Biobased Industry Outlook Conference
August 29-30, 2005
Iowa State University - Ames, IA
James Hettenhaus
James R. Hettenhaus is the co-founder of cea, a small consulting firm founded in 1993 that specializes in commercializing emerging applications in biotechnology.
Prior to that, he had much success in leading large operations in related industries: fine chemicals, commodity chemicals, food ingredients, fibers, enzymes and large scale fermentation products with Gist-brocades, Monsanto and Anheuser-Busch. He has also been a co-founder of three start-ups: analytical instrumentation and control systems, membrane separation systems and a nylon fiber process.
Since 1997 he has been working with the DOE, NREL and private companies to accelerate biomass commercialization to ethanol, chemicals and other value added products. During this time his assignments have included an assessment of cellulase hydrolysis improvement possibilities, the next generation of recombinant fermentation strains required for biomass derived sugars and defining corn stover feedstock potential.
In addition he has performed due-diligence for a wide variety of applications ranging from unique seed propagation systems to major acquisitions. He has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin, and an M.S. in Engineering from St. Louis University.
