Marquis is an industry-leading organization with a long history of producing and marketing low-carbon feed and fuel solutions. We are proud to have the largest dry-mill ethanol facility in the world, generating more than 495 million gallons annually, with a diverse portfolio of companies and team members in the United States, Europe and Asia. Yet, Marquis remains rooted in community, innovating to create a sustainable world for future generations.
Safety is our first commitment to each other
A foundation for meaningful relationships
Cultivating success through collaboration and hard work
The Marquis Industrial Complex is located in Hennepin, Illinois. The 3,300-acre site is strategically located with transportation infrastructure to propel growth, including the Illinois River Waterway System, the Norfolk Southern Class I Railroad and close proximity to numerous interstate highways.
Since our inception nearly 50 years ago, Marquis has been dedicated to utilizing the best practices possible to leave no waste and to empower a better world for tomorrow. Now, utilizing innovative carbon capture and storage methods, the Marquis Industrial Complex in Hennepin, Illinois, is on track to be the world’s first carbon-neutral industrial complex, meaning that carbon dioxide emissions will be perfectly balanced with their removal.
Marquis believes in being a good steward, which involves supporting our local community through conservation and educational programs. Together, we can bring about a brighter future for our families, coworkers and the broader community at large.
Darrell L. “Mark” Marquis is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Marquis. Over the last four decades, Mark has founded and led several successful businesses across the various energy and agriculture sectors. In 2005, Mark co-founded Marquis Energy, which doubled capacity in 2016, making it the largest dry-grind ethanol facility in the world. His vast experience in grain procurement, risk management, logistics, trucking, rail, barge, construction and project financing played a vital role in the development of the Marquis Industrial Complex. Mark has served on the board of directors of Growth Energy since 2010, the world’s largest non-profit association dedicated to advocacy on behalf of biofuel producers and supporters. Mark believes in the immense power of ethanol and its current and future role in creating a sustainable world for generations to come. He takes pride in investing in local communities through academic and outreach programs—with an eye on making the world a better place.
Mark grew up in Kewanee, Illinois. He is a certified flight instructor and helicopter pilot. In his free time, Mark enjoys aviation and traveling internationally for business and adventure.
Tom Marquis joined Marquis Grain in 1979 and became a partner in ownership by 1982. Today, he is the Vice President and Director of Marketing for Marquis. In his role, Tom oversees the product marketing for all co-products, ethanol, Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS), Marquis ProCap Gold and Distillers Corn Oil (DCO). He also manages global and domestic sales and logistics, including rail, barge and ocean-going vessels, along with international terminal locations around the world. Tom enjoys working with family and developing new technologies and businesses that bring value to the agricultural community and propel the industry forward into the future.
Tom grew up on a farm near Buda, Illinois. He graduated from the University of Illinois, College of Agriculture, in 1978. After college and prior to joining Marquis, he worked for the United States Department of Agriculture in Madison, Wisconsin.
Jason Marquis is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Marquis, where he oversees operations teams with a focus on biofuel production assets. With Marquis since 2008, he enjoys knowing that local farmers can depend on the organization to provide a market for their grain. Jason also appreciates being a part of a collaborative team that cares for each other, seeing the team grow and offering a great place to work hard. He strives to be better tomorrow than today.
Prior to attending the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and earning a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and Secondary Education, Jason spent summers working within the Marquis family organization. He also holds a teaching certificate as a high school educator and coach.
As the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Marquis, Jeffrey Tussey oversees a team of accountants and is responsible for all accounting and tax matters, communication with auditors and banks, including covenant compliance, contact with outside tax and audit firms and negotiating finance packages. He has been with the organization since 2008, and Jeffrey appreciates his talented and high-performing team and feels that Marquis as a whole is a collaborative organization.
Jeffrey has worked in the ethanol industry for nearly 20 years and previously served as the CFO at Babcock and Brown Biofuels. He has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Northeast Missouri State University and is a Certified Professional Accountant (CPA).
