BioUrja Leadership
Leadership is the practice of giving people a platform to achieve greatness.
The BioUrja Group draws its strength from its people. We know that success does not occur in a vacuum, but rather is the result of the hard work, entrepreneurial spirit, and uncompromising ethics of a team. Every team needs leaders to help unleash the full potential of its members, and we are proud to have some of the most experienced, dynamic and skilful leaders in the industry in our corporate family.
Group Executives
Amit is the founder of the BioUrja Group and serves as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. He sets the strategic direction, vision and mission for all group companies. Immediately prior, Amit spent 13 years with ExxonMobil involved in the trading of ethanol, MTBE, petroleum coke and gasoline. He also developed technical operations experience at the ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Refinery. Ever an entrepreneur, he has built numerous successful companies over the past twenty years, including childcare companies, real estate investment companies, and various energy and agricultural companies, all of which have been profitable, 100% owned, and successful. He received a B.S in Chemical Engineering, Suma Cum Laude, from Drexel University.
Prior to his retirement at the end of 2022, Shek oversaw the operations of all group companies, including all activities related to corporate development, legal matters, investments, and compliance. He has been with the BioUrja Group since inception, serving as an advisor to the Chairman & CEO throughout the growth of the group. He formerly served as the CEO of WTP Capital, LLC, a private equity firm; President of Global Services Partners Acquisition Corp, a publicly traded acquisition firm; and President of Megasoft, a publicly traded software services company. Shék also formerly practiced law with the international firms of Jones Day and Holland & Knight and has served as an adjunct professor of law at the University of Maryland Law School. Shék received his B.S. in Professional Writing from Towson University, Magna Cum Laude, and his law degree (Juris Doctor) from the University of Maryland School of Law.
Joseph Malikkal serves as a Senior Advisor to the Chairman & CEO of the BioUrja Group, as well as to its executive team. Joseph is a seasoned professional focused on strategic planning and growth with over 26 years of experience in various leadership roles across numerous verticals. Prior to joining BioUrja, he served as the CEO of JPM Enterprise Inc., a premier title insurance processing company, which was acquired by a publicly traded title insurance company. Joseph also has served in management roles with WNS Global Services and Unisys. He holds a Juris Doctor (law) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and International Business from Drexel University.
As the co-founder of the BioUrja Group, Arpita has held many roles since its’ inception and is involved in driving global efforts of continuous improvements for BioUrja’s workforce. Arpita attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
As an integral part of our senior executive team Beau reports directly to Amit Bhandari, Chairman & CEO. As CFO, all finance & accounting, capital formation, investment, and acquisition matters will fall under his leadership.
Information technology will also be part of his responsibilities. Beau sets all Group financial policies and protocols. His prior experience includes serving as a Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer for Atinum Energy Investments (over $1.4 Billion in assets) where he was responsible for deal origination, structuring, financial evaluation, due diligence, and capital formation; Executive Vice President for Green River Production (part of Trilantic Capital Partners), where he directed investments in upstream production, managed financial analysis, and also arranged a $500 million commitment in additional equity; CFO of JB Coal to Methane, a greenfield coal gasification project, where he led the early stage capital raise, put in place the supply and technology agreements, and managed day to day finance and accounting matters; served as Head of Corporate Development & Special Assistant to the Chairman of Mosbacher Energy Company; and Chief Operating Officer at Great White Energy Services.
Beau earned his Master’s Degree from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, where he studied leadership, governance, and economics. He has a B.A. from Baylor University, Summa Cum Laude, and is a proud native Texan.
Group Management
Kyle is the Head of our IT Infrastructure group. He has over twenty years of experience in IT with the last decade spent in datacenter operations in the energy industry. His team is responsible for service desk, datacenter, global network, and security operations. Kyle holds a B.S. in Political Science from Texas A&M University and is a member of the Houston Chapter of InfraGard.
Joining BioUrja in 2019, Ben is responsible for the oversight and execution of corporate acquisitions and divestitures and interfacing with BioUrja’s commercial banking relationships. Prior to joining us, Ben spent 9 years with Brown Brothers Harriman in the firm’s commodity finance group. Ben is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Since 2018, Cassie has led the Human Resources function across all BioUrja Companies. She has extensive experience in strategic management, people selection & development, diversity & inclusion and operations in the energy/commodity sector. Having successfully led the HR function of several grassroots organizations, growth initiatives have been an integral part of her success in the People function. She attended Texas State University and received her SPHR certification in 2001.
