Board of Directors
Cardinal Investors are represented by a Board of eleven elected and four appointed Directors.
To contact the Board of Director's Chairman, Robert Davis, please email [email protected].
Elected Directors
Robert J. Davis, Chairman
Mr. Davis has been the owner and operator of Spiceland Wood Products, Inc., a manufacturing firm supplying the residential and commercial marketplace with customized wood products since 2001. Previously he was the vice president of operations for Frank Miller Lumber Company and for Grede Foundries, Inc. He also owns a 260-acre farm near New Castle, Indiana. He graduated from Purdue University School of Engineering in materials engineering. Mr. Davis previously served as our vice-chairman and is currently serving as our chairman. Mr. Davis's term as chairman expires in February 2024. Mr. Davis has served as a director since December 2005 and has agreed to serve if elected. Mr. Davis was selected as a nominee based on his prior involvement with the Company, the ethanol industry and his business and agricultural experience.
Thomas E. Chalfant, Vice-Chairman
Mr. Chalfant has been farming in Randolph County since 1974. He also served as a member of the board of directors of First Merchants Bank from 1999 until 2009. He has also been the president of the Randolph County Farm Bureau and a county commissioner for Randolph County. He is currently serving on the Indiana Farm Bureau Energy Advisory Committee. Mr. Chalfant graduated from Purdue University with a bachelors of science in agriculture. Mr. Chalfant is currently serving as our vice-chairman. Mr. Chalfant's term as vice-chairman expires in February 2024. Mr. Chalfant has served as a director since our inception.
Thomas C. Chronister, Secretary
Since 1975, Mr. Chronister has worked as the manager and pharmacist for Chronister Pharmacies & Gift Stores. He also owns and operates 356 apartments in the Fort Wayne, Indiana area. Mr. Chronister graduated from Purdue University in 1975 with a bachelor's degree in pharmacy. Mr. Chronister's is currently serving as our secretary. Mr. Chronister's term as secretary expires in February 2024. Mr. Chronister served as a director from December 2005 to February 2009 and then from July 2009 to present.
Danny R. Huston
Mr. Huston has over 40 years in business experience and is currently the owner of North American Midway Entertainment, LLC, the world's largest outdoor amusement park employing more than 2,200 associates in 24 states and four Canadian provinces. Mr. Huston has also served as the CEO of North American Midway Entertainment, LLC since 2010 and previously served as the COO beginning in 2007. In the past, Mr. Huston has served as president and on the board of the Outdoor Amusement Business Association. He was appointed by the governor of Indiana to the State of Indiana Amusement Ride Safety Board in 1997 where he served until 2014. He is currently a member of the Outdoor Amusement Business Association, the Showmen's League of America, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, the International Association of Fairs and Expeditions, and the Lions Club. Mr. Huston has also farmed in Indiana in Randolph and Delaware Counties for over 30 years and is involved in his local communities and various philanthropic organizations. Mr. Huston has served as a director since February 2020.
Adam Kline
Mr. Kline is a partner at the law firm of Bose McKinney & Evans LLP where has practiced agricultural law since 2012. He is also actively engaged in his family’s farming operations in Hartford City, Indiana. He received a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Purdue University in 2010 and a doctor of jurisprudence from the University of Cincinnati in 2013. Mr. Kline has served as a director February 2023.
Daniel Sailer
Mr. Sailer is a director at KSM Business Services, Inc. in Indianapolis, where he primarily focuses on business valuation for gift tax and estate planning, succession and transaction advisory, and employee stock ownership plans. He has served in this role since 2013. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2002 from Indiana University, Bloomington. He is a certified public accountant and a CFA charterholder. Mr. Sailer served as an appointed director from December 2019 when he was appointed to the Board of Directors by C. Allan Rosar until May 2022 when the appointment rights expired. Mr. Sailer has served as an elected director since February 2023 and has agreed to serve if elected. Mr. Sailer was selected as a nominee based on his prior involvement with the Company, the ethanol industry and his business experience.
Dale A. Schwieterman
Mr. Schwieterman has been retired since July 2016. He was formerly employed as a certified public accountant for 44 years. He is involved with grain farming in Mercer County, Ohio. He graduated from Bowling Green State University with a degree in business in 1972. Mr. Schwieterman formerly served as our treasurer. Mr. Schwieterman has served as a director since December 2005 and has agreed to serve if elected. Mr. Schwieterman was selected as a nominee based on his prior involvement with the Company, the ethanol industry and his business and agricultural experience.
