One of the most influential pioneers of the biodiesel industry now has an award named after him.

The newly named “Kenlon Johannes Pioneer Award” will forever recognize and honor the Terry Bradshaw lookalike who was instrumental in the initial development of the biodiesel industry in the United States, serving as the first Executive Director of the National SoyDiesel Development Board, later named the National Biodiesel Board (NBB). He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Kansas Soybean Association and Administrator of the Kansas Soybean Commission, but after more than 30 years serving both the agriculture and biodiesel industries, Johannes will retire this spring.

The first recipient of the newly renamed award is Joe Jobe, who served NBB from 1997 until 2016, first as Chief Financial Officer and then as CEO. Jobe grew the association from 14 soybean grower members to a highly diverse membership representing over 200 companies across the industry’s value chain. His foresight and hard work drove the industry from a small farmer organization with an ambitious idea to commercialize an experimental fuel to the $11 billion low carbon industry that it is today, supporting over 64,000 green jobs.

Currently, Jobe is the President and Founder of Rock House Advisors, a business consulting firm specializing in energy, agriculture, transportation, automated technology, and sustainability.

Listen to the renaming and presentation of the award during the 2021 virtual National Biodiesel Conference:
2021 Biodiesel Conference Pioneer Award - Joe Jobe, Rock House Advisors (6:41)