Sioux Falls Business Journal

The South Dakota manufacturing industry is trying to reverse a negative stereotype of the profession as companies compete for a dwindling pool of new workers.

Appealing to young workers was a recurring theme during a recent meeting of manufacturers in Sioux Falls.

Manufacturing is the third largest sector of South Dakota’s economy, in terms of Gross Domestic Product.

For a closer look at the state of the manufacturing industry, see the July 2-8 issue of the Sioux Falls Business Journal.

VeraSun Energy, one of the nation’s largest ethanol producers, announced today that Gordon Ommen has resigned as chairman and will be replaced by Duane Gilliam.

Gilliam joined the board in 2005 and serves as chairman of the compensation committee.

“It has been a pleasure to serve on the VeraSun board as we have transformed the company from one operating plant in 2005 into one of the industry leaders,” Gilliam said. “I am optimistic about the outlook for both VeraSun and the ethanol industry in the coming years as we continue to add value to the petroleum market and volume to the domestic fuel supply.”

VeraSun, based in Brookings, recently merged with US BioEnergy and will move its headquarters to Sioux Falls this summer.

“I understand and respect Gordon’s decision to step down from the board to focus on other business opportunities,” said Don Endres, VeraSun’s founder and chief executive officer. “He has helped both teams transition following the merger and provided valuable, thoughtful leadership to the board. We wish him much success with his future ventures.”
Gilliam has spent nearly four decades in the oil industry, most recently as executive vice president of Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC. He retired from that role in May 2003.

“We are pleased to have Duane Gilliam step into this leadership role on the board,” Endres said. “His insights into the petroleum market and our customers’ business have helped us to gain a deeper understanding of our own business and how we serve our customers.”

Even the industry’s strongest backers acknowledge that manufacturing has an image problem.
To use Gov. Mike Rounds’ words, too many people have the mistaken impression that manufacturing work is “dark, dirty and dangerous.”

VeraSun also delays startups at 3 sites

Expensive corn and market volatility are delaying several ethanol projects, including the proposed Buffalo Ridge Energy plant near Sherman and three facility startups by Brookings-based VeraSun Energy.