Web exclusive posted Feb. 25, 2008, at 1:00 p.m. CST

Bernie Punt was elected the new chairman of the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition during its annual board of directors meeting in St. Louis on Feb. 4-5. Punt, general manager of Siouxland Energy Livestock and Co-op in Sioux Center, Iowa, said he looks forward to establishing a relationship with the diverse group of NEVC members. "Working together will allow this organization to meet the challenges involved with introducing E85 into the marketplace, increasing ethanol use and decreasing the country's dependency on foreign oil," he said.

Other executive officers named during the meeting include: Vice Chairman Dwayne Siekman of the Ohio Corn Growers Association; Secretary Scott Negley of Dresser Wayne, a supplier of integrated solutions to the petroleum industry; and Treasurer Roger Moore of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association. Former NEVC Chairman Greg Krissek of ICM Inc. is now chairman emeritus.

Kevin Kuykendall, president of White Energy; and Ray Hutchinson, vice president of business development for Gilbarco Veeder-Root, a fueling and retail management systems provider, were elected new board members for the 2008 term. They join the remaining 14 members: Larry Pearce, representing the Governors' Ethanol Coalition; Dave Hallberg of Prime BioSolutions; Mindy Larsen Poldberg of the Iowa Corn Growers Association; Jere White of the Kansas Corn Commission; Curtis Donaldson of CleanFuel USA; Ryland Utlaut of Mid-Missouri Energy; Brent Rockhold of the Missouri Corn Growers Association; Theresa Schmalshof of the National Corn Growers Association; Scott Schramm of Chrysler LLC; Curt Magleby of Ford Motor Co.; Al Weverstad of General Motors Corp.; Tracy Woodward of Nissan North America; Melissa Ullerich of VeraSun Energy Corp.; and Shirley Ball of Ethanol Producers and Consumers.

"We are pleased to have such a diverse and knowledgeable board of directors," said NEVC Executive Director Phil Lampert. "We look forward to working together to continue to advance the use of E85 and other high-level blends of ethanol in flex-fuel vehicles."

The NEVC is a nonprofit organization created to serve as the nation's primary advocacy group promoting the use of E85 as a fuel source. The coalition is comprised of individuals and organizations who have pledged to ensure that E85 has a place in America's fuel supply. Meetings are held twice a year. A location and agenda is yet to be determined for the 2008 summer meeting, according to NEVC spokeswoman Michelle Kautz. For more information about the NEVC, visit www.e85fuel.com.