Dennis G. McLaughlin, III
Chairman and CEO

Dennis G. McLaughlin III, Chairman and CEO of Earth Biofuels, Inc. (EBOF) is a twenty year veteran of the energy industry.  Under his leadership, Earth Biofuels’ achievements have exceeded most start-up companies’ early performances.

McLaughlin serves as CEO and Chairman of Apollo Resources International, Inc., a publicly traded company, beginning October of 2004.  Apollo is focused on the acquisition and development of upstream oil and natural gas production assets as well as the evaluation and development of existing and future alternative energy sources. 

From June 2004 through April 2005, McLaughlin was CEO of Blue Wireless & Data, Inc. (BWDT), a publicly traded company and continues as its Chairman.  Blue Wireless specializes in information technology services including but not limited to automation and remote monitoring in the oil and gas and alternative fuels industry.

Known as an entrepreneur and a biofuels energy industry leader, Mr. McLaughlin has guided a number of mergers and acquisitions while teaming with seasoned managers and investors to create value in a rapidly developing business arena.

Having worked in the oil and gas industry since the age of 20, McLaughlin gained experience at all levels of production and distribution.  In 1993, with an initial investment of $77,000, he founded Aurora Natural Gas which was later celebrated as one of the “Hottest New Small Businesses in America” by Entrepreneur magazine. McLaughlin was able to negotiate the sale of a portion of Aurora for $26 million based on the application of technology.

“Our No. 1 (1995) entrepreneur, Dennis G. McLaughlin III, (has) changed the way the natural gas industry thinks about start-ups and emerging technology.  Aurora Natural Gas succeeded in part because of the founders’ commitment to innovation,” says author Laura Tiffany, in the article “Told YOU SO!” as found in Fastest Growing Entrepreneurial Businesses.  She reports similarities in other successful entrepreneurs as characterized by McLaughlin.  “The owners love their industries.  Nonstop innovation.  Staying one step ahead of both the competition and the times.  Strong investments and gratitude for employees.  And, of course, the refusal to never stop thinking about where the future might lead the company.”

In 1994, McLaughlin founded Aurion Technologies, a technology company that researched and developed a low-cost telemetric meter.  This technology helped revolutionize the natural gas field data collection industry by replacing manual field data charts with data collection over the internet.  By 2001, the company had an outside independent valuation of approximately $55 million. McLaughlin resigned from Aurion in 2001.

In January 2002, he formed MAC Partners, LP, a technology merchant bank established to provide restructurings, mergers, acquisitions and access to capital for small, high-tech companies.  McLaughlin resigned from the company in 2004.  MAC Partners, LP continues to provide services to clients.

Previously, McLaughlin was CEO and Co-Chairman of Ocean Resources, Inc., a publicly traded company, from September 2003 to January 2005.  He redirected the focus of the company to engage in deep-ocean salvage of commodity metals.  During McLaughlin's tenure, the company developed technologies that resulted in the lifting of tin ingots from the ocean depths.  McLaughlin resigned in January of 2005 to focus his efforts in the energy industry.

He received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Oklahoma in 1992.  He was presented with the OU Regents Outstanding Alumni Award in 1999.

" The opportunity to work with Earth Biofuels in this emerging renewable fuels industry to reduce our dependence on foreign oil while seeking to broaden the domestic farming market is more than a career choice, it is a life mission."

Christopher “Kit” Chambers, Executive Vice President, Earth Biofuels, Inc., (EBI) since October of 2004, also serves as Secretary for EBI and is a Director of Apollo Resources International, Inc. Prior to these positions he co-founded MAC Partners, LP, a technology merchant bank, in 2002.  From 1999 to 2001 he was employed by Aurion Technologies, LLC, as Vice President of Operations, then as Vice President of Sales Engineering. From 1994 to 1998, Mr. Chambers was Vice President for Software Development with Aurora Natural Gas, LP. From 1998 through 2004, he worked as an independent consultant in the film/video industry in Dallas , TX .  Mr. Chambers received a Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Oklahoma in 1989.

