Bob Petersen
of
Petersen Consulting, LLC
to
Provide Services
for AAGIWA

AAGIWA is pleased to announce that it has entered into a contract with Mr. Bob Petersen, of Petersen Consulting Services in Kansas City, Missouri, for a 6-month trial period. Mr. Petersen was interviewed by AAGIWA board members recently in Kansas City to discuss expectations and goals in promoting the official inspection system to a wide audience.

Mr. Petersen brings with him, years of experience and contacts with the grain industry as well as officials with GIPSA. Mr. Petersen is a former president and chief executive officer of the Kansas City Board of Trade. His experience and knowledge should prove valuable to the association.

Mr. Petersen's service will be enlisted for a 6-month term, beginning March 15, 2007 and ending September 15, 2007. During this time, Mr. Petersen will be engaged in various projects regarding our businesses as official agencies, and helping us to promote our services to not only the grain trade but also other grain related industries as well.

Below you will find Mr. Petersen's biography, qualifications and his proposal to the Association. If you have questions, or have input into our expectations for Mr. Petersen, please address them to Larry Kitchen at Larry.Kitchen@mda.mo.gov.

Petersen Consulting Biography

Bob Petersen brings over 25 years of senior management experience in such areas as management processes, public relations, government relations and association management.

As the president and chief executive officer of the Kansas City Board of Trade (2000-2004), Petersen represented the group before a variety of national, regional, and local audiences. One of his key responsibilities was forging new relationships with prospective customers, market users, and producers. He also led the group in identifying new, electronic processes for price discovery.

Prior to joining the exchange, Petersen was president of a Washington, DC-based trade association, the National Grain Trade Council, where he represented grain companies, railroads, and grain exchanges. Seen as one of the grain industry's most effective lobbyists, Petersen was intimately involved in the legislative process affecting nearly all farm and futures trading legislation over a 20-year span. His efforts ranged from legislative strategy, issue management and development, and communications to advocacy.

Petersen's current clients include:

• The Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS) - an international professional association with approximately 2,500 individual members. Serve as director of strategic marketing for the association and focus on assisting the group in forming a senior level grain company executive advisory council.
• The ProExporter Network - a firm providing economic research and analysis on grain to major U.S. agribusinesses. Serve as director of marketing for the firm, assisting with marketing initiatives and conferences. Initially retained to provide an analysis of the firm's business and marketing strategy.
• Farms Technology, LLC - an agricultural software company that markets an electronic grain marketing platform that links grain producers and buyers. Assist firm in identifying and connecting with potential customers, development of business strategy, and with public relations.

Past clients include:

• Agristar Global Networks, Ltd. - a satellite-base broadband communications company that provides high-speed Internet connectivity. Assisted the firm with a second round of investment, a private placement. Focused on agriculturally-oriented capital sources interested in investing in this technology company.
• AdFarm - an advertising agency with offices in the United States and Canada. Assisted the firm in providing farm policy expertise to clients.
• MachineryLink - a company that provides seasonal leasing of large farm equipment to producers. Assisted firm in identifying and connecting with other firms where there may be co-marketing opportunities. Provided guidance on personnel recruitment.
• The Wheat Council -- a start-up effort designed to form an umbrella organization for all aspects of the wheat industry to better focus industry resources on issues of quality and competitiveness. Served as principal staff resource in organizing the effort, soliciting sponsors, and implementing a program of work.
• Farmers for Farm Credit -- served as on-site coordinator of multi-faceted effort for a group of producer-stockholders of the Omaha-based Farm Credit Services of America. The group represented a coalition of stockholders opposed to a takeover of the farm credit association. Served as the group's liaison/spokesman with political leaders and trade associations. Assisted the group in developing and communicating its message.
• Transportation, Elevator, and Grain Merchants Association - facilitated group's effort to identify solutions to increasing fuel costs.

Working with leaders on national, regional, and local levels, Petersen has a proven track record of finding opportunities to solve problems. He has been successful in bringing together diverse interests to work toward a common goal. During his 25-year career, Bob Petersen has contacts at senior levels across the food and agriculture industry, U.S. government agencies, and in Congress.

Objectives Outlined by Petersen Consulting, LLC

Objectives - Scope of Services

AAGIWA is interested in services that cover four principal areas:

1. External Communication
2. Internal Communication
3. Liaison with USDA/FGIS
4. Speakers for annual meeting

External Communication

Develop and begin steps toward implementing a plan to raise awareness of the value of the official grain inspection system and the role of AAGIWA with companies and associations in the grain and biofuels industries. This could potentially include the following steps.

1. Increase AAGIWA's general visibility - serve as a presence or connection on behalf of AAGIWA
2. Facilitate direct contacts with companies and associations
3. Create a presence at industry events and seek/coordinate opportunities for AAGIWA Board Members as potential speakers or exhibitors at events
4. Explore/execute opportunities to gain visibility in the trade press, perhaps through
5. News releases on timely issues
6. Opinions on timely issues
7. Explore/evaluate opportunities for paid advertising in trade press

Internal Communications

Develop and disseminate communications to AAGIWA members (and others, as appropriate) on issues of interest, principally regarding the following.

1. Grain inspection (FGIS) issues
2. Industry issues and trends (such as developments in biofuels and DDGs)
3. Generally develop and communicate information of interest to members
4. Assist with web site refinements and provide relevant and timely content on pertinent issues for members utilizing the web site.

Liaison with USDA/FGIS

Generally serve as a communications link between FGIS and AAGIWA on general issues.

Meetings

Assist in arranging speakers for the annual meeting held in January of each year.