Board of Directors
Xincheng Gao
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
Mr. Gao has served as our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer. and President since October 23, 2007. Mr. Gao has extensive experience in the research and marketing of oil products. In November 1999, Mr. Gao founded Xi’an Baorun Industrial Development Co., Ltd. (Xi’an Baorun Industrial) to produce and sell finished oil products and biodiesel. Prior to founding Xi’an Baorun Industrial, Mr Gao worked in the Oil and Chemical Department of Shaanxi Province that oversaw the oil industry, and worked in Zhongtian Oil and Chemical Group in charge of R&D and marketing. Mr. Gao received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Xi’an University of Technology in 1985 and an E.M.B.A. from Xi’an Jiaotong University in 2004.
Gaihong Li
Executive Vice President, Controller and Director
Ms. Li has served as our Executive Vice President since June 2009, and as Controller since May 12, 2009. Ms. Li served as our Chief Financial Officer from October 23, 2007 until May 12, 2009, and has served as a member of our board of directors since December 9, 2007. Ms. Li also served as Chief Financial Officer of Xi’an Baorun Industrial since September 2005 until May 12, 2009. Ms. Li has more than ten years of experience in the oil industry. From August 2000 until Ms. Li joined Xi’an Baorun Industrial in September 2005, Ms. Li served as Chief Financial Officer of Xi’an Dongfang Oil Group Co., Ltd., which is located in Xi'an City and engages in the business of oil production. Ms. Li obtained a B.S. degree in Accounting from Xi’an Northwest University in 1997, and an E.M.B.A. degree in Business Administration from Xi’an Jiaotong University.
Junrong Guo
Independent Director
Mr. Guo has served as an independent director since November 17, 2008. Mr. Guo is a professional researcher in the forestry field. Since June 2003, Mr. Guo has engaged in research and development in the forestry resources with Shaanxi Forest Researching & Planning Institute. Mr. Guo served as director of Shaanxi Forest Institute from 1999 to 2000, and director of Shaanxi Ginkgo Research Institute from 1997 to 1999. Through his work experience, Mr. Guo participated in projects such as National Key Scientific & Technological Projects, Shaanxi Government Key Scientific & Technological Projects, Shaanxi Forest & Agricultural Key Projects, Yanglin Youth Scientific & Technological Projects, some of which gained Shaanxi Scientific & Technological Progress Awards. Mr. Guo has been granted honors and awards including Shaanxi New Century Talent, Specialist to Enjoy the State Subsidies’ in 2004, Evaluation Committee of Shaanxi Scientific & Technological Progress Award from 2005 to 2008, Professional Researcher in 2006, and Shaanxi Agricultural Expert in 2008. With his expertise in forestry, Mr. Guo continues working with the Company to explore various feedstocks for the Company’s biodiesel production.
Liren Wei
Independent Director
Mr. Wei, aged 48, is managing partner and head of China practice of Wei, Wei & Co., LLP, a PCAOB registered accounting firm headquartered in New York, a position he has held since 2007. Mr. Wei co-founded Wei, Wei & Co., LLP in 1995. Mr. Wei, a certified public accountant, received his BS degree from Baruch College Zicklin School of Business, City University of New York. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), a former vice president and executive board member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA), and a former president and board member of the Chinese American Society of Certified Public Accountants (CASCPA).
Steven Markscheid
Director
Mr. Markscheid, aged 57, has been an independent director of CNinsure, Inc. since August 2007, of JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd since September 2009, and of China Energy Corporation since June, 2010. He also has been chief executive officer of Synergenz BioScience Inc. since 2007, and member of Emerald Hill Capital Partners' investment committee since 2006. Mr. Markscheid was previously representative of US China Business Council from 1978 to 1983, vice president of Chase Manhattan Bank from 1984 to 1988, vice president of First Chicago Bank from 1988 to 1993, case leader of Boston Consulting Group from 1994 to 1997, director of business development of GE Capital (Asia Pacific) from 1998 to 2001, director of business development of GE Capital from 2001 to 2002, senior vice president of GE Healthcare Financial Services from 2003 to 2006, chief executive officer of HuaMei Capital Company, Inc. from 2006 to 2007. He received his bachelor’s degree in East Asian studies from Princeton University in 1976, his master’s degree in international affairs and economics from Johns Hopkins University in 1980 and an MBA degree from Columbia University in 1991.