Plasma Blue, LLC

Plasma Blue, LLC is a for-profit new biodiesel process company, currently owned by the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council. Plasma Blue, LLC is based on a revolutionary new technology, that will allow the biofuels industry to better utilize renewable sources of energy, such as wind and solar, in the conversion of sustainably-grown feedstocks to oil. This farmer-driven technology is affordable and provides plants with an option for quick expansion with existing infrastructure or for new plants considering what technology would best fit their situation.

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Meet the team.

Tom Slunecka, CEO

Tom Slunecka has been the chief executive officer of Minnesota Soybean since August of 2012. Since then, he has overseen the creation of several new non-profit and for-profit entities, including Plasma Blue, and the Soy Innovation campus and also the creation of Ag Management Solutions, which focuses on providing services to ag associations and the businesses they manage. He currently serves as CEO of AMS.

Before joining Minnesota Soybean, Slunecka had a long history in the biofuels and agriculture industry. Throughout his career, he has launched several products, services and companies, many of which are still relevant today. His previous experience includes serving as executive director of the Ethanol Promotion & Information Council, Omaha, Neb., and vice president of marketing for the National Corn Growers Association, St. Louis. In addition, Slunecka worked with the Urban Air Initiative and Phibro Animal Health where he was vice president of marketing for PhibroChem, a specialty supply company focused on ethanol and animal agriculture in New Jersey.

Starting with New Jersey-based American Cyanamid, Tom has successfully blended the corporate urgency of return on investment with the day-to-day needs of members and policy makers for the industry.

Tom is a native of South Dakota and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Business from South Dakota State University in Brookings. Tom and his wife, Robyn, have three sons, Wyatt, William and Jack.

Mike Youngerberg, Sr. Director

Mike Youngerberg is the senior director of product development and commercialization for the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council.   
Mike has been a vital cog at Minnesota Soybean since 1986. His primary duties are to provide staff management to a number of organizations program areas including MSR&PC’s product development action team. Over the last 20 years, Mike has spent much of his time coordinating research and educational programs in the area of biodiesel; he’s helped protect and promote Minnesota’s biodiesel mandate and is one of nation’s leading experts on biodiesel.  
In addition to his other responsibilities, in August of 2005 Mike was appointed as executive director of the Minnesota Biodiesel Council. The Minnesota Biodiesel Council is non-profit organization representing Minnesota’s three biodiesel production plants as well as the feedstock stakeholders. 
Mike is a 1972 graduate of South Central College’s Automotive Engineering program. Mike is also a graduate of the Charter Class of the Minnesota Ag and Rural Leadership Program.

Seg Niebuhr, CTO

Seg Niebuhr, Owner of Industrial Process and Management Consultants, LLC (IPMC), is a civil engineer by education and a process engineer by experience.  Mr. Niebuhr’s civil engineering experience includes structural concrete and steel design, site development, wastewater treatment, and environmental remediation processes and systems.  His processing experience began as a facility engineer at a major soybean processing and edible oil refining facility. Further experience includes propane terminal design and operations, safety systems designer, and biodiesel process design, construction, operation, evaluation, and improvement.  Mr. Niebuhr has been a consultant since 2003 and formed Industrial Process and Management Consultants, LLC, a Pennsylvania Limited Liability Company, in 2010, which is also a Minnesota-registered entity since 2019.  Mr. Niebuhr’s office is located in Erie, Pennsylvania but he has performed work in the majority of the United States as well as Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe.

Scott Miller, CFO

Scott Miller has been Chief Financial Officer for Ag Management Solutions since 2016. In this role, Miller is responsible for organizational and client financial strategy including accounting, tax, external audit and information technology.
Prior to this role, Scott worked as the controller for the Swine Vet Center, private veterinary firm located in Southern Minnesota and was the Finance and Compliance Manger for the Minnesota Research an Promotion Council and the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association. Over his career, Scott has worked with a wide variety of organizations from non-profits to start-ups to well established companies overseeing excess of 30 million in revenue annually. Miller has been a cornerstone in establishing Ag Management Solution’s client portfolio and aligning financial goals with strategic outcomes.
Scott graduated from Bethany Lutheran College with a BS degree in Business Administration with an emphasis on Finance. Outside of work Scott enjoys being active, is a partner in a 24-hour fitness facility and serves on his local school board.
Scott and his wife, Laura, have four children, Emmy, Owen, Kade and Reed.

Doug Monson, VP of Marketing

Doug Monson has been director of public relations for Ag Management Solutions for the past three years. Before becoming director, Doug worked as the communications manager for the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council and the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association.
Before AMS, Doug worked 17 years in journalism, his last 12 years with The Mankato Free Press, where he held a variety of roles as desk editor, layout editor, news writer, sports writer and outdoor columnist. He continued writing his column until 2015.
Doug graduated from Minnesota State University Mankato with Bachelor of Science degrees in Mass Communications and English Creative Writing. In 2013, Doug earned a third degree from Rasmussen College in Multimedia Technology, with an emphasis in motion graphics.
Doug and his wife, Mollie, have two sons, Tyler and Emmitt.