Diversity Travel Award
No Awardee Chosen
David Perlman Award
Steve Lewis
POET, LLC
An accomplished technology innovator and leader at POET LLC, the world’s largest fuel ethanol company which also produces nutrient-dense value added animal feeds, renewable diesel feedstock, asphalt rejuvenator, and other bioproducts. Total of 44 years of experience in the field of industrial biotechnology working in multiple business and technical functions including R&D, Quality Assurance, Production, Marketing, Sales, Technical Service, and Operations. An out-of-the-box thinker who creatively integrates disparate concepts and new ideas in biology and engineering with transformative commercial benefits. During his POET tenure, the business has grown by 30-fold while building a diversified value-added product portfolio in a new biorefinery model. Other key skills include leading high-performance cross-functional teams; building learning organizations based on advocacy and inquiry; operational excellence; data visualization; and intellectual property protection through patenting. Inducted into The National Academy of Engineering, Section 2, October 2023. Many years of continuing service to my profession and the community in various capacities.