Darren L. Miles
Chief Financial Officer

Darren Miles joined Earth Biofuels, Inc. (EBI) as Chief Financial Officer in February 2006.  He brings over 20 years of experience in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and investment banking. Prior to EBI, Miles consulted for GVC Financial Services, LLC for 3 years. Before that, he was a Partner in a middle market investment banking firm which specialized in recapitalizations, acquisitions, sales, and capital market fund sourcing.  Miles was also a Director for Lewis Hollingsworth (LH) LP, a private equity fund, where he directed turn-around efforts in interim management positions for portfolio companies while focusing on deal origination, structure, and negotiations.  During this period, he was CEO of Fresh America Corporation (a publicly traded company) from September 2001 to August 2002. Prior to LH, Miles held management positions for various companies as CFO and COO.  Mr. Miles holds his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky.

Randy Hepler

Senior Vice President of Sales and Operations

Randy Hepler joined Earth Biofuels, Inc. (EBOF) as Vice President of Risk Assessment in June 2006 and was promoted to Senior Vice President of Sales and Operations in February 2007.  With proven organizational and negotiation skills, he manages day-to-day activities for the company.  He is responsible for overall operations management including direction of the EBI Durant production facility; he manages a regional sales staff and a group of professional fuel traders and he manages overall distribution and logistics.  His expertise also includes financial hedging as we build stability in feedstock pricing.  Hepler has 25 years experience in the grain commodity business, including time working at Cargill as a personal marketing manager as well as a sales manager for Memphis, Tennessee Farm Service Group.   During that time, Hepler managed sales teams that bought grain and implemented Cargill Risk Management Solutions to farmers.  From 1997 to 2004, Hepler was founder, President and CEO of OSA Crop Marketing Group, LLC, in Tennessee; he consulted farmers in 22 states with 336,000 acres to market their crops while developing relationships with agricultural lenders and national retail and chemical companies.  With experience purchasing millions of bushels of grain annually and having established relations with Informa Economics, a world leader in broad-based agricultural and commodity market research, analysis and consulting, Hepler brings to EBI senior management expertise in risk assessment.  Hepler attended the University of Tennessee at Martin, and later presented to agriculture economic marketing seminars.  He is a member of the National Futures Association and holds Series 3, Commodity Brokerage and Series 30, NFA Brokerage Manager Licenses.

Kristin Herring
Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations

Kristin Herring joined Earth Biofuels, Inc., (EBI) in October 2006 and currently serves as Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations.  Herring brings to EBI nearly two decades of strategic brand development and campaign management experience in a wide variety of industries including telecommunications, information technology, hosting and internet services, entertainment, beverages, and personnel services. Her career includes positions in both corporations and advertising agencies, including Ackerman McQueen, Square One, and Blanchard Schaefer.  Herring’s experience includes launching national brands for Sprint PCS, Six Flags Parks, and DataTimes/Dow Jones News Retrieval.   She is also a veteran of re-branding established accounts such as Palm Beach Tan, Mystic Tan and regional brands for Miller Brewing Co. As EBI expands its national footprint with brands such as BioWillie® premium biodiesel fuel, Herring’s branding expertise is a strong asset.   At EBI, Herring is responsible for directing and analyzing market research, competitive analysis, strategies, and tactics for the company's various product lines.  Herring’s public relations duties will include directing strategic initiatives that result in effective market positioning, image development while managing communication activities for major retail accounts. Previously, Herring served as Director of Marketing for the number one privately held dedicated server hosting provider in the world, The Planet, where she planned and executed marketing, branding, and Public Relations campaigns for multiple brands. The Planet is known for its cutting-edge, fast growth technology services, an environment where Herring excels. Herring holds a Master of Liberal Arts in Leadership and Management from Oklahoma City University and a BBA in Marketing with Advertising Emphasis from the University of Oklahoma.