Here’s a look at recent hires and promotions in the pork industry.
Crystal Levesque named inaugural Rick Wahlstrom Endowed Chair in Swine Production
Crystal Levesque, professor of monogastric nutrition at South Dakota State University, has been named the inaugural Rick Wahlstrom Endowed Chair in Swine Production. The appointment recognizes her strong research program and commitment to student success.
“Dr. Levesque’s research bridges the gap between basic and applied swine research. She integrates the teaching and research missions of SDSU well. Thanks to Dr. Levesque’s work, our undergraduate and graduate students are included in impactful research projects that not only benefit the swine industry but also improve our students’ preparedness to enter the workforce,” Michael Gonda, interim department head of animal science, says in a release.
The endowed chair position honors the late Rick Wahlstrom, whose 36-year career at SDSU helped establish the university as a leading academic and research hub for swine production.
“Rick’s groundbreaking research in swine nutrition established SDSU as the premier land-grant university in the field,” says Richard Wahlstrom, Rick Wahlstrom’s son, when the endowment was announced. “A humble man who never sought the limelight, this is the ultimate capstone to his career. That his gift for research, teaching and love of students will be a legacy passed on by future professors. That his name will be forever remembered as a family, as well as university treasure.”
Levesque was born and raised on a broiler and mixed small grain farm in central Saskatchewan, Canada. Growing up, she developed an appreciation for livestock production and the role research plays in improving animal agriculture. She earned her doctorate at the University of Alberta, where her research focused on amino acid metabolism during pregnancy, before completing postdoctoral training at the Prairie Swine Center at the University of Guelph. Those experiences helped shape a fulfilling career centered on improving the health and productivity of swine and poultry, SDSU said in a release.
Throughout her time at SDSU, Levesque has built a nationally recognized research program focused on three primary areas: 1) understanding maternal nutrient use and requirements during pregnancy and lactation to improve piglet development; 2) evaluating alternative feed ingredients and dietary additives to improve piglet health after weaning; and 3) using advanced feed technologies to improve efficient growth in broilers and turkeys, the release says.
For Levesque, her appointment as the Rick Wahlstrom Endowed Chair in Swine Production represents an opportunity to carry forward the legacy of a longtime SDSU swine professor.
“It is his desire and skill for engaging interaction that I strive to bring to my teaching and research,” Levesque says. “Active engagement with the students and active listening with the farmers is what ensures our training and research have relevance to commercial swine production and produce well-trained, engaged students to become the next leaders of the swine industry — leaders with influence like Dr. Wahlstrom had.”
Pharmgate Animal Health Welcomes Kristy Ruby as Regional Account Manager
Pharmgate Animal Health named Kristy Ruby as regional account manager in July. Based in Iowa, Ruby supports customers across key swine production markets and strengthen Pharmgate’s commitment to delivering innovative animal health solutions and exceptional customer service. This addition reflects Pharmgate’s continued focus on building a team with firsthand industry experience and a practical understanding of the challenges producers face, the company said in a release.
She brings more than 15 years of experience in the swine industry, spanning production management, innovation execution, account development and operational leadership. Most recently, she served as Innovations Execution Specialist with TechMix. Prior to that, she spent more than 12 years with Smithfield Hog Production in leadership roles focused on production management and continuous improvement, the release says.
“Kristy’s extensive industry experience and strong producer relationships make her an outstanding addition to our team,” Adam Gutierrez, director of integrator sales at Pharmgate Animal Health, says in a release. “Her practical knowledge and producer-focused approach will help us build even stronger partnerships with our customers.”
Ruby earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Iowa State University. She remains actively involved in agricultural youth development through service on the 4-H County Youth Committee, Algona FFA Advisory Board and the Kossuth County Fair. Ruby resides in north-central Iowa with her husband, Geoff, and their three children, where they own and operate a cow-calf operation.
Williamson, Campbell Join BioZyme Leadership Team
Matt Williamson, Saint Joseph, Mo., and TJ Campbell, Brownsburg, Ind., are the newest hires to the BioZyme Inc. leadership team. Williamson is the vice president of business development. Campbell is the director of sales diversification. In their roles, they will work with the global animal nutrition and fermentation company to help grow sales and develop strategies across the BioZyme family of brands, the company says in a release.
“Adding professionals like Matt and TJ to our team will strengthen our already WOWing workforce. Matt is a strategist who knows how to get teams to work together to drive efforts to the next level,” Lisa Norton, BioZyme president and CEO, says. “With TJ’s experience in equine sales and management, I have high hopes that he can help our diversification efforts in the companion animal brands.”
Williamson brings extensive experience in strategic planning, business management, consulting, collegiate-level coaching and sales to his role. In this role, he is responsible for driving sustainable, profitable revenue growth through sales excellence and market expansion. This role integrates sales leadership with business development to optimize performance, strengthen commercial infrastructure, and unlock current and new revenue streams.
Campbell offers a wealth of sales and business analysis experience to BioZyme. In this newly created position, he will create and implement the strategies and teamwork needed to ensure BioZyme achieves its goal of sales diversification.
