The Other Dr. Lyons Talks Energy

Chuck Zimmerman

Dr. Mark LyonsDr. Mark Lyons is the son of Alltech founder and President, Dr. Pearse Lyons. At the press conference yesterday he kept getting referred to as the “other Dr. Lyons.” I think he’s used to it. In fact, Mark says his sister has a PhD too.

Mark has been working on international projects for the company and will be heading up the company’s newest project to build a cellulosic ethanol plant in Springfield, KY. He’s thrilled with the news the company had last Friday that they’re receiving not only a $30 million grant from the Department of Energy but an additional $8 million grant from the state of Kentucky for the project. He says this will help the company to think even bigger as they develop the facility.

You can listen to an interview I did with Mark here: alltech-symposium-08-mark-lyons.mp3

Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech, Audio, Ethanol

Digital Signs Greet Participants

Chuck Zimmerman

Digital LizI would dare say that Alltech is one of the most multi-media savvy companies I’ve worked with and I’m sure it’s because of the talent the company has invested in. I’m just proud to be working alongside them here in Lexington at their Symposium in my own little way.

As an example of one thing they’re doing that is just plain “cool,” is the digital signs positioned around the convention center.

In the photo you can see an avatar of a real person (Liz Broomall, Alltech intern) who greets and talks to participants as they wander around the exhibits. I’m going to try to interview her about the project later.

Post Update: I did interview Avatar Liz and you can listen to her describe the project here: alltech-symposium-08-liz.mp3

This morning the latest video in the Alltech YouTube account is one that features highlights from the opening sessions yesterday:

Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech

Translating The Greenest Generation

Chuck Zimmerman

TranslatorOne of the challenges of holding an international educational symposium is language. We wish everyone spoke English but that’s just not the case.

So here at the Alltech Symposium you’ll find very talented translators in booths at the back of each session room.

I’m not sure how many translators are working here but with separate concurrent session rooms for dairy, poultry, beef, equine and aquaculture and multiple ones needed for each, it’s quite a few.

Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech

Happy Earth Day

Chuck Zimmerman

We're Earth FriendlyFor Earth Day I hope to eat some green vegetables. I also turned out the light in my hotel room before I left. Yesterday afternoon, in preparation, I made sure I re-used my plastic beer cup at the Alltech Kentucky Night celebration.

So, do your part. It’s a good idea to conserve, etc. I’m just wary of those groups that want us to worship the Earth. I don’t. And those companies who use “green” as a marketing ploy to somehow make us believe they’re better because of it. Not.

Happy Earth Day.

Uncategorized

Dr. Ronan Power Explains Nutrigenomics

Chuck Zimmerman

Dr. Ronan PowerI’m just guessing that it’s not coincidence that the theme for Alltech’s Symposium is “The Greenest Generation” and it’s Earth Day. No, couldn’t be.

But it is Earth Day and Alltech is talking a lot about sustainability, better environmental practices and feeding the world. One of those key speakers is Dr. Ronan Power, Alltech Director of Research, who received the Medal of Excellence award. He spoke at the opening general session and I interviewed him after the following press conference.

He says the award is a big honor for his whole research team and as the leader of the new Alltech Nutrigenomics Center, he says they have a great opportunity to move their research forward to a new level. You can also hear him explain the term, “Nutrigenomics.”

You can listen to my interview with Dr. Power here: alltech-symposium-08-power.mp3

Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech, Audio

Irish Press Meets Buffalo

Chuck Zimmerman

Irish Press Meets BuffaloThis evening Alltech treated Symposium attendees to Kentucky Night which is far different than the formal International Dinner of last night. We’ve gone from opera to cowboy bbq and buffalo.

These are two Irish agricultural journalist friends posing in front of where the buffalo were roaming out at Alltech ranch.

The international group had some beautiful weather for Kentucky Ale and steaks and a good band.

Tomorrow it’s back to business with more seminars and and an afternoon session with a former U.S. Sec. of Ag.

The Symposium photo album has almost 200 photos in it now.

Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech

A ‘Fresh’ Look at Meister Media

Laura McNamara

Meister Media Worldwide, a self-described leader in specialty communications worldwide, has launched a new, redesigned corporate website. MeisterMedia.com offers media clients a fresh look at what Meister Media has to offer.

“The new website supports the company’s commitment to digital media and will provide an entrée to in-depth information on our brand websites,” says James C. Sulecki, Director, eMedia for Meister Media Worldwide. ”Our redesigned online home aggregates a wealth of market, product, and service information but is also easy to access and navigate.”

Users who access www.MeisterMedia.com will now find the following information:

Markets – Offered are general descriptions of each market and links to more specific information about each Meister brand in that market. From brand-specific web pages, users can link to each of Meister’s branded sites to access a full complement of subscription, advertising, contact, and market information.

Brands and Offerings – Visitors can navigate the site through a publications pull-down menu of the company’s 17 well-known brands. Additional menu options take users to listings and examples of the company’s wide array of products and services in online media, reference materials, custom media, events and market initiatives.

Our Company – Information about the Meister Media Worldwide parent organization is accessible and includes information on careers, company news, history, the management team and contacts.

Media

Alltech Symposium Press Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

Press ConferenceThis morning we participated in a press conference after the opening general session. On stage (l-r) are Dr. Mark Lyons, who is the son of company founder Dr. Pearse Lyons, next to him, then Alltech BioScience Medal of Excellence winner, Dr. Ronan Power and Dr. Karl Dawson, Alltech Director of Worldwide Research.

For those of you who couldn’t be here to participate I thought I’d post the full press conference audio for you here. There were a lot of questions about how Alltech is accomplishing being “Green” and questions relating to how how they’re communicating their message to the public, their customers and to the regulators.

You can listen to the press conference here: alltech-symposium-08-press.mp3

Or you can download the press conference from this link: Listen to MP2 Alltech Press Conference (45 min MP3)

Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech, Audio

Dr. Pearse Lyons Addresses Opening Session

Chuck Zimmerman

Dr. Pearse LyonsDr. Pearse Lyons is the founder and the President of Alltech. This is his show and it is quite a show. I’ll have more on that later.

I think I heard someone say there were less than a hundred people at the first Alltech Symposium. The fact that we’re near 1,700 here is a testament to how well marketing by education has worked for him.

Speaking at the opening general session this morning he addressed the theme of the Symposium, The Greenest Generation, head on. While a lot of people are expressing dismay and concern about the challenges of feeding the world at the same time as we reduce our impact on the environment by such things as the production of biofuels, he sees this as a time to step up to the challenge. I think it’s interesting to see how a company like Alltech handles the issue of food vs. fuel since it has customers on both sides. I like his approach to talk about how we’re going to solve things instead of worry about what might happen, “if.”

The photo is courtesy of Alltech photographer Tim Webb.

Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech

Alltech Symposium Participants

Chuck Zimmerman

One of the fun things I’m doing here at the Alltech Symposium is a series of video “man on the street” interviews with participants. I’ve done about 6 so far, all from different countries. I started out easy with an American from Ohio by the name of John Nesbett.

Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech, Video