We are proud to announce that John Christianson received the 2022 Award of Excellence on June 14, 2022 at the world’s largest ethanol conference, the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo. This award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the fuel ethanol industry through their research, technical advisory and/or development activities.
As a young certified public accountant in the early 1980s, John gained experience and made meaningful connections during the challenging farm crisis years. In the early ’90s, he started working with a farmer co-op in Benson, Minnesota, helping with the formation of what would eventually become the Chippewa Valley Ethanol Co. ethanol plant. That project became a turning point, and his involvement within the ethanol industry rapidly took off.
Christianson, PLLP grew and expanded its services, eventually becoming a 60+person, full-service CPA and business advisory firm that it is today widely relied upon by ethanol producers. He and his team, listening to their clients, created new and innovative ways to help ethanol producers marry their financial and grain accounting systems. His company was instrumental in developing dozens of ethanol plants during the construction boom of 2000s and is maybe most recognized for its Ethanol Plant Benchmarking program used throughout the U.S. ethanol industry. Christianson left his managing partner role at the firm to become a director in 2021. He is also a member of the Minnesota Governor’s Biofuels Council and a current board member of the American Coalition for Ethanol.
“I’ve had the opportunity to work in the industry for many years, and I don’t consider it work because I enjoy going to work every day,” John said when asked what he enjoys about the Ethanol Industry, “The reason I enjoy it, and I think the reason that the industry has such a great future, is because of the people and the people that this industry is made of, their character, their passion, their values.”
