Biofuels in the Americas: Technology, Investment, and the Path Forward to Take Place January 24.

Hemispheric Conference Bringing in Executives and High-Ranking Government Officials to Discuss Biofuels Technology Deployment; How to Overcome the Challenges of Commercialization; the Potential for Regional Technology Transfer; and How Hemispheric Collaboration Can Help the Americas Collectively Secure Its Energy Future

MIAMI -- Florida International University's (FIU) Energy Business Forum will host an all day conference to discuss current hemispheric biofuels production, technology transfer, investment barriers and prospects, and next generation technologies, with the aim to foster collaboration. The event will take place in the Graham Center Ballrooms, University Park, beginning at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 7:00 p.m. Keynote speakers include, Ambassador Craig A. Kelly, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Arnaldo Vieira de Carvalho, Inter-American Development Bank, Energy Division, Infrastructure and Environment Department, and Mr. Robin Speer, Vice President Public Affairs, Canadian Renewable Fuels Association.

The purpose of this conference is to address how hemispheric collaboration can help the Americas collectively secure its energy future, specifically discussing biofuels technology status for production and use of biofuels that can complement or displace traditional fuels, and biofuels investment opportunities for bringing such technologies to the marketplace.

The conference will consist of a morning plenary discussion on where we are in the hemisphere in terms of biofuels technology and investment. This session will be followed by a presentation by Ambassador Kelly, on US biofuels engagements in the Western Hemisphere, and 3 roundtables discussions, Technology, Investment, and the Path Forward. A key theme throughout the day will be sustainability and harnessing this industries' potential for economic development throughout the region. Distinguished panelists include U.S. pioneers in cellulosic ethanol, along with government and private sector representatives from Canada, Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, Argentina, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Brazil.

This event is presented by the Energy Business Forum of the Knight Ridder Center for Excellence in Management in FIU's College of Business Administration and the Center for Energy and Technology for the Americas in the Applied Research Center.

The event is sponsored by the Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy and Citizenship Studies, Chevron Products Company, The Organization of American States, ETH BioEnergy Inc., Florida Crystals Corporation, GovTec Corporation and General Motors. Supporters include: The US Department of State, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Interamerican Ethanol Commission, Caribbean Central American Action, UK Trade and Investment, Manchester Trade, Consulate General of Canada in Miami, InfoAmericas, WorldCity, and CAMACOL.

The event website is: http://krcem.fiu.edu/index.html This event is $149 and open to the general public but space is limited. Media can attend free of charge. Please RSVP on the conference website at http://krcem.fiu.edu/index.html at [e-mail] or call 305-348-0399

Select Speaker Biographies

Dr. Brenda Haendler, Science and Technology Officer and International Energy Coordinator Liaison, Bureau of Economic, Energy and Business Affairs, U.S. Department of State

Dr. Brenda Haendler is an American Association for the Advancement of Science Diplomacy Fellow currently serving her second year at the U.S. Department of State in the Energy, Sanctions and Commodities Office in the Economics, Energy and Business Bureau. Dr. Haendler works on international energy policy and is a core member of the U.S. team implementing the U.S.-Brazil biofuels memorandum of understanding. Under this initiative, Dr. Haendler specifically focuses on the implementation of feasibility studies and technical assistance projects focused on biofuels production and consumption in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Dr. Haendler has a M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Before graduate school Dr. Haendler worked at Hughes Space and Communications (now Boeing Satellite Systems) where she led a team in the designing and building of the payload of a telecommunications satellite currently operating in geosynchronous orbit over Europe. Dr. Haendler also has three years experience as a product designer at a proton exchange membrane fuel cell start-up company. During her graduate career, Dr. Haendler was awarded a Management of Technology entrepreneurship fellowship and a fellowship to study the economic development of China. She was also the recipient of an American Association of University Women dissertation writing fellowship.

Luis M. Kolster, Assistant General Counsel & Director of Public Policy, General Motors Latin America, Africa & Middle East

Luis M. Kolster is Assistant General Counsel & Director of Public Policy, General Motors Latin America, Africa & Middle East. Luis M. Kolster previously served as Director, Public Policy, Public Relations and General Counsel for General Motors Venezolana C.A., a position he assumed in August 2002, with responsibilities in trade, government relations, corporate social responsibility, communications, public relations and all legal issues at General Motors Venezolana headquarters in Valencia and Caracas, Venezuela. In January 1998, he started at General Motors Venezolana in Valencia as In House Counsel with responsibilities over all legal issues including litigation. During this time he joined the GM's Latin America, Africa and Middle East Legal Function. Before that, Kolster worked as an attorney in the Banco Republica as part of the Progreso Financial Group in 1993.

