Rick Schwarck was born and raised on a family farm in Mitchell County, Iowa and is still involved in the family farm. He currently resides five miles north of Saint Ansgar, Iowa, with his wife, Holly. They have four children. Since inception, Mr. Schwarck has served as the President, Chairman, and CEO of Absolute Energy, L.L.C., an ethanol plant located near St. Ansgar, Iowa. Prior to co-founding Absolute Energy, L.L.C., Schwarck had a successful, 30-year financial services career. He was co-owner of The Schwarck Agency, L.L.C., an insurance and investment firm. Schwarck was a 30-year member of the National Association of Insurance and Investment Advisors. Schwarck was a Certified Senior Advisor and Registered Representative of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He also serves as board and risk management committee member of the Renewable Products Marketing Group (RPMG), board and executive committee member of the RFA, governing board member of Growth Energy, board member of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), board member of Minnesota Agriculture & Rural Leadership (MARL), member of the U.S. Grains Council Ethanol Advisory Team, and is a member of the board and serves on the executive committee of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association; Founder of Further Fuels LLC, and is involved in numerous other activities in support of agriculture and the ethanol industry.