The values that define military service — discipline, integrity, and teamwork — don't end when the uniform comes off.
America's bioethanol industry is powered by people who know what it means to serve. Veterans make up 16% of the industry's workforce — nearly three times the national average, according to the U.S Department of Energy.
Across the bioethanol industry, veterans are putting their skills to work every day, helping to strengthen America's energy future. POET alone employs more than 180 veterans across its corporate offices, terminals, and bioprocessing facilities.
Charles Hauxwell, Health and Safety Program Specialist at POET in Sioux Falls, had served in the Army for nearly 21 years before joining the company. According to him, it was a smooth adaptation to his new role.
“I had that energy and drive from my military career,” Hauxwell said. “It was a really easy transition to focus all that energy and focus into my daily activities.”
Shirley Matlock, after two years of service in the Air Force, started to work at POET Bioprocessing – Shelbyville in 2020 as a Grain Merchandiser. The decision to be back in the workforce was influenced by her desire to work close to home and be involved in agriculture.
“I wanted to work for a company that was involved, that had a faith-based mission,” Matlock said. “That’s actually what led me to it more than anything else.”
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Charles Hauxwell, Army
Parallels between careers
According to Matlock, at POET, problem-solving happens in a similar way to her experience in the Air Force.
In both, it’s not about one team or one person doing a job and being responsible for everything — it’s about everybody working together. If there is a challenge or a failure, someone is there to help figure out how to navigate it and get the situation back on track.
Hauxwell also sees teamwork as the biggest parallel between his time serving in the army and his career at POET. One person can’t run a facility. One person can’t organize all the activities at the plant. It must be done by many, with communication, teamwork, and organization.
“That’s directly related to one person can’t go fight a battle, it’s not going to be successful. It requires more individuals involved,” he said.
Work at POET is not only about energy. It is about being part of a team and having a purpose, values that are learned early and developed in a military career.
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Charles Hauxwell, POET Health & Safety Program Specialist
Energy is everywhere, including in the future
Energy has been part of Hauxwell's daily life since his time in the army. Much of his role involved defending the U.S.’s ability to secure oil.
“That was one thing that really drew me to it,” he said. “I work for a company that tries to reduce our oil dependency. That was a big thing for me too, to be part of that.”
At his current job at POET, he is still dealing with energy — at a slower pace, but with great expectations for the future. Hauxwell sees the next chapter of American energy as one with more variety of sources.
To him, the most exciting example of this is a recent picture of POET Bioprocessing – Big Stone. In the background is a coal-generated energy plant. In the foreground is the POET facility alongside new technology that captures and stores thermal energy to run that plant. The juxtaposition speaks volumes.
“To me, it's just the most amazing picture that's out there,” Hauxwell said. “That's because I think our future is something along those lines.”
Matlock sees the future as an opportunity to keep finding ways to use our resources sustainably to make sure that the world is in a position to keep producing crops in a safe and healthy way, not just for the consumer, but for the earth itself. Growth for the industry and sustainability are important.
“As far as what we're on, on that bioenergy side, it goes hand-in-hand,” she said.
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Shirley Matlock, Airforce
A holiday that feels different
Anyone who gave years of their lives to protect this country has a special passion for the Fourth of July, according to Matlock.
“It doesn't matter how long the you served — with every single service member, it started with that commitment to give their life for this country and to protect the freedoms and the rights of the American people,” she said.
Hauxwell shares the same feeling. To him, Independence Day is the time of the year when he and his family can celebrate and reflect upon the sacrifices he made for nearly 21 years of his life.
“It allows us to celebrate the fact that we live in the greatest country in the world,” he said.
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Shirley Matlock, POET Grain Merchandiser
Current and Former Service Members at POET
Aaron Hansen
Aaron Hernandez
Aaron Solie
Adam Chedester
Alex Hofschulte
Alex Houston
Amber Rinehart
Anthony Holding
Bill Biggs
Bill Hawk
Bob Byers
Brandon Fischer
Brandon McLellan
Brian Shields
Brock Hambrock
Carl Jurgansen
Carter Helgeson
Chad Gackle
Charles Hauxwell
Chris Hanson
Chris Paone
Chris Rowe
Chris Schropfer
Christopher Bruning
CJ Miller
Cody Sindlinger
Cole Lauck
Collin Heckman
Corey Edwards
Dan Shrum
Darren Thompson
Dave Erla
Dave Porter
Devon Bruns
Donald Kleman
Doug Stevenson
Douglas Janssen
Dustin Cox
Eric Bergmark
Ethan Reese
Ethan Scoblic
Gavin Rhodes
Graham Hanik
Greg Smith
Gregory Claeys
James Bowers
James Eliason
James Mabrey
Jared Ayers
Jason Langley
Jason Mitchell
JD Bridwell
Jerry Wharton
Jim Hill
Joe Mahaney
Joe Ziegler
John Mikulski
John Richter
Johnathan Evans
Johnathan Sorenson
Jonathan Madsen
Joseph Scholte
Josh Berry
Joshua Nowacki
Justin Scobee
Kara Souphimdara
Kevin Koerper
Kyle Locke
Lincoln Oostenink
Luke Stauber
Lyle Buehler
Matt Apel
Matt Crabb
Matthew Ruskit
Michael Fink
Michael Serocki
Michele Riles
Mike Sale
Monte Lewis
Nate Tafolla
Neil Anderson
Nick Titze
Rene Rios
Richard Albertson
Robert Waker
Ron Bovee
Ryan Campbell
Samuel Fager
Scott Holliday
Scott Kirchner
Scott Sawtelle
Shirley Matlock
Solomon Naibose
Spencer Snyder
Stephan Swart
Stephen Rogers
Steve Kooiker
Thomas Therkelsen
Tim Birdsall
Tim Schlotterback
Tony Hoskins
Troy Davis
Tyler Horning
Tyvan Albertson
Will Hackbarth
Zackary Sell