Jessica Cortez is General Counsel and Corporate Secretary and reports to the Chairman and CEO of BioUrja Group. Jessica oversees all legal functions for all BioUrja Group entities. Her extensive knowledge in the energy commodities sector and commodities finance law spans a career of almost 20 years. Prior to joining BioUrja, Jessica served as Senior Counsel to the Marketing and Midstream segment at Oxy; as Counsel at the international law firms of Reed Smith and Haynes & Boone; as Managing Counsel at BHP, and as Vice President (Legal) for the Commodities Department of Barclays Bank PLC. Jessica received her Juris Doctor from New York Law School.
Company Management
BioUrja Trading
Jordan is the President of our ethanol trading and supply business. Prior to joining BioUrja in 2010, Jordan worked for Racetrac Petroleum for five years in various positions, including, as a transportation analyst, commercial analyst, pipe and waterborne scheduler, Gulf Coast Gasoline trader, and ethanol trader. He earned his B.A. from the University of Tennessee in Logistics and Transportation with a concentration in management.
Pritesh is responsible for developing energy commodity trading opportunities in the Asia region for BioUrja Trading. He also manages the support services operations for all group companies via our affiliate, AB Technologies, in India as well. Previously, he worked in the finance department for a multinational IT company, Yash Technologies, LLC, and as a team leader with Arihant Capital Markets Ltd. He received his M.B.A. with specialization in Finance/Marketing, from DAVV University, Indore.
Energy Alloys Global Solutions
Daniel is the President of Energy Alloys Global Solutions. During his tenure at Energy Alloys Global Solutions, he has held various progressing roles while stationed in North America and the Middle East. Daniel has been responsible for the Middle East business for 8+ years prior to his promotion to President in January 2021. Daniel is a graduate of Texas A&M University and holds a B.S. in Industrial Distribution.
RiverCrest Power Holdings
Arun is responsible for all operations and management of BioUrja Power as its Head of Power Trading. Prior to joining BioUrja Power, Arun had 14 years of experience in energy trading and asset management with a focus in the power industry, especially nodal trading. Arun’s record of success at companies like EDF Trading North America and Epic Merchant Energy has been built upon relationships with all of the significant market players, including merchants, utilities, municipals, cooperatives, and industrial end-users. Arun is a graduate of the Andhra University College of Engineering with a B.S. in Computer Science, and an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
BioUrja Terminals & Land
Casey heads our terminal businesses with oversight responsibility for operations and commercial activities. He has been with the Group since 2011 and has been instrumental in building our energy commodities distribution system, as well as launching our crude by rail business. Casey also focuses on business development related to energy assets for the Group, wearing a second hat as V.P. of Business Development. Previously, Casey spent nine years with CSX Transportation in various capacities, including as the primary manager for ethanol transport. He holds a B.S. and M.B.A. from the University of Florida.
West Plains
With 27 years in the grain industry, Brian began his career with Louis Dreyfus Corporation in 1993. He has also worked with Con Agra Trade Group and Archer Daniel Midland managing and operating grain facilities across the Midwest. Most recently, Brian served as Vice President of Operations for Gavilon Grain, overseeing assets and operations for their North American Grain, Ingredient and Fertilizer companies, which includes 127 grain facilities, 27 fertilizer facilities, and two export facilities located throughout the United States and Mexico. Brian is a Texas Tech graduate with a B.S. in Range Management.
Wade is the Merchandising Manager for West Plains and also serves as Regional Manager of the Colorado Region. Wade began his career working for Debruce Grain which was later acquired by Gavilon. While there he traded cross country grains and feed ingredients as well as merchandised around multiple shuttle loading facilities. Since joining the West Plains team in 2012 Wade has managed the Colorado Assets and Trading office. He has a passion for his family, the agricultural industry, and livestock production. Wade is a graduate of The University of Wyoming with a B.S. in Agriculture Business.