As the Director of Innovation and Market Development at Marquis, Dr. Jennifer Aurandt-Pilgrim leads innovation initiatives and manages the technical and market development of investments in decarbonizing the economy. She joined Marquis in 2019 and appreciates the organization’s vision to change the world through industrial decarbonization. Jennifer also serves on two scientific advisory boards.
With nearly 20 years of industry experience, some of Jennifer’s past positions include working at Valicor (later called Trucent) as a Research and Development Program Manager, then as the Director of Technical Services. She also served as an Associate Professor at Kettering University for a number of years. Jennifer has a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Bowling Green State University and a Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Chemistry from the University of Michigan.
John Huffman joined Marquis in 2016 but draws on more than 35 years of industry experience in his role as the Director of Technology Integration. His primary responsibility is evaluating old processes and equipment to enhance performance and finding/creating new processes that can benefit Marquis. Additionally, John is involved in research and development projects, assists project managers, troubleshoots as needed and participates in operator training. He believes Marquis has a best-in-class work environment and enjoys the diversity of projects and people.
Before joining Marquis, John was an independent contractor in the ethanol industry, a project manager and then Director of Plant Services and Support with ICM Inc. and held plant manager roles with two different ethanol plants. He has an Associate of Applied Science in Civil Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology.
Amanda Marquis is the Director of Process Operations for Marquis and has been with the organization since 2007. She is responsible for reviewing, analyzing and evaluating operations procedures related to the production process. Her team implements policies and procedures that improve day-to-day operations and reach production and efficiency goals while maintaining safe work environments. She oversees departments related to production and ensures that each is reaching goals set by departmental and company leadership. Amanda enjoys the dedication Marquis has to building a sustainable group of companies, as well as the progressive nature of the leadership team that is driven to innovate and be at the top of related industries.
Prior to working for Marquis, Amanda was an analytical chemist for Pfizer, specifically the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients division of the Global Manufacturing department in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She has a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Chemistry from Illinois State University.
As the Senior Vice President of Business Development and Global Strategy for Marquis, Bart Pieper drives the organization’s global strategy, validating new business ventures and developing opportunities in international markets for Marquis products and low-carbon ventures. With Marquis since 2010, Bart enjoys the challenges of developing and expanding Marquis into new industries, markets and sectors. He also appreciates the collaboration that exists to achieve and push the boundaries of our industry.
Before joining Marquis, Bart worked in corporate finance in London and Amsterdam. His work involved ventures in the United States and Central Asia, structuring investments in agriculture, construction, industrial processing and aviation. He has a Master of Science in Financial Engineering.
Lester Smith is a Vice President and the Director of Project Management at Marquis. He has been with the organization since 2001 and draws on more than 40 years of construction and project management experience. Within his role, Lester oversees capital and construction projects. He enjoys the family atmosphere of Marquis and appreciates that the location, scope and budget of each project varies.
Prior to joining Marquis, Lester owned and operated an electrical contracting company that served commercial, agricultural and industrial facilities. He is a Master Electrician.
Beth Steinhour began working with Marquis as an environmental consultant in 2006 and joined the organization in 2011. Today, she is the Director of Environmental Affairs, which involves multi-media environmental permitting and ongoing compliance for Marquis’ ethanol facilities, marine terminals, towboats and new development projects. Beth is responsible for obtaining environmental clearance for site development activities, as well as obtaining pathways and maintaining compliance with the Renewable Fuel Standard. She feels that Marquis’ pursuit of continued growth and its willingness to be on the cutting edge of new technologies provides opportunities both personally and professionally.
During the 1990s, Beth was a Project Director for the Illinois Environmental Regulatory Group, an affiliate of the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce. During the early 2000s, she was a Senior Project Manager for Weaver Consultants, a geotechnical and environmental engineering firm. Beth has a degree in legal studies from the University of Illinois Springfield.
