Management Team
Michael L. Noble, President
Michael is responsible for the management, organization and coordination of operations for HERO BX. He has more than 20 years experience in refined oil processing, customer relations, scheduling, purchasing, laboratory management, production and maintenance fields, as well as seven years of biodiesel plant startup and management.
He began his career at Archer Daniels Midland in 1987, where he worked his way up from Process Technician to Quality Control Manager. In 2001, he moved to Alabama to assume the position of Refinery Production Superintendent for “industry giant” Bunge North America. Wanting to transition into the biodiesel industry, he accepted the role of Bio-Diesel/Refinery Manager at South Dakota & Minnesota Soybean Processors in 2003. In 2006, he began consulting for industry leaders such as Lurgi, Desmet and Cargill assisting them in the construction of several biodiesel plants in the Midwest.
Born and raised in Carlisle, IA, a small community outside of Des Moines, he now resides in Erie, PA with his wife and three children.
Chris Peterson, Vice President, Finance and Commodity Risk
Chris is responsible for the day-to-day financial and regulatory management of the company including: cash management, inventory management, financial analysis, budgeting and forecasting. He manages the regulatory requirements mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Internal Revenue Service and PA Departments of Transportation and Revenue. Chris is also responsible for feedstock procurement and all commodity hedging activities for the company.
For nine years prior to joining HERO BX, Chris was the Divisional Finance Manager for Rent-Way, Inc., a publicly-held specialty retail firm. In that role, Chris was responsible for financial analysis, budgeting and forecasting and internal financial reporting to executive management and the Board of directors. Chris played an integral role in attracting and securing approximately $300 million to refinance the Company’s debt in 2003. During the four months prior to accepting his position with HERO BX, Chris worked in a similar role for STERIS Corporation, a global manufacturer of medical equipment.
Born and raised in Erie, PA he attended college in North Carolina for two years before returning to Erie to complete his undergraduate degrees. Chris holds dual Bachelor of Science degrees, in Business Communications and Accounting, from Penn State University, and a Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Finance from Gannon University. Chris resides in Erie, PA.
Tim Keaveney, Vice President of Sales
Tim is currently leading the development of the company’s domestic and international markets for biodiesel.
An eighteen year sales and marketing veteran from the transportation and heating fuels sector, Tim’s experience uniquely qualifies him to help link the company’s 45 million gallon multi-feedstock biodiesel plant with traditional fuel oil market segments.
Born and raised in Boston, MA, he received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in Marketing from Suffolk University, Boston, MA in 1990. Tim resides in Newfields, NH with his wife, son and two daughters.
Glenn Green, Director of Technology
Glenn is responsible for the laboratory, product quality and research and development.
Glenn began his employment with HERO BX as the only Laboratory Technician and shortly thereafter was promoted to Laboratory Manager. As HERO BX’s Laboratory Manager, Glenn held the responsibility of installing, calibrating, certifying and gaining accreditation of the state-of-the-art laboratory. He created a quality management system per BQ-9000 guidelines that included all documentation, training and implementation which gained accreditation for HERO BX as a Producer and Marketer.
Glenn is a member of the ASTM D02 Technical community where he sits as Co-chair of the Solids Above the Cloud working group and participates in the Water & Sediment, Oxidative Stability and Free and Total Glycerin working groups for the Biodiesel Task force. Glenn was enlisted in the United States Army for three years as a 63B10, followed by eight years in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.
Glenn was raised in the outskirts of North East, PA and graduated from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Biochemistry. Glenn resides in North East, PA with his two sons.
Scott Newell, Environmental Health and Safety Manager
Scott holds overall responsibility for the development and implementation of all Environmental, Health and Safety programs.
Experienced, long-time contributor to the environmental and safety programs with International Paper Corporation and Lake Erie Biofuels, Scott has successfully maintained 100% compliance and developed positive relationships between the manufacturing facility and the regulatory community. Scott has a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. He also maintains DOT Hazardous Materials and RCRA Certifications, 40-hour Hazwoper and has extensive experience in multimedia environmental compliance.
John Schenker Jr., Plant Manager
John Schenker is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the production facility. He plans and directs the work activities and resources necessary for biodiesel production in accordance with cost, quantity, and quality specifications.
John has 20 years of Mechanical Experience in the Pulp and Paper Industry along with four years of Biodiesel experience.
John was raised in Erie Pennsylvania were he gained a strong mechanical background. He currently resides in Erie with his two children.
John Nies, Operations Manager
John works directly with operations to monitor production and quality throughout the pretreatment and transesterification processes.
John first began working for HERO BX in May of 2007 as an Engineering Intern assisting with writing procedures and quality manuals. He then worked as an Operations Technician in the laboratory helping with quality assurance throughout start-up of the biodiesel and pretreatment processes. After working in the lab, John took the position of Operations Engineer working on the start-up of the fatty acid stripper, acid esterification processes, plant improvements and day-to-day production.
John graduated from Clemson University in May of 2006 earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biosystems Engineering and will graduate from Gannon University in May of 2011 with a master’s degree in Engineering Management. John resides in Erie, PA with his wife and daughter.