After completing BS (Illinois State University) and PhD (University of Wisconsin-Madison) degrees in Chemistry, Steve joined the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service in Peoria, Illinois. There he has focused on utilizing renewable materials for various food and non-food applications. Since 2012 a significant part of that research has been pioneering the use of biochar as a sustainable replacement for carbon black in various rubber composites. From 2013 up to the pandemic Steve helped coordinate the Illinois Biochar Group, promoting biochar interests for researchers, farmers, and other biochar enthusiasts. Networking opportunities in the Illinois Biochar Group has led to collaboration on other biochar projects including biochar as a golf green soil amendment, and the pyrolysis of biosolids for soil amendments.