“Meet the People Behind the Work”
From Texas Gas Fields to Wisconsin Renewable Energy: Chris’s Commitment to Family and Operational Excellence
“I love optimizing. That’s my favorite thing to do.” — Chris Coenen, LF7 Plant Operator, LF Bioenergy
For nearly two decades, Chris built his career in the natural gas industry, operating complex cryogenic processing facilities across Texas. From managing high-pressure systems to troubleshooting equipment and maximizing gas recovery, he developed a passion for understanding how things work—and finding ways to make them work better.
But after years of traveling between Wisconsin and Texas for work, Chris was searching for something more than his next professional opportunity.
He wanted to bring his experience closer to home—and spend more time with his family.
When LF Bioenergy appeared on LinkedIn, Chris became curious. He discovered a company producing natural gas in an entirely different way: transforming agricultural waste into renewable energy.
“I thought they had found a real opportunity—the way they were capturing gas from renewables,” Chris recalls.
The opportunity offered something meaningful: a way to apply his 18 years of natural gas experience to an emerging energy sector without sacrificing the family time that mattered most to him.
Today, as an LF7 Plant Operator in Wisconsin, Chris brings extensive technical experience in gas processing, equipment maintenance, troubleshooting, and process safety management to LF Bioenergy’s operations.
Chris finds his greatest professional satisfaction in optimizing operations—fine-tuning equipment and processes to maximize performance while maintaining the highest standards of safety and reliability.
That mindset extends well beyond the plant.
Whether restoring a 1959 Chevy, learning to weld, or perfecting a favorite recipe, Chris enjoys the challenge of taking something apart, understanding it, and improving it.
“I like to get the finished product as good as I can get it before the next step,” he explains.
For Chris, continuous improvement isn’t simply a professional responsibility. It’s part of who he is.
What ultimately drew him to LF Bioenergy, however, was the company’s family-oriented culture.
During the interview process, Chris recognized an organization that valued both his experience and his personal priorities.
And today, the difference is something he experiences every afternoon.
Instead of boarding another flight to Texas, Chris comes home to his young daughter running down the driveway, calling out, “Daddy! Daddy!” Sometimes, he brings her favorite surprise—a sprinkled donut.
It’s a small moment with enormous meaning.
At LF Bioenergy, operational excellence begins with skilled, dedicated people who take pride in what they do. Chris brings technical expertise, a commitment to safety, and a genuine love of continuous improvement—while building a career that allows him to be present for the people who matter most.
Chris’s story shows that a rewarding career isn’t only about what we accomplish at work, but also about the life we’re able to build beyond it.
This is Chris’s story. This is I Am LF Bioenergy.