Born in Caracas, Venezuela, he earned a Law degree from Universidad Catolica Andres Bello, Caracas, Venezuela in 1993. He then obtained a Master Degree in Law at University of Houston, Law Center, in 1997. He also received a Corporate Law Specialist Degree from Universidad Catolica Andres Bello in 2001. He completed the "Programa Avanzado de Gerencia" recognized management program at the Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Administracion (IESA) in 2003. He has also received Distinguished Alumni by being elected by the student body to the Student Representative Office of the Universidad Catolica Andres Bello, Law School in 1992.

Ambassador Moises Starkman Pinel, Adviser for Special Projects to the President of Honduras 

Ambassador Starkman is the Adviser for Special Projects, including biofuels, for the President of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya Rosales. In this capacity Mr. Starkman advises the government on biofuels development matters both as they relate to ethanol and biodiesel. Mr. Starkman was born in Honduras and has a record of longstanding service to his country. He has served as the Director of Project Financing in the Honduran Ministry of Planning, the Economic Minister in the Honduran Embassy in Washington D.C., and as the Ambassador of Honduras in both Israel and Greece. More recently he has served as the Minister for International Cooperation SETCO and as the Minister/Director of the Social Investment Fund, FHIS. Mr. Starkman obtained his B.A. in International Relations and Latin American Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, his M.A. in International Studies, (International Economics, Development) School of Advanced International Studies, from Johns Hopkins University. He is also a PhD. Candidate in Sustainable Human Development at UNAH.

Dr. Lionel Lopez, Country Director, Technoserve Guatemala

Dr. Lionel Lopez is the Guatemala Country Director for Technoserve, a global non-profit organization who helps entrepreneurial men and women in poor rural areas of the developing world build businesses that create income, opportunity and economic growth for their families, their communities and their countries. Over the last three years Dr. Lopez has developed Technoserve's presence in Guatemala, focusing on a variety of initiatives including, the development of a broad platform of institutions (ICTA, Universidad San Carlos de Guatemala, Universidad Landivar, Ministry of Agriculture, PRONACOM, USAID, Plan Puebla Panama, Ministry of Energy and Mines) to promote the development of the Biodiesel industry in Guatemala. As part of this program, special attention is given to small producers and communities, as well as large scale investors in the region. Dr. Lopez previously has held positions as a consultant for the World Bank, IDB and was a partner at McKinsey & Co. leading the Industry Strategy and Operations practice in Germany. Dr. Lopez has a Masters of Science and Ph.D in engineering, both obtained from the University of Wuppertal, West Germany.

Ana Maria Corbi de Canellas

Ana Maria Corbi de Canellas is currently the Executive Director of Sustainable Development for the Provincial Government Unit of Buenos Aires. Former Adviser to the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Sustainable Development - Unit for National Environmental Control. Some of her publications include: Unbalanced Structures: a crucial aspect in development (published by ISS), Can we really speak about structural changes? A case study of Tucuman province - the sugar cane industry - (published by ISS), Industrial Promotion, Editorial Thesis y Fundacion Bolsa de Comercio de Buenos Aires, July 1989. "ENGIRSU Nacional Strategies for Integral management of solid urban waste" Estrategia Nacional para la Gestion Integral de los Residuos Solidos Urbanos" Published for the Department of Environment and Sustainable Development. Lic. Corbi de Canellas received a Masters in Social Science from the Institute of Social Studies, La Haya Holland, and completed additional graduate studies at the Instituto de Sociologia y Desarrollo in Spain.

About Florida International University's Energy Business Forum

While recognizing the key role fossil fuels will continue to play in the world's energy mix, the focus of the Energy Business Forum is to contribute to energy security by acting as a catalyst for the public and private sectors to develop a diverse portfolio of commercially sustainable alternative fuels, many of which will be renewable and based on new technologies. Led by business and technology leaders Dr. Edward Glab and Dr. George Philippidis, the Forum calls upon experts with industrial and market experience in oil, gas, and biofuels, including cellulosic ethanol, and other novel fuels. More information can be found at http://krcem.fiu.edu/energy.html or by calling [phone].

About Florida International University's College of Business Administration

Florida International University's College of Business Administration, South Florida's leading business school with unique expertise in international business, entrepreneurship, and a broad range of financial services, is the largest of the university's professional schools. Among the college's nearly 30,000 alumni are some of South Florida's most successful business leaders and entrepreneurs. More than 6,000 students are enrolled in undergraduate business courses in its R. Kirk Landon Undergraduate School of Business, and more than 1,000 graduate students study in its Alvah H. Chapman, Jr, Graduate School of Business every year. Another 1,000 business professionals participate annually in one or more of its professional and executive education programs.

For additional information about the college, please visit http://business.fiu.edu/ or contact Sally Gallion, assistant dean, at 305-348-6631, [e-mail]/