Steve Shivvers , the innovator behind Tri-Phase, has over 30 years of business leadership experience in the grain drying business. Steve spent the first five years of his career overseeing all engineering, design, and operations for his family business, Shivvers, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of grain drying equipment (see www.shivvers.com). The next 28 years as the business grew, (now under the name of Shivvers Manufacturing, Inc.), Steve held various positions from Chief Engineer to President and Chief Executive Officer. He was responsible for both national and international markets.

Steve’s background and passion is in design and engineering innovation. He has been awarded eight patents, four design and development grants, and has been published through the ASAE. Over the last ten years Steve has applied this passion and expertise into the design of the breakthrough Tri-Phase high efficiency industrial drying technology.

Steve has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

Walt Smith brings to the Tri-Phase team over 35 years of experience in manufacturing management and small business leadership. He is currently Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Thombert, Inc., North America’s largest manufacturer of polyurethane wheels and tires for narrow aisle electric lift trucks. Walt also holds the position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for ITWC, Inc., one of Thombert’s vertically integrated material supply businesses.

Walt was awarded the Small Business Association’s Iowa Small Business Person of the Year Award in 1995 and has held various positions of leadership in industry trade associations, economic development groups, and volunteer organizations. He is currently a member of the board of directors for ten companies.

Walt has a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Administration from Iowa State University and a Masters of Business Administration from Drake University.

Dory Briles brings to Tri-Phase over 28 years of senior level business development and marketing experience to theTri-Phase team. Her development experienceshave brought in many millions of dollars for economic development, higher education, biotechnology, food manufacturing, agribusiness, insurance, and financial services. In her various roles she has been responsible for marketing and public relations, continuing education, managing membership programs, government relations, research, and strategic planning.

Dory is heavily involved in professional and community organizations and serves on several economic, government, and community boards. Dory holds both a Bachelor of General Studies degree and a Masters of Administration in Higher Education from the University of Iowa.

Lloyd Lerew brings to the Tri-Phase develop team significant academic and research expertise in the general area of agricultural engineering, and specifically, in the area of thermal processing of food products. Lloyd spent the first nine years of his career on the faculty of the Agricultural Engineering Department at Michigan State University. He then took his academic and research experience to the public sector, working for a county municipality, before starting his own consulting business.

Lloyd has authored over 24 publications and research papers. He holds has earned a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D., all in Agricultural Engineering from Michigan State University.

Curt Nelson brings one-of-a-kind advisory services to Tri-Phase as President and CEO of the Entrepreneurial Development Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Curt has over 25 years of successful national and international business creation and leadership experience: He has directed the development and successful launch of over 20 new business models and more than 200 new products for the communications, IT, military, transportation, medical, health, food, and gardening industries worldwide.

Curt is a three-time veteran of Inc. Magazine’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies List and serves as a director and officer on multiple private and public boards. Curt holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from the University of Iowa.

John Walsh brings over 30 years of thermal and mechanical expertise in solids processing to the Tri-Phase team. He is currently a Senior Consultant with American Drying Consultants, in which capacity he has advised numerous global manufacturers of industrial drying equipment in process design, pilot scale testing, and commercial plant start ups. His equipment expertise includes both indirect and direct contact dryers.

John is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the National Society of Professional Engineers. He holds several process and equipment patents and has authored numerous technical articles in various trade journals. John also serves as a drying consultant on the editorial advisory board for Powder and Bulk Engineering Magazine and since 1986 has been an instructor for an industrial drying course presented annual at the Center for Professional Advancement in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and Amsterdam, Netherlands.

John holds a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering Degree from the City College of New York.

Dr. Michael Pate has 26 years of higher education research and teaching experience in mechanical engineering. He has been on faculty with Iowa State University and and is currently with Texas A&M University. His research areas of expertise include, but are not limited to, energy conservation and efficiency, heat transfer and heat exchangers, and thermal processes. Dr. Pate was the Director and Co-Founder of the Center of Building Energy Research at Iowa State University.

Dr. Pate has received numerous teaching awards and is frequently published in academic journals and conferences. He has authored over 10 articles related to heat transfer since 2004. He is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and is currently Chair of the ASME K-19 Committee. He is also an active member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

Dr. Pate holds a B.S. degree in Naval Engineering from the United States Naval Academy, an M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Arkansas; and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University.

Julie Zielinski is a part-time faculty member in the Marketing Department at the University of Iowa College of Business and an independent business consultant specializing in strategic market planning. Julie‘s corporate experience is primarily in the areas of new product development and launch, marketing leadership, and strategic planning. Julie brings to the Tri-Phase team her experience and passion in solving customer problems through development of products with unique competitive advantage.

Julie serves on the Marketing Advisory Council for the University of Iowa and has served on the Board of Advisors for the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business School of Management. She holds a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and an M.B.A. from the University of Iowa.