associate with Centrec Consulting Group and a Professor in the Center for Food and Agricultural Business at Purdue University. Mike teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in agricultural finance and the executive development programs of the center, and is a frequent speaker at farm and agribusiness conferences, schools, and workshops, including the Wisconsin Graduate School of Banking and state banking schools in Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska. His areas of expertise include strategic planning, financial management, credit analysis, and finance and business policy. Mike received a B.S. in Agricultural Economics from Iowa State University. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University. He has co-authored four books on agricultural finance and policy, and has authored or co-authored over 450 articles and publications.
	*Dr. David A. Lins* is a Senior Associate at Centrec and a Professor of Finance and Adjunct Professor of Agricultural and Consumer Economics at the University of Illinois. He teaches graduate level courses in corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions. Since obtaining the Ph.D. degree in 1972, he has served as an educator, researcher, and consultant in the agribusiness industry. Daves' primary research and consulting activities are in the areas of financial management, agricultural and corporate finance, and public policy. He has worked extensively in the analysis of asset valuation, capital formation, and he is nationally recognized for his work in evaluating the potential of farmland and other agricultural assets as potential institutional investments. Dave has authored or co-authored four major textbooks on the subject of agricultural finance and financial management. He also has worked on projects in Canada, the Middle East, Poland, the former Soviet Union and South Korea. He also serves as the president of CPC Ventures, a small private equity firm and as chairman of the Board for E-Literacy, a portfolio company of CPC Ventures.
Photo not available	*Mr. Robert K. Stewart* is a Senior Associate with Centrec Consulting Group. Bob has worked in a wide array of projects for Centrec Consulting Group including strategy development, market research and analysis, and educational program development. His main practice areas relate to his background in production agriculture and the grain industry. He has worked extensively in the area of grain quality in both corn and soybeans looking at how quality impacts end-use value. Bob’s technical skills include expertise in spreadsheet and simulation model design and development—primarily used for financial analysis and strategic decision making. Bob brings a valuable perspective to many of the Centrec Consulting Group project engagements, as he is also a grain producer. He is actively involved with his family’s 4,000 acre grain operation located in northern Illinois.
	*Dr. Sharon K. Bard*, a Senior Consultant with Centrec, brings to the firm a background in agricultural finance, lending and management, risk assessment and management, agribusiness, and supply chain analysis. Sharon has worked on projects spanning the agricultural industry from agricultural producers to food retail businesses, and utilizes numerous qualitative and quantitative methodologies in conducting her research. Her empirical experience includes econometric analysis, mathematical modeling, and psychometrics, while Sharon has employed personal interviews, focus groups and surveys to conduct her qualitative research. Her duties have included leading focus groups; designing, implementing and analyzing surveys; conducting market analysis; and performing economic research and analysis. Sharon is also Research Director of Farm Research Institute (FRI), a sister company to Centrec. Sharon holds a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in agricultural economics. Sharon grew up on a ranch in Arizona, and currently lives on a cash grain farm.
	Mr. Micah M. Pope is a Consultant with Centrec Consulting Group. Micah is involved in a variety of activities at Centrec including: design and development of simulation models, economic and financial analysis, and industry and market research. Micah grew up on a farm in western Illinois and spent time studying abroad at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. He has received a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Illinois and a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University.
Photo not available	Mr. Robert W. Nonnemann is a Consultant with Centrec Consulting Group and has been involved with the firm for since 1999. Bob’s consulting experience covers all phases of software, including large mission critical intranet and application development for Fortune 500 companies. For the past several years, Bob has been involved in credit analysis software, financial simulation, and development of web-based applications. He has extensive experience in the design and implementation of complex systems. His skill set includes C#, C++, Visual Basic, ASP.NET and SQL. He received his BS and MS in EE/Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois.