by Josh Saddler
Green Plains Inc. is a diversified commodity-processing business with operations related to ethanol, distillers grains and corn oil production; grain handling and storage; a cattle feedlot; and commodity marketing and distribution services. The company processes twelve million tons of corn annually, producing over 1.2 billion gallons of ethanol, approximately 3.4 million tons of livestock feed and 275 million pounds of industrial grade corn oil at full capacity. Carlo is a UNO alumni who currently works for Green Plains.
How did you find out about your position?
I found out about my position through a family friend. I wanted to learn more about Green Plains, so a meeting was set up with some of the managers of different departments here. The meeting turned into an interview, and 2 weeks later I was working here. I’ve been with the company for a little over a year and a half.
Why did you pursue this opportunity?
I pursued this opportunity because I felt like I wasn’t being challenged enough in my previous job, and I wanted to be in an industry that was closer aligned to my major (Finance).
What does this job entail day-to-day?
My day-to-day responsibilities involved trading commodity futures contracts in the market and managing/monitoring price risk for 17 different ethanol plants across the United States. The ethanol plants buy the corn from local farmers or commercial sellers, and then here in Omaha, we trade futures contracts to hedge off risk. In addition to trading, I also serve as an analyst for South American crop production and various other tasks given to me month-to-month.
What is your favorite aspect of this job?
My favorite aspect of my job is that is changes every day. Working as a commodity trader, prices change not only every day, but every second, so you are always looking to buy the low and sell the high of the day in order to make money. No one ever knows which way the market is going to go, but I enjoy trying to make an educated guess as to where my instincts tell me it’s going to go, and then trade based on that information.
Would you recommend getting an internship while in college?
I would absolutely recommend an internship during college. I worked all 4 years of college, and when I graduated, I had so much real-world job experience, that I was able to be hired immediately. I also worked in three dramatically different industries in college, which helped make me a more well-rounded employee at my current job. Internships are a great way to experience different industries without a ton of risk since you are just a student and not making a lifelong career decision.
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