4 minutes with…Sandra Dunphy, Director, Energy Compliance Services, Weaver and Tidwell

Tell us about your organization and it’s role in the advanced bioeconomy.

Weaver is a full-service accounting firm with a niche practice focused on federal and state fuel regulations. We currently work with ~250 participants in the RFS program including producers, importers, exporters, blenders and retailers.

Tell us about your role and what you are focused on in the next 12 months.

Goals include:
– Assisting companies with RFS-related compliance needs
– fuel, company and facilty registrations,
– reporting
– recordkeeping
– RIN management, etc.
– enforcement issues
– Working with renewable fuel producers and importers of renewable fuels concerning the new Quality Assurance Plan regulations, under which Weaver is an EPA-approved auditor, using our RIN-tegrity(R)review program.
– Continuing our participation in renewable fuel industry working groups
– Assisting clients with the CA LCFS program; performing due diligence reviews of LCFS credits
– Continue to work with gasoline and diesel producers and importers in working under the RFS regulations

What do you feel are the most important milestones the industry must achieve in the next 5 years?

-Incentivizing the financial community to invest in technologies and facilities to develop and produce new types of motor vehicle fuels.
-Consistency in regulations – tax credits, RFS program, etc.

If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about the Advanced Bioeconomy, what would you change?

– change how new fuel-type products can be used in order to generate RINs – chemicals, power generation, etc.
– change how feedstocks get classified – be more flexible on the criteria for approving feedstocks, processes, etc.

Of all the reasons that influenced you to join the Advanced Bioeconomy industry, what single reason stands out for you as still being compelling and important to you?

Assisting companies with finding and defining their roles under the RFS program while remaining in compliance with the regulations.

Where are you from? 

Born in Weehawken, New Jersey but grew up in Westchester County, NY – Larchmont.

What was your undergraduate major in college, and where did you attend? Why did you choose that school and that pathway? 

University of Delaware (the Fightin’ Blue Hens!)
Civil Engineer
Good school, close to home with reasonable tuition costs!
Chose Engineering because my father was an engineer and one of my old sisters was an engineer. And I wanted to have a job upon graduation.

Who do you consider your mentors. What have you learned from them?

My mother – the person with the strongest work ethic and never give up attitude of anyone I’ve ever met.
My father, the engineer and logical one
Latin teacher and best friend in high school – Dr. Leone Roselle – the smartest person I’ve ever known
My husband – showed me how to put things into perspective in life. He also had amazing talents that few people knew about.

What’s the biggest lesson you ever learned during a period of adversity?

Never give up. You’re stronger than you think.

What hobbies do you pursue, away from your work in the industry? 

Gardening – my home was on my local garden club’s home tour this past spring.
Simple home repairs and recycling used items for new purposes.

What 3 books would you take to read, if stranded on a desert island?

I’d rather have a margarita machine and fresh limes.

What books or articles are on your reading list right now, or you just completed and really enjoyed?

Anything related to RFS – no matter how indirectly related.

What’s your favorite city or place to visit, for a holiday?

San Francisco, CA or Sydney, Australia