4 Minutes with…Ben Thorp, Co-Founder & Chairman of the Board, Biorenewable Deployment Consortium

Tell us about your company and it’s role in the Advanced Bioeconomy.

The Biorenewable Deployment Consortium connects Emerging Technology it the deployment stage with Forest Industry Partners to Accelerate Deployment and Optimize Value. BDC is a Catalyst to the Future. BDC provides educational opportunities, networking, information, and guidance and assistance with projects and partnerships where synergies exist; all to accelerate deployment of economic projects.

Tell us about your role and what you are focused on in the next 12 months.

The Biorenewable Deployment Consortium (BDC) is an international organization dedicated to assisting the Forest Products Industry in utilizing leading-edge bioprocesses to achieve the highest value from their biomass streams.

BDC recognizes that projects must be economic on their own; not requiring long-term government subsidies.

What do you feel are the most important milestones the industry must achieve in the next 5 years?   

1-Strategic position, are we essential like energy independence or just nice to have

2-Position in the supply chain

3-Position with existing business infrastructure

4-Proclamination of preferred technologies

5-the sum of 1 to 4 give economic justicication

If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about the Advanced Bioeconomy, what would you change? 

Agreement on national strategic position

Of all the reasons that influenced you to join the Advanced Bioeconomy industry, what single reason stands out for you as still being compelling and important to you?   

To provide trustworthy information and guidance to companies to help them maximize profit from existing and potential feedstocks

Where are you from?

Childhood split between Mississippi Gulf Coast and upstate New York.

What was your subject focus (e.g. major) in university (undergraduate and/or graduate, and where did you attend? Why did you choose that school and that pathway?

Major universities were Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Engineering) and the University of Maryland (Physics). Since I earned my tuition I selected subjects that offered better knowledge and skill development.

Who do you consider your mentors – could be personal, business, or just people you have read about and admire. What have you learned from them?  

Major business mentors were Gordon Chalmers and Ted Kennedy both of whom had an excellent appreciation of customers and their needs.

What’s the biggest lesson you ever learned during a period of adversity?   

There are two.

First, the maximum organizational efficiency and productivity comes from those who can achieve high performance work systems. HPWS are extremely difficult to achieve and even more difficult to maintain.

Second, the time one can get in the most trouble is when you are right and know that you are right.

What hobbies do you pursue, away from your work in the industry?   

In younger years it was skiing. Currently golf.

What books or articles (excluding The Digest) are on your reading list right now, or you just completed and really enjoyed?   

Read numerous periodicals weekly to keep abreast of reliable events in the bio-products area.

What’s your favorite city or place to visit, for a holiday?  

Scotland but I just golfed at the Cabot Cliffs in Nova Scotia and it was delightful.