Sioux Falls, SD – During its first quarter meeting, the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Board of Directors elected its 2026 officers who also comprise the organization’s Executive Committee.
Those elected to serve as officers in new Executive Committee positions in 2026 are:
- Troy Knecht, President – South Dakota farmer, representing Redfield Energy, a 63 million-gallon-per-year (MGY) ethanol producer in Redfield, South Dakota. Troy formerly served as Vice President.
- Chris Studer, Vice President – Chief Member and Public Relations Officer for East River Electric Power Cooperative, which is a founding member of ACE dating back to 1987.
- Dave Sovereign – Chairman of Golden Grain Energy’s Board, which oversees a locally owned 125 MGY ethanol plant in Mason City, Iowa. Sovereign also serves on the Absolute Energy board, a locally owned 130 MGY ethanol producer in St. Ansgar, Iowa. Dave formerly served as President.
“It’s humbling to be the incoming President of ACE. I’m thinking of so many industry giants and leaders who currently serve on the board or have in the past,” said Troy Knecht. “I look forward to carrying on their legacy and the mission of ACE. Our grassroots efforts to support the ethanol industry and rural America are more important than ever right now, and I don’t take that lightly.”
“We are enormously grateful for the leadership and dedication Dave Sovereign has demonstrated during his five years as ACE board president,” said Brian Jennings, ACE CEO. “Fortunately, Dave will continue serving on the board, where his experience and insight will remain a valuable asset to ACE and the industry. Further, Troy Knecht will be an outstanding president. We are excited he is stepping into the role and look forward to a strong year ahead for ACE and the ethanol industry.”
Re-elected to serve as officers on the 2026 Executive Committee are:
- Ron Alverson, Secretary – Ron farms part-time with his son and serves as an expert resource on the GREET model and lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions, he represents Dakota Ethanol on the ACE Board, which owns a 100 MGY plant in Wentworth, South Dakota.
- John Christianson, Treasurer – John serves as the President of software company Beyond Agribusiness Solutions and Christianson Benchmarking, LLC. He retired at the end of 2024 from Christianson PLLP, the accounting and business consulting firm of which he is a founding partner.
- Bill Dartt – Bill is the Chief Financial Officer for Cardinal Ethanol, a 138 MGY ethanol plant in Union City, Indiana.
