US Grains Council 58th Annual Membership Meeting

Developing Markets. Enabling Trade. Improving Lives. These are the core values of the U.S. Grains Council.

The council’s 15th International Marketing Conference and 58th Annual Membership Meeting took place at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Houston, TX.  Chairman Deb Keller, writes:
“We believe this gathering will be an excellent opportunity for you to engage directly on the most critical issues facing our Friends and Frontiers. Our A-Teams will hold their yearly in-depth sessions to help set our global strategy, and you will have the opportunity to meet directly with the Council’s international directors. The sun never sets on the efforts of these advocates to develop critical markets, dismantle trade barriers and serve our customers overseas. We hope all of our members will interact with these invaluable experts on short-term marketing opportunities and long-term demand growth for U.S. feed grains and co-products like ethanol and DDGS.”

As an international destination event photographer, it’s my pleasure to capture and document amazing conferences and meetings around the globe. The US Grains Council is one of my absolute favorites to photograph each year! With an incredibly dedicated staff, an enthusiastic membership group, and a healthy message for the world…it’s always a joy to work with this great team.

US Grains Council at The Stampede

Developing Markets. Enabling Trade. Improving Lives. These are the core values of the U.S. Grains Council.

The Washington D.C. based organization develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With full-time presence in 13 key markets and representatives in an additional 15 locations, the Council operates programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union. The Council believes exports are vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s profitability.

Last month, I had the honor of photographing the USGC’s 58th Annual Membership Meeting in Houston, TX. After three days of hard work, keynote speakers, tough debates, and intense meetings, everyone got together for a fun event at The Stampede. The Stampede is a cavernous roadhouse event space featuring country & western concerts, a massive dance floor, pool tables, armadillo racing, and even a mechanical bull ring for the brave-of-heart!

Everyone had a great time, a well-deserved reward after an intense few days!

Ethanol Summit of the Americas in Houston

Photographing the inaugural Ethanol Summit of the Americas at The Westin Oaks in Houston, TX, was a real honor for me. I owe a HUGE Thank You to the US Grains Council for this assignment!

Industry and government officials from more than 15 countries in the Western Hemisphere met a few weeks ago at the Ethanol Summit of the Americas to discuss current and future opportunities for ethanol in the region.

The event was sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board. These organizations and others in the U.S. agriculture and renewable fuels industries work together to promote the global use of ethanol and U.S. ethanol exports.

This Summit brought together recognized scientists and ethanol experts to engage with policymakers and provide information on the economic and environmental benefits of ethanol-blended fuel. The Summit also served as a launching point for expanded regional engagement markets in the Caribbean, Central America and South America.

“Increasing cooperation between ethanol industries supports economic growth for all countries involved,” said Tom Sleight, USGC president and chief executive officer. “Collaborative efforts like the meetings this week enable a greater understanding of the policy climate surrounding ethanol and help pave the way for expanded ethanol use throughout the region.”

The Summit highlighted the use of ethanol in transportation fuels to help meet a number of economic and environmental challenges, including improving air quality, extending the current fuel supply and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The U.S. ethanol industry’s efforts, including conferences like the Ethanol Summit of the Americas, are helping successfully establish the United States as a reliable and affordable source of fuel.

Here are a few of my favorite images from this fantastic 2-day conference!!!

WithIt Head-shots

A professional head-shot says a lot about an individual. If you’re still using an amateur snapshot, or worse a “selfie”, for your website, business cards, LinkedIn profile, and so on…you could be loosing business!

We live in a world where images are EVERYWHERE!!! Since the invention of digital cameras and the cell phone, this is the most photographed generation in the history of the world. So how do you make YOUR images stand out in the oceans of images that your clients are bombarded with every single day?

These same clients are making split-second decisions on whether you’re a genuine, professional, knowledgeable, trustworthy, and personable individual that they would like to meet and work with. A professional head-shot conveys all of this and more! It makes a statement about you. It grabs their attention. And it opens doors to opportunities you would otherwise miss out on!

Last week I had the distinct honor of photographing head-shots for the amazing ladies at the WithIt Professional Women’s Conference. These are the business leaders, the movers, and the shakers of their respective industries!!!

Banquet on The USS Yorktown

Last week I had the honor of photographing a high-profile corporate event in Charleston with a wonderful group of amazing people! At the conclusion of the conference was an incredible celebration banquet, held on the flight deck of The USS Yorktown.

Corporate Conference at The Gaillard Auditorim

Last week I had the honor of photographing a high-profile corporate event in Charleston with a wonderful group of amazing people! The company conference and meetings were held at The Gaillard Auditorium.

Executive Portraits at The Gaillard Auditorium

Last week I had the honor of photographing a high-profile corporate event in Charleston with a wonderful group of amazing people! Through out the conference, which was held at The Gaillard Auditorium, I continued photographing various executive portraits during breaks.

Welcome Reception at Lowndes Grove Plantation

Last week I had the honor of photographing a high-profile corporate event in Charleston with a wonderful group of amazing people! Everyone was officially welcomed to Charleston during a fabulous welcome reception at the picturesque Lowndes Grove Plantation.

Executive Portraits at The Dewberry

Last week I had the honor of photographing a high-profile corporate event in Charleston with a wonderful group of amazing people!  Before the program started, I had the opportunity to photograph some executive portraits at The Dewberry Hotel…

ATI Acquisition

It was an honor being the official photographer for the acquisition and merger between ANSWER and ATI yesterday:

“Analytic Services Inc. (ANSER), a public service research institute organized as a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to informing decisions that shape the nation’s future, today announced it has acquired South Carolina-based Advanced Technology International (ATI), a not-for-profit company that organizes and manages Research & Development (R&D) consortia on behalf of the federal government. Through this acquisition, represented by the law firm of Holland & Knight, ANSER gains approximately 165 employees bringing its total headcount to 515 and revenue growth increases to $500 million per annum…http://finance.yahoo.com/news/anser-expands-national-footprint-advanced-170000788.html“

Charleston Trident Association of Realtors

The Charleston Trident Association of Realtors is an AMAZING organization that I’ve had the priviledge of working with over the last few years. This week I got to photograph their Installation Luncheon of their new inductees!

Export Exchange Conference in Detroit

Nearly 200 international buyers and end-users came together in Detroit last week, eager to meet and build relationships with more than 300 domestic suppliers in attendance over three days of educational sessions and networking opportunities.

Held every two years by USGC and RFA, Export Exchange is the nation’s premier international trade conference focused on the export of U.S. coarse grains and co-products. This record-breaking event in 2014 attracted buying teams from 33 countries, including all of the top U.S. international grain markets.

As voices for U.S. farmers and agribusinesses – and trusted ambassadors for free and fair trade with customers around the world – the U.S. Grains Council and the Renewable Fuels Association were excited to host this event to help expand established export markets and establish new markets.

It was my pleasure to be the official photographer again for this amazing event!!!