USIPA Members
USIPA staff
Darrell Smith
Darrell Smith
Darrell Smith
Executive Director
Darrell joined USIPA as Executive Director of USIPA in March 2025 and is responsible for overall leadership and strategic direction for the association. Active in the public policy arena since 2002, Smith has a strong background in public policy, sustainability, safety and supply chain having represented the mining, petr
Executive Director
Darrell joined USIPA as Executive Director of USIPA in March 2025 and is responsible for overall leadership and strategic direction for the association. Active in the public policy arena since 2002, Smith has a strong background in public policy, sustainability, safety and supply chain having represented the mining, petroleum, waste and chemical industries. Formerly, he served as President and CEO of the National Waste and Recycling Association followed by Executive Vice President of the Essential Minerals Association.
Prior to his public policy career in Washington, D.C., Smith worked in a variety of industries as a health and safety professional. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and a Master of Science in leadership from The Citadel, a Master of environmental science from the University of South Carolina, and a Ph.D. in environmental conflict from George Mason University. Smith is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) and a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH). Originally from South Carolina, he now resides in Washington, D.C.
Taylor Fitts
Darrell Smith
Darrell Smith
Vice President, Communications & External Affairs
Taylor leads strategic communications and stakeholder engagement initiatives to support the industry’s growth and ensure favorable regulatory environments across its key markets.
Prior to joining USIPA, Taylor spent 15 years leading communications and public relations campaigns for Fortune
Vice President, Communications & External Affairs
Taylor leads strategic communications and stakeholder engagement initiatives to support the industry’s growth and ensure favorable regulatory environments across its key markets.
Prior to joining USIPA, Taylor spent 15 years leading communications and public relations campaigns for Fortune 500 companies in the agriculture, industrial manufacturing and technology sectors. Taylor holds a BA in Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Andrew Georgiou
Andrew Georgiou
Andrew Georgiou
Vice President, Global Policy
Andrew (Andy) leads USIPA government affairs efforts
across key markets in the UK, Europe, Asia, and the US.
Prior to joining USIPA, Andy
served as Director of Policy and Regulation for Europe at Enviva where he played a pivotal role in shaping favorable outcomes on biomass policy issues that benefited the
Vice President, Global Policy
Andrew (Andy) leads USIPA government affairs efforts
across key markets in the UK, Europe, Asia, and the US.
Prior to joining USIPA, Andy
served as Director of Policy and Regulation for Europe at Enviva where he played a pivotal role in shaping favorable outcomes on biomass policy issues that benefited the entire industry.
Andy began his career as a Parliamentary Assistant to a UK Member of Parliament, followed by leading UK Public Affairs for E.ON. He later joined E.ON's Brussels Representative Office, where he was promoted to Deputy Head, leading policy development and engagement with EU stakeholders.
In addition to his professional achievements, Andy serves on the Board of Bioenergy Europe and holds a bachelor's degree in British Politics and Legislative Studies from the University of Hull.
Melissa DeGraw
Andrew Georgiou
Andrew Georgiou
Director, Membership
Melissa brings over 15 years of association experience to USIPA, with a proven track record in membership growth, sponsorship development, exhibit sales, and advertising.
As a seasoned association leader, she understands the value proposition of associations and their members. She thrives on finding creative, outside-t
Director, Membership
Melissa brings over 15 years of association experience to USIPA, with a proven track record in membership growth, sponsorship development, exhibit sales, and advertising.
As a seasoned association leader, she understands the value proposition of associations and their members. She thrives on finding creative, outside-the-box solutions that create lasting, win-win partnerships. With her deep industry knowledge and strategic mindset, Melissa is ready to help grow and build stronger connections with our members.
USIPA Board of Directors
Thomas Reilley
Thomas Reilley
Thomas Reilley
USIPA Board Chairman
Chairman, Highland Pellets
Tom has more than 20 years of experience as an investor and entrepreneur. He started his career with Bear, Stearns and as a Senior Managing Director was transferred to London in 2002 to establish the wealth management division and serve as its executive director and as a member of the Internat
USIPA Board Chairman
Chairman, Highland Pellets
Tom has more than 20 years of experience as an investor and entrepreneur. He started his career with Bear, Stearns and as a Senior Managing Director was transferred to London in 2002 to establish the wealth management division and serve as its executive director and as a member of the International Executive Committee.
He left in 2007 to found Kalan Capital, an investment vehicle and private equity fund that developed the geothermal company Orka Energy into a key holding. He exited his stake in 2012 and returned to the U.S. where he continues to be an active investor.
Mr. Reilley holds a B.A. in International Relations and Economics (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA).
Matt White
Thomas Reilley
Thomas Reilley
USIPA Board Member
Senior Vice President, Drax Biomass
Matt White is Senior Vice President of Drax Biomass joining the company from Rockwater Energy (now Select Energy Services), a chemicals and logistics provider to the oil industry where he was Director, Manufacturing & Engineering.