Chad Smith
Mr. Smith is currently the Chief Financial Officer for Mid-West Metal Products where he has served in that role since 2015. He started his career as an Investment Banker for BMO Capital Markets and then worked as the Director of Financial Planning & Analysis for United States Infrastructure Corporation. He received a bachelor's degree in business and an MBA from Indiana University. Mr. Smith has served as a director since February 2023 and has agreed to serve if elected. Mr. Smith was selected as a nominee based on his prior involvement with the Company and his business experience.
Steven J. Snider
Mr. Snider retired as a regional manager for AgReliant Genetics, the third largest corn seed company in the United States, with whom he has worked since 1982. He served as secretary and general manager of Silver Fox Developments in Warsaw, Indiana and served as the managing partner of SMOR, LLC, a real estate development and investment group. He is an active private equity investor. He received a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Purdue University in 1982. Mr. Snider served as a director from December 2005 until February 2009 and then from February 2017 to present.
J. Phillip Zicht
Mr. Zicht was a teacher for 41 years. He has also been actively engaged in farming in Randolph County, Indiana for most of his life. He served on the staff-parish committee at the Asbury United Methodist Church for many years, twice holding the office of chairman. Mr. Zicht is a member of Lions Club and is also active in Randolph County 4-H where he has served in the past as the chairman of the Incorporated Committee. He graduated from Ball State University. Mr. Zicht was one of the original founding members of our Company. Mr. Zicht has served as a director since February 2013.
Appointed Directors
Robert N. Baker
Mr. Baker has been the President of Clark Investment Group, a real estate development and investment company since 2013 where he previously served as Chief Financial Officer from 1996 to 2013. Mr. Baker is a manager of Clark Family, LLC and several other real estate investment companies. Mr. Baker previously practiced as a CPA for 10 years. Mr. Baker also serves on the board of directors for Kansas Ethanol, LLC, a private company. Mr. Baker has served as a director since May 2009 when he was appointed to serve by Clark Family, LLC. Mr. Baker will serve indefinitely at the pleasure of the Appointing Member.
David M. Dersch, Jr.
Col. (ret.) Dersch is a retired Air Force Reserve chaplain after 20 years of honorable service. In addition to deploying overseas, he has been assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command, as well as the Air Force Chief of Chaplains Office at the Pentagon, and at Pacific Air Force. He is a recipient of the Legion of Merit and the Korean Peace Medal. Prior to commissioning as a military chaplain, Col. Dersch pastored churches in Michigan and Alabama. He has a Doctor of Ministry degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, as well as two masters degrees from Air University at Maxwell AFB, AL including a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies. Col. Dersch has served as a director since October 2019 when he was appointed to serve by Dersch Energy, LLC. Col. Dersch previously served as a director from July 2017 until January 2019. Col. Dersch will serve indefinitely at the pleasure of the Appointing Member.
Gerald Forsythe
Mr. Forsythe is currently the chairman and CEO of Indeck Energy Services, Inc., Indeck Capital, Inc. and Indeck Power Equipment Company. Mr. Forsythe began his career with Indeck Power Equipment Company in 1963 and has over fifty years of experience in the power industry. He founded Indeck Energy Services, Inc. in 1985 which constructed and operates gas fired co-generation facilities. Mr. Forsythe also founded Forsythe Racing, Inc. and formed the Forsythe Racing Team in 1982 to participate in open wheel racing. His team has won series championships in Formula Atlantic, Indy Lights and Champ Car. He has also been responsible for constructing racing venues in Mexico and England and is the owner of the Long Beach Grand Prix in California and Cosworth, Ltd. in England. Mr. Forsythe farms over 20,000 acres near his hometown of Marshall, Illinois. Mr. Forsythe also serves as director for LincolnLand Agri-Energy, LLC and Kaapa Ethanol Holdings, LLC. He is also a director for Highwater Ethanol, LLC, a public company. Mr. Forsythe has served as a director since December 2020 when he was appointed to serve by Indeck Energy Services, Inc. Mr. Forsythe will serve indefinitely at the pleasure of the Appointing Member.
Lewis M. Roch III
Mr. Roch co-founded numerous technology companies which either sold, merged with public companies, or went public. Mr. Roch is president of LMR, Inc, which manages Roch Investments, LLC, Roch Holdings, LLC and Roch Enterprises, LLC. In addition, Mr. Roch was a general partner in Roch Interests, Ltd. LLP from 1992 to 2013 and managing partner for RFP Associates, Ltd. from 1983 to 2012. Mr. Roch received his bachelor of science in business administration (BSBA) from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and his MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. Mr. Roch has served as a director since February 2012 when he was appointed to the Board of Directors by Roch Investments, LLC. Mr. Roch will serve indefinitely at the pleasure of the Appointing Member.