Degrees from UNL:
B.S. Food Technology for Companion Animals with a minor in Animal Science
B.S. Food Science and Technology
Job Title:
Product Innovation Consultant Company: BSM Partners LLC, a pet food consulting firm
Q. How did your undergraduate experience at UNL prepare you for this job?
A. My undergraduate degree helped me get in touch with Nestle Purina. I was able to get a ton of
experience working in R&D and Quality Assurance. They also provided the funding for me to complete my Master’s degree research. UNL provided my foundation and desire to work in the pet food industry. It provided me with contacts to the industry and gave me experience. Because of my degrees and experience in Pet Food, I was able to join a consulting firm.
Q. What BIG Challenge is concerning your industry right now?
A. The Pet Food Industry is concerned with Limited Ingredient Diets (LID) after the FDA announced an association between LID and Dilated Cardio Myopathy (DCM).
Q. How are you able to address and solve this challenge?
A. Our company has invested money into DCM research with dogs. This is an ongoing study.
Q. What motivates you to go to work each day?
A. I am very passionate about animals. I want to help the industry as a whole to improve
the quality and food safety for pet food. I want to help companies develop new
products for pets that meets their requirements and is safe for them to eat. When I
was in high school, my family lost a dog due to a treat it was given. I did not want that
to happen to anyone else’s pet. I want to help produce products that I would want my own pets to be able to eat.
A. My undergraduate degree helped me get in touch with Nestle Purina. I was able to get a ton of
experience working in R&D and Quality Assurance. They also provided the funding for me to complete my Master’s degree research. UNL provided my foundation and desire to work in the pet food industry. It provided me with contacts to the industry and gave me experience. Because of my degrees and experience in Pet Food, I was able to join a consulting firm.
Q. What BIG Challenge is concerning your industry right now?
A. The Pet Food Industry is concerned with Limited Ingredient Diets (LID) after the FDA announced an association between LID and Dilated Cardio Myopathy (DCM).
Q. How are you able to address and solve this challenge?
A. Our company has invested money into DCM research with dogs. This is an ongoing study.
Q. What motivates you to go to work each day?
A. I am very passionate about animals. I want to help the industry as a whole to improve
the quality and food safety for pet food. I want to help companies develop new
products for pets that meets their requirements and is safe for them to eat. When I
was in high school, my family lost a dog due to a treat it was given. I did not want that
to happen to anyone else’s pet. I want to help produce products that I would want my own pets to be able to eat.