Presenters:
Learn a little about the following presenters below:
Diane M. Broek
Marvin Carlson
Renee Jedlicka
Amy Kasianowicz
Terry Meyer, Ph.D.
Tracy Oleson
Chris G. Sigurdson
Rich (J R) Tait, Jr., Ph.D.
Diane M.
Broek
General Manager, Bovance
Diane Broek is
the General Manager for Bovance, a joint venture between
Trans Ova Genetics of Sioux Center, IA and ViaGen of Austin,
TX to market bovine cloning services in North America.
Diane received bachelor’s degrees in biology and chemistry
from Northwestern College in 1980 and began working with
Trans Ova Genetics immediately after graduating. In the 27
years she has been with Trans Ova, Diane has served in
various capacities including Embryologist in ET (embryo
transfer) and IVF (In Vitro Fertilization), Lab Director,
Area Sales Manager, and Cloning Product Manager. Most
recently, she accepted the position of General Manager for
the newly formed joint venture company, Bovance. Diane is
responsible for marketing bovine cloning services in North
America as well as the coordination of production and
technical team efforts for the production of the 200+ cloned
calves expected this year. Diane has co-authored seven
scientific publications with her peers at Trans Ova Genetics
in ET, IVF and Cloning. Diane is a member of the American
Embryo Transfer Association, the International Embryo
Transfer Society, the Biotechnology Industry Organization
(BIO) and she also belongs to various beef breed
associations. She has bred, raised, and shown numerous state
and regional champions with her purebred Charolais herd.
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Marvin
Carlson
Ag Production Technology Instructor, Iowa Lakes Community
College
Marvin Carlson is
Curriculum Coordinator and instructor for the Ag Production
Technology program at Iowa Lakes Community College. After
graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from
Iowa State University, he worked as an Ultrasound Technician
scanning hogs and cattle. Marv also sold fertilizer, feed,
chemicals, and steel products before teaching Vocational
Agriculture for six and one half years. Ag Lending was his
next six year career. He has been an instructor in his
current position for 19 years at Iowa Lakes Community
College.
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Renee
Jedlicka
Professor, Iowa Lakes Community College
Renee Jedlicka
teaches both online communication classes and on the ground
communication classes for Iowa Lakes Community College,
Emmetsburg campus. She is motivated to find ways to better
enhance student learning through student interaction,
reflection, field experiences, and technology. Renee began
her teaching career at Iowa Lakes twenty years ago after
working in the Iowa tourism industry. She earned her
bachelor’s degree from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa and a
master’s of arts degree in speech communication from
Minnesota State University- Mankato, Minnesota.
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Amy
Kasianowicz
Biotechnology Category Manager, VWR Education
Amy Kasianowicz
graduated from St. John Fisher College (Rochester, NY) with
a BS in Biology and a concentration in laboratory techniques
and computer applications. This course of study prepared
her for a job as an Associate Research Scientist with IMMCO
Diagnostics, Inc (Buffalo, NY) where she was part of the
Assay Development Team. During her six years of employment
Amy helped to develop several FDA approved ELISA, Western
Blot, and Immuno Fluorescent assays that aid in the
prognosis of autoimmune diseases including Celiac Disease,
Autoimmune Hearing Loss, Lupus, Inflammatory Bowel Disease,
and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Recently
receiving an MBA from the University of Buffalo, Amy is
currently the Biotechnology Category Manager for VWR
Education. In this role, Amy is responsible for the product
selection, marketing, and most importantly customer support
related to the Biotechnology product lines of WARDS Natural
Science, Sargent Welch, and Science Kit. No matter your
current skill level, classroom set up, or budget Amy is here
to help you bring Biotechnology into your classroom for your
students.
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Terry
Meyer, Ph.D.
Senior Research Manager, Pioneer, A DuPont Company
Dr. Terry Meyer
is currently Senior Research Manager for Trait
Characterization and Development and Program Manager for the
Optimum® GAT® Trait at Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business.
Meyer received bachelor’s degrees in biology and in
chemistry from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1981 and his
doctorate in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology
in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics from Iowa
State University in 1987. He served as a postdoctoral
fellow at Harvard Medical School in the Lab of Molecular
Endocrinology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute from
1988-1991 and then joined Pioneer.
