Our Team

---

Scott McDermott is an owner at FEA and brings over 30 years of experience in financial advisory, consulting, and commodity markets across the renewable fuels, agribusiness, and food industries. His expertise spans strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, capital formation, and breakthrough performance improvement. For more than 15 years, Scott has led the Ethanol Performance Improvement Group through his affiliate company, Business Performance Improvement, where he combines benchmarking and analytical tools with collaborative engagement among independent ethanol plants to drive transformative financial performance. Before joining FEA, Scott was a founding principal of Ascendant Partners and Business Advisory Services for CoBank ACB. Earlier in his career, he held analyst positions at Koch Industries (Flint Hills Resources) and Sparks Companies (Informa Economics). He received a B.A. in Economics from the University of Northern Colorado and a M.A. in Economics from the University of Colorado. 

Mark is an owner at FEA and brings over 15 years of financial advisory, consulting, and direct investing experience in the renewable fuels, agribusiness, and food manufacturing industries. Prior to FEA, Mark was a Principal at Ascendant Partners serving clients in the food, agribusiness, and renewable fuels industries and led or participated in numerous investment banking and consulting projects with total transaction value of approximately $2 billion. Previously, Mark worked for a family office located in Iowa focused on investments in the feed, food, and biofuel industries. Additionally, Mark is an owner of Pheasant Tail Capital Partners, which invests in small businesses (pheasanttailcp.com). Mark graduated with a B.S. in Finance from Iowa State University and is a CFA® charterholder. Mark grew up in rural northeast Iowa and enjoys hiking, camping, and fly fishing throughout the mountains of Colorado. 

Michael is an owner at FEA and brings over 10 years of financial advisory and consulting experience in the renewable fuels, agribusiness, and food manufacturing industries. Michael's experience includes strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, capital raising and formation, and performance improvement assessments, and market feasibilities for capital providers, developers, and existing operators. Previously, Michael was a Principal at Ascendant Partners where he led or participated in numerous investment banking and consulting engagements for agribusiness and renewable fuel clients. Additionally, Michael is an owner of Pheasant Tail Capital Partners, which invests in small businesses (pheasanttailcp.com). Michael graduated with a B.A. in Economics from Tufts University and is a CFA® charterholder. Michael enjoys fly fishing, hiking, skiing, and other outdoor activities.