Daniel J. Feinberg - President & Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Feinberg has been intimately involved in the Company and its affiliated organic livestock businesses since early 2006.  Before assuming his current position in April 2009, Mr. Feinberg represented Dakota Beef’s prior lenders (who have become the current owners of Dakota Beef).  Mr. Feinberg helped build the Company’s vertical integration by acquiring affiliated entities including a 150,000 acre, certified organic cow-calf ranch in Oregon, and certified organic pasture land in Oklahoma.  Mr. Feinberg brought these three components together under a central management team that he recruited.

Prior to Dakota Beef, Mr. Feinberg ran a private fund focused on stock, commodity, and derivative investments.  He also managed a venture capital fund in which he cultivated early stage companies and served as lead investor on the Board of Directors of a wireless broadband startup.  After obtaining his undergraduate degree magna cum laude at Harvard University, Mr. Feinberg obtained his JD degree from the New York University School of Law where he served as an Editor of the NYU Environmental Law Journal.

Evan Whitley, Ph.D. - Executive Vice President Livestock Division

Prior to joining with Dakota Beef, Dr. Whitley spent 8 years with the Samuel Robert's Noble Foundation as a Livestock Consultant and a member of their Agricultural Division's management team.  While with the Noble Foundation his primary duties included assisting livestock producers in the areas of: genetic management (including bull and female selection), supplemental feeding program design, animal handling techniques and working facilities design, as well as providing marketing assistance and analysis.  Dr. Whitley received a Bachelor of Science in Range Management, a Master of Science in Range Nutrition and a Doctor of Philosophy in Beef Cattle Management/Nutrition.

Tim Weiler - Vice President of Sales and Marketing

Mr. Weiler brings over 24 years of experience in the beef and pork industry.  Tim has held Executive and Senior Sales positions with Stock Yard Meat Packing, Smithfield Foods, Premium Standard Farms, PM Beef Group and IBP.  Tim has extensive experience in the retail, international and food service business channels.  Tim started as a Production Scheduler for IBP and through continuous successful performance elevated into Vice President and COO positions with PM Beef and others.  Tim and his wife, along with their three children, live in Kansas City.

Larry Holtrop - Plant Manager

Mr. Holtrop brings 47 years of experience in the beef industry and 35 years in plant operations management to Dakota Beef.  Larry has successfully performed in senior management positions with IBP, Long Prairie Packing, Sara Lee, John Morrell and Davis Creek Meats.  Mr. Holtrop's experience in daily plant operations, employee development, operating efficiency improvement, quality assurance and food safety offer Dakota Beef continuous improvement.

Dr. Susan Overholt, Ph.D. - Quality Manager

Dr. Overholt supervises food safety and quality assurance in our processing plant in Howard, SD.  Prior to joining Dakota Beef, Dr. Overholt was a Senior Research Scientist and manager of the Nutritional Science Group for Banner Pharmacaps, High Point, NC.  She was responsible for product conceptualization, development and scale-up into production.  Dr. Overholy holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Meat Science from South Dakota University, a Master of Science in Meat Science from the University of Connecticut and a BS in Agriculture from The Ohio State University.  Dr. Overholt resides in Madison, SD with her husband, Marlon, and children Seth and Makayla.