Meyer has
co-authored 26 scientific publications and received 25
patents. He has more than 40 pending patent applications to
improve agricultural crops and production practices. He is
the co-inventor for genes used in Herculex I®
corn, which contains the broadest insect pest control and
Liberty® herbicide resistance, corn transformation methods,
genetic markers for soybean pest control, and development of
the first corn plants producing industrially and
pharmaceutically important proteins. Dr. Meyer has received
numerous awards, including the 2007 Floyd Andre Award from
Iowa State University for his outstanding contributions to
agriculture, and has received nominations for the DuPont
Engineering Excellence Award in 2007 and for the Pioneer
Achievements in Research Award in 2005. He is active in his
local community—working with Boy Scouts, coaching of sports
teams, church, and returns to help on his parents’ farm in
northern Iowa when time permits. He is a full member of
Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society, president of the
Urbandale Academic Boosters who support Talented and Gifted
students, is a member of the Iowa Academy of Sciences, and
has a Faculty Collaborator appointment with Iowa State
University.
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Tracy
Oleson
Research Scientist, Newport Laboratories
Tracy Oleson has
her bachelor’s and master’s of science degrees in the field
of Food Science from the University of Minnesota. She has
spent several years working in the food industry, mainly in
quality assurance and food safety. In 2001, Tracy pursued
her love of microbiology and left the food industry to work
for Newport Laboratories. Her initial responsibilities were
to set up a molecular diagnostics lab. Since then, she has
worked as Manager of Diagnostics and research and
Development. Tracy’s main responsibilities have been to
investigate and implement technologies to improve vaccine
manufacture. In addition, she serves on the Biotechnology
Lab Technician; A.A.S. curriculum development committee for
the program offered at Minnesota West, Community and
Technical College and teaches general microbiology. Each
summer, Tracy also coordinates 4-6 interns at our research
facility.
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Chris G.
Sigurdson
Advanced Bovine Reproductive Technologies, Trans Ova
Genetics
Chris Sigurdson
is presently both the Director of Sales and Marketing and
Western Regional Manager for Trans Ova Genetics of Sioux
Center, IA. Chris’ role is to provide support and guidance
to his team leading the strategic development of the
company, guiding the development and commercial application
of several bovine reproductive technologies and developing
and marketing plans all while seeking to understand beef and
dairy client’s reproductive goals and making sure that the
company executes on these commitments.
Chris was raised
on a farm near Isanti, Minnesota. He went on to attend the
University of Minnesota where he graduated with a degree in
Animal Industries and Marketing in 1992. Chris’ formal
career began at ABS Global in 1992 taking a sales support
position in the eastern U.S. and Canada. His seven years at
ABS were spent helping to develop the non-semen aspects of
their business traveling on a global basis. He was then
recruited to join Ecolab in St. Paul, MN where he served in
both a Senior Marketing Manager role as well as a Corporate
Account Sales Manager helping to manage and develop their
U.S. cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting business on dairy
farms. While at Ecolab, he achieved his Executive Masters of
Business Degree at the Carlson School of Management at the
University of Minnesota.
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Rich (J R)
Tait, Jr., Ph.D.
Use of current and future technologies in beef cattle
breeding, Iowa State University
Dr. J R Tait is
an Associate Scientist in the Department of Animal Science
at Iowa State University.
J R’s graduate
work involved developing and refining ultrasound techniques
to evaluate beef cattle body composition for breeding and
selection purposes. After completing his Ph.D. in Animal
Breeding and Genetics in 2006, J R joined the research staff
at Iowa State University as an Associate Scientist. In this
role, J R is responsible for working with research farm
staff for management of Iowa State University’s Angus
breeding project, which comprises almost 400 Registered
Angus cows. The current goal of Iowa State University’s
beef cattle breeding project is to select for increased beef
quality using ultrasound measured intramuscular fat as the
primary trait to select yearling cattle as potential
breeding stock. J R is responsible for mating decisions,
data collection and reporting to the American Angus
Association, and organization and management of other
research data to enable ongoing research using this cow
herd.
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