In his last role, he was responsible for leading the manu
USIPA Board Member
Senior Vice President, Drax Biomass
Matt White is Senior Vice President of Drax Biomass joining the company from Rockwater Energy (now Select Energy Services), a chemicals and logistics provider to the oil industry where he was Director, Manufacturing & Engineering.
In his last role, he was responsible for leading the manufacturing effort for the chemical division at Rockwater’s plant sites, focused on increased production and establishing consistent work processes across the division. He managed and executed the capital envelope for the division and was responsible for driving capacity expansion for FR product line.
Most of Matt’s career has been in manufacturing management helping organizations, grow, adapt to change and increase safety and efficiency by developing high-performing teams. A mechanical engineer by background, Matt has worked in a number of sectors including air products and chemicals, and with Solvay’s guar/oxide manufacturing.
Matt holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
Harold Arnold
Thomas Reilley
Simon Plagborg
USIPA Board Member
President, Fram Renewable Fuels
Harold has been involved in the forest industry his entire working life. He spent more than 25 years in the Forest Resources Division of Hercules Inc. and held the position of Western Region Superintendent prior to his leaving Hercules in 1995.
Since then, he has exported chips and other fo
USIPA Board Member
President, Fram Renewable Fuels
Harold has been involved in the forest industry his entire working life. He spent more than 25 years in the Forest Resources Division of Hercules Inc. and held the position of Western Region Superintendent prior to his leaving Hercules in 1995.
Since then, he has exported chips and other forest products through port facilities at Savannah, handled a variety of consulting projects for forest products industries in the South, and completed several international forestry related assignments as a consultant for the United States Agency for International Development.
Harold joined Fram Renewable Fuels, LLC in October 2005. His industry knowledge led to the development of Fram's first wood pellet facility in Baxley, Georgia.
Appling County Pellets was constructed and began producing in late 2007. Since then he has played a pivotal role in the development of the business and customer relationships that are so vitally necessary in this business. As the industry continues to grow Harold enhances the profile of Fram to further develop the wood pellet industry in the Southeast United States.
Simon Plagborg
Simon Plagborg
Simon Plagborg
USIPA Board Member
CEO, CM Biomass
Mr. Plagborg serves as Chief Executive Officer of CM Biomass, the largest biomass trader in the world with over 3.5MM MT/y of sales. The company now operates globally with sourcing and sales across Europe, Asia, the Americas and the Caribbean with over 50 storages catering to both the premium and industria
USIPA Board Member
CEO, CM Biomass
Mr. Plagborg serves as Chief Executive Officer of CM Biomass, the largest biomass trader in the world with over 3.5MM MT/y of sales. The company now operates globally with sourcing and sales across Europe, Asia, the Americas and the Caribbean with over 50 storages catering to both the premium and industrial markets.
CM Biomass is a Danish family-owned company with parent (USTC and CM Group) and sister companies being some
of the largest in grain brokerage, ocean terminals, stevedoring, agency, ocean freight, logistics, and bunker fuel. CMB’s North American operations include 10 production plants with over 1MM MT/y of capacity spread throughout the US Southeast and another 400k MT/y of third-party volume in Canada and North America most
of which exports from 5 terminals in Canada and the United States.
Simon joined CMB in January 2025 bringing 15 years of experience in executive management and a background in sales and commercial roles from various companies. Prior to CM Biomass he served as Chief Commercial Officer for Skamol.
Glenn Nunziata
Simon Plagborg
Glenn Nunziata
USIPA Board Member
CEO, Enviva
Mr. Nunziata is a member of the Board of Managers of Enviva, LLC and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in December 2024. He previously served as interim Chief Executive Officer since November 2023, after joining Enviva Inc. as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in August 2023.
As CEO, Mr
USIPA Board Member
CEO, Enviva
Mr. Nunziata is a member of the Board of Managers of Enviva, LLC and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in December 2024. He previously served as interim Chief Executive Officer since November 2023, after joining Enviva Inc. as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in August 2023.
As CEO, Mr. Nunziata leads a global team of 1,200+ associates dedicated to fulfilling the critical demand for wood-based renewable energy solutions. He oversees all aspects of Enviva’s day-to-day operations, setting the company’s strategic direction, while providing appropriate resources and capital allocations to support the company’s operations and future commercial opportunities.
Most recently, Mr. Nunziata served as CFO of Smithfield Foods Inc., an $18 billion company that owns and operates processing facilities across the U.S. and works with thousands of farmers and landowners each year managing its diversified supply chain. Prior to his tenure at Smithfield, he held various positions of increasing responsibility at EY over the span of 19 years, most recently as a Partner in Assurance Services.
Mr. Nunziata holds a Bachelor of Science and a Masters in Accounting from James Madison University. Mr. Nunziata currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of StoneBridge School and sits on the Board of Advisors for the College of Business at James Madison University.