GEAPS Announces 2026-27 Leadership

GEAPS Announces 2026-27 Leadership

Alex Westlind is Board President

With a new fiscal year comes new leadership. GEAPS is pleased to announce Alex Westlind will serve as GEAPS' International Board President. Westlind, a member of GEAPS since 2007, is the business development director at The Weitz Company, LLC, in Plymouth, Minnesota.

"It's an honor to step into this role as GEAPS President and represent an organization that brings together professionals from every corner of the grain and grain processing industries. The strength of GEAPS has always been its ability to connect people, share knowledge, and build lasting relationships. I look forward to working alongside our members, chapters, and industry partners to continue growing that impact in the year ahead."

Bob Horvat to serve as Board Chair

Bob Horvat, who served as GEAPS President for the past year, now assumes the role of Chairman of the Board. Horvat is the manufacturing tech lead for Cargill, Inc., in Wayzata, Minnesota.

"Serving as GEAPS President this past year has been a rewarding experience, and I'm proud of the progress we've made as an organization," said Horvat. "We celebrated another record-breaking Exchange, surpassed 4,500 members, expanded educational offerings, and strengthened support for local chapters. We also continued to grow our reach by welcoming more professionals from the grain processing sector and creating new opportunities for learning, networking, and leadership development. GEAPS is building a bigger, stronger community, and it is exciting to see the impact that growth is having. Thank you to everyone who helped make this such a successful year."

GEAPS International Board of Directors

Jeff Trudell of BCI was elected to the office of International Second Vice President. Trudell is now slated into the succession path to serving as 2028-2029 International President.

The following Regular Members were elected to three-year terms as International Board Directors: Tom Rodman of TEMCO, LLC, Jacob Long of Bartlett, and Scott Steinke of The Andersons, Co. Furthermore, Trudell was elected as an Associate Member International Board Director of which he declined in order to assume his Second Vice President role. Therefore, Dale Vinsand of West Side Salvage, LLC was appointed to a one-year term. Adam Geers of Michigan Agricultural Commodities was also appointed to a one-year term to fill a Regular Member board vacancy.