J.R. Claeys
Administrator
USDA Rural Business Cooperative Service

J.R. Claeys serves as Administrator of the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS) in USDA Rural Development. Claeys most recently served in the Kansas Legislature, where he worked extensively on rural economic development policy and state budget issues. His experience includes creating rural lending and grant programs targeting major agriculture and aerospace manufacturers. Prior to running for office, Claeys made his career in small business advocacy, working in communications, public affairs and executive management for national associations representing businesses. Claeys earned his bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University and holds an MPA in Nonprofit Association Management from the George Washington University School of Business. 

Matthew Catarino
Senior Materials Engineer
Sway Innovation Co.

Matt Catarino is a seasoned materials engineer with over a decade of experience in polymer extrusion, as well as materials and application development across a wide range of polymeric systems. Matt’s previous career was at Covestro, where he honed his expertise in product and process development for blown film, cast film, compounding, and injection molding. For the past four years, he has leveraged his plastics processing knowledge to lead the innovation of Sway’s seaweed-based technology, enabling these materials to integrate seamlessly with the globally scaled manufacturing systems used for traditional plastics. He holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and an M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Beth Conerty
Associate Director for Business Development
Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory

Beth Conerty is the Regional Innovation Officer for the Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing (iFAB) Tech Hub and the Associate Director for Business Development for the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois. Beth received her bachelor’s in chemistry and master’s in Bioenergy from the University of Illinois, and she received her PhD in Energy Science and Engineering from University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Lab. In her current role, she leads the effort to build relationships with researchers and industry clients as well as developing the biomanufacturing economy in Central Illinois.

Leah Ford
Marketing & Government Affairs Director
CJ Biomaterials 

Leah Ford is the Director of Marketing & Government Affairs for CJ Biomaterials, a leading manufacturer of PHA biopolymers under the brand name PHACT™️. Previously, Leah spent 19 years working at NatureWorks in progressive roles including as a business analyst, digital marketing manager, and global marketing and communications director. Throughout her career, Leah has seen the market evolve to enable new pathways for materials in the circular economy—like compostability—and to prioritize low-carbon, biobased materials.

Leah’s passion for working on sustainable materials stems from her background in the earth sciences, where her research focused on landscape evolution and the impacts of climate change on landscapes. She holds a BS in Geology and an MS in Geomorphology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Leah also currently serves on the board of directors for the Biodegradable Products Institute. 

Dylan Franks, PhD
Board Chair
Algae Biomass Organization (ABO)

Dylan Franks, PhD, is Board Chair for the Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), where he acts as Government Relations Liason to the Congressional Algae Caucus and the federal Interagency Working Group on Algae. He works at the intersection of algae, water, and bioindustrial systems, focusing on practical deployment of algae-based solutions for nutrient management, wastewater treatment, and domestic bioproduct supply chains.

Dylan holds a PhD in plant science from Oklahoma State University and has spent his career translating applied biology into scalable systems across agriculture, water infrastructure, and industrial biotechnology. His work emphasizes feedstock diversification, regional production models, and aligning federal programs with real-world industry needs.

Megan Jorgensen  Sustainability Maven
Eco-Products

Megan Jorgensen is a sustainability leader with more than 16 years of experience turning environmental responsibility into business advantage. As the Sustainability and Impact Lead at Eco‑Products, she guides the company’s enterprise-wide strategy for reducing environmental footprints, supporting composting and circularity, and fostering ethical business practices throughout the supply chain. 

Megan is the organization’s lead authority on Product Carbon Footprint modeling, integrating lifecycle data into product development, procurement decisions, and long‑term planning. Her career spans leadership roles in sustainability program design, environmental compliance, and occupational health and safety, giving her a uniquely holistic view of organizational impact.  She holds a Master’s in Managing for Sustainability from CU Denver and is deeply engaged in the responsible business community through serving on advisory boards, supporting sustainability initiatives, and mentoring individuals and organizations on their sustainability journeys. Megan is committed to advancing transparent, data‑informed approaches that accelerate the shift toward more sustainable materials and circular systems.

Barry McGraw
Founder/CLO
Airable Research Lab

Barry McGraw joined the Ohio Soybean Council (OSC) in 2013 and is responsible for leading OSC’s soy bio-based research and commercialization program. Under his leadership, OSC won seven R&D 100 Awards in seven years and reached a milestone in royalty payments from licensing soy bio-based technologies. In 2019, Barry recognized an opportunity for OSC to capitalize on these successes by establishing its own research laboratory. With the Council’s blessing, Barry founded Airable Labs (Research Lab), a business line of OSC located in Delaware, Ohio. He leads a team of chemists and material scientists in conceptualizing, researching, and developing soy-based materials. Since its founding, Airable has grown from little more than a concept to a full-scale laboratory with a dedicated research staff, a handful of strategic commercial partnerships, eight soybean state organizations as funding partners, 15+ successful soy-based products in the marketplace—with more in the works—and plans to open a second Airable Lab (Processing) on the campus of Shawnee State University in the Fall of this year. Before joining OSC, Barry spent 15 years at Battelle, where he worked in program management, engineering, and marketing.

Airable develops new products that utilize soy-based feedstocks to solve industrial and consumer challenges. Founded in November 2019, Airable is a division of the Ohio Soybean Council. Through soy-based product research, development and commercialization, the lab seeks to build market demand for soybeans, thereby benefiting US soybean farmers while reducing industry’s environmental footprint.

Mattie Mead
Founder & CEO
Hempitecture Inc.

Mattie Mead is the Founder & CEO of Hempitecture, a leader in sustainable, plant based building materials. In this capacity, he drives business strategy, product innovation, and manufacturing operations. As Forbes “30 Under 30” honoree and a recipient of the INDA Nonwovens Association RISE Innovation Award, he champions natural fiber innovation and carbon-smart materials from his home base in Sun Valley, Idaho.